FaVorites:
It shouldn't surprise anyone, that most of my favorite shots of on-line model Josh King, included one his best sides, his backside!
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Josh King: His Bottom Lines
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Tis, (not quite) The Season!
Whenever I do a post featuring actor Chad Michael Murray, I habitually include images, (like the first two here) from the shoot that introduced me to Chad. Long before I ever saw him on television, I remember 'meeting' Murray in Teen People. Although he looks a little stoned in the image above, that adorable face and those large suckable nipples had me wanting see more...
It was awhile before I actually saw Chad in show or movie. Although I followed him on One Tree Hill due to shirtless caps, and that nude basketball scene, I never ended up watching the show. I did catch Murry on Gilmore Girls when I finally discovered it years after it premiered. I binged those first few seasons on DVD and thought Murray's Tristan was far hotter and more interesting than Dean.
Even though he was playing a kid in Middle School, Murray was about 20 at the time and already exuding a sexual intensity unmatched by the cute, but bland Dean played by Jared Padalecki. I was really missing Tristan until Jess came along to replace him as the shows hot bad boy. It's become cliche to say a celebrity looks 'better than ever' but for me, with Chad Michael Murray it's true. He's still exudes that sexual energy and still does it for me, just as it did twenty years ago. A
I know it's not Christmas, but this week, Netflix released promotional photos for it's Christmas movie, The Merry Gentlemen. The story finds Ashley, a former big-city dancer, who in order to save her parents' small-town performing venue, decides to stage an all-male, Christmas-themed revue. The promo shots look good, and given it's Netflix, might we actually get a wee bit of holiday skin and see Chad in a G-string? Even if we don't, I'll be checking it out when it premieres on November 20th
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Succulent Selfies
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Favorite Pic of the Day for October 10th
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Leather Bound: David by Bob Burkhardt
'I really wanted to see what Bob and I could create together.'
Whenever I spend time with the work of photographer Bob Burkhardt, I'm always struck by the compatible contrasts he manages to capture. We don't always see, elegance and intensity, beauty and power and strength and vulnerability weaved together so seamlessly. For me, it's because although Bob captures architecturally inspired visuals, they are not stable or static like a building, attached solidly to it's foundation.
Instead, Bob captures the moveable elements of the body he's capturing. Beyond just it's basic structure, Bob's camera follows the flow, angles, lines and curves regardless of the build or strength of the structure. David is a perfect example of how Bob views the models he works with. As a powerlifter, I'm guessing many photographers would have had David flexing, in classic physique type poses. Poses that focused more on the strength of his muscles more than the beauty and strength of David as a human and as a multifaceted man.
David clearly has a focus on fitness, but it was not his muscle mass that drew my attention and had me want to feature he and Bob's work together. I was seduced by David's strong face and powerfully expressive eyes and his beautiful long hair. I was especially drawn to those angles, and the lines and curves of his back, butt and legs. David's thighs and legs look great exposed, but for me, even hotter in his fitness tights.
Bob and David connected on social media and Bob was immedeately struck by David's rugged good looks. They corresponded for over a year before finally being able to meet and work together. Bob shares that for him, it was well worth the wait. In addition to those briefs and fitness tights, which Bob suppled, the leather belonged to David. Bob felt the leather shots were some of the strongest, and was happy that David brought it along.
Although David had not formal experience with modeling, he shares he enjoys being photographed, but was a bit hesitant as he'd never actually done it as an 'actual model.' After connecting with Bob on social media however, he was really interested in giving it a shot. David loved the work of Bob's that he saw and was excited about what they might create together. Given this was his first 'official' shoot, I was curious to ask David what else motivated his decision and what the experience was like.
What prompted you to give modeling a try?
I enjoy photography and the fact that modelling allows you to become something new and different with each shoot.
Did you have any hesitation with implied nudes?
I had some hesitations about modeling nude due to my career in public health but I felt comfortable with Bob and his ability to respect that.
Did you have any boundaries for the shoot, or anything you really wanted to capture?
I had no specific boundaries for the shoot. I really wanted to see what Bob and I could create together. I did however want to capture some of my leather looks
As a powerlifter, was chronically your fitness progress one of your goals?
