Capturing kisses: Andy Barter's photographs of embraces - in pictures

Photography’s best known smacker – Robert Doisneau’s 1950 Kiss By The Hotel De Ville – may have been a set-up, but it was still naturalistic, and oozing with passion. By contrast, this is kissing as art: meticulously stage-managed aerial shots of entwined couples, naked from the waist up. → Photograph: Andy Barter

The idea behind the shots is to create a single organic shape from two figures. Each couple, with just their shoulders, heads and faces visible, forms an elegant yin and yang symbol against a black backdrop. → Photograph: Andy Barter

It took photographer Andy Barter nearly two hours to create each shot. In the male/female pictures, the men’s shoulders were usually too overpowering at first, so he had to adjust their positions, inch by inch, until the balance was right. From a series of 10 shots, only one couple isn’t “real” (picture 5), but all were individuals hired from acting or modelling agencies who brought their other halves along. → Photograph: Andy Barter

The art-directed, clinical beauty of each photograph makes the fact the subjects are kissing appear almost incidental – as if their heads are required to be in that position to achieve the desired effect and locking lips makes it easier. They are exquisite, but not erotic. → Photograph: Andy Barter

Photographs of kisses – hard to avoid at this time of year – will always have about them the whiff of an Athena poster. With these abstract, graphic shots, Barter has avoided that particular pitfall. Photograph: Andy Barter

From the series Kiss, by Andy Barter. Photograph: Andy Barter

From the series Kiss, by Andy Barter. Photograph: Andy Barter

From the series Kiss, by Andy Barter. Photograph: Andy Barter

From the series Kiss, by Andy Barter. Photograph: Andy Barter

From the series Kiss, by Andy Barter. Photograph: Andy Barter