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| Royale Studio - Unapproved School |
The mitchmen Royale Studio Open Archive, a project to compile a comprehensive collection of images by the legendary 50's pioneers of British gay photography has now transferred from the mitchmen blog to a new dedicated blog and gallery. The site is still in the process of building ,but you can see what has been created so far at
Another muscular male back is the focal point of this image of a workman hauling on a strap.
Manual labour is not highly valued in economic terms but gay men can appreciate it as a priceless expression of masculinity, one that most of us can only realise through the artificial process of gym exercise.
Shame about the baggy jeans though.
It's by the artist Steve Huston who makes something of a speciality of images like this,
involving boxers and workmen.
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| 'Night Life' by Michael Breyette |
There are many ways to show off the beauty of the male physique.
Wet clothes are particularly effective and an almost traditional technique in the realms of non-explicit homoerotica, as my long running series on Royale Studio military images (ca. 1960) at mitchmen blog shows. Those images, largely published in black and white, were barely able to pick the surface. This splendid picture of a man caught in a rainstorm shows why. The wet fabric of his trousers clings to his thighs in the Royale manner, framing but not revealing sensitive, adjacent areas. His thinner shirt, however, becomes translucent in the wet, almost transparent and skin tones and other detail show through.
Breyette is an old hand at discreet portrayals of manly physiques but the stubbled face he has given this one is right up to the minute. Removing his jacket is an entirely rational response to the drenching he has received but combined with the wet effect it creates the titillating suggestion of a man stripping off in the street.
Visit Michael Breyette Art
They look exceedingly skimpy indeed when modelled by Pierre Zamyatin.
He seems to be contemplating having a bath in them. Kinky!
A rose-bud features in the centre of the rear view.
As Pierre demonstrates how you take them off.
Here, Dominic Calvani puts the trunks through their paces for Michael Downs who knows a thing or two about man appeal. Living dangerously I call it.
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| Alessio Slominsky - Quarantined |
As the title suggests, this image looks back to the year 2020 when Covid changed lives across the globe. Slominsky has found a gay, romantic angle on the boredom of quarantine isolation, showing a man being serenaded by his neighbour across the street. The singer shows his unrequited love by his song, no doubt, but the fact that he's wearing nothing more than his guitar says more.
The scanty dress of both men might also be attributable to the weather, because this is Catalonia in Spain. The flag draped over the adjacent balcony is the symbol of the independence movement there. Balconies are very significant in Spain, traditionally used to protest. The yellow ribbon on the balcony above the singer is the symbol adopted by Catalans to express support for the politicians who were prosecuted by the Spanish government (also in 2020) for conducting an 'illegal' referendum on the proposal. Quarantine for them meant prison.
A New Year brings new hope for less turmoil and suffering in the world.
This picture of Keegan Whicker sums up much that I admire in a man.
A cute face and nicely muscled physique naturally but his spectacular thighs that make a pair of simple, white briefs look like the sexiest garment ever invented.
His stubbled jaw and reversed cap add a touch of casual, youthful individuality.
If you're looking at Christmas present ideas, he'll do for me!
more Charlie underwear
