Signs of the Zodiac is a still life photography series that interprets the twelve astrological signs through visual metaphor and evocative compositions. Each piece reflects the defining characteristics and mythologies of the zodiac, using carefully curated objects, textures, and lighting to tell the stories of each sign. From Virgo’s meticulous organization to Scorpio’s dark sensuality, every image contains multiple layers steeped in symbolism and imagination. This series explores the interplay between the universal and the personal, blending traditional astrological archetypes with modern visual storytelling. The compositions are inspired by a range of artistic influences and informed by research and interviews, creating timeless yet contemporary works. Designed to engage viewers on an emotional and intellectual level, each image invites reflection on the traits and identities tied to the zodiac.

So many friends contributed to this work, I’m still working on this section.

For Galleries

Signs of the Zodiac is a photographic still life series created to be seen in person. Each composition invites slow looking, symbolic interpretation, and emotional reflection. The work resonates most when experienced as a printed image where texture, light, and detail can reveal themselves fully over time.

This section is for curators, gallerists, and exhibition organizers interested in showing the work in either group or solo exhibitions.

Details

• Total Works: 13 (12 zodiac signs + 1 “curtain call” piece)

• Ideal Exhibition Format: 16x20 archival prints

• Edition Info: Each 16x20 print is limited to 5

• Display Options: Framed or unframed (bare prints may hang from rails or clips)

• Availability: Available as a full series or as selected works; partial exhibitions must reference the larger Signs of the Zodiac series

Installation

• Prints are prepared for flexible display; framing, hanging, and spacing can be adapted to suit your exhibition space

• Interpretive materials (titles, zodiac traits, mythology notes) and a companion booklet are available

Booking + Inquiries

For exhibition inquiries or to request a PDF overview of the series, please contact:
dtjester@gmail.com

Sign: Aries
Dates: Mar 21 - Apr 19
Traits: Bold, impulsive, courageous, energetic, headstrong

The Concept:

Originally I was thinking about doing a "tip of the spear" concept for Aries, but I never really loved the idea and it turned out to be harder than I expected to source a spear.

While I was still turning it over in my head, I noticed the centerpiece at my wife's birthday dinner. It was a big, candle-laden arrangement that immediately caught my eye. It reminded me of an exhibition I had seen at SFO airport in early 2015, still life photographs by Olivia Parker from her Botanical Thoughts series. That work had a quiet depth to it that really stuck with me. I took a quick test image of the table setting that night and realized this was the direction I wanted to go.

I felt like the candles could be arranged and presented in a way that captured layered symbolism for Aries, not just as a fire sign, but as something deeper and more instinctual. For me, the candles represent forward motion and action, but also create a kind of visual flight path for the goat that saved Phrixus. I arranged the candles roughly in the shape of the Aries glyph to tie it all together.

The way the candles stretch into the darkness also felt right for Aries, moving forward on instinct without needing to see the full path. There is a sense of urgency, but also courage, in trusting that first step. And like many Aries stories, it is a lone path, carved out by the one who dares to go first.

Sign: Taurus
Dates: Apr 20 – May 20
Traits: Patient, grounded, sensual, strategic, luxurious

The Concept:

For Europa’s Revenge, representing Taurus, I came up with the concept pretty early on (or maybe more accurately, a theme for the concept). I didn’t have a clear idea of what the image would look like, but I knew I wanted to subvert the myth of Zeus kidnapping Europa. What if, whatever the image ended up being, I was telling the story of what Europa did after the myth? The typical traits of a Taurus felt like a natural fit for that kind of narrative. Patient, grounded, indulgent. Someone who would plot their revenge over time and execute it with care.

Since Taureans are also known for their love of food, beauty, and luxury, I imagined an opulent dining table setting, something fit for a god. But beneath that surface, I wanted hints that something else was going on. Evidence that Europa had been planning something. I sat on this concept for too long and finally started putting it together close to my not-at-all strict or enforced deadline of the first day of Taurus season.

I knew I wanted a bull skull. I knew I wanted chalices and grapes. I sourced the props and found a random bag of grapes in my freezer, and I just started shooting. Immediately, I liked the idea that was unfolding. It was somewhere between a dining scene and an altar. I decided to use both red tablecloths I had, one as the base and the other to represent flowing red. This was one of the first compositions I tested, and it was love. I slept on it, refined it a bit, and that was that. The last installment in the series.