Chronicling my progress as a powerlifter was definitely a part of wanting to model. As I grow in the sport my body changes so frequently that I like to keep my photos updated. It also gives me the chance to look back at how far I've come. I am probably most happy with my legs in recent times as I've been working really hard to develop them, but most people seem to like my chest.
I know the leather is yours, do you get many opportunities to wear it?
Yes. I wear my leather gear quite often. Most recently at Folsom Street fair where I also shot with Nick Leoni.
Did Bob provide the other fashion items?
Bob provided most of the looks and gave me leeway to decide what colors I liked or what I was most comfortable in.
What were your thoughts when you saw the final images?
I was very impressed with the final images, especially the leather ones.
What was it like working with Bob?
Bob was amazing to work with. He's very kind and very respectful of boundaries and comfort levels. He also is good at directing shoots which is helpful because sometimes when you wear different clothing its hard to have the same level of spatial awareness.
I think my favorite part of the day was the conversation and seeing Bob's previous work. He's a very friendly guy so I was happy to learn more about him.
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Horror Hunks: Cameron Kotecki in Hellhounds
The Streets will Run
Red With Blood
Fans of the male form in cinema may have noticed that caps of actor Cameron Kotecki from Hellhounds earlier this year. Kotecki is a cutie for sure, but his nude scene follows in the tradition of many werewolf films, by showing the character naked after his transition from hound to human.
Koteki on set
In 2024's Hellhounds, a pack of werewolves known as the Hell Hounds wage a shadow war against a fanatical order of werewolf hunters called the Silver Bullets. The Hounds and the Bullets now roam the country appearing to the outside world as rival biker gangs.
Although I saw the caps earlier this year, I just checked out, and enjoyed the movie this week. You can watch it as well for free on Tubi HERE:
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Seasonal Sightings
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Happy Birthday today October 11th
Happy 47th to actor Matt Bomer!
Check out more of today's BIRTHDAYS HERE:
My introduction to actor Matt Bomer didn't come from a movie or television show, but caps I saw of him in his tighty whities shortly after I first got on-line. The caps were from his stint on Guiding Light, a show I'd heard of, but never watched. Oh, how myself and so many others hoped one day to see what was under those undies. Thankfully, Matt delivered showing us his beautiful butt in dozens of roles since.
Magic Mike
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Favorite Pic of the Day for October 11th
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There's Something In The Water: Dan by Michael von Redlich
'A calm mind is like still water, reflecting the beauty around it...'
As all know, sometimes reflections can be more visually stunning than what they're reflecting. It's usually because of the light, and hazy visuals. It's like when we squint our eyes and look at the Christmas tree lights. The visual is blurry for sure, but the light and colors are often so much more magical than they actually appear..
As beautiful as a naked Dan looks surrounded by the water, it's the Autumn colors reflected in the pond that really makes this series visually extraordinary. In order to capture this series, so many element needed to come together. Michael's talents and Dan's beautiful water ballet poses were fixed, but the sun's light and level of reflection were all about timing, and Michael's ability to capture nature's illumination at just the right moment.
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Horror Hunks: Andrew N. Robertson in The Cement Garden
'Love Knows No Limits'
Ok, first off, The Cement Garden isn't really a horror film, not by traditional standards. It is however, incredibly haunting and rooted in a tragic series of events. A reader of FH suggested I check it out awhile ago, but it wasn't until recently that I actually sat down and watched. The film is set in England in the late 1970's. The narcissistic teenager Jack is living with parents, his 17 year old sister Julie, and younger sister Se and six year old brother Tom.
Early into the film, tragedy strikes with Jack's father dies, after having a heart attack unloading large bags of cement to resurface the garden path. Only months after this tragedy, Jack' smother becomes terminally ill and also soon passes way. Before her death, Jack's mom implores her children not to tell anyone about her disappearance. She's worried they'll be separated into foster care, and the house will be torn down or sold. They decide to hide their mom's decomposing corpse in a makeshift concrete sarcophagus.
Initially, Jack and Julie work together to take care of the house and their younger siblings. Soon, they begin to clash, mostly due to Jack's immaturity and selfishness. Their relationships however, soon takes an incestuous turn when Jack develops a crush on his older sister. All of the children however, quickly become more withdrawn and their mental states further disintegrate as time passes with no adult supervision.
