When photographer Michael Weinberg joined one of our 2022 gatherings, he came with an idea that had been sitting in his mind for years. He wanted to create a series that would connect the most visible, the most vulnerable, and the most private parts of the body. “The first photo class I ever took included an assignment to do a typology,” he told us later. “Doing any kind of series is really up my alley.”

For Weinberg, the face, neck, and groin formed a natural triptych. The neck, he explained, carried an unexpected eroticism and served as “a metaphor for vulnerability.” The groin, by contrast, represented everything we’re told to keep hidden. It was, as he put it, the part “required to be covered in polite society.” Placed alongside the openness of a face, the combination exposed the tension between what we show, what we protect, and what we conceal.

This is one of our favorite series created at one of our events and we wanted to share it with our members who may have missed it the first time.

The Power of a Single Afternoon

This series shows why we choose to shoot in a single afternoon. The format of a Natural Pursuits gathering makes work like this possible. In a few hours, artists have access to a consistent setting, lighting, and a group of participants who are ready to be photographed. Finding models, securing a space, and arranging schedules can take weeks to coordinate. For most photographers, it is a rare opportunity to complete a project in a single afternoon.

The result of this efficiency is that we get to see a broader range of bodies represented. This series is a great example of what’s possible. We see variations in skin tone, hair texture, size, and shape. We get to observe and compare without judgment.

Three years later, we are revisiting this series with gratitude: to Weinberg for the sensitivity of his vision and to the participants whose openness made these portraits possible. It is a reminder that even short sessions can leave a lasting impact.

About the Artist

Michael Weinberg describes himself as a raving homosexual and gay boudoir photographer.

Artist Statement

I’m interested in bodies: both real and representation of bodies. Bodies, human or animal. Bodies, dead or alive. Bodies of flesh, stone, or stuffing. I gaze upon naked queer men, contemplate timeless sculptures of antiquity, and mourn wildlife preserved in glass cages. I photograph in the studio or in museums, but it all comes back to bodies.

My primary project is an exploration of queer male identities. I invite queer men that I meet on Instagram to connect with me for a nude photoshoot. In so doing, they are challenged to deconstruct the persona created by their own carefully curated selfies. Allowing a queer man to photograph another queer man creates a refraction not visible to the naked eye, but one that more clearly, more delicately demonstrates how queer men might see themselves.

Website: www.michaelweinbergart.com

JFF: https://justfor.fans/gaysgaze