Fairy Dust

This was one of the most emotionally difficult images I ever created.

I hesitated to ask him to pose with this jar because of its contents. You see, there really is fairy dust in there, and it is precious to the man holding the jar. I was surprised with the positive response I got when I finally managed to get up the courage to ask him to bring the jar to his session.

I was also concerned with the word “Fairy” being included in the image, a negative or derogatory image was not my intent. I was unsure of some aspects of gay protocol and this worried me. He put my mind at ease, it would be OK, the choice of that jar was by both his and his partner’s.

When he saw the finished image it was an emotional moment for both of us. It would be the last time he and Jeffrey Miguel would be photographed together.

Jeffrey Miguel died of AIDS in 1991 and, according to his wishes; he is now “fairy dust”.