Soak 'N' Wet: Jordan by Implicit Ditto

'You can’t go wrong with an attractive man in a bathtub!'

Jordan

Given't the nexus between moisture and sensuality, it makes sense that's become such an essential element in the photography of the male form.  The reasons are endless, beginning with the many metaphorical and literal connections between sexual arousal and wetness.  On a basic level however, especially with photographers who travel for shoot, there's always a bathroom, no matter where you're staying, available to utilize as a makeshift studio.

The most important reason to use any element in art, is it's impact on the visual.  The combination of light and water is powerful, especially when cascading over the skin of a beautiful naked body. The wet naked body for this shoot is a model many FH readers are already familiar with.  Some of you may remember him 2018's Utah shoot, (HERE:) but I'm guessing most of you know Jordan as peaks_and_cheeks2.0 on Instagram.

It was through Jordan;s Instagram page that lead to his connecting with Mike (Implicit Ditto) first connected.  Mike had seen Jordan's work, including his work in Utah, and a creative collaboration was planned.  This series of shots came from their second shoot.  The fist, took place outside on a chilly afternoon in St. George,  Although Mike shares they got some great shots, the shoot was short due to the weather.  Bot model and photographer agreed they wanted to work together again in the future should the opportunity arise.

A quick trip to Vegas provided a second opportunity for Mike and Jordan to connect.  Thankfully what happened during their time together didn't stay in Vegas, and was captured for other to enjoy.  Due to scheduling time was tight so they shot in the rooms of the hotel where Mike was staying.  Both Mike and Jordan agree that some of the best shots came from time in the bathroom.  I fully agree. 

In my last piece featuring Mike's work, (HERE:)  the San Francisco based photographer discussed his goal of the blending of environment with the model to create a mood.   Although for that shoot, the environment was a beautiful outdoor location, he certainly demonstrates with this shoot, a bathroom will also do just fine.

'The place had a huge open shower and a clawfoot bathtub. While I had to maneuver into numerous yoga poses and climb on chairs to get the best angle, it was worth the effort given the results. Jordan moves with such fluidity, I really just let him move and make minor adjustments. He's so comfortable in his skin and has such a warm smile, although you don't see it in this set of pictures... We shot right up until my deadline but I could have easily spent another couple hours with him that morning.'

Mike, Implicit Ditto

'Mike was great with direction and helping me find the best positioning for my body. I absolutely loved the bathtub shots we did. They’re some of my favorites. Anytime that I’m traveling out to CA I plan to connect with him and keep expanding our portfolio together.'

Jordan

Implicit Ditto
Implicit Ditto on Patreon

Implicit Ditto on Instagram

Jordan on Instagram

Jordan on Twitter

Environmental Blend: Mickey by Implicit Ditto

'What I really find interesting is the blend of the environment and the model to really create a mood.'

Implicit Ditto

It was that specific mood that Mike (Implicit Ditto) describes that first drew me to his imagery. I first noticed Mike's work on Model Mayhem awhile ago and knew I wanted to feature his work.  Last year, while profiling model and photographer John Cooper, I noticed some fantastic shots of John on Mike's Instagram and knew it was time to reach out.

Mike studied photography in college, but like myself and other would-be artists, time and money issues pushed him towards pursuing a safer profession.  For Mike, that was a carer in the tec sector.  Once digital cameras began to take hold, and became more affordable, Mike picked it back up and says he hasn't looked back since.  With his tec experience, Mike's attuned to changes in technology, and has been fascinated watching how photography and technology continues to blend together and compliment each other.

'I started focusing on the male form in the early 00’s as I decided it made sense to start photographing what it was I was spending so much time looking at.'

'My own personal aesthetic is to try and blend the surroundings in with the model as much as possible. I don’t do well with studio work for that reason. What I really find interesting is the blend of the environment and the model to really create a mood. For example, a person on a beach creates a mood, or in an industrial complex, in the forest, an abandoned house, etc. I just love bringing all of these elements together and seeing what’s possible. While some photographers are amazing in the studio, it’s just more of a challenge for me. But, that could change.'

Mike connected with Mickey through a modeling site, and Mike was among the first photographers that Mickey shot with.  Mike could see from his prior work that he was comfortable with his body and looked to find a space with both privacy, and not constrained by being in a public location.  This set of images come from their second shoot together, the first was shot at a private residence, these were taken on on the secluded property of one of Mike's friends.

 'Mickey is fantastic to work with, in fact, I have to work to keep up with him. Mickey is so athletic and fluid in his movements, he’ll just seamlessly (and quickly) transition from one pose to the next. I often have to catch him and tell him to stop and move back a few poses so I can re-shoot something. He’s also one of the most polite and enthusiastic people I’ve ever met. He’s genuinely grateful for the opportunity and experience and I think that comes through in all of his photos.'

