mitchmen - the blog

My initiation

2012-02-03T05:42:00.003Z

Classic William Higgins Bondage

I couldn't resist another sample from the archive at Vintage Male Bondage.

This was the first true bondage image I ever saw. I stumbled across it hidden amongst conventional, arty, beefcake photos in a battered magazine and was amazed. It showed me things, that in my innocence, I had never dreamed about, like the doubled-back leg tie and noose-like loops stretching out the ball sack. It was a small and pretty poor quality image, part of an advert for a William Higgins magazine, so it was a while before I noticed the ring gag and tit clip details, but to be honest I don't think the picture really needs these extras. The boyish looking model is not my ideal either, but the sheer helplessness of this captive, forced by his bondage into a provocative body display, makes this picture still both powerful and sexy - and the neat, economical roping is a delight.

You can see more retro pictures at Vintage Male Bondage.

Curiousities

2012-02-01T16:56:00.002Z

Anton Harri

Isn't it strange how some models' cocks start looking like their bath taps?
Picture courtesy of HotHouse

Vintage Bondage Blog

2012-01-31T10:18:00.005Z

I recently discovered a new blog specialising in 'vintage' bondage imagery, much of which is relatively unknown (in the UK at least) because it was so difficult to publish at that time, even AMG's limp ropings were underground stuff. Seeing the great stars of the time, like Fred Halstead and Jack Wrangler, subjected to genuine bondage is very exciting.

Fred Halstead
The pictures I show here are refreshing because they have a simplicity which goes to the essence of bondage - tying a man up to keep him as a helpless captive. The loop of rope round Fred Halstead's neck, pulling his head back and his wrists up high behind his back, creates an impression of dark threat and desperate struggle and it presents to us a tensed, exposed torso which you want to reach out and touch. This looks like a real man.

Jack Wrangler

Struggle is the theme of this image of Jack Wrangler too. His apparent unwillingness to remain tied up greatly enhances his male credentials with untamed, animal spirit - which makes him all the more desirable and his inability to escape all the more erotic. This impression of resistance and fear is made possible by the simple level of restraint used, which still allows him considerable movement. The complex web of body bindings that we see in Shibari style restraint can totally immobilise the victim and while this may display his body to good effect, it drains away all sense of his personality and can even make him seem like a passive volunteer, which is nothing like as much fun. Those forms of bondage preoccupied with body enclosure in straps, body bags, masks etc, take this further, focussing more on the bondage experience but obscuring the object of desire - the male body.

Unidentified model (any info available?)

The bondage is similar in this picture, still focussed on arm and leg restraint. It's cleverly photographed to show each of the bindings very clearly - even the tied toes. I think the black and white format helps. This image really creates a sense of subjugation, the captive's kneeling pose of course and the contrast of his nudity with his standing partner's jeans. But for me it's the helmet-like, full head of hair which really makes this picture sing. It's dated, but the careful styling is meant to be paired with equally stylish clothing and looks so out of place on a naked body that it really drives home the fact that this man actually is naked. It makes his trim body seem slender, slight and vulnerable. Seen through modern eyes, accustomed to seeing short hair and ravishing muscles on fetish models, this man looks as though he has been plucked from an entirely different, affluent world, to suffer whatever indignities and abuse his captor desires to inflict upon him. I published a coloured picture from this shoot a few years ago in my Muscle and Rope series where you can see the captive's face more clearly and compare the visibility of the rope ties when seen in colour. I visualised him as an abducted, spoilt playboy then, I guess we might plump for banker these days!

You can see more pictures at Vintage male Bondage. The owner of this blog has set himself a difficult task, finding a sustained supply of quality vintage imagery, but I hope he succeeds.

Bush Bikini Boys

2012-01-28T20:18:00.004Z

Bush - Mini Bikini

Skimpy Bikinis with bold designs were a feature of many of Harry Bush's stylish drawings in the 60's. The mini bikini above attributes the style to London fashion - this was the 'swinging sixties', but I doubt that you'd see clothes like this (or men like this!) on any British beach in that era.

Bush - Tigers

Bush's pictures show them being worn by a handsome, young adonis who wants to show off his assets and torment and exploit older men, less gifted by nature, who happened to pass by.

