London-based photographer Chris Agius Burke explores the powerful themes of religion, sexuality and gender, with a focus on fashion portraiture, according to his bio. These images are housed in his Beautiful bondage collection.

We are introducing AOC readers to Burke’s photography at a time when the global obsession with the movie ‘50 Shades of Grey’ promises a major effect on fashion and Emma Watson has just delivered a major UN address on the empowerment of women. Within hours, the views of the patriarchy threatened Watson’s life, promising retribution by Friday.

Burke’s photos capture the complexity of women’s lives and the conflicting social messages of ‘50 Shades’ surrender and temporary submission with the reality that 40,000 women a year continue to be brutally flogged in Sudan for inappropriate dress.

These soft and submissive portraits of female femininity also contrast with Sunday’s dramatic images by Erin Trieb of Kurdish women fighters taking on ISIS in Syria. The most startling takeaway from these brave women is the headline that ISIS is very afraid of being killed by a woman. Such a death at the hands of a woman denies the male soldier a place in heaven.

Together these two image essays capture the essence of Anne of Carversville’s editorial focus ‘From fashion to flogging, telling women’s stories’. ~ Anne