Ascension: David Needham by Shotbygrant Photography

David Needham caught my eye the second I laid eyes on my first image of the 23 year old model. David has a great body but it was his face, especially the combination of a strong face and jaw structure along with beautiful, expressive and sensitive blue eyes. Together, the strength, along with the sensitivity, create a great look which enables David to move fluidly from fashion to fitness as well as more character and story based images.



From the seaside town of Bridlington, East Yorkshire, David does much of his work in London but loves to travel throughout the UK for shoots. And ex British soldier,David's focus is now solely and passionately on his modeling work. Self describe as both hard working as well as bubbly, David looks forward to working with new photographers and trying on new concepts and creative ideas.



David's portfolio is both extensive and beautifully eclectic containing, as stated, many different looks; fashion, fitness, artistic nudes and character driven work. David worked on a series of shots with Dame Nellie Better which are just a little naughty, a little sexy and a whole lot of fun. Most of David's best work, including the shoot with Dame Nellie were taken by London's Shotbygrant Photography.



Artist and model obviously have a great working relationship with trust at it's base. Grant has ensured David's portfolio spotlights a variety of looks and makes great use of both his body, face and most importantly personality. Grant's has extensive experience in both color and black & white, has worked extensively with actors for their portfolios and is as well a sports photographer. He brings each of these skill sets in his work with David and some of my favorite images I am showcasing here.



Below: Love Grants fun shots of David with Dame Nellie Better

'Grant is really the guy who gave me my break. I was only doing local shoots, before he spotted me. Grant brought me to London and since then I've not looked back! Becoming professional and published! He is a fantastic photographer with a great portfolio but has as well become a very close friend.'
David Needham



'I can honestly say in all the years I have been taking photos he is one of the best models I have ever worked with and I thoroughly enjoyed the shooting days. Everything from early morning beach to formal clothing at Whitby Abbey. Some stunning shots and I can do no more than really recommend David for any type of shoot. Good looking, confident and takes direction really well. We have done several shoots now each better that the last and I know I can always rely on him.'
Grant Williams, shotbygrant photography



David Needham Official Site:
David Needham on ModelMayhem & check out hundreds of images on his Facebook Fanpage

Shotbygrant Photography Official Site & on ModelMayhem

Favorite Click Of The Day: Mariano Vivanco on Homotography

Above: Kerry Degman

Homotography has been brimming over the last few months with incredible new shoots from internationally renowned fashion photographer Mariano Vivanco. Stolen Moments featuring one of my all time favorite models Parker Gregory is not to be missed!

Parker Gregory in Stolen Moments

Kevin Freed In The Woods

Cyril Giustiniani

REIGNING: Robert J Guttke

Summer of 1993
David by Robert J Guttke

Usually when I profile the work of an artist for the first time, I begin with giving a little bit of background and filling in a bit of biographical information. Today, for a couple of reasons I am not. Firstly; anyone serious about the subject of men in art knows the work of Robert J Guttke. Robert has been capturing the male form through drawings, sculptures and eventually film, for over twenty years. Robert's work, his books, calendar's and sculptures have achieved a following beyond those who usually seek out images of naked men.(like me and many of you...)



Secondly, I first connected with Robert a couple of months about a feature for tMf. With that upcoming, I did not want to duplicate any information, images and stories that Robert shared for that piece. Consider these images of David as a bit of an appetizer, the first course of what promises to be a more than satisfying visual feast.


'The rocks behind crumbled and avalanched around him the moment after I snapped this shot. It was very worrisome. After all, I was down below and could have been hurt.'
Robert J Guttke



During the during the summer of 93 Robert worked with David more than any other model. Getting started however, proved a bit of a challenge. When the artist first approached him about shooting, David appeared nervous, even a little frightened, and ended up bringing some of his football buddies with him to the initial interview. Thankfully, the nerves were not a sign of future problems, Robert reports he quickly became very comfortable and began to just enjoy being naked.



Although his nerves never got in the way of Robert's vision and the creation of the images the artist was after, they did crop up in different ways throughout that summer. Despite his magnificent body and obvious physical strengths, David often used Robert as a confidant, sharing his doubts about dating and the woman he was seeing. Robert, often acting as David's own Cyrano de Bergerac quietly supported David through the relationship process from hand holding and romance all the way through David's proposal. (David played violin, and Robert suggested Meditation from Thais) She of course, said yes.



'99% of these images are all scanned from film - remember film- hence they don't have that polished, plastic look of digital. When on location I worked with fast film, never knowing what light I would discover. No reflectors. No assistants. Just me, the subject, and the sounds of nature around us. Once when shooting on the ice a herd of deer walked past!'



'I usually ask the guys to just look pissed. Makes for better drama since I am stretching bodies into pain thresholds...'



There are many photographers currently reigning as masters of capturing the male form. Robert J Guttke is not however, really that interested in vying for a position. His place is already clearly defined. Robert continues to take his work, his models, to places far beyond where most others dare to go. It is a place where having a model drop their pants in front of a colored background isn't quite enough. It is a place where having a model with a great body and mad photoshopping skills are really of little use. This place is one where limits are pushed and boundaries don't really exist. An incredible architectural wasteland, somewhere between what one can do, with something they really should not be even trying.



-Robert J Guttke Official Site-
-The work of Robert J Guttke represented here is with the explicit permission of the photographer for FH only. Please do not use or copy images or text without acquiring permission from the copy write holder-

Go-Getter: St. Paddy's Day shoot with Brandon Connelly

'There are only two kinds of people in the world, The Irish and those who wish they were!'



