'I never fully understood my sexuality or felt comfortable in my own skin. I made a commitment to myself that at 50, I would express myself and be ok with who I am'
Theo Greece
FH readers know my love of story, and great images, always have one to tell. The challenge however, is how much of the story the creators wish to reveal. Many artists and models want the images to speak for themselves. I get this, but I'm one of those people who likes to play the commentary on DVD's, and listen to writers and artists discuss their process.
Theo Greece has a story to tell. Instead of writing it, Theo wanted to share his story in a visual expression of erotic energy, one arising from both sexual repression and survival. Theo was 38, married for 16 years and with kids before he finally understood he could not get away with being who he truly was. He tried his best to stay ahead of it, but as many of us have experienced, it can be exhausting, not to mention futile, trying to run from who you really are.
After embracing his true self, Theo was hit by another challenge, a stage 4 cancer diagnosis. Today, at 49, Theo's a cancer survivor, and looking to get back in shape, and explore and celebrate his sensuality and the kinkier sides of his personality. What better way, than with an artist and erotic photo shoot. Although Theo stays his body is still a work in progress, and wants to lose a little more weight, he was eager to get started, and didn't want to wait.
As you can see from this set of images from
Churidarshi Studios, Theo threw himself into the shoot with the intensity of a man with a statement to make, and a story to share. The images show are some of my favorites, but are just a glimpse of the eroticism exuded and captured. Theo attempted to go mild to wild, but it was clearly his wild side that won out!
'I had an amazing photoshoot with Churidarshi Studios! I was not expecting to get so intimate with the photoshoot it just started to go there when I let myself go with it.'
'I went to a place I have not gone before it was cathartic, erotic but also artistic and very professional. It felt like a very private male experience in my head. I shut everything else out and committed to it. It was a pretty amazing experience and the photographer's lighting was so complimentary, especially as I am not in tip top shape.... yet.'
One of themes Theo wanted to highlight in his shoot, was the stigma still surrounding gay sex and sexuality. When he was married, sex was easy, and he felt total freedom to try anything without any issue or feelings of shame. When out with his wife, public displays of affection were mostly ignored, or met with a smile. Now, even in 2020, just holding hands with his boyfriend in public, can illicit stares and looks of judgement.
'Coming to terms with my sexuality and my body and what I needed took me a long time. After being sick and getting into remission I really started to feel as if time was limited and that I needed to get going and embrace the whole me the gay side and my body'
'When I turned 50 I thought now was the time to do it. People ask me all the time what is the difference between straight sex and gay sex and to tell the truth it is not that much difference, when you are intimate your intimate. Allowing myself to be vulnerable or penetrated I guess is the main difference and it feels so good; if I close my eyes and go with it.'
'I guess that is what I was trying to achieve in the photoshoot, letting go of my inhibitions and understanding that being gay does not change who I am it's just embracing the entire story, something I didn't do that when I was married. I think Americans in particular don't always embrace the whole story and perhaps that is changing slowly. I hope so, as I know there are many many guys out there just like me that are willing, under the right circumstance's, to explore their whole picture and it doesn't make them weak, but in fact it makes them stronger.'
Churidarshi Studios