Happy Birthday today October 3rd to:

Clive Owen turns 46 today.

Also celebrating today October 3rd are:
Seann William Scott, Rubén Ochandiano, Oskar Rodriguez, Willy Monfret, Erik Von Detten, Seth Gabel, Jake Shears, Tommy Lee, Jack Wagner & Hart Bochner.

Favorite Clicks of The Week:

Here are some of my favorite recent clicks:

Just Beautiful Men always features some of the hottest men on the net. There was something about these shots of Brian Goeringer that stood out to me. Be sure to check out more HERE:




When I saw the incredible shots of Greg McKeon in my inbox this week I was all set to post. Then I saw my buddy Brenton over Aussielicious had already done a post so be sure to check out more HERE: or at Gaystoners HERE:


One of my favorite guys from down under Simon Le shared with me his amazing new shoot of 21 yo, a personal trainer & a pro surfer from Bondi, Sydney, Eliot Johnson. You can see the complete set over at ETHAN SAYS.




One of my favorite places to drop by CASPERFAN has the truly incredible download of gorgeous Harry Potter actor Freddie Stroma in 4.3.2.1 Check it out HERE:

Favorite Face of the Day: Brock Yurich

Ever since he was a boy in Ohio, 21 year old Brock Yurich has worked on his body, his health, entering bodybuilding contests and fitness competitions. For Brock it is not really a choice, but more something instinctual. Brock has taken his passion for fitness and parlayed it, like many into a career as a fitness model, personal trainer and nutritionist, specializing in men's athletics and Bodybuilding competitions.



Equally instinctual to Brock, and far more interesting and sexy to me is his love of Theatre, specifically musical theatre. Brock moved to Orlando FL and is a Theatre Major at UCF. Brock has been in numerous school productions as well as roles in local theatre productions. Below you can hear a bit of Brock's singing, but there are more performances on Youtube if your interested. Be sure to show Brock a little love and join his newly formed Facebook page HERE:



"Lost in the Wilderness" from Children of Eden


Brock Yurich
Stats:
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 189 lbs
Waist: 32"
Shoe: 12.0
Hair color: Blonde
Hair length: Short
Eye color: Blue
Skin color: Tanned

Below: Brock by Jorge Freire.




Below: Brock by Rick Day.


Below: Brock by Luis Rafael.





Below:
Brock for AAG by Michael A. Downs.

Don't Ask Don't Tell by Hans Fahrmeyer

Between the end of World War I and the beginning of World War II, the medical world, and society more generally, adopted the view of homosexuality as “abnormal” and therefore an illness. During World War II, questioning and psychiatric tests were used to prevent homosexuals from entering the services, with limited success. By 1942, the first restrictions on inducting homosexuals were enacted, and a year later a complete ban on homosexuals in the services became the rule. Those already in uniform “found” to be homosexual were deemed unsuitable for military service and received undesirable discharges. Alan Berube argues that, regardless of policy, because of manpower shortages during World War II, most homosexuals were tolerated. Scholars of gay and lesbian history point to an unintended result of this wartime focus on homosexuality—the creation of homosexual identity and subcultures among these military personnel that lasted long after the war ended.




During the 1970s and 1980s, legal challenges to the ban on homosexuals increased, and in 1993, President Bill Clinton sought to use his executive authority to allow homosexuals in the armed forces. However, strong public and military opposition to that stand left the ban in place, modified somewhat by Senator Sam Nunn's “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” compromise policy.

Hans Fahrmeyer on FH:











Source:

Favorite Pic of the Day for October 2nd

Oedipus by Bill McClaren.
Please learn more about Bill and his work below!

Happy Birthday today October 2nd to:

Happy Birthday to Sting who turns 59 today.

Also Celebrating today: Adrian Quinonez, Dan Montgomery Jr, Nathan Marlow, Joey Slotnick, Thomas Muster, Chip Arndt and Joe Lara.

Changing Directions with Bill McClaren

Gerrad Bohl

"That's what you do as a painter, you live on hope, that next painting..."
Wayne Thiebold

"You don't take a photograph, you make it."
Ansel Adams

Two quotes Bill says describe his method of working.


