Test Shoot

Sep 2026

In this striking series of portraiture, photographer B Charles Johnson captures the nascent potential of new face Ben Staton through a lens of classic menswear and editorial fashion. The project navigates the duality of light and shadow, leaning heavily into a sophisticated monochromatic palette that emphasizes structural composition over superfluous detail. By utilizing sharp-edged hard lighting, the images achieve a distinctly cinematic quality that draws the eye toward Staton’s deliberate physicality, most notably in a dramatic composition where he is captured against a stark white seamless backdrop. The narrative shifts seamlessly into a moodier register through the application of low-key chiaroscuro lighting, which accentuates the tactile grit of double-denim ensembles against a brooding, dark grey gradient. Throughout the shoot, Johnson demonstrates a masterful control of studio environments, allowing the interplay of light to frame the subject with a timeless, almost noir-inspired tension. This collection serves not merely as a portfolio building exercise but as a deliberate exploration of character, where the juxtaposition of sharp editorial styling and disciplined lighting techniques results in a powerful, evocative aesthetic. By stripping back the set to the bare essentials, the focus remains firmly on the interplay between the model’s presence and the photographer’s technical precision, resulting in a cohesive, high-impact showcase of contemporary menswear portraiture that feels both polished and intentionally raw in its execution.

Editorial, Vertical

Hard Light

Menswear

Grey Seamless

Editorial