Lens is more

"I have become a slave to beauty. And I’m not afraid." - Jun de Leon

"Beauty is knowledge of oneself." - Patrick Rosas

At the recent book launching of the much-talked about masterpiece of two of the country’s celebrated professional artists - make-up genius Patrick Rosas and photographer extraordinare Jun de Leon - patrons and guests were astounded by the images they captured that called out and sometimes screamed for attention.

The coffeetable book printed and bound entirely in the Philippines by Grand C Graphics is the first of its kind. In these trying times, with the economy at a virtual free-fall and a gloomy social climate due to local and international troubles, it was only through sheer determination and talent that Patrick and Jun managed to pull off their one of a kind endeavor.

Those who have flipped through the pages of the book would have realized that Images is not merely a showcase of Patrick Rosas’ makeup mastery or Jun de Leon’s discerning eye, as top fashion designer Rajo Laurel, one of the book’s subjects, puts it, "It is a historical book in the sense that when future generations see it, they will see a cross-section of movers and shakers, at least in that part of society at that particular time."

Jun and Patrick dared further to push the images of all 135 chosen subjects to a different level. Still, there were the usual glamour shots that conveyed timeless beauty - portraits of Gretchen Baretto, Lucy Torres, Tweety de Leon, Betsy Quisumbing and Susan Reyes would have made Helen of Troy insecure.

Then, there were those that tested the limits - the ‘can I bear to let my mom/dad/girlfriend/boyfriend/husband/wife/friends see me in this kind of pose?’ thing. From newborn Irijah Arenas de Leon (Jun’s son with model wife Abbygale Arenas) to the venerable Lucrecia Kasilag, the images captured by Patrick and Jun elicit every kind of reaction imaginable.

DARING TO BE DIFFERENT

Despite looking like "Marlyn Manson in drag," (his own words) when fashion stylist Angelo Villanueva saw his photograph hanging at the RCBC exhibit, he was pleasantly surprised at how good it turned out. The look was definitely bad drag, very edgy and had an underground appeal to it. "When my friends saw it, they said, ‘Angelo, it’s so you!’" Being a frustrated model, Angelo was thrilled to be part of the book. Not only did it give him a chance to pose in front of the camera; it also allowed him to accessorize and style in a way he would love to, (but can’t always do, due to our semi-conservative society) in his own work.

One would hardly expect Bea Lucero-Lhuiller, former gymnastics and taekwondo champ, to be donned in sexy, "bad girl" garb. "I didn’t know what to expect when I went to the pictorial," said Bea. "Patrick just told me to bring a strapless dress. I thought Jun and Patrick were joking around when they were debating, ‘What should we do to Bea?’ When they finally showed me what I had to wear and Patrick started putting feathers on my hair, I became hesitant. After several pictorials throughout my career, this was the only time I had to do something as crazy as this! But because I trust in Jun and Patrick’s professionalism, I relaxed after the makeup was done and we began shooting. I laughed when I saw myself. It’s a different Bea. I’m not sure I would have done it if it weren’t with Patrick and Jun, but I like working with exceptional people, that, Jun and Patrick are."