I have been looking to have model Brandon Connelly back on FH since first profiling his work with Travers Dow last summer. (Memorable: Brandon Connelly By T-W-D photos)When I did my first profile of his work, Brandon had just started his modeling career, but over the past eight months he has busy shooting with a number of photographers for campaigns and fashion shoots. As luck would have it, one of them was this St. Paddy's day themed shoot which provides me the perfect reason today to showcase one of my favorite Irishmen.



This shoot is not just sexy and fun, there is also a purpose. The images, from photographers Carlos Paradinha (whose other work with Brandon I will be sharing soon), Raphael Cesar and Nate Gowdy were done to support HVTU (The Seattle HIV Vaccine Trials Unit). HVTU is part of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in collaboration with the University of Washington. HVTU is dedicated to working with the local community to provide HIV vaccine education and research for people interested in fighting HIV.



Carlos and Cesar go to school with Seattle Gay News Staff Photographer, Nate Gowdy. Back in January Nate approached them about putting together a group shoot for HVTU with a Valentine's day theme. It was such a huge success, the SGN decided to have a photo shoot each month with a different theme. The St. Patrick's day shoot was the second of the series.



Brandon of course was a natural for the project and not just because of his great looks and Irish roots. I have been working on a series of features spotlighting his modeling work, and everyone who works with him gladly sings his praises!



'Brandon is very dependable and is a go getter, which at his age is very rare. Carlos Paradihna and I were doing a Audrey Hepburn styled shoot, (which is also on my facebook photography page), and we were thinking we really need some arm candy for the model. I sent Brandon a text message to see if he was available, he was there in a suit ready to go in 20 minutes! I only wish that every model I worked with had half of his motivation.'
Cesar Raphael



'I loved working with Brandon! He was always very prompt, ready to work and accommodating to new and inspirational ideas. His demeanor was always jovial, respectful, and helpful. He's not only modeled for me, he even has gone as far as helping me break down after a shoot. We've become friends now, which I think is awesome.'
Carlos Paradinha



At just 20, Brandon Connelly is not just building a strong portfolio, he is building a solid reputation. Look for more of Brandon on FH in the coming weeks.


Brandon Connelly on ModelMayhem
Join Brandon on Facebook

Into The Woods: Brandon Connelly by Noble Photography

No, these images were not shot in Ireland, but...the stream, the green, the moss, are as close to an Irish countryside as you will fine in Washington State. Shot by portraitist and nature photographer Charlie Nobel, the setting is actually the town of Eatonville. Brandon says the beautiful location was just off the road about a half a mile in the woods.



'The shoot with Charlie was awesome, he is a very nice guy and fun to be around. He just makes you feel comfortable. Charlie has a great sense of what he wants in each image and has a keen eye for detail, an exceptional nude photographer.'
Brandon Connelly



Brandon ended up in the Eatonville river, nude, along side the beautiful Shaun Tia after answering a casting call she had placed on Model Mayhem. Brandon said the Adam & Eve themed shoot was a pleasure due to the extensive experience brought by both Charlie and Shaun Tia.




Nobel Photos
Brandon Connelly on ModelMayhem

Good Evening: Jonathan Shea Alexander by Emerging Talent Images

Last November, even as I was still putting together my first profile,(Good Morning: Model Jake Coleman Wilson)featuring the work of Mississippi's Emerging Talent Images, I was already thinking about a second. ETI photographer Bill had so many great images within his portfolio I wanted to feature a follow-up was already clearly destined.



The choice of who to feature next was sort of a no brainer. Bill's images of 26 year old Jonathan Shea Alexander were some of my favorites from the get go. Love the curly hair, goatee and expressive brown eyes. Jonathan exudes a combination of both sexy with serious. His look is one you could imagine fitting equally well both on a runway in New York City or shooting in a cabin on a mountain top.



Bill got in touch with Jonathan last fall and both were on board for a profile. The two had already shot together twice last year and were interested in getting together and shooting new images for the feature. I love the new set. Bill used all things I loved and described in my first profile, yet creatively, it is quietly, but beautifully a bit more aggressive, more night than morning, with a greater sense of urgency.



Below: Jonathan Shea Alexander by Emerging Talent Images exclusively for FH


Jonathan reports he began modeling the way many guys do. While in high school, he posted a few pictures of himself on his MySpace page and a local photographer noticed and sent him a message about getting some better shots done. After getting a couple of paid offers from other photographers he thought maybe he should give it a try and from there, things began to happen. Jonathan hopes a move to California is in his future, to further explore his modeling and acting aspirations.



'Bill is probably the best photographer I've worked with so far. He's easy to work with. No pressure, and we always end up with great images. I'm really happy with the last shoot we did because it gave me a little more edge for my port.'
Jonathan Shea Alexander



'This was my third shoot with Jonathan. I always enjoy working with him because he's a total pro. He falls easily into just the right poses without much direction and the camera loves him. He's extremely photogenic, laid back, and willing to work to make any concept perfect. I think he's got a lot of potential in this business. He just needs to be signed. (hint, hint to any agents out there looking for fresh, new talent).'



'This shoot took place at a loft apartment that belongs to a friend of mine. The place is a photographer's dream. It's so open and airy that the light just flows through the place perfectly. We did quite a bit of shooting in an open doorway and it was freezing outside that day. So Jonathan was quite the trooper to brave the cold, but the result was some really nice images as you can see. He continued to be a trooper when I put him in the shower because we had to keep the water fairly cool to keep my camera lens from fogging up. At the end of the shoot, though, Jonathan was able to turn the water on hot and warm up after a long photo shoot that was super-cool (literally).'
Bill From Emerging Talent Images



Jonathan Shea Alexander on ModelMayhem
Emerging Talent Images on ModelMayhem