Above:
Paradise by Mark Leighton
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Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Snakes on Parade
'Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.'
Genesis 3:1
This particular snake was both more crafty, and more eye catching than any other in the field, and along the parade route. This especially hot couple portraying Adam and Eve were walking a few years ago in the parade at the Toronto Caribbean Carnaval.
Garden Party:
Kajetan
Christoph
Manuel
Oliver
'And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman.'
Genesis 2:15-25
Damir
Austria's Next Top Model
Original Airdate : November 20, 2014
Photo Shoot : Nude in Pairs as Adam and Eve
There are many versions of Top Model around the world, and several have done Adam and Eve themed photoshoots. This shoot from Austria, almost a decade ago, is one of my favorites.
Mark Leighton: Another Day In Paradise
'Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.'
Genesis 2:15-17
In the book of Genesis, the Garden of Eden is described as a beautiful garden containing the tree live. It was intended as a place where Adam and Eve could live in peaceful and contented innocence, effortlessly reaping the fruits of the Earth. When we see the Garden represented in art, it's often depicted as a lush, green jungle full of animals, tree's and plants that could both sustain and nurture anyone who lived there.
When I was thinking of paradise like places on earth, and the photographers who shoot them, I first thought of Mark Leighton. Living in the East, I encounter my own local Eden's, but for much of the year, they're frozen, and often covered with snow. One of the best parts of working on FH, is being able to visually vacation through the images and artists that I feature.
Mark lives and primarily shoots in Portugal and along the beaches of Lagos and Algarve. In addition, Mark often travels to shoot as with this series of images where Mark traveled to Bali to shoot Nico and Kim. It is not difficult to think that Bali in so many ways is reflective of what so many think of when they think of the Garden of Eden. Known as the Island of the Gods, Bali is an island paradise with Lush rice fields, ancient temples, magical sunsets, traditional villages and idyllic beaches.
I first featured Mark's work with Nico and Kim back in 2018. (HERE:) Mark had compiled an incredible collection of images he put together for a photo book entitled, A Quiet Heat. The title not only described the location, but the quiet strength and sensuality of the two men in focus.
In addition to the location, I also wanted to revisit this shoot, because given the theme of FH, I wanted at least one series featuring two men enjoying playing in the Garden. There are also some interesting parallels between Kim and Nico with Adam and Eve. No, they were not created from the Earth's dust, or a rib, but like Adam and Eve, Nico and and Kim were brought together in their paradise location, having never met each other before.
Meeting a another person in a tropical paradise, only to spend most of your time completely nude, can certainly be a bonding experience. Although it wasn't an apple that tempted them, Mark shares they did share a passion for nourishment and sustenance, and usually ended up persuading Mark to order huge amounts of food wherever they went to eat. Spending hours working, posing and sweating in the tropical heat would build up an appetite.
'The first few shots of the duo section were a bit too restrained but they soon found the right balance and worked very well together. The whole experience of shooting these two exceptional young men was so much fun and so easy.'
Adam Zoekt Eva
The Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east. He instructed Adam and Eve to, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it.
Genesis 2:8
If you think about it, most reality shows that involve romance, follow the story of Adam and Eve. Love Island, Temptation Island, even The Bachelor are all set in tropical hot and steamy paradises. So many of the couples interactions occur outside, often on the beach, surrounded by lush tropical greenery.
The couples arrive, and before too long are met with temptation. There may not be an actual snake or apple, but these shows all want the maximum amount of drama. This means, whenever a couple begins to get close, temptation is just around the corner.
In Europe, where nudity can be shown on broadcast television, this concept was introduced in the Dutch reality series Adam Zkt. Eva (Adam seeks Eve) Promoted as a 'unique love experiment', the shows nudity did cause a bit of controversy, even for the usually liberal Dutch. The show first aired back in 2014 on RTL 5, and quickly spawned other European editions in countries including; Germany Finland, France and Spain.
As you can see from the images below, there's a hot formula for introducing each Adam and Eve. They arrive clothed on a boat, and are taken close to the beach. The contestants then must strip down, dive into the ocean and swim ashore. Some of the hottest moments of the show for me, are when Adam ascends from the sea and walks onto the beach.
After 'Adam' get acquainted with his surrounds, he then meets his 'Eve'. Soon, a snake arrives, not a long serpent, but another naked contestant to ensure any possible coupling doesn't go smoothly. The show then takes on the familiar formula of many dating shows by brining everyone together, then having and games and competitions before one player must leave the show.
I discovered the show on Dreamcap, where most of the images here came from. I've also featured two my favorite players, Jantius and Collins previously on the site. You can check out those posts, which both include a video of their naked arrival, on FH HERE & HERE:
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