Five Years Late: Under a Single Light
Some sittings take years to arrive.
I first saw Babs Olusanmokun in Dune in 2021, in a cinema in Liverpool with Sasha. His role as Jamis was brief, but his face stayed with me: sculptural, still, certain. The sort of face the European portrait tradition has always understood.
I meant to photograph him then, but the idea disappeared into work, travel, and time.
Then came Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Dune: Part Two, and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. Babs kept returning to the screen, and each time the same thought returned with him: this is a face I need to photograph.
This April, in London, I finally wrote to his agent. We met at the Farringdon studio on the 24th.
Babs arrived completely settled in himself. Born in Lagos, based in New York, fluent in four languages, and a third-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, he has that rare physical calm that makes portraiture feel immediate. No unnecessary movement. No performance. Just presence.
We spoke more than we photographed at first â about Lagos, cinema, Dune, and Caravaggio. Then the room quieted.
The third frame is the one I made for myself: tenebrist ground, single key light, shadow allowed to do its work.
Caravaggio rather than casting. Old Master rather than headshot.
One light. One face. Everything else falling away.
Five Years Late: The Working Portrait of Babs Olusanmokun
I first noticed Babs Olusanmokun in Dune at the Everyman Cinema in Liverpool in 2021.
He appeared briefly as Jamis, but there was something about the structure of his face that stayed with me long after the film ended. Portraitists keep quiet mental files of people they would like to photograph, and Babs went straight into mine.
Over the next few years, he kept appearing: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Dune: Part Two, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. Each time, the same thing struck me â the stillness, the authority, the face that does not need to ask for attention.
This April, on a working trip to London, I finally wrote to his agent. He was in town, and we met at the Farringdon studio on the 24th.
Babs is the kind of sitter who makes the room easier. Born in Lagos, based in New York, multilingual, and a third-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, he carries himself like someone who understands presence physically, not theatrically.
There was very little to force. We talked first â about Lagos, acting, Dune, Caravaggio â and the sitting found its rhythm naturally.
The second frame became the working portrait: a half-turn, soft fill on the shadow side, the leather collar catching just enough texture to keep the image honest.
It is direct, composed, and quietly magnetic â the sort of portrait that holds your eye without performing for it.
Five Years Late: The Face I Carried Since Dune
It started in a cinema in Liverpool.
October 25th, 2021. The Everyman. Sasha and I had gone to see Dune, and somewhere between Paul Atreides arriving on Arrakis and the inevitable sandworm, Babs Olusanmokun appeared on screen as Jamis. Only there for a few minutes, but long enough for me to forget the film and start studying the face.
The cheekbone. The jaw. The stillness. One of those faces portraitists keep in the back of their mind.
Then he appeared again in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds as Dr. Joseph MâBenga. Same architecture. Same gravity. By the time Dune: Part Two and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare came around, the mental note had become impossible to ignore.
So this April, while back in London, I wrote to his agent.
Babs was in town. He was free. We met at the Farringdon studio on the 24th â almost five years after that first evening at the Everyman.
Born in Lagos, based in New York, fluent in English, French, Yoruba, and Portuguese, and a third-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Babs carries himself with remarkable ease. No wasted movement. No performance. He simply arrives settled in himself.
We talked about Lagos, film, Dune, and Caravaggio. The portraits came easily after that, which usually means the conversation has already done most of the work.
The first frame is the one I had carried since 2021: strict profile, high-key ground, silhouette doing all the talking. Nothing in the frame except the line of him.
Some faces are worth waiting for.
BACKSTAGE TO RUNWAY @ohpolly with @astridkearneymakeup for @zootmagazine at London Fashion Week AW26
Fluid forms. Soft tones. Sensual cuts.
A study in sculpted skin and unapologetic silhouettes.
Makeup @aofm đ
Lead @beccisbrushes
Hair @unitehairuk@crestivelea_hair@staceytoner_artsy@joshuawilliamhair
London-based makeup designer and freelance beauty editor Astrid Kearney reports for ZOOT from inside the rhythm of AW26 â tracing the philosophies behind the collections and connecting beauty with design.
