EXHIBITION 12th - 19th October, Liverpool City Centre
Exhibition as part of Liverpool City Councils Without Wall’s project will take place in conjunction with Liverpool City Council, Arts Council England Fund & JCDecaux. Displayed across digital screens in Liverpool’s major Railway Stations, Liverpool Central, Liverpool James Street, Moorfields & Liverpool Lime Street.
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It’s not unusual for photographers to be inspired by other types of art. As you may have noticed their is a great deal of Renaissance Italian influence in my portraiture. Drawing inspiration from the Old Master painters like Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Titian and Ribera. I have attempted to masterfully recreate the light, atmosphere and tones of classical portrait paintings. This is even more apparent in my latest project entitled Selah.
The Hebrew word selah appears throughout the Book of Psalms. Its precise meaning is mysterious, but it is interpreted as a pause to breathe and reflect. “It has been my aim throughout the project to attempt to recreate meditative religious scenes, directing my subjects to capture the highest moment of drama.”
”Selah has found its foundation’s in counter reformation art. “I have been lost in the work of Ribera. His depictions of saints and religious figures, draw their inspiration directly from Caravaggio’s tenebrism.”
The exhibition features portraits of well known faces including Sir Patrick Stewart, Sir Ian McKellen & Dame Judi Dench.
About Rory
Rory Lewis is a dedicated portraitist who has spent over a decade on a quest to capture many of the world’s most recognised faces. Sittings have included the likes of William Shatner, Tony Blair, Sir Ian McKellen, Iain Glen, Rufus Sewell, Natalie Dormer to name a few. Several iconic portraits of Rory’s have been acquired by the National Portrait Gallery in London.
Rory breaks the mould of typical risk-averse portraiture which is commissioned within the media industry. Dynamically challenging the established norm and instead injecting moments of spontaneity, and even awkwardness, into his imagery he successfully shuns the aggrandising and sycophantic result typically seen in portraits of the famous. Rory’s aim is to strip back the artificial layers of staid portraiture and replace it with strangeness and a sense of quiet.
Behind the Scenes Videos
Today, as we mourn the passing of the talented American actor, Mark Margolis, I find myself reflecting on the moments I had the privilege of spending with him during our portrait sessions. Mark's career spanned decades, and he starred in numerous films, leaving an indelible mark on the industry. Most notably, his portrayal of Hector Salamanca in "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul" earned him critical acclaim and an Emmy Award nomination in 2012.
Thank you, Peter Fenech, Editor of Digital Photographer Magazine, for featuring my captivating portraits of Maye Musk. I am grateful for the recognition, exposure, and support this opportunity has brought. Maye Musk's inspiring presence shines through these photographs, and I appreciate the platform to share my work.
Thank you, Peter Fenech, Editor of Digital Photographer Magazine, for publishing an article featuring my portrait sitting with actor Michael James Shaw. Your support and belief in my work are deeply appreciated, and I am grateful for the exposure and recognition this opportunity has brought.
Notre Dame has asked me to guest lecture at the University on 19th April 2023. I’m looking forward to visiting South Bend, Indiana. My project Selah will take centre stage. I’ll be discussing the religious and fine art inspiration behind the project.
Actress, writer, director, Sarah Wayne Callies is best known for starring in multiple hit television series The Walking Dead, Prison Break and Colony. Sarah & myself collaborated on a portrait photoshoot at the Los Angeles studio for a new project entitled Selah.
Always seeking phenomenal actors to pose for my projects. invited Michael James Shaw to the Los Angeles Studio. Capturing a series of vivid and thought provoking images. Starring in the Walking Dead and Limitless. Michael is the quintessential actor, such a pleasure to photograph, using light and shadow, and drawing inspiration from the old masters such as Caravaggio the results are stunning to behold.
Second post in my series with Eva Elfie Portrait in the style of Caravaggio’s Mary Magdalen in Ecstasy. Capturing the remarkable depiction I directed Eva to pose with strong wrists, her fingers are crossed, head fallen back against a dark background and at the same time, she has a unique expression. In a style of Tenebrism used shadows and highlights to capture this unique portrait. Rory Lewis Photographer is available in Los Angeles, New York & London for fine art portraiture photoshoots. Limited edition print of the portrait is also on sale below, signed by Rory Lewis Photographer.
