Cleanse: Joel by James R Cunningham

'Exploring masculinity and playing with the idea of 'alone', many of my images have a voyeuristic quality. I enjoy shooting within the surroundings of a model's own home. My shoots are very simple; and very masculine. The viewer is taken into a world that is rarely seen, while the model is at his most vulnerable. Bare, and alone with his thoughts. This is a private world made public'
James R Cunningham



'The Shower' is a location often used by those capturing the male form. Obviously the shower is a place where we are usually (hopefully) naked on a daily basis. That in itself makes it a set more realistic than say placing a naked model at a bus stop or cross walk (although those shots can be equally as creative as fun). In my profile of photographer John Fallon this past summer I explored the bathroom and how in some ways it is the room in our homes that holds most of our secrets and much of our pain.



To me, these shots are not just of a guy washing, they are of a man cleansing, removing whatever it is that is emotionally weighing him down. It is through the way James quietly and erotically softly captures these private moments that gives them their power and their meaning.



'My job as a portrait photographer is to seduce, amuse and entertain'
James R Cunningham



Originally from Queensland's Gold Coast, James is now living and working in Melbourne, Australia, specialising in what he describes as 'domestic male-form' photography. A former student of film, the 26-year-old amateur photographer shies away from what is often described as 'the perfect man', preferring to invoke controversy and challenge stereotype by creating the 'perfect image of a flawed man'.



I love the last sentence above! There are hundreds of thousands of images of the perfect man on the internet, most, most blend together. It is the flawed man, shot by a skilled artist that really draws me in to want to take a closer look and to learn more.



'Working with Joel was a treat. He is an aspiring actor and model and although young (at 21, he's only five years younger than I am), he's completely dedicated and totally professional. I like to shoot my models in the surroundings of their own homes, and this can often be difficult to negotiate. But Joel immediately saw and believed in my vision and was more than willing to open up his share-house to my camera. Joel was relaxed on the day, easy to work with, and willing to go that extra mile - which I believe paid off and you can see the result come through in the images.'



Check out more of James work on ModelMayhem
& on his official site HERE: