Close-up black and white portrait of a man wearing sunglasses reflecting a piano keyboard, with dark curly hair and a cap.

Monochrome close-up of a person's hand playing piano keys, wearing a striped sleeve.

Man wearing a flat cap, sunglasses, pinstripe jacket, and layered necklaces outdoors in a black-and-white portrait.

Man wearing a striped suit and flat cap seated playing a grand piano indoors

Monochrome portrait of a man wearing dark sunglasses, striped jacket, and flat cap leaning on a table.

Monochrome portrait of a man wearing sunglasses, pinstripe jacket, and flat cap against a brick building with arched windows.

Man wearing sunglasses and a flat cap posing in front of a metal fence for The Blank Page Magazine

Close-up of a person wearing a pinstripe suit jacket, layered beaded necklaces, dog tags, and metal studded leather wristbands.

Close-up black and white photograph of a weathered stone lion sculpture with carved facial features and cracked texture.

The Blank Page Magazine Days of the lion 2025

About

Days of the Lion is an editorial feature for The Blank Page Magazine, captured by photographer Eric James Guillemain. This project documents a series of intimate, high-contrast portraits and detailed observations, leaning into a gritty, analogue film aesthetic. The series centres on a subject captured in a mix of outdoor urban settings and quiet, indoor musical spaces. Through a focus on layered textiles, varied jewelry, and sharp monochrome grading, the work highlights the tactile textures of the subject's wardrobe and the surrounding architecture. Employing a low-key, chiaroscuro lighting approach, the imagery balances cinematic character studies with still-life details of a piano performance and weathered stone sculptural reliefs.