KALTBLUT presents: Coming Home by Thomas H.P. Jerusalem of MUTE Photography. Starring Melania. Hair and Make-Up by Alyson O’Connell. Fashion all items are vintage. The concept was set in the Victorian era – a story about about a child coming home for Christmas – and shot at a late afternoon in the Chicagoland area. The environment light was pretty much already zero at that time after sunset which helped blacking out buildings in close proximity of the shoot set. The equipment used was a Canon EOS 7D MarkII with a Sigma 24/70mm lens and one AlienBee B800 with Vagabond Battery Pack. #MerryChristmas
When I got home it felt so different. It hasn’t always been like this. Usually this old train station is crowded and packed with people over the holidays. Kids screaming and laughing and families hugging each other. Not so today. Although everything looks so familiar everything looks so different. Something is frightening me. I am looking around to find my dad and my mom to welcome me. They promised to pick me up. I am looking around. But can’t see them. Don’t you know I am home? Then I hear the laughter of kids, a Christmas song playing its cracking tunes thru the old announcement speakers.
I see my first love running by and getting on the train. I try to call him but he is already gone. Where is he going? Why didn’t he see me. My dad is standing at the end of that railway car. He is waving at me and holding my mom with the other arm. I yell their names. She is smiling and I know she has tears of joy running down her face already. She has always been like this. They are walking towards me. It feels like I haven’t seen them forever.
A group of Christmas carolers is standing at the platform. Where did my mom and dad go? Mom? It starts to snow and I am freezing. The huge train stations windows are broken and the wind is burning my face. I can’t see you anymore. Where are you? I am home. Can’t you see I am home. The Christmas carolers disappeared but the old announcement speaker is still playing that song. I feel tears in my eyes…
I woke up by my own screams and I realize. It is Christmas 2016. And I am alone.
Photography and text by Thomas H.P. Jerusalem of MUTE Photography /
www.a-moment-in-time.com / FB: www.facebook.com/mutephotos /
Instagram: @mute_photography
Model is Melania
Hair and Make-Up by Alyson O’Connell / FB: www.facebook.com/alyvetter
Fashion: Vintage
Thomas H.P. Jerusalem of MUTE Photography is a German photographer living and working in the Western suburbs of Chicago, IL. After living in London, UK for four years, he relocated to Chicago, in 2004. Thomas H.P. Jerusalem is specialized in fashion and conceptual photography with a focus on Magazine, editorial and commercial work. His work has been published in the US and in international magazines including ESTETICA USA, Italian VOGUE/PhotoVogue, Dark Beauty. He is listed in the ONE LIFE 2012 Catalog and his work is licensed with Art+Commerce/VOGUE NYC and LemonFRAME.
His childhood during the Cold War in West Germany and his fatherís over-sized NY Photo Academy books from the sixties influenced his style that emphasizes atmosphere and strong narrative. Thomas H.P. Jerusalem started his career with Street Photography and Photojournalism, both very expressive ways of photography that forged his distinctive sensitive approach.
His work includes dark romantic, high-fashion, avant-garde and vintage space-age fashion photography with an European touch. His models are often placed in surreal environments – devastated, displaced, out of the world. Their appearances eerie and edgy with rebel and punk influences. Often spiced with irony and sarcasm. But always with a strong meaning or statement. His photographs are strong and are telling stories. His portraits are capturing souls – not just faces.
