Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Binding Agreement: Connor by Shibari Garraf


' I don't always model nude; each photoshoot is heavily dependent on what the photographer wants and envisions. If the project requires nudity, then I have no problem stripping my clothes away. This shoot with Shibari obviously required it, and I loved the incredible contrast of having my body completely bonded, yet feeling totally vulnerable and free.'


If you're a fan of following the male form on-line, chances are... you've already met Connor.  In addition to enjoying his Instagram posts, Connor's work has been featured on Pornceptual as well as several features on EroticcoMag.  As you can clearly see, not only is Connor incredibly hot, his presence in front of the lens is both captivating and dramatic, expressed through both his eyes and gaze, and his striking poses.


As you may also have picked up, Connor also loves to  push boundaries with his art.  In part, this stemmed form his upbringing.  Both of Connor's parents were artists, and was taught early, that there is was nothing taboo about nudity, especially in art.  Connor briefly followed in his parents footsteps, studying photography in college, and nude modeling, was just part of the learning and creative process.

Pushing boundaries is part of every passionate artist and model, and for Connor, some of that also has to do with being a person of color.  Although Connor grew up being inspired by hot naked models in magazines, he never saw many models who looked like him, and subsequently, never felt attractive enough to be in front of the camera.  This was until, he came across an issue of Playgirl featuring Korean American model Peter Le. 


'I was amazed by him and shocked to see an Asian man being featured in a normally white porno magazine. He looked so comfortable and confident with his body; it was both erotic and artistic. It was then that my desire to be like him grew.'


How did you connect with Shibari Garraf 
I have admired their work for a long time, but after I moved to Spain, I noticed that they announced that they would be taking some time off from collaboration. However, I continued to watch out for their announcement of returning. So last year, when I heard that they were open for the tying business again, I had to write to them. 

Given the bondage themes he captures, was that a theme you wanted to explore? 
Yes, I have always had a fascination with Shibari. I found it to be both erotic and highly artistic. Each knot is an art piece of its own; combining it with the human body is simply a chef's kiss. 


Tell me about the shoot, how was the experience of being bound in rope? 
I had a great time. Both Mark and Bart were super nice. They picked me up from the Sitges train station and drove me to their beautiful home. They explained the three poses they had prepared ahead of time and how the rope worked. They emphasized asking me to speak up if, at any moment, I didn't feel comfortable or in any pain. 

They were very professional and worked very hard to tie those ropes around my body and lift me up. Overall, they had a much tougher job than me. All I had to do was to improvise expressions along with the poses. 

When it comes to erections, are they planned or discussed, or just occur 'in the moment'? 
It all depends on the photographer. Whenever I agreed to a shoot, I would study the photographer's overall work to understand his style. And to see what type of nudity is showcased in his works. Suppose a photographer has only done artistic nudity, and he didn't specify on wanting me to have an erection. In that case, I will keep my little soldier asleep throughout the shoot. But if erotic nudity has already been part of his style, like with this shoot, then I will allow myself to go to that special place mentally to wake my soldier up. 

Connor on Instagram

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