“Guardians of the Golden Gate”: Modern Fictitious Superhero Characters Photographed by Jamil Hellu

Wow! These photographs by Jamil Hellu make my imagination run wild and touch on all of my senses. Get familiar with them, dive into the rich color and depth of each character portrayed. 

Jamil Hellu states on his website:

With my series “Guardians of the Golden Gate,” I invite my subjects to create fictitious superhero characters, providing them the opportunity to express themselves led by their own imagination. By putting together specific costumes, each individual constructs a unique character inspired by personal ideas around mythology and archetypal superheroes. 

This work is about creativity and role-playing as much as it is about manifesting interpretations of identity, particularly as it relates to self-representation in photography. 

As each individual invents a distinctive character to be photographed, the camera becomes an instrument of escapism, offering people to opportunity to create their own fantasy self. jamilhellu.net