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Friday, February 28, 2014
White Magic: Joey Kirchner by Joseph Lally
I have been chronicling the work of model Joey Kirchner since 2008 on FH. Joey has always been a favorite, sexy, striking and dramatic. In arist Joe Lally's new video White Magic, Joey has never looked hotter, been more intoxicating, not to mention just a little bit disturbing. White Magic is Lally's fifth 'Soap Opera' episode and is a homage to underground film artist Kenneth Anger and an exploration of fascism and sexuality. Enjoy!
White Magic
Joey Kirchner by Joseph Lally
Styled by Mel Ottenberg
Robert J Guttke: Evolution
Daisy: You're so young.
Benjamin Button: Only on the outside.
It is not accidental that The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a meaningful film to Minneapolis artist and photographer Robert J. Guttke. Robert has been documenting the male physique through sculpture, sketch and film long enough to know that with great beauty comes change. Most models are captured at their prime and the peak of their physical condition. There is a secret, maybe even the magic, that many who work, both behind and in front of lens don't always initially grasp. Models, their body and face, are only theirs for a short period of time, and like Benjamin, will soon change and evolve to a place where the work they did, and the images that were captured, are more than just moments of time, but an affirmation of a time of desirability.
For some the looking back can come with sadness, but ultimately is the gift of a great image. Most of us have had moments where we have felt desired, but not many of us have it reinforced by the of the capturers of the comely. In the 14 or so years I have had access to the web, I have seen models come and go. What has remained however, is the memorable images, and the artists who create them. Preserving these moments, has been a key part of what has occupied Robert over the past year.
'A volume of my work is in the works. It will be an economical publication and contain a great deal of images never seen before anywhere. It is hoped this will be the first of many volumes since my shoots were prolific and my archives filled with sessions & locations that I do not even remember. The need to digitize all this film is essential.'
As you can imagine, it is a daunting task transferring decades of work and thousands of images from film to digital. Robert is currently looking to update his equipment, including purchasing a quality film scanner to immortalize the men and women he has photographed. If you would like to be a part of bringing Robert's unseen images to life, and to book form, head on over to ShadowLight and consider making a small donation to go towards the project. Any amount, even a few dollars will go a long way to ensure the work is not lost and will continue to inspire. I am hoping some of those scans and transfers make it here to share with the readers of FH!
'For what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it'
Above: Reigning
Guttke Photography on FH:
'It's a funny thing about comin' home. Looks the same, smells the same, feels the same. You'll realize what's changed is you.'
Spark: Zach Clemens by studioAtruong
'I'm down like a clown in the underground.'
The second I saw my first image of Zach Clemens from photographer Alain from studioAtruong, I felt the pulse. There was an energy and spark you could literally feel ignite and explode from the work. Alain, as he did with Joey, who I featured last fall and winter. Alain has the eye, and the skill, to beautifully capture the spark at the core of the subjects he shoots. Without a doubt he captured those unique qualities within Zach that make him so appealing and... so unique. The top quote above are Zach's words of support to my request t feature his images. Those words only cemented and mirrored the fun, adventure and erotic unpredictability Zach brings to his work.
'My goals are primarily financial. Gotta stack that paper and pile that cheese high. I figure I'll cast my image out there like a fisherman using bait. If I get any sponsors of my appearance, hooray! In terms of modelling, I'm down with whatever's groovy, and love to learn and experiment.'
When someone has a spark, that 'it' factor so often talked about, it can be difficult to define its core. With Zach however, there are several factor in play which make up why he so magical in front of Alain's camera. It begins of course with his look, part adorable frat boy mixed with just a helping dosage of Tumnus and maybe a dash of Marilyn Monroe. Great body, devilish grin and of course those incredible green eyes.
'What eyes! This is what EYES should look like, right? beautiful beyond words. I've been doodling eyes since I was a kid. Beautiful eyes have always fascinated me.... the kind that Elizabeth Taylor possessed and the kind of Zach possesses. As much as I love the naked male form, really, my interest lies more in their faces and eyes. Headshots are definitely my forte.'
So Alain throws in an Elizabeth Taylor reference, and I write Zach has a dash of Marilyn Monroe... These references are not about gender, they are all about that spark I keep coming back to. Taylor and Monroe both had qualities that made them rise above the rest to stand out and shine on screen. I find Zach's movement and poses quite unique to male modeling, with the image below specifically harking back to Monroe. Zach pulls it off beautifully, masculine, but with a bit of tease, erotically charged, and timeless just the aforementioned icons. Look for more of Alain's work with Zach next week on FH.
'I spotted lots of potential in young Zach. He looks stunning and he exudes such youthfulness and vitality. His emotions are real and they come through in the photos. Zach is very young yet very mature in that he's willing to learn and improve as a model. It's so easy to get lost in Zach's mesmerizing eyes. What I enjoyed the most was his boyish laughter and giggles whenever I teased him or when he was playing with my cat (who wanted to model, too). Zach exudes boyish sensuality and beauty in all of his photos.'
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