Boys Don’t Cry
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Joel was born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia. Growing up there, he often felt limited by the experiences, cultures, and perspectives in his hometown. He was raised by two moms and a trans father. This gave him experiences and perspectives on many things, specifically masculinity and manhood.
His work explores the stereotypes and traditional views on what masculinity is and how men are perceived. He does this by capturing men in a gentle manner, in unconventional situations, in their private spaces, and in unlikely representations. He uses digital and film photography to capture his portraits.
Apart from the images, he aims for a meaningful interaction with his subjects, engaging in conversation, and discussing what it means to be a man and how they navigate themselves through that question. He not only aim to challenge stereotypes, but to gain an understanding of the person in front of the camera, and also the person behind the camera.