Cole Thompson: "With Eyes Shut"

"It is said that a person's eyes are the windows to their soul. So why photograph people with their eyes shut and what do the images reveal? For three days I approached over 150 Ukrainians, and using sign language, asked if I could photograph them...with their eyes shut. Their reaction was one of great surprise and curiosity. Most people have a "camera face." It's the look we put on when our picture is being taken, the face we want others to see. A mask. So what do we reveal when we shut our eyes and take off the mask? If the eyes are a window to the soul then perhaps the face is a mirror, and it reveals a glimpse of the inner self." ~Cole Thompson

Cole has expresses the essence of the photos better then I can. I love how the typical "camera face" is gone, however you can still see the small smirk the subject expresses since its only natural to smile for the camera.

~Alex Prontnicki