'The nude male form at its most compelling.'
When I featured photographer Bob Burkhardt's work with Antoine last month, (Second Nature) the Atlanta based photographer and artist was preparing for upcoming exhibit, Body & Soul. Now in it's ninth year, the sensual and erotic event prides itself with it's celebration of the nude male form at its most compelling.
Compelling:
-Forceful and persuasive, not able to be resisted; overwhelming
-Evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way.
-A performance, painting, or other work of art is compelling when it has unusual power to hold your attention:
Although the word 'compelling' has been used to promote and describe the exhibit before, for some reason, this year it took on a deeper meaning for me. I often describe artists who dive beyond the surface in their work. Photographers who strive to capture more than just a great body or a stunning visual. They attempt through their work to draw out emotion, personality, sensuality and hints about the man beyond the physical visual.
With a skilled photographer and skilled model, it's usually not difficult to bring one of the traits I listed above. Some photographers are experts at bringing out personality, or tapping into pain, joy or a specific emotion. For me, in order for an image to truly be compelling, the artist must capture it all; personality, emotion, sensuality, everything that together create both a man's body & soul.
Bob Burkhardt always manages to capture compelling images. Bob's photos grab your attention with the beauty of the male form, but maintain and hold that attention with images that have you both visually lingering and curious to know more about the model and man in the shot.
This set of shots of Wes, beautifully illustrates what I mean. I was instantly draw to Bob's shots of Wes, especially the intense sensuality emotes from his passionate stare through every other part of his incredible body. Bob's shots of Wes in the shower are especially powerful and intensely hot!
'Wes and I have shot together four times. Needless to say I enjoy working with him, He's a kind, introspective man. He always gives his most when modeling. He's been in several Body&Soul shows and is featured in one of my books. Additionally my husband body painted him fairly recently. I look forward to working with him soon!'
If you're in the Atlanta area, Body & Soul continues through April 12th, Check out more HERE:
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