Casa de Rosado presents EROS RISING
Images by Tom Nakielski
January 26th to February 18th
Opening reception: January 26th - 3pm to 8pm.
Over the last year or so, FH readers have mostly been treated to photographer Tom Nakielski's holiday themed images. Tom has been wonderful with putting together erotic, colorful and creative images to help the site celebrate many the holidays that I love to highlight on the site. If you think back a little further however, you may remember many of my earlier pieces featuring Tom's work included classic bodyscapes, clean, long lines with a dramatic flare that's a signature to Tom's imagery, and one of the reasons I was first attracted to his work.
'Tom's interest in photography was sparked by Life magazine in the '50s. Fascinated by all the spectacular images, he never missed an issue. Tom purchased a camera with his first paycheck while working at Chrysler Corporation as a machine operator. When serving in Viet Nam he ditched his gas mask and carried his Minolta everywhere.'
'Later, Tom studied special education at Michigan State University. After graduating he taught for a year and realized his heart wasn't into being a teacher and began working in a retail camera store. He became the sales manager in one of the branch stores. At that time he took some introductory photography classes at Lansing Community College.'
'Tom's fate changed when a model came into the store looking for someone to take some photos of him for a model agency. Although Tom had never photographed models before, he volunteered to do it. The agency liked the images and asked if Tom wanted to be the agencies photographer. With no prior experience with models, he was apprehensive about taking the assignment. Having no equipment, Tom improvised an umbrella light like he had seen professionals use in photo magazines. He bought a rain umbrella, covered it with foil and taped it to a light stand and set up a studio in the attic of his duplex apartment. It was sink or swim. Looking back at those images, Tom says the agency director must have been desperate for a photographer. But he quickly caught on and begin
developing a style.'
'Eventually, Tom opened a small studio. Experienced with only black and white photography, Tom did his own processing of film and prints. When a model asked to have high school senior portraits taken, Tom again was apprehensive about the new direction. But it was sink or swim once again and he was now not only photographing models but doing senior portraits too. That led to family portraits, weddings, pets and miscellaneous assignments. His studio grew and he had a staff of 3 people.'
Since Tom's retirement, he's been able to take his photography in a new direction, pursing his passion in creating fitness and fine art images with a focus on the male physique as an art form. With his new direction and style in place, Tom's work began getting noticed, and I'm thrilled that I not only noticed, but am able to share Tom's skill, creativity and vision on FH. Tom's brings each of these attributes together for his new exhibit, EROS RISING, opening this Saturday the 26th at Casa de Rosado in Lansing Michigan. If you're in the area, before to check it out! EROS RISING runs through February 26th.
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