The family becomes even more closed off, distancing themselves from not only the world, but each other. Julie however, finds herself involved with an older man named Derek, which evokes jack's jealousy and hostility. Derek soon becomes suspicious of the unpleasant odor coming from the basement. Jack initially tells Derek the smell is from their dead family dog, but soon realizes that Julie has exposed their secret.
The screenplay was written by Ian McEwan, and based upon his novel. The story also became a stage play, and featured actor George Mackay, (previously featured on FH HERE:) in the role of Jack. Most of you have seen McEwan's work on screen as he previously wrote the screenplays or original material for films including; Atonement, The Comfort of Strangers and The Good Son.
Although he plays younger in the film, Robertson was 19 when the film was made in 1993. Robertson is haunting in the film, with his beautiful face and his ability to exude an almost sinister, yet celestial feel. Robertson didn't do much acting after this film, although I did see him in episode 4 of the British fantasy series Gormenghast. He looked as beautiful as ever, and although there were some shirtless scenes, I think this film marked his only on-screen nude scene.
Over the last few decades, Robertson has mostly focused on his work as an academic, as well his music, and fronting the British band Truck. A few years ago, Robertson released his first solo album, 'Natural Born Actor',. If you check out the video, (HERE:) you can see the actor looks as beautiful as ever and has kept his dark, long hair. If you don't blink, there's also a few seconds of a nude Andrew walking in the fall leaves.
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Let's Get Basted!
EveryTHANKSGIVING requires multiple sessions of basting and stuffing
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Happy Birthday today October 12th
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Favorite Pic of the Day for October 12th
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The Tilt of the Earth: Dan by Michael von Redlich
'I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.'
L.M. Montgomery
Most FH readers know how much I love spotlighting the visual changes throughout the year with seasonal sightings. Although the focus of the site is of course the male form, I try to feature photoshoots on the site that celebrate the season we're currently experiencing.
I appreciate that so many who check each week are from all over the globe, and therefore not experiences the seasons that I do. Even people in America, depending on where they live, experience the seasons very differently. Living on the East Coast however, an area with four distinctly different seasons, each which has had a profound impact on my life and on my experiences.
My memories are often categorized by season. I tend to remember most of my best, and more of my worst relationship moments through a summer lens. My first love from when I worked at a summer camp, but worst break-up, on a beach while camping. My best family memories are connected with winter, both the family holidays, and the family stresses which those holidays heightened. Some of my most painful memories and losses occurred on hot sunny days during the summer.
Some of my best memories growing up occurred during the fall and spring. I loved school, all the way from primary through my University days. The start of school year, sporting events, and so many parties. Those parties ended with many walks home, on cool October nights with the wind whipping and the leaves blowing around my feet on the sidewalk as I walked home.
Autumn remains my favorite season, most likely connected to how many great memories I have from the great Autumns from my past. Maybe it's connected to those memories, and the first days of each school year, but the Autumn for me, always feels like the beginning. I know people make plans and resolutions for the first of January, but for me, my energy is never more focused than in the fall.
In addition to the glorious visuals, my favorite part of October is the sun. On many days, when the sky is clear, the sun is as hot as was during the summer. But... on a cool day, when it's cloudier or windy, the air can quickly turn, inspiring everyone talking about that crisp in the air. That crisp can last all day, or just a second or two when the clouds float bay, sneaking in front of the sun, blocking the sun for a moment or two.
So many believe that the air temperature changes are caused by how far the earth is from the sun during the fall and winter months. Truth is, the distance doesn't change enough to make that much of a difference. The sun also, maintains it's hot temperature each of the 12 months of the year, but it's the tilt of the earth that causes the temperature changes. At certain time of year, including the month of October, the tilt causes the sunlight to be spread over a larger area, therefore making it weaker in certain regions.
So, there's a reason for the ramblings. One of my favorite FH memories was searching for Autumn themed images and discovering the work of photographer Michael von Redlich. It was actually an image from this series of Dan, that I attached to my e-mail when I contacted Michael one previous Autumn day.
