Nelson and the male ego as expressed through the body physique

Through my years of photographing the male human body form that there lies an immense need and desire for men love themselves in a very narcissistic way. We are lucky in this day and age that we have found the simple methods in which to create and sculpt the body to whatever means we see fit, and that the only thing that really determines if we can achieve this goal is our sheer determination, will-power and desire to make it happen. With the right combination of physical exercise, supplements, nutrition, and mental stamina to just do it, it can all be achieved. Many of the guys that I photograph with really muscular physiques have this mental ability and perhaps some plain old good genetics that allow them to look the way they do. But I know that there is more, and that in lies the question: Why? I believe it has to do with a combination of sexual desire (attraction from others), vanity (attraction of themselves), and ego (self-centered, self-absorbed). The male physique (whether it be Asia, Caucasian or otherwise), when molded and shaped into what they believe makes them look better, sexier and hotter, is something that completely self-absorbed and ego-driven. I have been there. Done that. I remember the first time during my teenage years seeing my arms ‘grow’ bigger from doing simple push-ups. Rush. Cool. I was so excited by it, that I bought mail order workout manuals with drawings of Arnold Schwarzenegger doing different exercises. My brothers must have thought I was some freak. It was all ego.

Portraiture and Kwunho revisited

What is portraiture? Before taking photography seriously, I never would have used this word. And even during the time when I was photographing the male nude, I would have only said that I shoot people photography. Maybe it was simply because portraiture demanded more from the photographer and I wasn’t going to be pinned to the term. Or maybe because the nude photography that I was doing was not what I considered to be portraiture. I never categorized my work to such detail. I was shooting the male nude and I was interested in form, texture, and of how light fell onto the body and face. The face, if it was to be in the photograph, must be natural, and the expression had to come from the heart, not the head. It makes a lot of difference in the end and I can see through an image for what it is, and for what it’s not. I think now, after shooting as much as I have on the face and body, I have a better idea of what the word portraiture is about, and it has to do with a realm of photography that I find very challenging, yet exciting. It is not easy, but for some reason, I find it very natural.

Every person I photograph is different in how I approach a shoot. Some need time and a great deal of patience. And others, I just need a moment or two. Photographing the essence of a person requires trust and vulnerability. Trust because this person who holds the camera up to you might be then asking you to take off your clothes, or photograph a side of you that might you might not consider flattering, or maybe it’s because I am asking you to be yourself, and many people, haven’t a clue as to who they are. And vulnerability because there has to be something there fragile in that giving of one’s self the scrutiny of the camera, to the person on the other side, may it be me, or you, the blog viewer. Vulnerability is a desired trait in the shooting session, as only then, that we can get inside the person.

Developing ’style’ to your photography and Rick in the flesh…

Looking at photographs of Rick, a young energetic dancer I had the pleasure to photograph, I was happy to find several shots that caught my attention. This is one of them. Many people ask if they can come to my photography sessions to learn, to see what I do. And how is that I can capture the human body the way I do. Frankly, I don’t do much, except set up the lighting, put some music on, and shoot. I pretty well leave most of the work to the model, which in this case, is a dancer. I let the model decide what they want to project to me. Tell me what you want to say! And I’ll try to photograph it.

What most people then don’t have a clue about, is in editing and deciding what to do with the photographs after a shoot. I have told my students to take many photographs of whoever it is, and decide later when editing, what is a good photograph, or a bad one. Forget about the photo-shop manipulation. Just pick out the ones that strike your eye as good. I used to do this with a grease pen (back in the days of film), but now, we have a thing called a computer and software that makes it all so easy for us. Then go back and re-edit!

Of course, I am talking about photographs that are meant for personal usage, when you have control over what you think looks good, and you have to please no one else. Only then, will you have developed a ’style’ to what you do. Not everyone will agree or like what you do, but be open to honest, good criticism.

Well, there you go. I didn’t expect to write about editing when I decided to post this photograph of Rick up, but oh, what the heck!