I love the way Mickey blends into, and interacts with his environment in this location shoot.  The blend is beautifully quiet and subtle in tone and mood.  There are no jarring moments, movements or colors, even the pinks and blue's Mike captured seem to flow with Mickey's beautiful skin tone and the surrounding greens.

Implicit Ditto

Implicit Ditto on Instagram

Implicit Ditto on ModelMayhem

Mickey on ModelMayhem

Mickey on Instagram

Taking Everything In: Gaston by Implicit Ditto

'People say I’m more quiet in person than they’d expect me to be. I think that’s because I am always taking everything in. One little detail can ruin an otherwise good shot for me. Like a twist in my jockstrap—ha! Silly I guess, but I get caught up on details like that.'

Gaston

Given my love great imagery, especially when it's focused on the male form, I've become fairly astute at detecting the motives behind an image or shoot.  Some artists don't really try to hide their intention to simply narrowly focus on body parts, usually one body part in particular.  Other artists,  the ones that I'm drawn to, and usually feature, have a broader focus. They look to capture not only a great body, but a piece or fragment of the man within.  They consider the overall visual,  the model directly right in front of them, as well as every detail which surrounds them..

While browsing Instagram last month, my quick scrolling came to a halt when I spotted one of Mike's  (Implicit Ditto) images of Gaston.  I was drawn in by not just one, but the San Francisco based artists attention to every detail within the visual.  I think the vibrant red in Gaston's plaid shirt first drew my eye, quickly followed by his handsome face and his incredibly hot and hairy chest and legs. 

It didn't stop there however, my attention remained transfixed, not only on Gaston, but on the location, lights and body of water behind him.  Gaston's surroundings were almost as alluring as he was, and at first, I was sure it must be a fake background, brought through life by Mike with good lighting and editing.  I of course, had to find out more. 

Just as I couldn't scroll past Mike's image, Mike also stopped on Instagram to compliment Gaston on his profile and images.  Mike also welcomed Gaston to get in touch if he was ever near the Bay Area and wanted to shoot.  As luck would have it, a few months later Gaston was going to close for a family affair.  His time however was limited, so Mike suggested a night shoot.  Mike usually plans his shoots for the daytime hours, and relies on natural light, but given the color and textures of the cities lights, he thought t his would be the perfect opportunity to explore night shooting and test the combination of physique and the city's lights. 

'It's almost always cool or chilly at night in San Francisco except for a rare heat wave. So the model will need to get in and out of clothes quickly. Then they need to stand completely still when shooting as a longer shutter speed of a couple seconds long is required for this kind of shot. Finding somewhere somewhat private is tremendously challenging, so lots of time is spent driving around trying to find a spot that might work. To compound that, unfortunately there are very few places in a large city that don't have either security personnel roaming around or security cameras pointing in every direction. We lucked out in a couple spots and I'm excited about what we were able to capture in the little time we had together.'

Mike, Implicit Ditto

Unfortunately, as Mike predicted, the night of the shoot was pretty chilly.  Gaston was freezing.  Although it was cold, it was a nice November evening, meaning that in addition to the cold temperatures, Mike and Gaston had to deal with the many people out for their evening waterfront walks. Despite the challenges, Gaston managed not only to enjoy himself, but also proved a nice distraction from some of the stressors in his life.

'There I was sitting on a roof of a parking structure in a jockstrap. In most photos you sort of have to flex without making it seem like you're flexing— here I had to make it seem like I was not freezing my ass off. We did some shots by the water with my pants down. Again I’m not shy, but it’s always a little nerve racking when people approach or pass by. Most of the time people are unfazed. Especially in places like San Francisco. 

I am very critical of photos of myself, I guess most of us are, but I’m a Virgo which I think compounds the issue. The weekend we did this shoot was the weekend of my brother’s wedding, and I was his best man. I was planning wedding morning breakfasts, coordinating 100 things, so it was good for me to take some time away from that— it’s easy to clear your head when you’re focusing on the shoot, the pose, the angles, etc. '

Gaston

Implicit Ditto

Implicit Ditto on Patreon

Gaston on OnlyFans

Gaston on Instagram

Immediately Comfortable: Dan by Implicit Ditto

'I was immediately comfortable and the clothes quickly came off.'

Dan

I've been featuring shoots from artists and models that I love for awhile now.  I still maintain however, an avid curiosity about the process. Whenever I'm spotlighting a nude shoot, there's one question I always ask, and always wonder about.  I'm always interested in finding out how comfortable the model was with taking off all of their clothes.

I like to ask, as the vulnerablity factor is a fundamental erotic element to the process.  For me, it's also part of the appeal of visuals of the nude male form.  Sometimes, I think I know the answer just by the images, but sometimes I'm surprised.   No matter how many times a photographer has shot nudes, and no matter how many times a model has posed fully nude, there's often still a fleeting moment.  A second or two of anxious anticipation, just before the last piece of clothing comes off.

