Above:
Camell by Bob Burkhardt
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Wednesday, March 31, 2021
エイプリルフール (Eipurirufūru)
Hideaki's in a little trouble...
See the full story, and the full image on the NEXT PAGE HERE:
Image by Achillias
The Checkered Umbrella: Camell by Bob Burkhardt
'Sweet April showers / Do spring May flowers'.
Thomas Tusser
Growing up, we all heard the phrase 'April showers bring May flowers'. April really isn't known a month having an abundance of quotes, so this one from English poet Thomas Tusser is a little overused and pulled out every April. On the surface it's a rather simplistic turn of phrase. Given April and May are the core months of spring growth, rain is essential for colorful lush flowers and gardens.
When I was in my twenties I moved from the city to a more rural area. It was during this time, that the quote took on a broader meaning with a little more depth. Spring flowers were nice, but they were really rather unimportant when it came to precipitation levels. Flowers are beautiful to look at, but they're growth is more like the wrapping, than the actual present underneath.
Living in the country, most fields were filled with fruit and vegetable crops, and getting the right amount of rain and snow each year was essential. April was the month most farmers analyzed the amount of snow that came during the winter, and how much moisture was saturating the soil. A dry winter meant you needed a ton of rain in the spring in order to ensure you had enough moisture in the soil to get through the summer. We tend to think it's the rain that falls when the plants are above the ground that's important, but it's really the amount of water underneath the surface that tells the tale.
In the country, many people still get their water from wells, and without enough rain in the spring and summer, water has to be trucked in during August and September. April showers are also essential in the growing of hay. A wet early summer, means the hay will be ready to harvest when it dries out later in the summer. It's the hay that feeds the animals when the snow returns to cover the ground during the winter.
Although the quote is about two months, and connection between one thing, showers, and another, flowers, it really speaks to how everything that occurs, and everything that we do, impact everything we experience the rest of our lives. A simple decision at 20, one we don't really think about, can have a domino effect on things we experience the rest of our lives. So many of things we do and experience today, can be tracked back to things we thought so unimportant at the time.
I know I rambled on a bit about precipitation, but when photographer Bob Burkhardt first sent on this set of images a few months ago, rain and April showers immediately came to mind. Researching Thomas Tusser's quote also had me thinking about it's meaning beyond just the one spring month of tulips and daffodils. In addition to being a poet, Tusser was also a farmer, and he knew the importance of taking care of his crops twelve months a year, and not just hoping a few April showers would be enough to sustain them over time.
So, what's the connection between spring precipitation and Bob's shots of Camell? Well, in addition to both having the power to get you wet, it's the umbrella that tied them together for me. I fell in love with this series the first time I saw it and knw they'd be the perfect way to kick off the month of April. The erotic Singin in the Rain theme theme also works well on a number of other levels. Bob doesn't often use props in his shoots, and I love how Bob spotlighted the umbrella without having it overtake Camell or the images.
I always feel uncomfortable using an umbrella, even when it's pouring. I'm not sure why. I never really know how to hold it, or what to do with it when the rain passes. I hate having to carry a wet umbrella into a store or coffee shop, and have even ditched one in a garbage can when I didn't want to carry it around any more. Umbrella's are really known as the most 'manly' of accessories, and I usually go the easy route buying the basic black model. Camell holds his handle just fine though, and manages his large checkered parasol with masculine finesse.
Although I had visions of Gene Kelly soft shoeing in and out of rain puddles, I didn't ask Bob whether Camell did any dancing during during their shoot, or if he twirled his umbrella around. I know I can't really pick up an umbrella without giving it at least one twirl. I'm sort of guess that Camell didn't do any twirls, Bob shares that although he loved how images came out, there really wasn't a lot of talking going on during his time shooting Camell.
'I remember him sending a message about shooting with him. He proposed it as an opportunity for me. He was professional and new how to present his best attributes. I can't say we really talked much during the shoot. He definitely projected his masculinity. He was a good model and women especially loved the posts. I don't think he's still modeling, but is focused on photography. He has good work.'
For this part of the shoot, Camell kept his umbrella handy, careful not to get wet. In the second part of the shoot, Camell puts his brolly away and lets the water hit and cascade over his beautifully naked body. Check out images from that part of Bob's work with Camell on THE NEXT PAGE HERE:
12 Days: Ken Olandt in April Fool's Day
'Don't let the joke be on you....'
As a fan of the adorable Ken Olandt, I featured his two nude scenes previously on the site. Most have seen and enjoyed Ken's g-string stripper scene from 1987's Summer School. (HERE:) Ken also bared his butt ten years later in 199'7's A Time to Revenge. (HERE:) Although there's nudity in the 80's film April Fool's Day, Ken does have a couple of shirtless scenes, and a scene in his tighty whities.
