For some time now I’ve been talking about wanting to have an exhibition of my photography but in my usual fashion, I’ve been talking more than I’ve been doing. That was until today. A friend who knew about the talk wanted to know when. I said 12 months. He wanted a more definitive time. So, I have until 1st March 2011 to have an opening of my work, to coincide with Mardi Gras. Talk stops now.
Now… how the hell do I make this work?
Several weeks ago I had an amazing email from a reader of this blog who, despite being straight, identifies with a lot of what I write on this blog. TM is a 30-something year old straight reader from Germany who at the end of an email full of compliments and observations, told me he’d bought me a gift that he knew I would like.
In a bookshop in his home city he’d found all these treasures that he knew I’d love so bought me and sent to me a stunning copy of my much adored “Bear Pond” by the legendary Bruce Weber, Mario Testino’s “Portraits” book and a special edition of Stern, again by Bruce Weber called “Roadside America”.
How do I ever thank someone for that kind of generosity? I write this blog for a little bit of self-therapy, as a way to interact with many different people around the world and because it’s fun. There are some perks here and there, like being invited to various things I wouldn’t have been invited to otherwise and the odd freebie here and there, but being sent beautiful books worth stupid amounts of money is just humbling and flattering. I’ve actually been almost too nervous to truly enjoy Bear Pond. For me it’s almost the holy grail of photography books and a stranger felt compelled to send it to me.
TM, I haven’t stopped thanking you and I don’t know when I will. Thank you!
This morning at 4am I arrived at the Sydney Opera House, expecting Sydney to be all cynical (a bit like me perhaps) and to have not shown up for the Spencer Tunick photo shoot. I was very pleasantly surprised to find out, a couple of hours later as I walked up the steps of the iconic building, to realise that 5,200 people had turned out of all kinds of body shapes, sizes, ages, genders and sexualities.
The organisers expected 2,500 people so we more than doubled their expectations and it was an amazing and liberating experience. Some would say that my nude body doesn’t need any more liberating, but to have over 5,000 other naked bodies around me was fantastic. Some have said it felt tribal and completely non-judgemental and I would have to agree. They guys would probably argue that the cold weather was doing nothing to help a lot of us and that’s true too, but we were all in the same boat.
It was quite an emotional moment when I realised that, even though this was a Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras event, about 50% of participants were straight (my estimation) and that not a single one of them was concerned about being nude with gays and lesbians. Most people were nervous, some were not. I couldn’t help but think, how many friends were seeing each other nude for the first time? How many people were running into acquaintances unexpectedly at their most vulnerable and how many of them might be more confident in their bodies after the experience.
I’ll happily admit there were people I knew there that I’d been curious to see nude and now I’ve ticked that curiosity off. It’s human nature to have a look I think. I’m glad I took the plunge and joined in. It’s a once in a lifetime experience and I loved it.
http://www.aussielicious.com.au/images/1002/HOT-GUY.jpg
I was chatting to this guy on a nudist site and I really liked the quality of his photography and the lighting. His name is Darin and he runs a company called Draw Group. He and a friend are challenging each other to take self portraits. They were arguing about the meaning or various meanings and tones of the word “there”. So they are exploring the various meanings in their self portraits. At this stage I only have Darin’s shots.
Above, from left to right, we have “Sit right there”, “Hanging there” and “Waiting there”. As you can see, Darin his no problem with getting his gear off for a photograph, or in general it seems. His photographs are very thoughtful and quite moody in my opinion. I’m looking forward to seeing more!
I’m toying with taking up a similar challenge. Any suggestions for words? Any suggestion of “Cock” or anything else to try and get me to post full frontal will be giggled at and ignored.
When people dispute European countries like Germany being more open minded to nudity they clearly haven’t seen magazine shoots like this one. Geil Magazine has just released these photos of the beautiful Jeff Tomsik in all his glory. Now I haven’t seen the context of these photos and how they are presented but not many non adult magazines show full frontal male nudity and even more rarely in a beautiful shoot like this.
Jeff is an Ohio boy and is only 23 years old and according to his Model Mayhem profile, a bit religious so we’ll see how he goes with all the attention from us gay boys. These shots are the work of Joe Lally and I think I’ll be keeping an eye out for more of his work!
Yesterday saw the media gathering for Spencer Tunick’s photoshoot which is part of the Mardi Gras. Next monday morning, 3000 people will cover the opera house steps and inside the main auditorium for one of his famous installations.