Most models share that once they're fully naked, and the shooting has commenced, the nerves disappear.  For model Dan Callum this happened immedeately, even before his undies were slid off.  Although Dan only began modeling last year, this wasn't his first nude shoot.  His confidence however, wasn't so much about years of shooting nudes, but more about of his trust and confidence in Mike. (Implicit Ditto) 

'I was immediately comfortable and the clothes quickly came off. It was great how I could easily see Mike's vision in his shots and it was all exactly what I felt I wanted to do too.  This made things even more fun. Then we got to that shower and, well...I just couldn't contain myself.'

Dan

Mike first spotted Dan on Model Mayhem and was struck by Dan's expressive face, especially his eyes.  Although Mike certainly noticed Dan's excellent physique, it was his face he found captivating and rich with feeling and emotion.  Dan lives in Texas, and since Mike was heading to Dallas for the holidays, hoped to fit in a shoot or two while he was there.  MM doesn't make connecting on their site very user friendly, so Mike found Dan's Instagram profile, and quickly got in touch.

Dan was very interested in shooting, but unfortunately, was also traveling over the holiday.  Thankfully, they found a window in which their time in Dallas overlapped and their schedules were in sync.   Prior to the shoot, they communicated a number of times, giving Mike the opportunity to share detailed information about himself and his shooting process.  Mike also ensures that he's aware of any boundaries or restrictions a model might have, and o answer any questions ahead of the shoot.  This helps to ensure the shoot runs smoothly and the model is as comfortable as possible.

'I feel as if Dan and I hit it off well from the get-go. It’s always a little awkward when you haven’t had an opportunity to meet who you’re working with face-to-face prior to shooting. You’re meeting them for the first time and both about to embark on something that can feel very intimate and somewhat intimidating for some people. But from the moment we met, I believe we were both really comfortable with one another. '

Mike

Although Mike shares that Dan was completely flexible, thing really came together creatively once I was able to find the location and share it with him.  Both model and photographer got similar feel for what types of photos and the cozy lifestyle they could create there.  Mike found the location on  Peerspace.  It's a tiny little cottage that a guy built on his property, in a setback area of town.  There were a few other buildings on the property, including a larger house, that Mike hopes to use in the future.

'It was a little challenging because of neighbors and other occupants, so we couldn’t shoot outside, which I really would have enjoyed. Also, there was some limited lighting, so it constrained us a little bit, but we were able to work around it. And cozy is a good word to describe the space. It was quite small so I was constantly moving things around and cramming myself into what felt like yoga positions to try and get a good angle.'

 Mike

'When I first saw the pics on our possible shoot location, I was excited. Good, rustic vibes with a promising-looking shower (who doesn't love a good shower scene). I was kind of bummed we couldn't do much fully outside stuff, but we made things work inside.  I'm also a sucker for natural lighting and we luckily had a good amount of that to play with.' 

Dan

I love the look of the cottage, and for me, exuded an immediate feeling of comfort. Some of my favorite shoots feature a visual harmony between model and location, something I certainly felt and saw in this series.  Dan looks like he belongs in the cottage, adding a beautiful natural symbiosis which parallels the cottages rustic look and wooden walls.  He looks right at home, helping to make his poses, and sensual shower, look genuine and not staged.  It's as if Dan's simply going about his regular routine on a cozy winter day.  

Dan seemed completely comfortable.  He was very comfortable in his body and moved quite naturally, which made him easy to shoot. I believe he has recently started an OnlyFans account, so nudity was a non-issue. I must say that I have such respect for guys who are comfortable enough in their own skin to shoot nudes, yet retain a sense of humility. It says a lot about a person’s character.

Dan was open to my ideas and came up with some of his own, which is my favorite part of collaborating. I was thrilled with how the images turned out, and he was quite pleased with them too, which is the most important thing to me. 

Mike

Dan on OnlyFans

Dan on linktr.ee

Implicit Ditto 

Implicit Ditto on linktr.ee

Implicit Ditto on FH:

Artistic Accordance: Andrew Delta by Implicit Ditto

'What fun is a shoot if you don't take the time to get to know the person who is capturing you? '

Andrew

FH viewer know how much I love to explore process.  When an image grabs my attention, it grabs my interest as well.  I want to know how it came together, how it was created and how the artist and model felt about the experience of working together.  Sometimes, when I ask about a shoot, I don't get a whole lot of information back.  Other times however,  like with this shoot featuring Implicit Ditto and Andrew Delta, my interest and curiosity was more than satisfied.

It must be difficult for a social, chatty photographer to work with a model who just wants to come in, take off his clothes, and get the pictures taken. It's not that uncommon though, for creatives to have different ideas about process. Not every model and photographer forge a creative connection.  Some of my favorite shoots to feature however, are from creatives who enjoy the process equally, and sometimes even greater than, the finished results.