'Nine college students staying at a friend's remote island mansion begin to fall victim to an unseen murderer over the April Fool's Day weekend, but nothing is as it seems. '
Olandt plays Rob in the 1986 horror flick which also features actors Jay Baker, Clayton Rohner, Griffin O'Neal and Amy Steel. The film has a twist ending that's a little predictable, but was ok, especially given it's one of the few films focused on April 1st. I noticed there's a more recent film with the same title featuring actor Josh Henderson. I'm not sure if it's a remake or a new story, but I might have to check it out before next April roles around again.
'[finds a letter on the boat] State Hospital. 'Pursuant to our previous communications, please be advised that the patient under discussion has still not been found and returned to custody, and is now believed to be attempting to return to her home in your jurisdiction. If encountered exercise extreme caution and notify us immediately as Miss St. John has been a patient here for three years and is still considered incorrigibly unstable and extremely dangerous.'
Rob
Tuesday, March 30, 2021
The April Fool
'Beau Bridge (aka Beau Reed) thinks he has struck gold by finding a hot girl on the PansMeet app; and even more so when there are two girls when he shows up. However, little does he know he will be the target of an April Fool’s joke!'
Drew Dixon
I love looking for porn parody's when it comes to holidays and special occasion. The April Fool covers the theme, as well as a fantasy many gay men have had. You know the scenario, I know some of you have run it through your head.... The hot straight guy you covet is blindfolded by a hot female he thinks he's about to get devoured by. Instead, she steps aside, leaving the pleasuring to you.
Of course this is a fantasy, and in this dream, the straight guy enjoys it as much as you do. In The April Fool, it's not one girl but two, and not one guy pleasuring but three. In this flick, Beau Reed plays the straight guy and the pleasuring is done by Manuel Skye, Ethan Chase and the sultry Drew Dixon. April Fools or an April Fool?
Hideaki and Zhou
Hideaki
Zhou in traditional Hanfu outfit
One of the reasons I was so struck by the images was how real they looked. Yes, after spending time closely examining the shot, I could tell that Hideaki and Zhou were computer illustrated, but their faces, their eyes, their bodies and body parts were vividly alluring and real. I was especially drawn to Hideaki, the embodiment of my ultimate erotic fantasy hero.
The Empress and her prisoners
April Fool's Day is really a silly holiday, one mostly reserved for children. It's supposed to be fun, but with the goal being to make a fool of someone, the fun is cloaking an underbelly of cruelty. So... what do these visuals have to do with the holiday. Nothing really, except most jokes and tricks are based in illusion. A fun, exciting surface with a hidden layer of mystery. When I first saw these images, that's exactly what I experienced.
I was first introduced to these images of Hideaki and Zhou a few months ago, although I didn't know their names at the time. They were part of an image I later learned was titled The Empress and her Prisoners. In addition to not knowing their names, the image wasn't credited so I didn't know the artist behind the piece. I was however determined to find out. It took a little while as my usual reverse image searches didn't provide any answers. I also attempted to search Japanese CFNM imagery, Japanese nude fighters and Asian erotic imagery, but still nothing.
Zhou
I wanted to feature the image, and find out more about the artist, but I didn't want to post the shot without credit. I gave it one last attempt by searching on DeviantArt, and again searching for Japanese CFNM imager. Success, there were Hideaki and Zhou, as well as dozens and dozens of more images from Achillias, the artist the behind their creation.
Fortunately, Achillias responded to my 'bug' message and was supportive of me featuring his work. I would have been very disappointed not to share and introduce his work, not to mention Hideaki and Zhou to readers of FH. Achillias passion and skill is focused on creating 3D images, image sequences, illustrated short stories and comics. In addition to Asian heroes, his favorite topics include' Ancient Spartans, Romans and Greeks, Medieval and Fantasy. Like myself, Achillias also loves imagery, art and stories featuring clothed females and nude males.
When I asked Achillias what stimulated his creating the sexy and captivating Hideaki and Zhou, there wasn't a specific reason. The Netherlands artist loves to create men from differnt cultures and backgrounds. A few months ago he just felt like creating some Asian characters, both male and female. Of the group of characters he created, he liked Zhou and Hideaki the best. Zhou is Chinese and Hideaki is Japanese and both are kickboxers. Achillias had planed on creating a kickboxing series, with Zhou and Hideaki fighting together, but time has prevented him from finishing that series as of now. Until then, you check out much more of Achillias' work on his website HERE:
In the Peony Pavilion
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