Last week, I had the privilege of photographing actor Steven Ogg at my Los Angeles studio for my ongoing Selah project. My portraiture has long been shaped by the visual language of Renaissance and Baroque painting—particularly the works of Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Titian, and Ribera. Their mastery of light, atmosphere, and psychological depth continues to inform how I approach contemporary portraiture.
This influence finds its fullest expression in Selah, my most ambitious and personal project to date.
The Hebrew word selah, which appears throughout the Book of Psalms, is often interpreted as a pause—a moment to breathe, reflect, and dwell in stillness. That notion lies at the core of this series. Through Selah, I aim to construct meditative, spiritually charged scenes, guiding each sitter toward moments of heightened introspection and restrained drama.
Capturing the Essence of Steven Ogg: A New Chapter in My Selah Project (Rory Lewis 2024 Los Angeles Portrait Photographer)
Rooted in the artistic traditions of the Counter-Reformation, Selah draws heavily from the tenebrism of Caravaggio and the devotional intensity of Ribera. Light and shadow are not merely aesthetic tools here; they function as narrative devices, evoking contemplation, vulnerability, and spiritual gravity.
The exhibition includes portraits of figures such as Sir Patrick Stewart, Sir Ian McKellen, and Dame Judi Dench. Adding Steven Ogg to this lineage felt entirely natural. Known for his commanding screen presence and psychological intensity, Ogg brought a remarkable depth and unpredictability to the sitting.
A Study in Authority and Reflection
For this session, I created two distinct tableaux.
The first was inspired by Sir Thomas Lawrence’s triumphant portrait of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1814–15). Ogg was styled as a commanding military figure, complete with sword and baton, positioned within a classical architectural setting suggestive of victory and imperial authority. Lawrence’s original painting celebrated Wellington as the liberator of Europe, and my aim was to echo that same sense of resolve, command, and symbolic power.
The second tableau drew directly from Caravaggio’s Saint Francis in Meditation (c.1604–06). In this interpretation, Ogg appears absorbed in scripture, the Bible resting against a skull—a quiet yet potent memento mori. The restrained composition and deep chiaroscuro allowed the portrait to exist in a space of contemplation rather than performance, mirroring the spiritual stillness of Caravaggio’s original work.
A Portraitist’s Approach
I have spent over a decade photographing some of the world’s most recognised figures, including William Shatner, Tony Blair, Iain Glen, Rufus Sewell, and Natalie Dormer. Several of my portraits have been acquired by the National Portrait Gallery in London.
My approach deliberately resists the risk-averse conventions of contemporary media portraiture. I seek moments of discomfort, ambiguity, and quiet tension—stripping away artifice in favour of something more human, more fragile, and ultimately more truthful.
Capturing the Essence of Steven Ogg: A New Chapter in My Selah Project (Rory Lewis 2024 Los Angeles Portrait Photographer)
Steven Ogg and Selah
Born in Edmonton, Alberta, and raised in Calgary, Steven Ogg has built a formidable career across television, theatre, and video games. Best known for his portrayal of Trevor Philips in Grand Theft Auto V and Simon in The Walking Dead, his work also includes Westworld and Better Call Saul. His capacity for intensity and emotional volatility made him an ideal subject for Selah.
This sitting added another layer of gravity and psychological depth to the project—one that sits comfortably alongside the wider canon of work within the series.
I look forward to sharing more from Selah as it continues to evolve, exploring the intersections of faith, power, vulnerability, and portraiture.
🔗 Link to Steven Ogg’s latest poetry book: Catharse-is
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