'The models jumped at the chance to spend a couple of days on a working farm. Our hosts made every corner of the 30-acre farm ̶ home to over two dozen horses ̶ available to us, as well as some of the gentler 1000-pound creatures.'
Bond
There's a horse barn not far from my house, and they welcome visitors to view, pet and feed the horses, play with the two labs that run around the barn to cuddle (or try to...) the mostly non-cuddable barn cats that seem to be almost everywhere you look. When I visit, I start to get excited as soon as the road turns from pavement to dirt as that means I'm only a few minutes away. I love the sights, the sounds, and especially the smells of the animals and barn.
I have learned however, that not everyone appreciates the sights and especially those smells, that come from the barn. Over the years, I've taken dozens of friends and family members to the barn and rarely are they on the fence about the visit. They either love the experience, or hate it, and some who hate it, sometimes choose to stay in the car. I'm pretty sure however, for most of them anyway, had I had been able to tell them that there were three hot, sweaty, naked men in the barn, they would have quickly left the comfort of the air conditioned vehicle.
Oleks
I'm told by Wes, that all three models were exited about the farm shoot. I did sort of guess however, that one of the guys may not have been quite as excited as the other two models, about having one of those 1000-pound creatures between his legs. I didn't ask Wes specifically who it was, but given it was Oleks and Bond who went bare, completely bare, back riding, I'm guessing the images may give it away.
'Despite their outward bravado, their first encounters with the animals on-the-hoof was generally humbling and often amusing. To their credit, the three quickly became at ease around the horses and each enjoyed the session. We spent the better daylight part of two days at work on the farm.'
The shots of Alex, Bond and Oleks with the horses are some of my favorites from the shoot. My love of horses and riding being part of the reason, but I also have an affinity for images which feature the male form shot with animals. The relationship between animals and humans is always a fascinating one to visually explore. There is also of course, just something intrinsically erotic about a naked man straddled upon such a beautiful majestic animal. Wes' experience in advertising also motivated him to want to create relaxed, and natural images with the models and the horses.
Bond
'Etched in my Madison Avenue memory bank is the tidbit that Leo Burnett, the Chicago advertising agency that created the iconic Marlboro Man, learned early in the decades-long run of the campaign that they needed to move casting sessions out of downtown Chicago. Lack of familiarity with horses and horse culture doomed most men sent from modeling agencies; they looked out of place if not downright uncomfortable on and around horses. Within a couple of seasons the ad agency was only using real cowboys, recruited from fairgrounds and rodeos around the country.'
Lancaster County is the latest in the studio's line of Photo Essays. These thematic collections of images typically feature work drawn from a single session with a single showcased model. Check out much more from this shoot,featuring full frontal images, and order a copy of your own, on
NMS HERE:
As wonderful as the smell of the barn may be, it's not really a smell you want to bring home, or if you can help it, transfer bak into your car. At the end of a long day, it's important to rinse away the smells, as well as any pieces of grass, hay or horse hair, that may have gotten tucked away in any of your body's crevices. Check back later in the week for the final installment of Lancaster County where our three models insure they're completely squeaky clean before getting back into Wes' car and heading back to the city!
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