The most unflattering headshots ever? Model-turned-photographer shoots subjects under UV light to reveal shocking sun damage
The hidden imperfections strewn across peoples' faces due to sun exposure have been revealed in an illuminating photo series.
New York-based model-turned-photographer, Cara Phillips used ultraviolet light to show the age spots that would otherwise go unnoticed under the guise of a healthy tan.
Inspired by medical photos from doctors' offices and websites, Ms Phillips invited her subjects to keep their eyes closed for her somewhat sobering black and white portraits.
Shocking: The hidden imperfections strewn across peoples' faces due to sun exposure are revealed in an illuminating photo series by New York-based model-turned-photographer, Cara Phillips
Age spots - also called liver spots and solar lentigines - vary in size and usually appear on the areas most exposed to the sun.
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Though the marks are very common in adults older than age 40, they can affect younger people too.
To minimize skin damage, doctors recommend avoiding direct sunlight and using sunscreen.
While Ms Phillips' images focus on flaws, she titled the picture project Ultraviolet Beauties.
Going skin deep: Ms Phillips used ultraviolet light to show the age spots that would otherwise go unnoticed under the guise of a healthy tan
Somber: Inspired by medical photos from doctors' offices and websites, she invited her subjects to keep their eyes closed
A life of tanning: Age spots - also called liver spots and solar lentigines - vary in size and usually appear on the areas most exposed to the sun
Explaining her reasoning, she told the Huffington Post: 'My first thought was that the images reminded me of early post-mortem / memorial photographs, but they were also a kind of anti-portrait that was new to me.
'The aim of a portrait, in commercial and vernacular photography, is primarily to hide flaws -- to present a two-dimensional "flawless" version of the person.
'Even before Photoshop, photographers would hand paint negatives to enhance or improve the subject's appearance.
'But these images' function was to enhance and reveal flaws. However, the images themselves were beautiful, and I found that dichotomy intriguing and decided to push it even further.'
Fact of life: Though the marks are very common in adults older than age 40, they can affect younger people as well
Keeping that youthful glow: To minimize skin damage, doctors recommend avoiding the sun and using sunscreen
Ironic: While Ms Phillips' images focus on flaws, she titled the picture project Ultraviolet Beauties
She took the unflattering headshots in a makeshift studio set up on the streets of New York in 2012.
To recruit participants she erected a sign stating 'Free Portraits.'
'Instead of focusing on subjects who were already "concerned" with aging and beauty, I thought it would be interesting to offer these "flaw" photos to anyone,' Ms Philips said.
Unable to afford the ultraviolet camera equipment used by doctors, which can cost in the region of $20,000, she spent a year figuring out how to recreate the process
'But these images' function was to enhance and reveal flaws. However, the images themselves were beautiful, and I found that dichotomy intriguing and decided to push it even further,' she explained
Sticking to a budget: Ms Phillips took the headshots in a makeshift studio set up on the streets of New York in 2012
Novel idea: To recruit participants she erected a sign stating 'Free Portraits'
Some might be shocked at the sight of so many undetected blemishes, but they are quite common, as the series shows.
Ms Phillips was born and raised in suburban Detroit.
Her history with the beauty industry began as a child model for Ford Models.
In her early twenties she worked as a make-up artist, specializing in 'make-overs' of everyday women at luxury department stores.
'Instead of focusing on subjects who were already "concerned" with aging and beauty, I thought it would be interesting to offer these "flaw" photos to anyone,' Ms Philips said
DIY project: Unable to afford the ultraviolet camera equipment used by doctors, which can cost in the region of $20,000, she spent a year figuring out how to recreate the process
In the pursuit of beauty: Ms Phillips was born in suburban Detroit and worked as a child model for Ford Models
Career path: In her early twenties she worked as a make-up artist, specializing in 'make-overs' of everyday women at luxury department stores, before establishing herself as a photographer
In 2004, she returned to school and studied photography at Sarah Lawrence College.
Since graduating, she has focused on her own work and has collaborated on numerous projects.
She is the co-founder of the online exhibition site Women in Photography and a member of the international photography group Piece of Cake.
She has received numerous awards and is in several private collections around the world.
She currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.
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