1st Place winner
Savage Seduction
DESCRIPTION
Spectacular Opulence In the search for validation and wealth, many have been led astray. Seeking material wealth by an means necessary. But who can judge one who uses what they possess to take that which another ignorantly offers? Is life not about using ones talents to progress? But be warned, that when at long last you've obtained such spectacular opulence and are left to ponder your journey to obtain it, will you be satisfied? For what is opulence when your peace is taken? When it is your very soul that has condemned you to a vast emptiness, even when surrounded by grandeur. May you seek only that, which rewards both body and soul, for as it is written, "For what does it profit to gain the world, but forfeit your soul." AUTHOR
Born in San Jose, Costa Rica, Vargas infuses an air of tropical vibrancyinto his images, utilizing exotic flowers as props or producing recreations of nature as the back-drop for his bold, neon-hued compositions. From Panama to Mexico and the United States, Vargas’ photography has continued to gain international recognition, landing him clients such as Facebook, Wilhelmina Models, Carolina Herrera, Tommy Hilfiger, Diesel and Kenneth Cole, among others.
Now based in San Francisco, California, Vargas’ vivid, chromatic aesthetic has captured the attention of the local community, earning him exhibitions at Instagram headquarters and the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. In addition to his photography, Vargas is a cinematographer and documentarian, applying his unique perspective to the moving image. Beyond his work behind the lens, Vargas is focused on the empowerment of Black women and the advancement of LGBTQIA+ rights, serving as a founder member for the diversity committee and the San Francisco chapter chair for the non-profit organization American Photographic Artists.