Sign: Gemini
Dates: May 21 - Jun 20
Traits: Dual, reflective, changeable, perceptive, sharp

The Concept:

Illusory Twins started during a creative session I called "Birthday Spiral," shot within a few days of my birthday when emotions always run a little higher for me. I went into the studio mostly to burn off some negative energy without a full concept in mind but with a few loose ideas I wanted to try. When I am doing this kind of testing, I often turn to Oxana for assistance and somehow I never get tired of finding new ways to light her.

One thread I was following came from a beautiful portrait I had recently seen, where there was a distorted reflection off to the side of the subject. I started playing with Oxana and a mirror arrangement to explore how two mannequin heads interacted with each other. I had a feeling the portrait I had seen did not use a normal mirror, and as I worked I noticed something interesting with the two-way acrylic mirror I often use. It gave me both a clear reflection and a glimpse of the imperfections in the worn acrylic, superimposed over the reflected image. That roughness added something I did not expect and I leaned into it.

I lit the scene with a sunset lamp, adjusting the colors until I found a tone that felt right. Later I realized it aligned closely with a classic Gemini color. I kept chasing the feeling of the original portrait but something new was taking shape, and it was only after a few days of obsessively studying the images that I realized what I had. There was a beautiful contrast between Light Oxana and Dark Oxana, between reflection and transmission, between clarity and imperfection. Without planning it, I had made a perfect metaphor for my own sign, Gemini.

It is important to understand that my creativity often works this way. Sometimes I have to make the thing first and only afterward does the meaning reveal itself. In this case, I had to see the image before the metaphor machine in my mind could fire up. Illusory Twins is one of those rare moments when it all clicks into place.

Sign: Cancer
Dates: Jun 21 - Jul 22
Traits: Nurturing, reflective, protective, sentimental, tender

The Concept:

The idea for this image started well before the Signs of the Zodiac series had taken shape. I had been thinking about building a landscape out of craft paper for years, ever since a conversation with my friend and stylist Alicia Cannizzo around 2015 or 2016. We talked about creating a paper landscape and photographing it the way you would a real one, with all the attention to light, depth, and texture.

When I started building the set, I was thinking less about the solstice itself and more about the full moon that would rise around the same time. I wanted a scene that felt expansive but still quiet, illuminated by moonlight. Somewhere in the back of my mind, Cancer was already there, shaping the way the set came together, though the idea of a full Zodiac series had not formed yet.

As I worked, the connections grew stronger. The cool tones, the dreamlike reflection, the solitary figure standing under the moon, all carried the emotional weight associated with Cancer. There was a tenderness and a reflectiveness that made it feel like peeking into a moment of self-care from a deeply introspective person.

It was only after I had this image and Illusory Twins that the idea for Signs of the Zodiac revealed itself. Together, they opened up the possibility of a larger body of work, one that could use still life and constructed worlds to explore each sign in its own way.

Sign: Leo
Dates: Jul 23 – Aug 22
Traits: Confident, expressive, warm, proud, radiant

The Concept:

Leo was the first image I shot specifically for the Signs of the Zodiac series. The earlier entries, Gemini and Cancer, were created for other reasons and found their place later. With Leo, I set out from the beginning to make something for the series.

The concept came together quickly after a conversation with photographer Tawnya Mahoney from Ontario, Canada. We had a back and forth through Instagram messages where she shared her thoughts about Leo energy. She described it as strong, confident, bright, and proud. She said she always associated the color yellow with Leo, and compared the sign to the sun itself. Leo loves being the brightest presence in the room, radiating warm and optimistic energy that powers everything around it. As a plant, she saw Leo as a sunflower. Tall, strong, and bright.

That description was enough to set the direction for the image. I started working from there, building a scene that captured that solar, vibrant energy. The only real change along the way was the background color. I originally planned to use blue, but every blue background I tried pulled the scene darker than I wanted. Eventually, I shifted toward something closer to a sunset, which gave the image the warmth and optimism that felt right for Leo.

