Stripper: Photos of Australian Guys

Rating:
Summary: Great promise, little follow-through
Review: "Mike," a former stripper and photographer for the Australian Web site bodshotz.com, is the photographer behind this collection of Australian men posing nude. The photographer's approach to his work is quite simple, as he notes in the introduction: Whenever he sees a man that arouses him, he asks him to model.

The problem with this approach is that the book contains precious little variation in the type of model. The photographer notes that he prefers men who are off-putting, men who have "that stern, almost scowling expression" and whose vanity is obvious. These criteria may make for a coherent photographic vision, but they are obviously limiting in presenting a varied, interesting visual body of work that can draw the viewer in.

This is not to say that the men in this book are not sexy or appealling. To the contrary: "Mike" has managed to compile a book filled with young, athletic, handsome men. Most of the men are photographed in a fairly consistent pattern (facing the camera). However, there is some variation in posing in the 58 photographs (especially in the few black-and-white photographs, and in the non-nude images). And some of the men's naturally friendly, appealing personalities shine through despite the artist's stated desire to showcase "scowling" models.

Many of the photographs are somewhat amateurish, however. The artist rarely uses setting to provide a complimentary or contrasting context for the model. Too often, the setting seems heavy-handed and amateurish, especially where the models are posed in post-industrial settings, in the studio or against classical columns.

As a whole, the book is a good introduction to the nude Australian man. As a photographic work, however, the book is fairly uninteresting. If you want to see naked Aussies, buy the book. If you want to see good Australian photography of naked Aussies, look elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: Great promise, little follow-through
Review: "Mike," a former stripper and photographer for the Australian Web site bodshotz.com, is the photographer behind this collection of Australian men posing nude. The photographer's approach to his work is quite simple, as he notes in the introduction: Whenever he sees a man that arouses him, he asks him to model.

The problem with this approach is that the book contains precious little variation in the type of model. The photographer notes that he prefers men who are off-putting, men who have "that stern, almost scowling expression" and whose vanity is obvious. These criteria may make for a coherent photographic vision, but they are obviously limiting in presenting a varied, interesting visual body of work that can draw the viewer in.

This is not to say that the men in this book are not sexy or appealling. To the contrary: "Mike" has managed to compile a book filled with young, athletic, handsome men. Most of the men are photographed in a fairly consistent pattern (facing the camera). However, there is some variation in posing in the 58 photographs (especially in the few black-and-white photographs, and in the non-nude images). And some of the men's naturally friendly, appealing personalities shine through despite the artist's stated desire to showcase "scowling" models.

Many of the photographs are somewhat amateurish, however. The artist rarely uses setting to provide a complimentary or contrasting context for the model. Too often, the setting seems heavy-handed and amateurish, especially where the models are posed in post-industrial settings, in the studio or against classical columns.

As a whole, the book is a good introduction to the nude Australian man. As a photographic work, however, the book is fairly uninteresting. If you want to see naked Aussies, buy the book. If you want to see good Australian photography of naked Aussies, look elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: Great promise, little follow-through
Review: "Mike," a former stripper and photographer for the Australian Web site bodshotz.com, is the photographer behind this collection of Australian men posing nude. The photographer's approach to his work is quite simple, as he notes in the introduction: Whenever he sees a man that arouses him, he asks him to model.

The problem with this approach is that the book contains precious little variation in the type of model. The photographer notes that he prefers men who are off-putting, men who have "that stern, almost scowling expression" and whose vanity is obvious. These criteria may make for a coherent photographic vision, but they are obviously limiting in presenting a varied, interesting visual body of work that can draw the viewer in.

This is not to say that the men in this book are not sexy or appealling. To the contrary: "Mike" has managed to compile a book filled with young, athletic, handsome men. Most of the men are photographed in a fairly consistent pattern (facing the camera). However, there is some variation in posing in the 58 photographs (especially in the few black-and-white photographs, and in the non-nude images). And some of the men's naturally friendly, appealing personalities shine through despite the artist's stated desire to showcase "scowling" models.

Many of the photographs are somewhat amateurish, however. The artist rarely uses setting to provide a complimentary or contrasting context for the model. Too often, the setting seems heavy-handed and amateurish, especially where the models are posed in post-industrial settings, in the studio or against classical columns.

As a whole, the book is a good introduction to the nude Australian man. As a photographic work, however, the book is fairly uninteresting. If you want to see naked Aussies, buy the book. If you want to see good Australian photography of naked Aussies, look elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: NOTES FOR THE COLLECTOR OF MALE EROTICA
Review: Great color and black/white photos of mostly nude males. Photographer uses everything from classic "greco-roman" poses to contemporary "nude man in junkyard poses", (not sure why so many photographers of nudes have taken to the industrial wasteland motif, but this Artist does well with it.) And, yes, a few photographs of those famous Australian life-guards, but not many. Highly recommended addition to your collection.

Rating:
Summary: NOTES FOR THE COLLECTOR OF MALE EROTICA
Review: Great color and black/white photos of mostly nude males. Photographer uses everything from classic "greco-roman" poses to contemporary "nude man in junkyard poses", (not sure why so many photographers of nudes have taken to the industrial wasteland motif, but this Artist does well with it.) And, yes, a few photographs of those famous Australian life-guards, but not many. Highly recommended addition to your collection.

Rating:
Summary: Attention All Strippers!!
Review: The author admits he was once a stripper, so he really knows where to find hot men & photograph them to their best possible advantage. I think he's right. This is a great selection of mostly nude Australian guys who are average to very good looking. Some of these models are muscular but most are light and well-defined. Most images are in black & white, and there are some very beautiful color shots.

Mike has been a photographer of male nudes for the past 16 years in the UK and Australia. It was a pleasure to discover this very talented photographer, and enjoy his images. I hope to see a larger collection of his work published in the future. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Attention All Strippers!!
Review: The author admits he was once a stripper, so he really knows where to find hot men & photograph them to their best possible advantage. I think he's right. This is a great selection of mostly nude Australian guys who are average to very good looking. Some of these models are muscular but most are light and well-defined. Most images are in black & white, and there are some very beautiful color shots.

Mike has been a photographer of male nudes for the past 16 years in the UK and Australia. It was a pleasure to discover this very talented photographer, and enjoy his images. I hope to see a larger collection of his work published in the future. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Attention All Strippers!!
Review: The author admits he was once a stripper, so he really knows where to find hot men & photograph them to their best possible advantage. I think he's right. This is a great selection of mostly nude Australian guys who are average to very good looking. Some of these models are muscular but most are light and well-defined. Most images are in black & white, and there are some very beautiful color shots.

Mike has been a photographer of male nudes for the past 16 years in the UK and Australia. It was a pleasure to discover this very talented photographer, and enjoy his images. I hope to see a larger collection of his work published in the future. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: HOT!
Review: This is a fantastic book. A must have for anyone who enjoys looking at beautiful people in tasteful photographs.