Friday, May 10, 2019

Naked Palms: Van Ryder by Greg Lindeblom


'It's rare to find such a young model who is interested in the artistic side of modeling, as well as the more commercial and even erotic aspects'.


When spending time with images of the stunning Van Ryder that photographer Greg Lindeblom sent on, I started thinking about whether there's a difference in the meaning behind the word body, and the word physique.  Random thought maybe, but I noticed that I fluctuate between the use of the words depending on the artist, the model, and the images that I'm featuring.


Although both words are interchangeable, and mean basically, the same thing, there are subtle difference.  Technically, body means the physical appearance, the outside, the frame.  Physique goes a little deeper, meaning a persons natural constitution, overall shape and physical structure of a person.  The body is what we see, the skin, the curves, the physical appearance and beauty of specific body parts. The physique, is more complete description,  it's the body and it's systems,  what can be seen both above and beneath the skin.


Physique was also historically a safer word.  It was deemed more appropriate by some in society to photograph, draw or paint the nude male physique as opposed to the male nude body.  The word physique for me, also always conjures up classic.  Classic images, classic poses, classic themes and methods to capturing the male form.  Whenever I feature the work of Florida photographer Greg Lindeblom, physique is the descriptor that always first comes to mind.


'In the past, we've featured models with whom I have worked over extended periods of years. Both George Field and Eric Robles fit in that category. Van Ryder is a model I worked with twice in a week -- once in a wonderful new outdoor location for me and the second time in my studio. The outdoor location is in the yard of the Naked Palms Tiki Hut in the Victoria Park area of Fort Lauderdale. What a beautiful location. I hope to shoot there many times in the coming months and years.'


It's not just the classic poses, especially in studio shots, (which I'll share soon) it's in how Greg looks at and strives to capture and present the men he shoots.  Whenever I see an image of a nude male model, I usually have a pretty good eye for concluding whether the photographer was focused on the model's  body, and usually a specific body part, or their overall look and physique.

It is not that the body is ignored, just the opposite in fact.  Every inch of the body is both captured and celebrated.  Greg gives the same attention, the same degree of care, to everything, both seen, and unseen, that makes up the man in front o his camera.  As is evident in these images from his Naked Palms shoot, Greg not only captures Van Ryder's incredible physique, but the man who both inhabits, and works his butt off to create, sculpt and maintain it.


'I hope working with Van becomes an ongoing collaboration. Both shoots ended with us exploring themes we hadn't anticipated and leaving part of the plan unshot. So there is a lot more we can do together. He is not only physically beautiful, but he is creative, enthusiastic, and courageous. That is a thoroughly winning combination.'





1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Van is HOT !!!!!