Bush - Surfer and VW(left), Malibu or Bust (right)

I always assumed there was a lot of artistic licence in the flamboyant designs especially the polka dots used to stunning effect on these passing motorists, surely no-one wore these!

However, I recently discovered. this interesting photo showing two guys wearing side-knotted polka dot bikinis. It's from the 50's according to the title, quite daring I would have thought for that time. Two on the same beach seems quite a coincidence, perhaps this was Life imitating Art, two Harry Bush fans paying tribute. Who knows?

Ministry of Silly Hats - 5

2012-01-27T08:55:00.002Z

Edu Boxer

The cloth cap used to be almost universal, equally at home on the heads of working men trudging to the pit and tweeded aristocrats killing defenceless animals on the moors. Nowadays, it is also picked up and plugged periodically by the fashion trade. Suave it may be, chic too perhaps, if worn at a suitable angle, but it's hardly the garment of choice for a beefcake shoot as Edu Boxer proves in this this moment of indignity, provided courtesy of 'Unzipped magazine'

Pretentious? - moi?

I was always told, never put your hands on your hips when throwing a tantrum, it looks camp. Perhaps Edu is protesting his maltreatment? Maybe he wants to keep the hat on for the whole shoot?

Edu Boxer looking great

Thankfully the hat is jettisoned and the result is this glorious image which you probably already know. A sublime example of clothes maketh man sexy.

Edu Misbehaving

I'll let Edu present his full chunky credentials. I understand why he's wearing boots and nothing else but why he's standing on the bed in them is anyone's guess. His mum won't thank him for it!

For other posts in this series, click on 'hats' in the lable list below

Guys in Uniform Studio No 12

2012-01-25T23:27:00.009Z

Changing Shorts

Guys in Uniform Studio - Runner

This group of pictures from the Guys In Uniform Studio features the same model as my last post on GIU, No 11 Military Intimidation in which he threatens a dejected athlete. This time he's in rather nice athletic shorts that reveal a good deal of detail of what lies within. I don't know if this is the Royale wet fabric trick again, but it works for me!

Trying to sequence these pictures by reference to clothing is often quite futile as the photographer clearly tried out various clothing combinations and undress sequences. Here the model has removed shorts and one legs-worth of shoe and sock. The bare foot in this picture is an angular treat in the Etienne mould.

On the left, he is apparently removing shorts, or perhaps underwear, but this time with no shoes or socks on at all. Another interesting foot shot. There's a tantalising glipse of cock in the shadows. On the right, we see him removing what looks like a jockstrap, again with no footwear on. It's a bit frustrating for lovers of orderly strip sequences but the photographer must have had fun directing proceedings.

Here he is donning a pair of 50's style soccer shorts and little dick comes out into the open, flaccid, of course - and cut which is not particularly common in the UK. Around this time there was much pushing of boundaries regarding frontal nudity, for Guys In Uniform it was all in vain.

In the final picture our hero wriggles into a football/rugby style shirt with hoops and button up neck. Not very alluring visually, despite the hitched up leg hems and subtle bulge. Modern day sporting gear is rather more flattering, but the attraction of gays to sportsmen then was equally potent.

For previous posts about Guys In Uniform Studio and Royale Studio, click on the GIU/Royale label below

Boy to Man - Will Clark

2012-01-24T08:51:00.007Z

Will Clark
Will Clark's transition from boy to man has produced some memorable images along the way. I love a man who can fill out a Tee shirt - and Y-fronts.

Will Clark - Sweet Youth
I love the chunky bulkiness of Will's torso, which somehow seems at odds with the college boy haircut.

Will Clark - Thoughtful
Looking a little sad and weary here, strangely alluring.

Will Clark - Knowing Looks
More lighthearted and mischievous - and a sign of things to come - bit of facial hair

Will Clark - Salty Dog
Tattoos and piercings make their appearance, coming of age?

Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artsts - My Favourite 'P'

2012-01-23T10:15:00.007Z

It is my custom to select a favourite artist for each letter based on technical quality, fetish content, sensuality and sheer personal preference. I won't consider lesser artists whose work strays into areas I personally find unappealing or where I have too few samples of their work to make a balanced assessment.