It was during October, that Michael and I first communicated and he offered his support with my featuring the shot on the site. I was beyond excited when Michael recently sent on a selection of Autumn images which included so many great shots of Dan. I teased a few last month, with Dan naked on the train tracks, (HERE:) but wanted to save this series for a full feature.
I of course love the Autumn color sand the stunning surrounding forest, but there's also something so raw and natural about Dan that really stands out. Dan is so darned adorable, with I think, more than a passing resemblance to a young Matt Czuchry. As you can see, although there was a crispness in air, Dan stripped down let the sun cascade over his naked body. Then, just as he was being captured by Michael sunbathing on the rock, the sun disappeared behind a cluster of clouds and it got really cold.
Dan quickly got dressed again, but then just as fast as the clouds came by, they disappeared again, letting the sun's rays again descend over the forest heating everything it touched, including Dan and Michael. With the pond beckoning, Dan quickly stripped down again, hesitant, but joined with a strong yearning to slide into the still, and crystal clear water.
Dan indeed slides into the clear, but incredibly cold water for a series of stunning shots you can check out on the NEXT PAGE HERE:
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12 Days: Dan Payne in A Family Thanksgiving
At Thanksgiving, a lawyer trying to make partner is shown the joys of living a more balanced life.
I remember seeing 2010's A Family Thanksgiving many years ago, but didn't remember much about it, except for crushing over daddy Dan Payne. Thankfully, the film is on Youtube, (HERE:) so I was able to check back in, and the story all came back. It didn't take back, like so many Hallmark holiday films, the story is follows along the lines of the Charles Dicken's book, A Christmas Carol.
For this version, there's just one 'Ghost' named Gina played by Faye Dunaway. Gina is a mysterious older woman who makes it her goal to teach Claudia some moral lessons. Gina takes Claudia to an alternative world, where Claudia is a lower profile happily married minivan-driving 'soccer mom' with two children
Of course, we all get busy, so it's good to slow down but I'm not sure I love the 'moral' of this story, with a busy woman with a career, learning to slow down and appreciate her role as wife and mother. Just as Claudia is about to settle with her new life however, Gina returns to take her back. Claudia is reluctant to return to her corporate life, and thus must consider what she is most thankful for.
The actors sell the story, especially Payne, who has you wondering how Claudia could ever overlook his appeal. The Canadian born Payne has been a fixture on television the last twenty years. Payne began as a professional volleyball player, moving to Australia to play with his younger brother Josh. It was there, his love of working in film began, something he continued when moved to the UK, and then eventually moving back to Canada in the early 2000's.
Although Payne has appeared in many Hallmark films and television shows, it was his role as Nathan Davidson in the film Mulligans that first introduced me to the actor. I watched the film initially due to my love of actor Charlie David, but Payne stood out as a married, sexually-repressed father, who eventually acts on natural feelings and desires.
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Briancan Photography: Gratitude & Abundance
Thanksgiving is a time to feast on love and gratitude
Canadian Thanksgiving always sneaks up on me. Just as you're adjusting to summer being over, it's time for the holidays to begin. In the US, Thanksgiving is on the fourth Thursday in November. In Canada, it comes on the second Monday in October. In Canada, there are no Pilgrims, or feasts with Native Americans. In Canada, it's a simple Harvest celebration, showing gratitude for the abundance of crops grown and gathered for the long winter to come.
Given it's Canada's day to stuff, baste and cook the turkey, I wanted to ensure to show gratitude by ensuring some of my favorite Canadian artists and models were featured. I was fortunate to have spotlighted the work of Briancan, and his work with model Sébastien Clermont this past spring, (HERE:) but tucked away these Autumn themed shots to feature during the back-end of the year.
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B-autumns up!
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Favorite Pic of the Day for September 13th
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North to the Future: Leo by Shax Carter
'I'm looking forward to finally broadening my horizons and telling a story... and I've got some good ones.'
FH readers know how important 'story' is with the composition of the site. I strive to share not just great images, but the story and process of their creation. Each time I spotlight the work of photographer, filmmaker and storyteller Shax Carter, the story is told through a series of shoots, creating a multidimensional portrait of the model in focus. As I've expressed in my previous posts featuring his work, (HERE:) Shax uses almost a documentary style approach, focusing on one model over a extended period of time.
