'The Maple Leaf
Our Emblem Dear,
The Maple Leaf Forever.
God save our Queen and heaven bless,
The Maple Leaf Forever.'
FH readers first met Dan this past Easter, in his his bunny eared them shoot (HERE:) with Jim from Studio1x. For this series of shots, Jim got Dan out of his ears, and wrapped in, and out of, the Red & White to help celebrate the National Day of Canada! Like the country itself, the maple leaf on the Canadian flag is both quietly beautiful and calm, but also striking and strong.
The flag itself is nicknamed, 'The Maple Leaf, (L'Unifolie) for the flag's single leaf. The leaf is seen as an inclusive symbol, representing all Canadians, yet at the same time, like a snowflake, each leaf on a maple tree is unique and distinctly beautiful either clustered, or on it's won. The maple leaf has also become a symbol of Canada's beauty, nationality and independence. The maple leaf is a recognized symbol of Canada and has come to symbolize unity, tolerance, and peace.
As iconic as the Canadian flag is, it's only been around a little over fifty years. In 1964, a flag committee of parliament was established to go through close to 6000 submitted designs. Although the maple leaf was featured a key element on most, there were many other symbols of the country included in the mix. Many who submitted designs included animals, fish or birds on their flags. Hundreds of entries poured in featuring Canada geese, grizzlies, moose, bison, caribou and salmon.
Many included the beaver, one design even had the beaver wearing a Mountie hat. We're fortunate those beaver shots weren't chosen as I don't think Dan, or any male model, would look as hot with a beaver covering his crotch... Thankfully, the maple leaf proved a tough symbol of unity to beat. Many Canadian soldiers in both world wars wore the maple leaf on their regimental badges, and Canadian athletes had long worn the maple leaf as part of their uniforms, going back to the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis.
I have always been on the hunt for great images of the Canadian flag, and it's iconic maple leaf, which also feature the male form. For years, the only one I could seem to find when I searched was the great shot of Canadian actor Shawn Ashmore with the flag. (HERE:) I used that shot over several years when I first began FH. Soon a few more popped up, and by 2017 I was fortunate to be able to share some unseen edits of model Michael Hamm with the flag from photographer Shaun Simpson. (HERE:)
Last year however, I decided FH needed an original shoot to help celebrate the day and the country. Thanks to Jim from Studio1x FH had it's first original shoot, with Taylor draped, and undraped, in the L'Unifolie. (Glorious & Free) Jim had purchased the flag just for the shoot and since he already had it.... I asked if over the next twelve months, he might be able to persuade, another or two that they'd look especially hot in just the red, white and maple leaf.
I checked in with Jim a few months ago, and Jim said that he was struggling to find models comfortable with posing naked with the flag. Could be the tense political climate these days as people world wide seem a little less.... let's say flexible, with playing around with patriotic symbols.
Just as I was starting to worry that I might not have some original flag shots for this July 1st, Jim let me know that he had shot not one, but close to half a dozen different models with the flag. Instead of using them all at once, I decided to tuck a few away for a rainy day and start with the delicious Dan, whose work I've been looking forward to featuring again since his debut on FH this past Easter.
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