In letter 'P' we have a number of heavyweight professional illustrators and artists - Parker, Pashke, Patterson, Pichard, Player, Platter and Prevot - whose ability is unquestioned but I think it's fair to say that, except for Pashke and maybe Player, their fetish content is incidental to the sexual adventures. For me Palanca undoubtedly tops the fetish league in this group, he puts his interest in feet (and sex!) in the forefront of his pictures and even for a non-convert like me it is absolutely fascinating and very convincing. Paschke also deserves a mention for the honesty of his portayals. When it comes to sensuality - the sheer erotic attractiveness of the images - the stars for me are Patterson, Prevot and Palanca.

Palanca - Melons

It's a no brainer for me, Palanca is my favourite and this final picture, which I call 'melons' is one I reluctantly left out of my main review of his work. It's a celebration of oral sensuality and I like it not so much for it's artistic qualities, it's an energetic but somewhat confused image, but because I just love the melon eater eagerly burying his jaw between upraised ass cheeks. The portrayal of this man hits so many buttons for me, his youthful square jaw (nicely stubbled), his neat trimmed sideburns, his cap turned round back to front, his muscular arms and abdomen emerging from a clinging T-shirt, the bowing forward curve of his body accentuating plump buns and allowing his cock to rest on his companion's slobbering tongue, a slippery runway into the greedy waiting mouth.
The fact that the other characters in the picture are not particularly attractive merely accentuates his desirability as he is absorbed into the animal lust of the proceedings. There is something peculiarly erotic too about the central figure's impossible, upside-down, backbreaking position.

Palanca's enthusiasm for his subject shines through in his work are we are fortunate to be able to enjoy it.

See my main review of Palanca's work for a link to his blog.

For earlier posts in this series click on the A-Z label below or use the search box in the title bar to find your favourite artist

Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Proco

2012-01-21T10:25:00.004Z

Proco - Spank the Boy

My last 'P' artist is Proco. This is the only picture I have by him but it's a cracker, showing an older man giving his younger partner a hell of a spanking. The characterisation of both men contains unexpected and pleasing contrasts - the grizzled, cuddly-looking, bear showing an evil streak and the excessively beautiful youth revelling in painful chastisement.

It's a neat composition full of life and strong sense of the two men sharing a memorable experience which isn't easy to achieve with back-turned, spanking situations. Part of this 'sharing' comes from the characterful facial expressions (Poserartists note!). But there's another reason, the picture is filled with angular, zig zag shapes and diagonals that flow through the limbs and bodies of the two men visually linking them together and creating a satisfying overall 'pattern' that looks very coherent. You can also see that their individual poses are like mirror image 'Z' shapes superimposed on each other, a sort of angular yin and yang if you like, pulling them neatly together. If I also compare these zig-zag shapes to lightning, you will see where some of the impression of urgent, sharp action comes from.

I can't find a website for Proco and I would welcome any information from readers.

For earlier posts in this series click on the A-Z label below or use the search box in the title bar to find your favourite artist.

Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Prevot

2012-01-20T09:56:00.003Z

Prevot - Angelface (cover)

Benoit Prevot has carved a unique niche in gay art. His images look back with nostalgia to the decadent, early 20^th Century. Wealthy young toffs sporting waved hair, top hats and morning suits mingle with obsequious but obliging servants and rough, cloth-capped workers. His technical style also draws inspiration from the illustrative art of that period. He is perhaps best known for erotic flavoured narratives like 'Angelface' for Class Comics above.

Prevot - Slick it Up

Prevot's fetish credentials are incidental to his main work, but the confident light touch in this image for Slick It Up, suggests he knows what he is talking about. The dramatic background shadow rounding out the scene is typical of his style

Prevot - Tulips

Many of his pictures have two layers of meaning with devices like shadows and mirrors giving a wry twist to the surface image. Tulips (my title) is a simple, not very subtle, example. A young man poses for an 'arty' picture unaware that the shadow on the wall behind shows him in a different light. There's an element of class manipulation in this picture, the pugnacious face and the belted trousers suggest he's an ordinary working guy, he looks uninterested and would probably be unwilling to bare any more, even for ready money. But the scheming artist still manages to compromise him. This visual trickery in erotic art (and there's a nice pun on the flower's name too) has pretty much died out now, but was commonplace (in more subtle form of course) in the days of censorship and more oppressive attitudes. I discussed other examples by Tom of Finland and by Royale Studios in a recent posts here. It's nice to see someone carrying on an erotic tradition.

