My surreal portraits consist primarily of photographs of window display figures, and are characterized by their luminous colors, ambiguous moods, and surreal juxtapositions. My surreal portraits were inspired by my figure and portrait painting and collage (visible at www.sharonhudson.com), which combine human figures with patterns and layers of reality.  Seeking a different use of depth and surreal space, I began to photograph naturally occurring overlaid images, such as shadows, objects behind fences, and window reflections. 

Soon I decided to artificially create surreal layered photographs.  This was before digital photography, so I created in-camera multiple exposures using color slide film.  Almost all my mannequin portraits derive from these in-camera multiple exposures.  I discovered that multiple exposures yielded luminous, otherworldly colors otherwise unobtainable in photography, which you can see in the "Mixed Emulsions" and "Mannequins" exhibits in my fine art photography gallery.