SILK DUST
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Matthew
ART DIRECTION
Matthew Costello
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Matthew Costello
SILK DUST
THERE ISACERTAIN MAGIC IN FIRSTTIMES.THEYCARRYWITHTHEMATREMBLING MIXOFVULNERABILITYAND COURAGE, OFINNOCENCE STEPPING CAREFULLY INTOTHE LIGHTOFSELF-EXPRESSION.
WITHTHIS ISSUE,WEARE PROUDTO INTRODUCE MARIIA—AYOUNG RUSSIAN MUSEWHOSE NATURALSWEETNESSAND QUIETPRESENCE DREWUS IN FROM THEVERYFIRSTMOMENT. BLONDE, SOFT-SPOKEN,AND BRIMMINGWITHAN UNGUARDED CHARM, SHE EMBODIESTHE RARE BEAUTYOFDISCOVERY. THISWAS MARIIA’S FIRSTEXPERIENCE EXPLORINGAMORE DARINGAND INTIMATE STYLE OFPHOTOGRAPHY—ADELICATE BALANCE OFRISKANDTRUST.WHAT UNFOLDEDWAS NOTSIMPLYANUDE SHOOT, BUTACELEBRATION OFGROWTH, VULNERABILITY,ANDTHE POWER OFARTTO REVEALHIDDEN SIDES OF OURSELVES.
THROUGHTHESE IMAGES,YOUWILLSEE NOTONLYHER OUTER RADIANCE, BUT ALSOAPORTRAITOFBRAVERY— OFAGIRLALLOWING HERSELFTO BE SEEN, WITHOUTMASKS,WITHOUTFEAR. SILKDUSTMAG IS HONOREDTO PROVIDETHE SPACE FORTHIS UNVEILING,ANDWE INVITEYOUTOAPPROACH HER STORYASWE DID:WITH RESPECT,TENDERNESS,ANDADMIRATION FORTHE QUIETSTRENGTH IT TAKESTO SHARE ONESELFSO OPENLY.
— EDITOR, SILKDUSTMAG
BEHIND THE LENS MATT COSTELLO
I DON’T JUST TAKE PHOTOS I CHASE FEELINGS. THE GRAIN, THE BLUR, THE MISSED FOCUS,THEY’RE NOT FLAWS, THEY’RE FRAGMENTS OF TRUTH. I SHOOT ON INSTINCT. ON BREATH.
MOST OF THE TIME, I’M DRAWN TO WHAT CAN’T BE STAGED THE SILENCE BETWEEN POSES, THE SOFTNESS JUST BEFORE SOMEONE LOOKS AWAY. THIS WORK ISN’T ABOUT PERFECTION IT’S ABOUT HONESTY.
AND IF YOU’RE HERE, READING THIS, THEN MAYBE YOU FEEL IT TOO.
MATT
THE REAL SHOT