# Entrancing Surreal Portraiture Wyatt McCollum's Photography Distorts Reality By Vasiliki Marapas | Published 2013-10-29 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wyatt-mccollum-photography References: [mymodernmet](http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/wyatt-mccollum-surreal-photography) & [wyattsphotography](http://www.wyattsphotography.com/) Looking at Wyatt McCollum's photography, it's hard to believe he's only 21 years old. McCollum, who began photography after graduating high school, captures [surreal portraiture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jeffrey-deitch-art-gallery), playing with [space, light, depth, color](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/profiles-in-color) (and gravity) for a truly hypnagogic effect. The images of solitary figures convey complex emotions of loneliness and contemplation that elicit powerful, often empathetic responses from the viewer. McCollum often attaches a personal narrative to each photo, but these images don't need to an accompanying story to inspire or arouse whoever is looking at them; the photos speak for themselves. This especially [vivid series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/still-life-1) is immediately intriguing to the eye. It is only upon closer inspection that the layered complexity of McCollum's work becomes apparent. McCollum's imaginative series is a definite must-see. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.7/10 - Popularity: 99% | Activity: 94% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Photography](https://www.trendhunter.com/stylephotography) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Surreal Portraiture:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore new ways of capturing and distorting reality in portraiture photography to create captivating and thought-provoking images. - **Emotive Photography:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Use photography to convey complex emotions and elicit powerful responses from viewers by experimenting with lighting, composition, and subject matter. - **Personal Narrative in Art:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporate personal narratives into artistic works to enhance the viewer's understanding and emotional connection to the artwork. ### Where This Applies - **Photography:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Push the boundaries of traditional photography techniques to create unique and mesmerizing visual experiences. - **Art:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Blend different art forms, such as photography and storytelling, to create innovative and immersive artistic experiences. - **Creative Media:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Combine creativity and technology to develop new ways of storytelling and visual expression that captivate and engage audiences. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Painting-Immersive Photo Exhibits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-ground-exhibition.md) - [Otherwordly Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/william-monk.md) - [Blurry Abstract Photography Exhibits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/optical-allusion.md) - [AI-Generated Poetic Photo Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emilio-alarcn.md) - [Wonderous Art Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/your-psychoacoustic-light-ensemble.md) - [British Youth-Culture Photography Books](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/home-and-away.md) - [Abstract Geometric Solo Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/impermanent-state-of-being.md) - [Paper Curvature Lights](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paper-curves.md) - [AI-Generated Real-World Transformations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-generated-world.md)