"Oh Polly was a study in polished femininity. Silks, satin and lace flowed through a soft spectrum from pink to peach, mint and baby blue, catching the light with every step. The models carried quiet strength, all gloss, vitality and precision, like timeless muses brought to life on the runway." â Astrid Kearney
Hosted by lolathomson, as voltage glamour met precision craft and the runway came alive.
From the pressure cooker of backstage to the instant the runway ignites, this is confidence dialled all the way up.
Which look owned the runway for you?
@lauramccluskeypr đ
#OhPolly #zootmagazineofficial #BackstageBeautywithAstridKearney #RunwayReport #AOFM
Capturing Character: Actress Jennifer Riker at the London Studio.
This week, I had the pleasure of photographing Jennifer Riker, the accomplished American actress best known for her compelling turn as Dr. Helga Jace in the Warner Bros/DC series Black Lightning. Jennifer brings remarkable intelligence and nuance to every role, and her career spans some of televisionâs most acclaimed productionsâfrom The Walking Dead and The Purge to House of Cards and Nashville.
Her earlier work in Castle, Monk, Law & Order: LA, Criminal Minds, and the Golden Globeâwinning Mad Men further highlights her versatility across drama, comedy, and thriller genres.
Beyond the screen, Jennifer is a sought-after voiceover talent. She narrates the childrenâs podcast Otter Space and has voiced audiobooks such as Cold Blooded and The Lake Contract, with a vocal range that moves from warm commercial tones to gritty authority. Her work spans brands like IKEA, Volvo, Harley Davidson, and Cointreau, enhanced by her fluency in both American and Russian accents.
Our London studio session focused on authenticity and textureâcapturing her expressive balance of quiet reflection and commanding strength. Jenniferâs natural ease made each frame fluid and honest, revealing the emotional depth that defines her craft.
A multi-dimensional performer in every sense, Jennifer Riker was a privilege to photographâher voice, presence, and spirit aligning to create portraits that feel cinematic yet deeply personal.
Capturing the Depth of Reflection with Jared Harris.
Itâs 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 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 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 Caravaggioâs tenebrism.
David Morrissey Portrait Photoshoot.
David Morrissey is an English actor and filmmaker. Described by the British Film Institute as âone of the most versatile English actors of his generationâ, he is noted for the meticulous preparation and research he undertakes for his roles.
I captured Davidâs portrait for a new project entitled Selah 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.
Based in Los Angles & working in New York City & London. Rory Lewis Photographer Presents unique Portraiture using âdirectionâ and inventive âscenariosâ. Rory easily encourages sitters to express themselves, creating natural, thought provoking portraits. Offering his services to a wide variety of clients from Royalty, to former Prime Minsters, Banks & Financial institutions, Hollywood Stars and members of The Armed Forces.
Kevin McNally Portrait Photoshoot London.
Kevin McNally is an English actor and writer. He is known for portraying Joshamee Gibbs in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. Kevin sat for a portrait photoshoot to be included in my Selah Exhibition at the London studio in Farringdon.
Itâs 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.
Based in Los Angles & working New York City & London. Rory Lewis Photographer Presents unique Portraiture using âdirectionâ and inventive âscenariosâ. Rory easily encourages sitters to express themselves, creating natural, thought provoking portraits. Offering his services to a wide variety of clients from Royalty, to former Prime Minsters, Banks & Financial institutions, Hollywood Stars and members of The Armed Forces.
Capturing the Essence of Steve Pemberton: A Portrait Session with Rory Lewis.
As a photographer, there are moments that stand out in oneâs careerâthose instances when passion and profession converge, creating an opportunity to capture the essence of someone who has inspired you for years. For Rory Lewis, that moment came when he had the privilege of photographing the talented actor, comedian, director, and writer, Steve Pemberton.
Steve Pembertonâs career is as diverse as it is impressive. From his early days as a member of The League of Gentlemen to his acclaimed roles in television series like âInside No. 9,â Pemberton has left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. For Lewis, who has been a fan since childhood, the chance to photograph Pemberton was not just a professional assignment but a personal milestone.
The session took place at Lewisâs London studio, providing the perfect backdrop for capturing Pembertonâs multifaceted personality. With meticulous attention to detail, Lewis set out to create portraits that would not only showcase Pembertonâs talent but also capture the essence of the man behind the characters.