For this series of the stories, the model is Leo, someone Shax has known and worked with since the summer of 2018. Leo didn't start out as a model however, he worked with Shax as an assistant and camera operated for months before finally expressing to Shax his desire to try modeling, and move to the other side of the camera. Throughout the remainder of that year, they traveled around the country shooting and creating a substantial body of photographic work.
It wasn't until months into the process, with dozens and shoots, and thousands of photos, that the idea of a book came up. There was so much material in fact, Shax assembled his work into four separate volumes, (HERE) featuring over 700 images of Leo shot both in studio, and on location. The first volume is an introduction that work, with the subsequent three volumes featuring Leo in different locations, characters and and more intimate and erotic adventures and stories.
This series of images comes from the third volume, shot when the creative pair headed to Alaska. Although each of the books showcases many layers of Leo, this series combines Leo's charm and sensual appeal with panoramic vies of the 49th state. Over the years, I've featured several models from Alaska, and several movies filmed there, I believe this is the first time, I've featured a shoot actually shot there.
Most of us know Alaska from movies, and from what we've read, and seen on television. I think more than any other state, the incredible visuals trigger themes of fire and ice. The state is known as The Last Frontier, The Land of the Midnight Sun, not to mention the masturbation capital of the world. I'm guessing more so, in those Northernmost cities, that experience complete darkness for about two months a year.
How was Leo's transition from assistant to model?
He was pretty confident until we were about to get started. I could sense some nervousness initially, so the very first thing we did was a shoot in the shower, where he was mostly behind glass. I think that gave him time to boost his momentum, and after that piece of photography he was able to regain his confidence, and he soared through the rest of the day. After the shower photography, we spent the rest of that day shooting against a black backdrop, and it was designed to be an easy shoot for him.
Which shoot focus did you find the most creatively rewarding?
The most creatively rewarding shots were the ones where we added a theme. Finding locations, and placing the character he came up with in those locations was a lot of fun for both of us. Oftentimes we would extend the shoot, because of all the ideas we had.
What inspired the travel? Were you traveling for work anyway?
The different locations are really a big part of the books? Most of the shoots were done locally. It started in a simple studio setting, and gradually broke out further each time. The shoots kept building and eventually when we needed to travel, we would take some time and do a little mini shoot wherever we were. This was the first time I had really done this for fun and not work, so over a full summer we amassed a good deal of photos.
What took you to Alaska?
I wanted to go someplace I had never been, and we decided on Alaska. It was after that was decided, as the date grew closer, that Leo said he wanted to be a cowboy. So we went to a western store and got the whole wardrobe and accessories. The Alaska shoot became the first cowboy shoot I had done.
Having shot the nude male form is so many locations, how does Alaska compare?
I would say Alaska was the easiest, because there was really no one around. It was October, and we weren't in any city, so we were completely free to roam around and discover areas to shoot. Alaska really lent itself to the concept of the cowboy and I don't think it could have worked better.
What were your biggest impressions, and best moments from your time in Alaska?
My biggest impression of Alaska was the beauty of the land. The mountains were glorious. We took a ski lift up to the top on one of the mountains and had dinner one evening. It was amazing.
At one point during the shooting process, did the idea of the book come about?
We were always talking about what to do with the photos when we were done. Leo really wanted to make a book, and craft it by hand, using leather, measured pieces of wood, hinges, the works. It would have been huge, and there would have been only one. Eventually that idea fell by the wayside, and nothing was really done with the photos for a few years.
What section was your favorite to shoot? What was Leo's?
Aside from Alaska, my favorite shoot would have been the Biker shoot, as that was a lot of fun and we had to go and select the leather wardrobe, which was a fun process to get everything to look right. Leo really liked creating the picnic in the park, walking around with, and playing his guitar.
What was your favorite part about working with Leo?
My favorite part of working with Leo had to have been his creativity and always wanting to shoot more and more photos based on his ideas. He was leading the charge, always adding another shoot. Leo really had a vision. What started out as a fun thing to do on a rainy day, turned into a summer of effort, led by Leo and his creativity.
You can preview more images of Shax Carter's work with Leo, and check out each of the four volumes on Blurb HERE:
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