Aloha: Iconicshot

'Thanks for your interest in my work, Tye......I feel so honored to imagine being part of Favorite Hunks!'

Rian Neves

I first came across these beautiful images when seeking subjects for my theme day featuring artists from Hawaii back in November 2011. The photographer, Rian from Iconicshot, jumped right on board and was enthusiastic to be a part! Rian let me know early on however that his health was not the best and when he was doing well, his spare time was devoted to his family. When spare moments did arise, Rian promised to work on editing shots and send them on as when he felt they were ready.

Over the next 12 months, images began to arrive, about one every month or so. In addition to the images, what I loved so much about opening Rian's e-mails were the stories he sent along with them. Stories of the model, the shoot and his life. I of course wanted to share Rian's images, but more importantly, I want to ensure I share his story.

'Though I never expected to one day be a photographer, I did leave my home in Hawai'i as a young man seeking my future as an artist. My wish was to become a children's book illustrator (though my greatest wish was to one day know the joy of raising my own child). In the early eighties, it was still unheard of for gay men to have children…..it didn't even seem to be a remote possibility. I thought the next best thing would be for me to nurture children through my art - so I began my foundation year in illustration at the Academy of Arts in San Francisco in the fall of 1980. A year and a half later I was putting school on hold while the world turned terrifyingly upside down. Instead of classes in color theory and perspective, I was learning how to care for the sick and the dying. I promised myself that I would return to school as soon as there was some understanding, assistance and resolution to the nightmare of why so many men were dying but that day was far, far away. I spent the next 15 years caring for and losing every friend I had and every lover I cherished.'

'In 1996, when I was in my mid-thirties, my last surviving friend passed away and I found myself all alone. When I surfaced from my grief, I kept my promise to myself, returned to art school and began my sophomore year. Sixteen years after I first started art school, my career goals had shifted somewhat. During the most horrible years of the AIDS epidemic, a little animation company in the Bay Area was coming into being and creating the most amazing short films each year. Their work knocked me out and every year, with the release of their latest short film, I was filled with intense yearning as they were just across the bay. My life was consumed with illness, death and heartbreak and I wanted so much to run away and join the magical people at Pixar studios. When I returned to school as a sophomore there was a 3D animation major being offered with an emphasis on developing a portfolio for Pixar. I threw myself into my schoolwork and though it was a sleepless and rigorous time in my life, I couldn't have been happier. I thrived in school.'

'Halfway through those thrilling, sleepless years at the art academy, I met the most beautiful man. And during my junior and senior years I fell deeper and deeper in love. As fate would have it, just before I graduated, he was offered a promotion with a substantial raise. The "catch" was that the position he was being offered was in Southern California. It didn't seem possible that we would separate our lives so he could take the job in San Diego and I would continue on my way to Pixar. He promised me - if I would take a chance and come with him (and turn away from my dream of working at Pixar) that he would not rest until we were able to have our own child and a happy home to raise our baby in. Being a father and raising a child had ALWAYS been my greatest dream…..and I loved him, believed him and followed him to San Diego.'

'Our daughter was born in April of 2007 and I was obsessed! I bought a good camera and began taking pictures of her every day from the moment she was born. She was my life, my joy, my muse, my dream come true! Soon, I began to really enjoy the role of photographer and I was producing images that I was very proud of. Then my kid starting crawling and suddenly every image I took was a blur as she swiftly dashed away from me and my camera. After months of no longer being able to get decent shots of my kid, I gave up and thought about trying to shoot other people. That's when I found Model Mayhem and that's when I found my first model, Joshua. I was so nervous when he responded to my email and set up a date to shoot. Though Josh knows now, I tried to not appear like I had never taken pictures of anyone outside of my family before. In the end, our first day was very successful. Joshua's shoot gave me the confidence to keep going and during the past two years I've been fortunate to attract the interest of many beautiful men who are interested in collaborating with me for the the illustrative style that I bring to my images from my animation and illustration background.'

Last July, Rian's e-mails slowed down. They still came, but health issues left him weak. Although tired, he was still determined to send on enough images for a feature. There were plenty. My last e-mail from Ryan was last month. Still hopeful, Rian said he was hoping a blood transfusion would provide him a bit more energy to write more. Sadly, cancer stole another light in April, stealing the creator, but not the beauty that he created. There was such love in all of Rian's e-mails to me. He loved my blog (he read the articles and said it was my writing that had he and model wanting to be on board), he loved his work, the beauty around him, his partner and especially the girl he called a four year old "super-ball" who most days was bouncing off the walls. R.I.P Iconicshot and thanks for the beauty you shared.