Sign: Virgo
Dates: Aug 23 – Sept 22
Traits: Detail-oriented, practical, analytical, thoughtful, methodical

The Concept:

I start each new sign with a bit of research, reading articles and asking questions. For Virgo, the traits were consistent across every source. Meticulous attention to detail, strong analytical skills, a practical approach to life. Organized, reliable, and deeply dedicated to creating order and perfection.

The next step is talking to someone who identifies with the sign I am working on. In this case, my friend Yunuén was full of ideas. She shared that Virgo attention to detail often shows up as a love for menial tasks and small activities. I am pretty sure that is when the idea of making an "I Spy" style image first crossed my mind, but I wanted more first-hand Virgo interaction before deciding.

It turns out my Instagram friend Bethany is not only a talented art director and creative consultant, but also a Virgo. It was my conversation with her that helped solidify the final concept. The idea was to make a still life that could be searched, filled with hidden items and quiet themes for viewers to find.

Here is the challenge. Those "I Spy" books, photographed by Walter Wick, are packed with objects. I needed to find a way to create an image that felt organized and orderly but still offered layers to discover. I also wanted to build the scene using objects I already had around me.

There was a natural solution that lined up with a small obsession of mine: desk accoutrement. I have collected vintage and interesting desk items for years, and many of them fit Virgo’s themes and colors perfectly.

The final still life became an overhead view of a carefully arranged desk, filled with objects a typical Virgo might appreciate. The desk is organized, but not everything is obvious. The list written in the notebook is not just a checklist. It hints at riddles, references, and small moments of critical thinking. Just enough to make a Virgo pause, look again, and find the hidden order waiting beneath the surface.

Sign: Libra
Dates: Sept 23 – Oct 22
Traits: Romantic, intellectual, harmonious, idealistic, reflective

The Concept:

For Libra, I wanted to focus on the ideas of romance and intellect. One of the unique things about Libra is that it is the only sign symbolized by an inanimate object, the scales. At the time I was working on this concept, it felt too easy to lean directly into imagery of scales. I wanted to find another way to represent balance, something that would also reflect the push and pull between traits that might not always sit comfortably together.

To be honest, I am writing this quite a bit later and I cannot remember exactly how I landed on the final composition, style, or color palette. Somewhere along the way, I decided the metronome would be the anchor object for the still life. The idea was that it would oscillate between the intellectual side and the romantic side of a Libra, keeping time between head and heart.

Throughout the still life, there are themes of romance, intellect, wisdom, and justice. The metronome represents the rhythm and balance between these traits, while the other objects help fill out the emotional and symbolic landscape.

Finding the right metronome turned out to be harder than I expected. I thought it would be easy to find one at an antique or thrift store, because I felt like I had seen them everywhere. But that was before I was actually looking for one. I went to every antique store I could think of in my city and a few neighboring cities too. One of my last stops was a local thrift store, which I knew was a long shot. After making a pass through the store, I ended up looking through the books when I ran into a neighbor. When I told her what I was searching for, she stopped dead and said, "I literally have one in my car right now."

Sign: Scorpio
Dates: Oct 23 – Nov 21
Traits: Intense, transformative, mysterious, emotional, powerful

The Concept:
Going into Scorpio, I wanted to present a more balanced view of the sign. In my research, I found that Scorpio tends to get a reputation built around a narrow set of traits. That reputation is not entirely wrong, but it felt incomplete. I wanted to explore the deeper themes that Scorpio points to, especially the cycles of life, death, and rebirth.

Some of the earliest ideas I explored were playful. They had the right aesthetic, but I would have had to reverse engineer the symbolism to make them work. The concept that stuck came when I decided to incorporate an acknowledgment of Día de los Muertos, which falls during Scorpio season. I started thinking about what an ofrenda for a Scorpio might look like. The image would serve as a kind of altar in memory of a Scorpio, filled with objects tied to the sign’s defining traits.

I knew from the beginning that I wanted a sugar skull, or calavera, to be the centerpiece. I asked my friend Yunuén to help, and she painted two plastic skulls for me, one white and one black, each with symbolism that spoke to Scorpio’s nature. The plan was to pick one, but as soon as I began test shooting, I realized I couldn't choose. Both had a distinct presence.

That brought me back to an earlier idea I had set aside. Scorpio and Orion are constellations bound in an eternal chase. They are never visible in the sky at the same time. I had once thought about creating a reversible composition, one that could be rotated depending on which figure you wanted to represent. Now, with both skulls in hand, that idea started to take shape again.

The final composition isn’t quite an altar, but it echoes the structure and symbolism of one. The image can be rotated to show either the white skull or the black skull on top. Each orientation offers its own mood and tone. The design leans into Scorpio’s deeper themes of transformation and duality. The dagger and candle bring in a sharper emotional energy, one that is passionate, intense, and sometimes difficult to contain.

Sign: Sagittarius
Dates: Nov 22 – Dec 21
Traits: Adventurous, curious, independent, philosophical, direct

The Concept:
The original concept for Sagittarius was going to be a kind of visual dictionary. That felt like the right move for a sign known for its straightforward and sometimes transactional nature. I’ve always liked the visual encyclopedias I had growing up, and this gave me a chance to turn my experience in product photography into something more personal. I liked the idea of using those tools to make art.

As with a lot of the signs, I sat on the idea for a while. I felt like I didn’t have the right props, and I didn’t want to go spend a bunch of money trying to buy the exact items I imagined. Eventually, I decided I just needed to start. I grabbed a little globe and a few travel-related objects, thinking about how Sagittarius gravitates toward travel and learning through experience. I started shooting, sketching, and reflecting on how the objects interacted and whether they added to the metaphor or distracted from it.

Over time, the image evolved into something closer to a vintage travel poster. That felt just as fitting. It still spoke to Sagittarius themes of exploration, movement, and a curiosity about the world.

People ask about the name of this piece a lot. The truth is, I couldn’t come up with a title I liked. The file that came off the camera was named “Sagittarius1210.jpg,” and after thinking about it, I realized that maybe a Sagittarius would leave it just like that. It’s simple, practical, and it does the job. Out of curiosity, I looked up whether 1210 had any significance in numerology related to Sagittarius. It did, and that helped reinforce the decision. It might not be poetic, but it was intentional. That’s the name of the photograph.

Sign: Capricorn
Dates: Dec 22 – Jan 19
Traits: Disciplined, ambitious, traditional, resilient, focused

The Concept:
All of the traits commonly associated with Capricorn reminded me of the Age of Sail (One of my favorite book series is the Aubrey/Maturin series, also known as "Master and Commander"). Wooden ships, disciplined crews, and the kind of people who built their lives around purpose and structure. My initial concept was a still life of a workbench, with a partially constructed model ship. I actually had a wooden sailing ship model that someone gave me a few years before.

Once I looked into what it would take to build even part of it, I realized I didn’t have the time, energy, or patience. Those models are incredibly intricate and time-consuming. Basically like building an actual ship. So I went back to the drawing board.

One day in the studio, I happened to glance through the open viewfinder of a medium format camera I had sitting on a table. It reminded me of something I’d tried shooting years before. It was an image where you could see what the camera itself was looking at. That became the foundation for the final concept. I realized I could still work with all of the same Capricorn themes, just through a different frame.

The final image shows a ship-themed still life, viewed through the camera’s waist-level finder. It let me combine several of my interests: traditional photography tools, maritime symbolism, and structured composition. It also allowed for a nod to the discipline and heritage Capricorn is known for, while layering in a more personal creative perspective.

If I’m honest, I had ambivalent feelings about this shot at first. I wasn’t in a great headspace while I was working on it, and I worried I hadn’t given it the attention or care it deserved. But as time passed, I found myself appreciating the image more. It became a reminder to trust the process. Even when I don’t feel fully present, the work can still come through. And this piece, it turns out, has resonated with a lot of people. It's a very popular entry in the series.

Sign: Aquarius
Dates: Jan 20 – Feb 18
Traits: Humanitarian, intellectual, unconventional, intuitive, fluid

The Concept:
Aquarius is an interesting sign. It’s an air sign, but its symbolism and mythology are heavily tied to water. The water bearer is its defining symbol, and that contradiction between air sign and water theme became the starting point for this piece.

