Above:
Jeff by Mike Tossy
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Thursday, January 5, 2017
Happy Birthday today January 6th
Quaternate: Mike Tossy
It was 2009 when I had my first opportunity to feature the work of photographer Mike Tossy. I loved how Mike viewed his subjects, and the unique and elegant ways Mike finds to capture and celebrate the male form. Since that first piece, I have featured Mike's work on it's own; a series I titled, Perspective, featuring the same model shot by both Mike and Studio MG, and of course Mike' images from the annual Autumn Utah shoots. The links below are one's in which Mike's work is the focus, but you can see additional shots from his Utah work HERE: & HERE:)
The image below was not taken by Mike, it was taken by Studio MG capturing Mike at work. I love the process feel and the sense of distance sometimes required to catch an intimate moment.
In an early piece that I did featuring Mike's work, I described loving Mike's weaving of beauty, shapes and location. I have interviewed many photographers who say that their focus is on 'making a model look their best' Sometimes however, I find they do it without moving beyond their own personal field of view. If you check out my favorite four shots from Mike, you really get the feeling that although it is Mike behind the lens, the perspective he is translating out is that of the man he is shooting. Tim having fun on the pipes. Sam and Patrick not just sharing a moment for the camera, but an actual moment captured, beautifully captured and seen through their eye contact and a simple touch.
Mike Tossy: FaVorite Four
2016/2017
2015
2012/2013
2011
2009
The image of Paul (above) pleasuring himself on the orange couch really stood out to me when Mike first sent it on. I don't often choose to include masturbation themed shots, as so many focus on the penis, leaving the man attached to it, often incomplete, with all but one emotion, left out. Mike's shot of Paul, especially the pose, the angle of his face, with his head back over the end of the couch. Mike created a very hot, incredibly beautiful and complete image of Paul and the moment. The last image of Gabriel (below) is just magnificent, encompassing so much of Gabriel's passion for life, movement and of course dance. It may be my favorite shot from Mike.
FaVorite FiVe: I G G Y
This post is sort of 'totally last year'. I have loved, and lusted after model Igor Kolomiyets since first seeing his work a few years ago with photographer Z12 Photography. (Which I featured back in 2013 HERE:) Before Christmas this year, I was on a site which had several incredible (see below) image of Igor from photographer Jared Bautista.
Next Two iamges from Bell Soto
The images I loved so much from Jared were actually taken last year for the January 2016 edition of Yearbook Fanzine #9 which was released in January 2016. But... they motivated me to do a favorite five piece, knowing, with his sexy face and incredible body, five was never an option!
Iggy by Torian Lewin
Iggy by Joseph Lally
Igor by Jared Bautista.
Some Instagram shots!
'What I actually wear to the gym.'
Going Green: Jeff by Mike Tossy
I always thought that my favorite color was blue. My comforter is blue, my kitchen is blue, most of my favorite shirts are blue. I even had dark navy blue wallpaper in my bedroom for a time, until a frequent bedroom visitor complained it felt like a cave in there. That person isn't visiting anymore, but they left their mark, and the beautifully bland beige wallpaper they helped me hang over the 'cave blue'.
Green seems to have become my desired color these days. I didn't really realize it until recently when certain shades, in certain photos, on certain bodies, really grabbed my attention. I remember being in love with how hot Scott looked in and out of his green t-shirt in a recent piece featuring his images from Gordon Nebeker. The color green also drew my attention after Mike Tossy sent on shots that he had take of Jeff when the Hawaii based model was living in San Francisco.
The green this time wasn't a t-shirt, but the color of a great pair of undies hugging Jeff's waist while beautifully complimenting the body parts beneath them. When I mentioned the green to Mike, he made sure to send me on a few more shots of Jeff wearing the butt bolstering briefs. Jeff was working as a Go-Go boy at the time, and was obviously working hard to ensure all of his ass attire was always pleasing to the eye.
Jeff's entire body is pleasing to view. Form his strong face and big beautifully expressive eyes, his chest and impressive abs and back down to the waist band of those undies. I think one of the reasons I loved the Jeff's green, just wasn't because of what they were holding, but also how beautifully the color contrasts with Jeff's skin. Admittedly, part of me would have liked to have seen those undies down a little lower, or off on the floor, but if they were, I am not sure I have been so gripped by the green.
Although Mike's images of Jeff were shot fairly recently, given my 2017 theme, I had to ask Mike about his first time shooting a model in the altogether. Unfortunately it was a while ago, and Mike doesn't have a model release, but that didn't stop him from releasing a few of the details. The models name was David, and Mike was still shooting with film at the time. The shots were black and whites and Mike decided he would develop the film himself. Although we don't get to see the results of his efforts, you can check out more of Mike's work, both old and new, in the Quaternate poste below.
'I didn't do a very good job mixing the chemicals and the images were unevenly developed, which gave the images a sort of ghostly quality that I liked. Gotta love lucky mistakes! I also remember trying to repeat all the coaching words photographers had told me over the years when I was modeling. "Good, now just with eyes, look at the camera." and "Arch your back just a bit more." Stuff like that; today, I still use them even after all these years.'
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