Prevot - Cleavage

There are similar undercurrents of class and manipulation in 'Cleavage' (my title). A workman in a fashion house is commandeered to help the model a new garment for the catalogue illustration. In this marvellous image, Prevot creates a power and humiliation scenario full of unexpected twists and contrasts.

The smooth, young, stylists are distinctly upper crust and full of confidence and this enables them to exercise complete power over the stereotypical, humble workman who is so straight and conventional he could almost be your dad. They casually humiliate him by persuading him to expose his ass (quite a feat in that era) and must have been thrilled to find such peachy cheeks beneath such an unpromising exterior. And if this exposure were not embarrassing enough for the poor workman, his backside is now compared to a woman's bosom and matched up with a frilly dress, a fetish overtone in it's own right which I've not covered much in this series of articles. We're not quite sure if the illustrator looking on is seriously assessing neckline options or lasciviously enjoying the male 'décolletage' - or perhaps he's noticed the even more embarrassing reflection in the mirror.

This sort of comic scenario (bar the mirror image) could easily have featured in the famous saucy postcards of the pre-WW2 period by Donald McGill, but by taking it a little more seriously and sensuously, Prevot gives it a real erotic kick.

Prevot has a blog and you'll find lots about him very easily via Google

For earlier posts in this series click on the A-Z label below or use the search box in the title bar to find your favourite artist.

Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Prescott

2012-01-19T05:11:00.003Z

Prescott - Preparation

Prescott produced art for the infamous Katharsis extreme art website, now defunct. My sample sums up his subject matter, but I prefer not to post anything more explicit on this blog. I would refer seekers after more to the GMBA Google Group (link in sidebar). His style appears to be based on traced photographs spliced with geometric drawings of guillotines. It's crude but effective.

For earlier posts in this series click on the A-Z label below or use the search box in the title bar to find your favourite artist.

Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Plinio

2012-01-17T09:27:00.003Z

Plinio - Crucified

Plinio has been around for some time producing crucifixion scenarios featuring older men but I don't have a big collection of his work so I can't comment at length on it.

This example is a recent work, a pencil sketch featuring an unusual take on the mechanics of crucifixion which is quite stylish in it's simplicity. The mature figure and his suffering is well observed and it's interesting to compare this image with Player's angry young surfer in the last post.

I'm not aware of any site for Plinio but in you are interested in the subject MCResearch Group is a good place to start

For earlier posts in this series click on the A-Z label below

Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Player

2012-01-16T11:02:00.007Z

Steven Player is another well established illustrator who produces a good deal of mainstream fantasy work. This overflows into his gay-themed images which are often gritty and populated by angry men, skinheads and strange gnomic creatures and dwarves.

Player - Dracula

I've included this vampire book illustration to illustrate the sheer quality of his work, which shows oceans of technical skill and a seductive erotic touch as well. The portrayal of Dracula as a needy, young addict is fascinating. Clearly once handsome, he is now wasting away under the demands of his blood lust - but he seems to have picked a top quality victim to top up from!

Player - Surf

The surfer crucified and bound in barbed wire on his own surfboard appeals to ageing killjoys and sadistic tastes alike, but it is an angry, disturbing image. It's not just youth and the carefree lifestyle (represented by floppy blond hair and cut-off jeans) being punished here, but sexuality too (lithe muscular body and unbuttoned shorts). Nails, blood and barbed wire (as in the film 'Jubilee'), Player doesn't pull his punches.

Player - Man Dog

Player presents his ageist credentials in Man Dog. An ordinary suburban garden is the setting for a humiliating role reversal as two boys 'wash the dog'. The 'man dog' is a full blown, angry skinhead with Doc Martin Boots and skinny jeans, now dangling from a tree in the background. Player's skinheads usually inhabit the dangerous alleyways of the city. It's not clear how he got here nor quite how these mischievous lads persuaded him to undress and don a dog collar while they washed him down - he's a burglar caught in the act perhaps? At any rate they are clearly in the driving seat and all concerned seem to be finding it jolly exciting, including the real dog - a nice touch.

