'When the one thing you want. Is the only thing out of your reach.'
Stephen Sondheim
We humans are annoyingly curious creatures. We crave what we can't have, want things just out of reach, and want to see and expose everything that's hidden. It's usually ends with hider and the seeker both unsatisfied and in trouble. I think though, it's part of the appeal of a good mystery and holiday like Halloween. We crave to see what's behind the mask, especially if worn by an particularly concupiscent concealer.
I organic I think, wanting to see what you can't. Whenever I'm sent a shoot, I'm also curious about what isn't shown. If the shoot is all frontals, I want to see the back, if the shoot is full of rear shots, I'm curious about the side and front. It's also one of the reasons I really don't post many shoots where the model's face is not showing. No matter how hot the body, and the body parts may be, I'm not satisfied unless I can see the face.
The face and the eyes are the mirror to the soul, and given my focus is on story, and learning about the artist and model, when a body part as significant as the face is hidden the story just isn't complete. It's like buying a novel, and discovering that several chapters, including the last one, have been ripped out of the book. The cover may be lovely and the story intriguing, but without those chapters,, it's just isn't satisfying.
I love mask shots however, especially at Halloween, and especially when eventually, the mask comes off.
FH readers know how much I love good reveal. Even with a mask, as concealing as the covering and costume might be, they can often heighten the erotic anticipation for the final reveal. When first saw shots of Adam from photographer Hal Cooks, (
Cooks Photography) Adam was wearing a mask. He was also completely naked. Despite seeing every inch of his hot hairy body, I wanted to see his face. When Hal sent on more shots from the shoot, I was rousingly rewarded.
Hal first connected with Adam on Twitter. Adam saw Hal's portfolio, and get in contact wanting to pose. After getting to know each other better on-line, Adam ended up visiting Hal and his husband in the desert and spending the night there prior to shooting. Hal was impressed not only with Adam's good looks, but also his sex-positive attitude. Adam also proved to be creative in a number of ways, including is love of music, piano and singing.
Was he comfortable shooting nude during your shoot?
Very!
Had Adam much experience modeling nude?
He posted several videos of himself massaging guys nude along with being nude.
What was your favorite part of working with him?
His openness to nudity and being creative.
As for how the mask idea came up, it ended up being connected to Covid. Adam wasn't wearing a mask because of Covid, but since the shoot occurred near the end of the pandemic, the topic of masks came up in discussions. Hal thought it would be interesting to include a mask in the shoot, and they ended up choosing a mask based on The Phantom of the Opera.