In researching Aquarius and talking to a few close friends who either are Aquarians or have strong ties to them, a clear theme emerged: service to others. That gave me a reason to return to a photographic technique and aesthetic I had explored a lot in 2022 and 2023. I had been shooting glassware using black line lighting on a mirrored surface. The style naturally evokes themes of hospitality, food service, and shared experience. It also set the stage for deeper metaphors: filling one another’s cups, passing on wisdom, and nurturing through generosity.

One of the inspirations for this image was someone who had dedicated much of their career to education. That influence helped shape the idea of glassware as a stand-in for vessels of knowledge, compassion, and support. I composed the arrangement so the glasses loosely formed the shape of an A, adding another subtle reference to Aquarius.

This was one of those shoots where everything seemed to line up. My wonderful friend Yunuén, of Scorpio fame, suggested trying a blue or aqua background, so I added a gel to the light, and that ended up creating silver flecks throughout the image. The effect came from reflections bouncing off the mirrored surface, and it only reinforced the feeling I was chasing. Each small decision added to the symbolism.

Even the lighting technique itself carried weight. In black line lighting, no light touches the glass directly. Instead, the glass is revealed by the light around it. That became a kind of metaphor for Aquarian energy, amplifying others, working in service, and making space for people to shine.

Visually, I liked the way the glasses refracted and bent the lines of the others around them. The whole image feels fluid and dynamic, like water in motion. But there is no liquid in the scene. That tension is part of what makes Aquarius what it is, an air sign shaped by the language of water.

Sign: Pisces
Dates: Feb 19 – Mar 20
Traits: Introspective, emotional, imaginative, sensitive, dreamy

The Concept:
Pisces hit on a different level because my wife Alesia is a Pisces. I wanted to make this image not just for her, but really about her and the journey of self-discovery and alignment she has been on over the last two years. One of the things I’ve learned is that the way she and I process and store information is very different. When you look up typical Pisces traits, they align closely with how Alesia thinks and moves through the world.

I had a few loose ideas centered around abstract color and shape. One early thought was to use adhesive mirror tiles, like the kind found on a disco ball, to reflect multiple points of light back to the camera and defocus them to create something soft and ephemeral. When I finally stopped overthinking and started testing, I experimented with different light behaviors on the mirror tiles and a full-size disco ball I had on hand.

One night, I was reviewing some test shots on my phone in bed and noticed something. A defocused disco ball reflecting multiple colors back to the camera could become a colorful, impressionistic cloud. That’s when I decided to bring in the mannequin head, and the Pisces Brain Cloud was born.

Interestingly, I ended up making the final disco ball from the globe used in the Sagittarius image. The one I originally had was too large. As I fine-tuned the brain cloud, I discovered something about photographing mirrors. You can focus on the surface of the mirror, or you can focus on what is reflected in it. Since the disco ball itself was out of focus, I was able to position reflective elements at just the right distance so that they appeared sharp within the blur.

That’s how I introduced the reflection of the woman looking into a mirror, along with a line from an Emily Dickinson poem about searching for the self with lanterns. These layers, both visual and emotional, made the symbolism feel complete. The final image became a meditation on reflection, perception, and identity, exactly the kind of dreamy introspection that defines Pisces.

Sign: Epilogue
Dates: —
Traits: Reflective, sentimental, layered, reverent, self-aware

The Concept:
After a year of building, testing, and obsessing, this was the final shot. Curtain Call isn’t just a wrap on the series, it’s a quiet pause to take in what it meant to make all of this. The objects aren’t just props. They’re characters, callbacks, and companions from each of the signs, reunited on a makeshift stage. There’s a bit of theatricality in it, a little drama, a little playfulness.

This still life doesn’t belong to a single sign. It’s an epilogue. The mannequin from Gemini and Pisces, the skulls from Scorpio and Taurus, the ship from Capricorn, the candle from Aries. Every piece has earned its place. The composition is deliberate, but not too rigid. It’s arranged with the same energy as striking a set after closing night. You want to honor the work, but you’re also ready to rest.

The glowing ring light behind the disco ball reads almost like a spotlight (or a full moon), giving the scene a sense of ceremony. There’s a tenderness to this shot, and a little mischief too. Maybe it’s the final bow. Maybe it’s just a deep breath.