I was invited to the media launch yesterday but couldn’t make it because of work. They had two nude models lying on tables with sushi for the masses to eat. The local news reports of course made jokes about wasabi. I can’t wait to do this on monday morning. That is, if the shoot goes ahead. At the time of the launch yesterday, Tunick who had just flown in, was without luggage, or cameras thanks to the services of Qantas that has lost it all.
A friend and I were discussing photography last night and the subject of “male nude on rocks” came up. I think most amateur photographers who shoot nudes at some point touch on the subject of male nudes on rocks. There is usually a rocky area that is suitable somewhere accessible and there are all sorts of angles to play with. From that point I started thinking about other areas that have become photographic cliches.
Male nudes touch on lots of these cliches and one I actually really like when done well is a waterfall. Francois Rousseau has done a spectacular job with this theme, a group of male nudes in a waterfall, as have countless other photographers. Part of the challenge of learning as a photographer is to explore these cliches but to put your own spin on them. Anyone know of a sexy waterfall?
Tonight I seem to be a little out of sorts. Class didn’t go very well. I seemed to be struggling with some moves but they are great moves that the teacher is teaching us so it’s all good and worth persisting.
I don’t know if it’s just tiredness, not having worked out for two weeks, valentines day, stressing about money and replacing the car or a combination of all of the above. Fingers crossed a good night’s sleep will help as well as a workout in the morning.
Now for the question. I’m thinking of selling some prints of my photography through the blog but struggling to determine a price. Any tips from artists or art/photography consumers would be greatly appreciated!
Photos like this often grab my attention, not just because of the perfect butt but because of the simplicity of the image. The model is a dancer and it just standing there letting the lighting and reflections do the work.
If you like your boys baby faced but with bad boy tattoos, piercings and BIG low hanging nuts, then Tyler is your man. Tyler was photographed recently by Dylan Rosser and is now up in all his glory (the bits you can’t see here) on Dylan’s website. You can see how big and low those nuts are above, and if you click they get bigger!
Tyler has done a some stripping and recently won a Mr Nude America title. You go Tyler.
Karim Konrad has just released these new shots of sometime model and full time hair stylist Luke Nicholson. Karim has a really cool camp sensibility with his photos but often throws in a good dose of butch at the same time.
It’s the 31st January and the first month of 2010 is already over. The Project 365 challenge has not been easy. I have often found myself not far from going to bed with no photo taken for the day. I’m thinking of making it even harder for myself by setting monthly themes for myself, such as a colour, style, or content.
Here are the first 31 photos for the year.
Aussielicious TV - Episode 11. Project 365 - January from Brenton Parry on Vimeo.
Today the media found out about Spencer Tunick’s Mardi Gras plans to build a “base” to the Sydney Opera House out of 2000 nude volunteers. Several readers of the blog and many many of my friend have forwarded me the links to various news sites.
I’m well on top of it. I registered to take part weeks and weeks ago. I can’t wait. I know Spencer has his detractors but I just want to be in a group of 2000 nude people on the Opera House steps. Last time I was alone. It’s not an experience that comes around often so I really intend to be there.
On saturday I was assisting a friend of mine who is a professional photographer on a shoot in a stunning house in Surry Hills, Sydney. Before the model turned up he was using me to test the lighting etc. So as a result I have a few new photos. What have I learnt from this? That I’m my own worst critic and I should never shave my head again.
I shaved it for another photoshoot by the guy that shot the black and white shots of me and he is working on a series and wants all the guys to have cropped hair.
So back to Saturday’s photos. I actually think my body looks better when I’m goofing around in the background being a dickhead (shot on the left) than it does when I’m TRYING to look good, see example on the right. Oh well. I’ll just try and bloody relax in photos from now on then.
As someone that learnt to swim at the age of 3 and spent most of my summer existence in or near the water, and someone that loves photography, it’s only natural that I want to try underwater photography. But the investment in equipment is a bit out of my range at this point. Who knows, maybe I’ll save for a small digital snappy underwater camera to dabble but for now I’ll content myself with looking at other beautiful imagery shot by others.
I found Valdes Art House today with these beautiful images of people swimming. Water instantly relaxes me, just the sheer power and rhythmical nature of it’s movements almost hypnotise me.