Player - Twenty Seven

I love this picture of shared, ritual humiliation. Two young skinheads are on the receiving end here, hands tied behind (?) they are placed in a closet to be anonymously anointed by the rest of the gang, one after another. At twenty seven, (not their ages I suspect), their faces show it's not altogether to their liking, despite the obvious excitement at being used. Interestingly, Player depicts a changeover moment and only light is streaming through the gloryholes, allowing the two buddies to reflect on the messy process. I quite like the fact that they are shown standing up, still proud men. It requires us to imagine up some sort of raised platform for the donors on the other side of the wall, but makes the humiliation more profound than abject grovelling and also allows Player to show us their attractive bodies.

Player - Sex PG(4)

An intriguing picture. These ruffians have landed in some tropical region and could be soldiers judging by the hair, tattoos and dog tag on view. They have made a prisoner of an attactive young man, who appears to have just tattooed one of them on the arm, although his features and own tribal tattoos suggest he is anything but tribal or local. The two handsome rogues seem to have discovered that his loin cloth conceals an undeclared interest in them and are amusing themselves discussing what they might do about it - with cane and cigarette ready to hand. Political undertones here? Although it doesn't have the raunchy drama of other Player pictures, the characterisation of the three men in this picture is fascinating and true to life. It's a picture you want to linger over.

Player's own website is PlayerMen, you'll find some sexy images there

For earlier posts in this series click on the A-Z label below

Mitchells' A-Z of Fetish Artists - Platter

2012-01-14T10:47:00.005Z

Platter - Statues

Sean Platter is a professional illustrator of some note, his older work is often lushly sensuous beefcake, like 'Statues' above. The captive beauty of statues has inspired artists and randy adolescents alike for centuries. Closer inspection of the copulating couple artwork reveals patches of natural skin colouration, are they about to come to life? Etienne famously played with this theme - and Mozart in 'Don Giovanni'. The ghostly treatment of the other background statues, draped with dust sheets suggests something more sinister, is the hunk about to be recruited into their ranks?

Platter - Leather Prisoner

You can see the same mind at work in 'Leather Prisoner' (my title), a straightforward image of a fetish ritual is transformed by placing a majestic, pair of wings behind the prisoner, their representation is just ethereal enough to suggest a spiritual rather than a physical existence. The upward pointing tips, like a bird of prey, imply strength and power. Just as well, for the large cog wheel in the foreground threatens pain on a grand scale for this 'angel'.

Platter - Flogged (from 'Demonic Sex' comic)

Platter's more recent 'Demonic Sex' series of comics explores these sorts of themes further. I suppose demonology might be regarded as a fetish in it's own right were it to be capable of physical realisation. The scenario where a pick-up transforms from stud into a horrifying, devouring beast is certainly erotically stimulating and sums up the human condition rather well, hence the perpetual popularity of the classic, monster-horror/ 'beauty and the beast' genres. The flogging transformation (Flogged) above is just the start of the hero's trials at the hands of one of the more enticing varieties of demon which Platter conjures up, with luscious attention to the relevant detail!

Platter - Gargoyles (from 'Demonic Sex' comic)

In Platter's hands this is just the gateway to a succession of abduction scenarios neatly summed up by the 'Gargoyles' composite above. A demon interrupts a leather bondage session and converts the participants. 'Demonic Sex' is generously laced with humour and caricature cameos which are just as interesting as his older work. I'm not keen on the grotesquery here but I really like the idea behind this little story - two men taken and imprisoned within another form, transformed into servants. How much more delicious though, if they were deserving villains rather than the easy leather queen target!

Platter - Foreskin (from 'Demonic Sex' comic)

The angel, above, enveloped by a devilish foreskin is genuinely original, funny and erotic all at the same time but the rest of the story is peppered with bloody, ritual death and regeneration scenes that I suspect would be unpublishable as erotica were it not dressed up in humour and devilish fantasy, where the normal rules governing pain and death are suspended. It's a funny world!

Platter - Feed! (from 'Demonic Sex' comic)

My final frame shows the hero's subjugation and induction into his new role as servant of the demon, it's pretty erotic with or without the horns, beautifully conveying not just lust, but domination as well. A terrific artist.

The samples of Demonic Sex presented here are just selected frames from the comics and not full pages. The originals are available from Triple Six Comics.

