'Sometimes the terrain demands more protection for the feet.'
Each Fall and Spring, photographer Gordon Nebeker drives to and from Florida where he spends his winters. It's a long drive, so to break up the trip, Gordon looks for opportunities to get off the interstate I-95 by scheduling photo shoots along the way. It is a great opportunity to work with models that Gordon might otherwise get to work with in the States that he's passing through. Last year, at around this same time, I featured Gordon's shoot with Mr. Herzog, (In A Nearby Forest...) who he shot during Gordon's 2016 trek back home.
'I had hoped to work again with Mr. Herzog, who I originally found a few years ago on my drive North and have worked with several times since, but this year he had work schedule conflicts and that wasn’t going to be possible. I turned to Model Mayhem as I often do and was fortunate to find Alexander who lived close to where I would be passing through and luckily was available on the day I was hoping to shoot. As I got to know Alex better, I learned he had worked with two photographer friends of mine before, both of whom gave Alex high marks.'
I have been enjoying Alexander's work for awhile now and he most certainly deserves each one of those high marks he received. Alexander has a strong and dynamic portfolio with a focus on body, fitness and pose. I love how dramatic and erotic so many of his images are, a testament to his acting/theatre experience. Many FH readers remember two recent stories featuring Alexander's work with Images Male and MW Photo MD. (Air Pressure | Personal Connections)
Gordon Nebeker
'So off to the woods we went which is one of my favorite environments to work in. We also had access to a very rustic cabin which gave some additional variety to our outdoor shooting locations. I quickly discovered Alexander's theater/acting experience as well as martial arts training so he understands movement and posing well and his body is totally on point. It was a great pleasure to be able to work with him and I was very pleased with the photographs we were able to capture.'
Gordon
'The weather that day could not have been better. Partly cloudy skies with temps in the mid to high 60’s kept things comfortable. Not really swimming weather though so we were amused when a woman hiker passed by and saw Alex wrapped in a robe. “How was the water?” she asked. Alex mumbled something about not being warm enough for swimming and soon she was off into the woods. Everyone who models or photographs nudes in the great outdoors has their stories to tell of close calls or, in one situation I remember, figuring out very quickly what was going on and she wanted her boyfriend to join in our photographs! Her boyfriend was having none of that and ran away so fast his girl friend had a hard time catching up with him again.'
Alexander
'I actually ran into a couple individuals on a hike! Thankfully I had my Jedi bathrobe on; one person asked as they were passing by if I was going for a swim; I jokingly said, "it's perfect weather for it, right?" Despite being I believe around 65° that day haha. Thankfully Gordon took pity on me and asked for me to not submerge myself in the cold water. I did, however, nearly fall in once while making my way back to him one time - Only a foot got wet and the sole of that shoe decided to partially fall off haha.'
Alexander
'I knew going into the shoot what the project was going to be like, and I knew he had specific visions of what he wanted, so it was my job to bring it into reality. Gordon, like most of the photographers I've worked with, encouraged me to give my own input for each series we did. I try to think of something original for each series while keeping in mind how it might look for the camera - sometimes it works, others it doesn't.'
'I have to thanks Wes from NMS who referred to Gordon who I very much enjoyed working. The work we did was nice and relaxed and Gordon was a charming man while also being very professional during our shoot.'
Gordon:
'While I usually try to photograph nudes in nature wearing no footwear. sometimes the terrain demands more protection for the feet. That was the case where we were hiking but I also remembered that ever since my scouting days, I have had a fantasy of guys hiking with nothing on but hiking boots and white socks. Don’t ask me why because I don’t know the answer to that but it pushes all my buttons. Alex looked great in his hiking boots and white socks so I never asked him to take them off. So, if you have a boots/white socks fetish, you will certainly like these photos!'
