Beneath the Intensity

Rori was one of the first friends I made in Memphis, and he never left any doubt about who he was. He was confident, sure of himself, and intense in a way that filled whatever room he walked into. When he asked for a photoshoot, I knew I would not have to coax him into showing up for the camera.

We spent the afternoon in the Pinch District and along the river, among rail lines, tall grass, rusted industrial buildings, and the Bass Pro Pyramid watching from a distance. Rori brought the edge I expected, and the rough backdrop matched it.

Getting past that edge was the real work. Somewhere between the tracks and the open fields, he finally let his guard down, and the softness underneath came through. Those are the photos I return to, because they show the side of Rori most people never got to see.