Male Nude Photography

Chris Reynolds

Background:

Ironically, two seemingly "at odds" elements - abstraction and romanticism - are the driving forces behind my photography. While the objective beauty of the subject and the technical quality of the photograph are clearly a consideration when creating my more abstract images, it is the emphasis on mood which ultimately exposes the romanticism in my work as a whole.

A scientist by education, with degrees in zoology and psychology, I began to explore photography as a creative outlet during my career with an international environmental organization. In 1995 I bought my first used camera and began the long and ongoing process of teaching myself photography.

Reading books, and studying the works of great photographers (Herb Ritts, George Hurrell, Horst, Bruce Weber, and Nan Goldin) brought new appreciation for the composition, lighting, shadows, form and expression of mood of photographs. After gaining greater technical skill, I began to explore and develop my own style, much of it born from the dramatic "Hollywood" style of the 1930's and 40's.

With a move to Washington, D.C. in 1996, I began to exhibit my works in local cafes and eventually earned exhibitions in small galleries in New York City, Los Angeles and Washington. Most recently, my work has been featured in several national and international magazines and two photo anthologies. Such critical attention, however, is still unfamiliar to me. I avoid the limelight, and go about creating photos for my own satisfaction, and for the personal joy of creating something beautiful.

I recently moved to Boulder, CO, working from a homemade studio and darkroom. When I'm not photographing someone, I can be found lingering over a cup of coffee at local coffeehouses, backpacking and camping in the Pacific Northwest, or hiking through the Rocky Mountains.

Publications:

"Ecce Homo" Seven of my photos have been published in this book of fine art photography of male nudes published in May 2001 by Vertigo Press of Barcelona, Spain. The book features the works of the following photographers: Claude Alexandre, Pedro Avellaned, Jose Luis Bernat, Greg Bruce, Almond Chu, Joan Crisol, Ed Fox, Ed Freeman, Don Garlow, Chip Goltz, Robert John Guttke, Toni Lara, Garrie Maguire, J.A.M. Montoya, Manel Ortega, Eduardo Peris, Carlos Quiroz, Chris Reynolds, Chuck Samuels, Norman Sinanian, Stanley Stellar, Anne-Marie von Sarosdy and Frank Yamrus.

"Exposed:" A Celebration of the Male Nude from 90 of the World's Greatest Photographers, Editor: Philip Braham. One of my photographs was chosen to be a part of this anthology of male nude photography. Published in November 2000 by Thunder Mouth Press. This volume contains some works by some of the finest photographers in the world including Marc Baptiste, Marc Bessange, Tom Bianchi, Imogene Cunningham, Wilhelm von Gloeden, Lois Greenfield, David Hockney, Horst, George Hoyningen-Huene, Nadav Kander, Robert Mapplethorpe, Reed Massengill, Jeff Palmer, Pierre et Gilles, Man Ray, Ellen von Unwerth, and Andy Worhol.

"[Nudes] Indexxi," Six of my photos were published in this photography anthology published in November 2002 by Loft Publications and Feierabend Verlag, Berlin Germany. This book features the works of the following photographers: Claude Alexandre, Daniel Bauer, Pascal Baetens, Veronique Boissacq, Klaus Bossemeyer, Greg Bruce, H.H. Capor, Jay Jorgensen, Kingdom 19, Tony Lara, Rafael Navarro, Mark Sadan, Norman Sinanian, Stanley Stellar, Strom, and Drew Wojcik.

Man Magazine (Manchedster, UK) (March 2001)

OutRage Magazine (Sydney, Australia) (March 2000)

Naked Magazine (USA) (August 1997)

Selected Exhibits:

Studio 7, Washington, D.C., Group Exhibit. (May 31 - June 16, 2002)

"One World - Different View", Kent State University School of Art Museum, Kent OH Group exhibit with photographs by Jeff Palmer, Chip Goltz, Chuck Smith, and myself. (Oct 11-Nov 2, 2000)

"Visceral", Antennae Gallery, Washington DC. Group exhibit. (Feb 2000)

Fifth Annual Design World Cares / Art for AIDS Auction, The Design Center of the Americans, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Jan 9, 2000)

Art Romp 8, Studio 1019, Washington, DC. Group Exhibit (Sept 24, 1999)

Fourth Annual Design World Cares / Art for AIDS Auction, The Design Center of the Americans, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Saturday, Jan 9, 1999)

DC Erotic Art Auction, Chief Ikes Mambo Room, Washington, DC (May 2, 1998)

Washington D.C. Arts Center, Washington DC. Group exhibit. (July - Sept 1998)

"Art Romp - 6", Studio 1019, Washington, DC. Group exhibit. (Sept 18, 1998)

The Naked Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. Group Exhibit (May 1998 - Feb 1999)

National Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Deffamation Media Awards, Silent Auction, Washington, DC (April 4, 1998)

Nicholas Joseph Fine Art, New York City, NY 10013. Group exhibit (Oct 1997 - Sept 1998)

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force - Pride Auction, Dupont Plaze Hotel, Washington, DC. (June 7th, 1997)

Dance Place, Washington, DC (April-May 1997)

Leather Life

"Portraits in leather"

"A selection of works"