I understand this completely.  As someone who performed myself,  my favorite piece was always the rehearsal process and collaborating with other actors, musicians and directors.  I always felt the best part was over before the curtain went up on opening night.  The sense of working together to build something was my motivations.  As you'll read below, both Andrew and Mike, (Implicit Ditto) have a parallel process when it comes to how they view and approach their work,  

How did you both first connect?

Andrew:

I first stumbled across Mike's work on Instagram while I was scrolling, I believe it was the shoot that he did with my friend Eddie Burke that caught my eye. I loved the images they got together so of course I hit the follow button and things developed from there. 

Mike:

The majority of models I find on Instagram. I'm a bit of a sleuth in tracking guys down. I recall that Andrew reached out to me via DM and asked about working together. 

What first struck you when you saw each other's visuals? 

Andrew:

What really caught my eye are the rich warm colors in his photos, it almost gives a dream-like to the already dreamy subject matter. I also love the candidness in all of his photos, nothing looks forced, it's like he captures the model in their natural element/ their natural beauty. 

Mike:

Andrew has such a great physique, including that incredibly chiseled chin and profile. I loved the placement of his tattoos and he has a really free and uninhibited playful energy about him. You could tell by looking at his photos that he was incredibly comfortable in his skin and being in front of a camera. It's always such a gift when you come across that combination. 

When was your first nude shoot and have you gotten used to (comfortable) with nude shoots? 

Andrew:

Haha, honestly I think my first photoshoot ever was nude. I was about 21 years old when one of my best friends Victor Crulich asked me to model for him. Being the type of person to always try new things, I accepted and now I have dozens of nude shoots under my belt and many more lined up. To be honest I have never really had an issue with posing nude in photoshoots. I spent a lot of time in sports during high school and college ( wrestling, MMA, tennis), and with that a lot of time was spent in locker rooms, so I think during that period I grew very comfortable with nudity and my body. 

Tell me about the experience of working with each other?

Andrew:

Mike was awesome to work with! He made me feel super comfortable and welcomed throughout the whole shoot; it's so nice working with personable photographers who are genuinely interested in getting to know you. Having a background in graphic communications I always get excited when creative inspiration comes up, so I always vocalize it to the photographer. Mike was super receptive to the input and also had a lot of great ideas as well, so we flowed back and forth getting a lot of great shots and geeking out about art and lighting. 

The whole process was super enjoyable, but I really liked the video segments that we did toward the beginning. I almost never get to do that during photoshoots so it was great that mike was experimental, the video turned out great! 

Mike:

Andrew was a dream to work with in that aspect. He is so wonderfully comfortable and accepting in his body. Additionally, he's done quite a bit of modeling work already, and because of his focus on his Only Fans, he's really learned how to be natural in front of a camera. I am moving more into video and we were able to utilize his comfort level in that area as well which also made my work easier. Andrew really just went with the moment. I would suggest a location and a look and he would just melt into it. 

Curious how much talk goes on during shoots, if it's easy, or long periods of silence?

Andrew:

What fun is a shoot if you don't take the time to get to know the person who is capturing you? Seriously though I love networking and meeting new people, and Mike was so easy to talk to. I think the only time there was silence was when we got into that flow state where he was snapping away and I was posing and making adjustments; just us working to get "that" shot. 

Mike:

A photoshoot can be quite an intimate experience and I have the utmost respect for anyone who's willing to stand in front of a camera. To that end, it's important for me that the model feel comfortable and at ease during our work together. I'm naturally curious about people and I enjoy learning about the lives of the guys I work with so I tend to ask a lot of questions. Since Andrew has been doing shoots like this for some time, I was able to spend less time posing him and more time just moving with the flow of the shoot and talking while shooting.

OnlyFans? 

Andrew:

When you subscribe to my OnlyFans you are able to see all the uncensored photos from my photoshoots, you know all the stuff that Instagram doesn't want us to post. Fans will also have access to over 100 collab videos with some of the hottest content creators in the adult industry. New photos are posted regularly and one new collab video is posted per week, plus I do my best to respond to fan mail. 

Mike:

I'm always intrigued by someone starting an Only Fans site. I applaud them for taking the bull by the horns so to speak and building their own brand. Creating a successful online career is hard work and it's a finicky field. So I loved hearing about how enthusiastic Andrew was in this endeavor. I recall we talked about how he had gone to college and landed a corporate job and absolutely hated it, so he dropped it and took up his dream of becoming a porn star as well as starting his own fashion business. Who can't admire that kind of determination.

Implicit Ditto Photography

Andrew Delta on OnlyFans

Implicit Ditto on Instagram

Andrew Delta on Instagram