Kevin & Madonna’s Erotica get it on…

This is what I wrote about Kevin in my book, The Asian Male – 2.AM: “I met Kevin many years ago while partying and finally mustered the nerve to ask if he was interested in modeling for me. He was shocked that I asked and I was surprised that he agreed. After a few initial meetings to discuss what he was comfortable with, we did the shoot one day in the heat of summer. What I enjoyed about photographing Kevin was that he was not at all shy about showing off his more erotic side to the sounds of Madonna’s Erotica.”

That was many years ago, back in 2007. I look back at this photograph and I feel that the energy is still there. Kevin’s body is lean, almost boney. What I like about this photograph is that it’s compositionally very pleasing to my eye, the body structure and line ziggurats up and down across the page. I like how we don’t get to see Kevin’s full face, but instead we see his erotic lips and I can sense his eyes, in deep sensuality. His jeans slip down, and past his hip bone… just enough for our eyes to slip down with him. Am I right? Of course I am. This is why this photograph reveals and excites, without having to give it away. When we communicate photograph effectively, it is all in the mind.

The unabashed Matthew Lam takes it off... well, not quite!

I had the pleasure of meeting a super nice guy, a model that I initially met a few months ago when shooting for my FIFTYFIVE charity book project. Last night, we decided to do another take, but with the explicit desire for him to get completely undressed in the shoot. Well, of course I can't show those shots to you, but I can show you these. He actually lost a bit of weight from the first time I met him, but he cut his hair short. I thought he looked really good. The short hair works; some people are not so lucky. He's got a strong enough jaw line that he can carry it off. Mind you, he's no Dolf Lundgren! (Is he still around?)

What is great about working with Matthew is that from the first time we worked together, I knew that he wasn't the shy type, although he pretended to be such in shooting FIFTYFIVE. I could tell very quickly that he loved the camera. Getting undressed wasn't all that hard for him, but he just needed a bit of coaxing. So this time around, there was an even great comfort zone.

Thanks to Wil Wu for the makeup, and Patryk Chaou for the styling. (Note: the more styled images are being reserved currently, so people will have to wait.)

When a photograph is 'right' to the eye...

When I find a photograph I really like, the image will speak to me. What it says is nothing about how I photographed the work, or what I did to make that image look right. It transcends description of how the light falls so ever gently onto a person's face, or of how the posing was so good and that the model great. When a photograph is 'right', there are no words to describe the process or behavior of elements that make up for what it is. All too often we have to justify why an image is good. The only reason we need to say so it to prove or validate ourselves (or others). And we need to qualify our own needs for who we are. This photograph of Ray is just that, a photograph that works for what it is. I accept it for what it is and it satisfies a part of my intellectual, emotional and spiritual psyche. I hope you see some of that I share.

Kwunho & the Mona Lisa Look

This photograph I took of Kwunho has always for some reason, generated a lot of interesting conversations. I have used it in my university teaching to demonstrate the power or mystery of a photograph. There has been much said about the eyes being the key to the Soul, and perhaps this is true to a certain degree, but it doesn't offer a full picture, only fragmented one. It is because time has been captured only during that instant. The glance, the gaze, may have only been fleeting, and it just happened that that was the moment the shutter went off. Wah-la! I believe this was the case with Kwunho. It is an instant in time, captured appropriately at the right moment. On recollection, he doesn't quite remember giving me that look, and neither do I remember seeing it. As such, does it truly deserve any praise? or was it purely, by chance? I think it cannot be deduced to such simple explanation. It is a combination of both chance, and organized thought to prepare for the moment. I have a simple request. Take a look at this image of Kwunho. Stare at it for as long as you like, and then move (yourself, your body) to the left or right. Now take a look and see if Kwunho is STILL looking at you. I bet you he is. Leonardo daVinci's, Mona Lisa has, apparently, the same effect. Oooooo.

Rob Trinh - Sexy & Gorgeous!

This shot was taken in my second photography session when he was here in Hong Kong last year. Posing nude for him was not the least bit uneasy, but you can see why he's not shy. His body is big and beautiful. And you just have to love it now don't you? Please don't ask me for the full frontal shots. They are safely tucked away for my eyes only! So what does Rob do? He's an actor, model and performer, who resides in Vancouver, Canada. Rob Trinh Website