Jared Harris is a British actor. His roles include Lane Pryce in the AMC television drama series Mad Men, for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
David Morrissey is an English actor and filmmaker. Described by the British Film Institute as "one of the most versatile English actors of his generation", he is noted for the meticulous preparation and research he undertakes for his roles.
Andrew Divoff sat for a portrait photoshoot to be included in my Selah Exhibition at the Los Angeles studio in Downtown LA.
Kevin McNally is an English actor and writer. He is known for portraying Joshamee Gibbs in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series.
Caravaggio inspires many of my projects, recently I had the chance to collaborate with Actress Clare Foster. Recreating the character of Judith from the painting, Judith Beheading Holofernes the biblical episode by Caravaggio.
Nicholas Woodeson is an English film, television and theatre actor, and Drama Desk and Olivier award nominee. He reached a global audience as Julius Caesar's clever and loyal "body slave" Posca, in the BBC/HBO TV blockbuster, 'Rome'.
At the beginning of October, after a very long 18 month separation, I was able to reconnect with friends and clients in New York & Los Angeles.
In the back of my mind, I had been itching to capture long time friend and phenomenal actor Tony Amendola in the style of Caravaggio’s St Francis.
Just before Covid-19 ravaged my industry and that of Actors & Entertainers. I did have the chance to express my frustration on a portrait sitting with Actor Chad Philips. Who expressed my Caravaggisti creative direction in this depiction of anger and frustration.
Gratifying to see Selah previewed in my home city of Liverpool from 12-19th October 2020. The pictures were due to be shown in March, but due to the coronavirus the show was postponed.
Excited to announce Selah will be exhibited first in my home city of Liverpool. The exhibition will be displayed on JCDecaux screens in all of the city centre’s mainline train stations from 12th - 19th October 2020.
Thank you to Digital SLR Photography Magazine Contributing Editor Caroline Schmidt, interviewing me about my work and future projects. Please see full transcript below.
(Full Interview) 01 July, 2020
Written by: by Caroline Schmidt, Contributing Editor
Michael John Harney is an American actor of film, television, and theater. He is best known for starring on the Netflix original series Orange Is the New Black as Corrections Officer Sam Healy. In 2019, he had a recurring role in the Apple TV+ series For All Mankind.
Thank you to Photo Plus Magazine Writer Keith Wilson FRGS, interviewing me about my Selah work and future projects. Please see full transcript below.
Yadira Guevara-Prip is an American stage and television actor, best known for her work on Star Trek: Discovery. I was delighted Yadi accepted my invitation to sit for a portrait at the New York Studio. The portrait to be featured in my Selah Exhibition.
Dame Judi sat for a portrait to be featured in my Selah Exhibition at her home last month. The sitting gave me the chance to experiment with a series of interesting expressions and characters. The session lasting just over a short period of 15 minutes, I was able to capture a portfolio of truly spontaneous and unique portraits.
It’s not unusual for photographers to be inspired by other types of art. As you may have noticed there is a great deal of Renaissance Italian influence in my portraiture. Drawing inspiration from the Old Master painters like Caravaggio, Titian and Ribera.
Ray Proscia is an American actor rose to fame with his portrayal of characters in TV Shows like Imposters, Suits, and The man in the High Castle. He appeared in the TV Show Suits from 2017 which helped him to boost his career as well as features on the new show The Resident as Terry Camden from 2019.
Thank you to Amateur Photographer Magazine Editor Amy Davies, interviewing me about my Selah Photography Exhibition. The exhibition opens at Wex Photographic’s Gallery in Whitechapel in September 2020. Please see full transcript below.
Ciarán Hinds is an Irish actor, featuring in films such as Road to Perdition, Munich, There Will Be Blood, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Frozen, Silence, and Justice League, in which he portrayed the main antagonist Steppenwolf.
As the golden hour casts a gentle glow over the city, I sit, enveloped in the warmth of an incredible announcement: my portrait of the extraordinarily talented Michael James Shaw has been shortlisted as a finalist in the prestigious Hasselblad Masters 2023 competition. Amidst a vast sea of 85,000 submissions, to be selected among the top 10 in the portrait category is an honor that leaves me both humbled and elated.