Richard R. Vargas

Early last summer I was introduced to the work of Bill McClaren. I first profiled in his work in a post HERE: last August. At the time I was struck by the passion I felt Bill put into the wide variety of subjects he shot. There was love and caring put into the details of all of his work whether it be with a model or an oak leave.

When I contacted Bill this past summer about featuring more of his work, he was in the middle of heading out on the road to Burning Man. Bill did however leave me with the name 'Damon', a model he had recently shot, to check out until he returned. When I headed to Bill's portfolio to see this 'Damon' I expected to find a hot hunk in leather or wearing an animal print showing some, but not a lot, of skin. Shots I was used to seeing, shots I had previously loved and connected with Bill's work.

Well Damon is without a doubt hot, but there was something completely different yet at the same time clearly familiar about Bill's shots of Damon. I say different, as much of the early work that I loved and had previously posted of Bill's was a a bit more, how shall I say, more traditional maybe, the type of shots you might find in a models portfolio. Shots meant to showcase and bring out the beauty of the model.

I say clearly familiar, because I remember in Bill's old portfolio a few shots, in particular a self portrait with the exact same feel that came over me when I saw the new shots of Damon. Although the feeling was familiar it is still one I cannot exactly describe except to say more personal. The personal expression Bill had previously channelled through parts of his work was now coming out in all of it.


Thaddaeus Paull

'I am moving away from people and especially model types in favor of Fine Art Photography, however you may define that broad term'
Bill McClaren

It might be difficult to imagine one could get bored from shooting beautiful models but Bill tells me his interest in shooting people, even hot male people, has diminished. 'Perhaps I have nothing new or interesting to say?'

Personally I think Bill has much more to say through his work, things more important to him, more personal, things that were not possible when working in a certain way with models. In the spectrum of relationships between photographer and subject generally one is working to aid the other in their vision. It seems to me that Bill is now concentrating on his own vision and like the Ansel Adams quote is no longer taking photographs but now, making them.

Official Site for Bill McClaren


Brody Harris

The one thing about Bill that was exactly the same was his generosity. Damon you should know, was not a model Bill was originally set up to shoot. One of Bill's photographer friends, Michael T Puff was shooting Damon in Bill's studio and Bill hung back taking a few shots. Bill quickly put me in touch in Michael suggesting I as well feature his work on FH.

The results, shown in a series of posts below, was not only fun to put together but fascinating. One shoot, one talented and creative model, and two photographers each picking up their camera's for different reasons and with different roles.

Thanks so much to Bill McClaren, Michael T. Puff and Damon Mahoney for sharing your work with FH!

The Model: Damon Mahoney

Some of my favorite models to feature on FH are dancers. Dancers have a fluidity of movement, sense of not only body, but space and lines and the ability to connect with the rhythm of photographer that create beautiful images.

Damon Mahoney was born in Santa Monica and describes himself as the love child of a glam-rocker and an opera singer. At 17 he decided to become a ballet dancer.

'I have since risen, and am still rising through the pit of hell that is physical artistry.'

Damon certainly has risen and is now the solo dancer for an opera company.

'I like weapons and I like pretty words strung together and I have a very wicked sense of humor'.

Stringing pretty words together is not just a 'like' with Damon it is a talent. Damon was gracious enough to share some of his poetry with me and I shared one of my favorites below. One day Damon hopes to have his poetry published in a collection.

I don't think Damon was crazy about my using the photo at the top of this post. The glasses, the hair, the look, along with the fit body of a dancer are almost a juxtaposition. A beautiful juxtaposition, and without a doubt one of my favorite shots.


Both shots of Damon by Michael T. Puff

Damon says he loved working with both Michael and Bill.

'Doing the shoot with Michael and Bill was fun. I loved working with the fabric. I have interest in doing aerial work with tissue in the future. In dance our entire body is an extension of our artistry. I used to do figure modeling for art and sculpture classes, and I approach the shoots in the same way. I take a lot of my inspiration from statues in museums, which were often done of athletes. I would love to do a Gladiator photo shoot.'

Damon Mahoney by Bill McClaren

'It was Michael Puff's shoot, and I took only a few shots, mostly with one of my Medium Format film cameras.'



Below: This shot reminds of the self portrait of Bill I mentioned above.