WorkPhotography

Leland Bobbé's photographs of New York drag queens in half drag

In his latest series, Half Drag, Leland Bobbé considers the fantasy versus the reality of drag and how a person is transformed when they become a "queen".

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All images courtesy of Leland Bobbé. Via Creative Boom submission.

All images courtesy of Leland Bobbé. Via Creative Boom submission.

Featuring Crystal Demure, Honey LaBronx, Jordan Fox, Miss Fame and Pusse Couture, to name but a few - all in half drag, quite literally. In Leland's own words: "With these images my intention is to capture both the male and the alter ego female side of these subjects in one image in order to explore the cross over between males and females and to break down the physical barriers that separate them.

"This, in turn, questions the normative ideas about gender and gender fluidity. Through the power of hair and makeup, these men are able to completely transform themselves and find their female side while showing their male side simultaneously. These are composed in camera and are not two separate images digitally composed."

More of his work can be found at www.lelandbobbe.com.

Person in half drag with voluminous golden waves on one side and purple eyeshadow blending into bare skin, wearing pearl drop earrings against a grey background
A person shown half in drag with long dark wavy hair and full makeup featuring purple eyeshadow and pink lips on one side, and bare face on the other, wearing a rhinestone-encrusted ring and dangling crystal earring
A drag performer shown half in drag, with grey hair streaked with yellow on one side and bold black eyeshadow and blue lipstick, against a grey background
Portrait split down the middle showing a drag queen's male side on the right with natural features and bold pink lipstick, and female alter ego on the left with platinum blonde wavy hair, blue ribbon and jewelled earring
Person in half drag with reddish-brown curled hair, glamorous eye makeup and bold pink lips on one side, masculine features on the other side against grey background
A drag queen in half drag, with one side of the face showing masculine features and the other side featuring feminine makeup, styling and a grey finger wave hairstyle
Portrait of a drag queen in half drag with vibrant green wavy hair on one side and bold pink lipstick, showing masculine and feminine features simultaneously
Portrait split between masculine and feminine presentation, with reddish-brown hair, purple eyeshadow on one side, and a vibrant purple flower hair accessory
Person in half drag showing male and female sides, with blonde curled hair on one side and dramatic makeup with red lips on the other
Person in half drag with textured hair on one side and makeup with blue eyeshadow and dark lipstick on the other, wearing a bright blue beaded ring
Person in half drag with vibrant red hair on one side, dramatic eye makeup, and magenta lipstick against a grey background
Person in half drag with black wavy hair on one side and shaved head on the other, wearing a white eye-shaped accessory, pink lipstick, diamond ring and dangling earring against grey background
A person shown split down the middle, displaying masculine features on one side and feminine drag presentation with curled dark hair, dramatic eye makeup and purple teardrop earrings on the other
Person in half drag with burgundy hair and dramatic purple eyeshadow on one side of face, holding gold sculptural prop near their face against grey background
Drag performer in half drag with one side showing masculine features and the other side styled with voluminous blonde wavy hair, dramatic eye makeup and black lipstick
A person displaying half drag makeup and styling, with vibrant red wavy hair and jewellery on one side, and natural male features on the other, against a grey background
A drag performer shown in half drag, with blonde wavy hair on one side and short dark hair on the other, wearing dramatic eye makeup and bright pink lipstick, with ornate jewelled teardrop earrings
Person in half drag with curled hair and gold eyeshadow on one side of face, wearing a jewelled drop earring
Person in half drag with blonde wavy hair on one side and dark hair on the other, wearing bold pink lipstick and eyeshadow against a grey background
Performer in half drag with vibrant red hair on one side and natural features on the other, wearing ornate jewelled hand jewellery and dramatic eye makeup
Person in half drag with blonde curled hair on one side and masculine features on the other, wearing purple eyeshadow and lipstick with gold jewellery
Performer with half their face in full drag makeup with purple eyeshadow and glitter, the other half showing their natural male features, wearing a long chain earring
Person in half drag with purple voluminous hair on one side, dramatic makeup and nail art, against grey background
Person in half drag with one side of face displaying dramatic eye makeup and purple lips, wearing a multicoloured beaded earring and holding long black hair
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