Sean's own website is Platter Studio

For earlier posts in this series click on the A-Z label below

A-Z of Fetish Artists - Pichard

2012-01-13T09:55:00.004Z

Pichard - Roman Lash (my title)

This picture is a fetish perennial on the internet so I cannot overlook it. The artist is actually noted for heterosexual erotica and the background detail of classic architecture and female onlookers bears this out. The treatment of the foreground figure doesn't really match in quality and I suspect it has been erotically 're-engineered' for a gay audience. Nevertheless the combination of frail nudity and the domineering, unpleasant looking guard wielding the lash is very effective. The leg-over-the-bar shackling arrangement is curious but contributes to the visual erotic effect, I suppose it makes more sense in the original story context.

Georges Pichard is well represented on comic art fans . He's also in Wikipaedia and Googling produces lots of example of his work. Interesting if you don't mind looking at females.

For earlier posts in this series click on the A-Z label below

A-Z of Fetish Artists - Philippe

2012-01-12T09:08:00.005Z

Philippe - Chairbound

A brief mention for Philippe who has produced some interesting dungeon imagery full of shaved heads and rubber garments. This artist's work is a curious mixture of subtle skill and naivety. The chairbound example is quite a nice image and the depiction of the captive's face is full of subtle detail, as is the strangely-angled stone wall behind him. In contrast, other significant parts of the picture are quite crude, unfinished even, like the captor's face - which works to some extent. I'm not so sure about the sketchy treatment of the ropes and the victim's open legs.

Philippe - Rubber Orgy

The rubber orgy picture with it's bathroom accessories is reminiscent of Bastille's work with a confused melee of men exploring every possible sensuality. The depiction of the bodies is quite stylised and they end up looking like real men rather than muscle gods. There's quite strong sense of shared pleasure here too, which is refreshing. Perhaps the real antecedants of this picture are the youthful romps drawn by Spartacus in the 1950's. This picture is also lifted by quirky incidental detail, like the fastidious participant who prefers to empty himself into a toilet and the out of scale, suited voyeur in the shadows.

Philippe seems to focus more on what is happening and what the participants are experiencing than on the visual depiction itself. I can't decide if the result is naïve or exceptionally artistic. Either way it's not a resounding success for me as erotica but definitely interesting work.

I can't find a website for Philippe and I would welcome information from readers.

For earlier posts in this series click on the A-Z label below

A-Z of Fetish Artists - Paul (updated)

2012-01-11T08:27:00.004Z

Paul - Caned in the Pillory

Another one off from my collection. The pillory is an alluring subject for fetish enthusiasts but it's rare to find successful images of it. This simple example works rather well, the device looks realistic and strong enough to restrain a struggling man and keep him in an awkward, vulnerable head-bowed position which is eminently suitable for caning. I like my fetish pictures (even cartoons) to feature red-blooded men, so the baby faced dom is a turn off, but the young captive trapped in the pillory is nicely drawn. His hairy, muscular arms reassure us he's well into manhood but the narrow hips and pert buns capture the lingering, slender, sexy awkwardness of youth. Some might prefer to see more flesh on view but for me his skinny-fit jeans enhance the bottom shape and together with the oversize shoes suggest a rebellious character. He probably deserves what he's getting.

Paul - Reformatory Caning

My thanks to James who responded to my plea for more samples of Paul's work, enabling me to add this extra example which is shows a wider skill set than the pillory scene above. It's full of energy and drama and involves a tricky perspective. His depiction of clothing with a few simple lines is rather impressive.

I can't find a website for Paul and I would welcome information from readers.

For earlier posts in this series click on the A-Z label below

A-Z of Fetish Artists - Patrick

2012-01-10T08:32:00.004Z

Patrick - Keys

I know very little about this artist and this is the only picture I have by him. If you've seen my articles about men sharing clothes (click on 'sharing' in the label list) you don't need me to explain why I like it! Forced removal by a criminal adds a layer of spice. I can't find anything about Patrick on the web and would welcome information from readers.

For earlier posts in this series click on the A-Z label below

A-Z of Fetish Artists - Paul Patterson

2012-01-09T09:51:00.005Z

Paul Patterson - Bondage Present

I didn't expect Paul Patterson to figure on my list of fetish artists. I enjoy his humourous 'chocolate box' beefcake, his sensuous depictions of very handsome men. But a man tied up in silk ribbons doesn't really count as fetish, although I must admit this 'moment of release' is sensitively painted and full of resonance for most gay men.

