Heavily Influenced
Added 2021-06-10 10:12:35 +0000 UTCIf you cast a critical eye over the work of any photographer specialising in figure photography, whether they are straight or gay, you are likely to be able to discern what they are sexually attracted to. If you look at my work I don't often photograph hairy guys because I'm not as attracted to hair on a guy as I am a smooth guy.
Paul Freeman, the very successful Australian photographer with many books to his name specifically asks his models not to groom their pubic hair and chest hair. Paul is a lovely guy and his photography is all about male bonding and the more rugged masculine guy who just happens to hang out naked with his mates. Something we should all aspire to really. Clearly that is something that Paul finds visually appealing.
Mark Henderson is an American photographer who seems to have remarkable access to the very polished L.A. looking adult model network. Not only are his models all very blessed in their equipment, but they all get photographed in saturated colour AND saturated knit long sleeve tops with no pants on. Now I can see the appeal in a man with no pants on. It's very sexy to see a nice bum poking out under a hoodie or something but a man in a pool in a long sleeve knit top? Interesting.
Possibly the most famous for photographing what he was into was Robert Mapplethorp who, as well as celebrity portraits and still life flowers also photographed fetish and in particular, he very much celebrated or fetishised the black male nude.
I haven't analysed my own work with this in mind and I think it's best if I don't but it's something I am sure pops up in my images.
