BUTTERFLIES AND CATERPILLARS

Ardelle Schneider's photography project Butterflies and Caterpillars offers authentic impressions of the current drag scene in the United States. His photos address issues such as the meaning of identity and construction of a self that goes beyond gender roles and their constraints. Schneider accompanied his subjects in their daily lives over a longer period of time period, capturing both private moments and public performances. She observed their transformation and dual nature as their presentation and their self-image repeatedly collide with expectations of society. Do our clothes change the way we act? Our appearance Does external appearance reveal our character and affect the way we others perceive us? What is hidden under these layers of tulle and makeup? In his intimate and sensitive photographs, Schneider makes to bring out the nuances and complexities of the personalities hidden behind the garish masquerade. His keen intuition and carefully adjusted lighting give him have helped create images that exude warmth, dignity and power. This book is a monument to acceptance and mutual respect.