Paul Patterson - Cricket

The second picture features quite a mix of not very subtle erotic symbolism, a remarkably handsome man holding a cricket bat as though it were a sword being unsheathed, his dangling belt (!) end is being tugged by a naked companion who kneels submissively, with his other hand hovering at thigh level. I've spoken of the potent symbolism of the kneeling servant in my Royale articles but there's also a sense of connection here to renaissance art in the slightly awed, devotional facial expression and the hand reaching out as if in blessing. This character could easily fit in amongst Michaelangelo's supporting cast of angels. It's also possible to read this scene more fetishistically (if there is such a word!) as a frail prisoner imploring his guard for mercy - it's not cricket, chaps!

Paul Patterson - On The Ropes

The Boxer on the ropes is another mildly fetishistic subject, suggesting sweaty humiliation and subjugation. It's a clever adaptation of a kneeling pose and who could not enjoy that restained muscular body and confused expression?

Paul Patterson - Bondage orgy (detail)

The final image is a detail from a larger picture, captive men are carried in over the shoulder and suspended in bondage from the ceiling, dripping with excitement. You can access the full picture at the website below.

The quality of Paul Patterson's imagery speaks for itself, although one of the pitfalls of the beautiful, near photographic finish is that 'the joins' between different picture elements are harder to conceal. Nevertheless a great gay illustrator with very acceptable fetish credentials.

There's an extensive gallery of Paul's work at DelftBoys

For earlier posts in this series click on the A-Z label below

A-Z of Fetish Artists - Palanca

2012-01-07T09:08:00.005Z

Palanca - Cowboy Foot-love

Palanca is a prolific producer of imagery that primarily celebrates the worship of men's feet. This picture epitomises that, the worshipper has even used a knife to access his object of desire, a hint of 'edge' that is not untypical of Palanca's work. As a 'clothes man' I love the Long Johns here. His work is often executed on paper designed for another purpose or on what appear to be the inside surfaces of opened out cardboard boxes where you can see the folds running across the picture (see below). He often uses caricature and also features grossly exaggerated features that sometimes 'out-dick' Tom of Finland at his most unsubtle. Nevertheless, Palanca's pictures are often intensely sexual and in a strange way very real.

Palanca - Kart boys

I have described his celebrated 'feet' predecessor, Etienne, as being able to depict feet that are more foot-like than the real thing. Palanca celebrates their clumsy, bony oddity, humorous rather than beautiful, but he does have a similar uncanny ability to portray the essence of the Latin male in both appearance and personality. Good natured humour pours out of his pictures of smiling men, affectionate cameos of friends and depictions of playful couples like Kart boys above which must contain the subtlest groping ever!

Palanca - 'Foot photographer'

'Foot photographer' is pastoral in atmosphere, the childlike concentration of the photographer is mirrored in his buddy's fascinated exploration of his ass,while he affectionately squeezes his foot. The rich colouring and the treatment of the trees in the background shows a cultivated technique reminiscent of an old master painting and this theme continues in 'The Night Vincent Died' (below) where the background is a fascinating pastiche of Van Gogh's cornfields ,which tells you we are dealing with an intelligent and knowledgeable artist.

Palanca - The Night Vincent Died

This picture shows a different side to Palanca, a rough encounter where the interest in foot worship is not necessarily mutual. The awkward angling of the limbs in this composition, which expresses the aggression so well reminds me of the work of Neil Bruce. Van Gogh's circling birds take on a sinister air.

Palanca - 'Fixing around'

'Fixing around' is one of my favourites, the drama of the forced cock worship and the contrast between the muscular tough and his young suited partner strikes you immediately. It's not clear if the young man's hands are bound or merely restrained by his own dishevelled shirt but his own tie has been looped over his assailants rigid cock and pulled tight, dramatically binding them together in a head-back pose that expresses 'cock domination' in a totally original way - it's far more effective than the traditional porn cliché of 'whack 'em in the face with it'. The boys own tool strains against his underwear as his captor's extended foot explores his bare ass but this detail seems almost incidental. This slanting composition is beautifully put together, the soaring columns in the background help impart a tremendous sense of upward, diagonal motion and of the men coming together. An added sense of wildness and drama is provided by billowing fabrics and shadows of off-stage trumpets. It's a complex picture and I confess I have no idea what the title really means.

Palanca - 'Cowboy Poker Losers'

'Cowboy Poker Losers' is even better. The cowboy reclining in his chair, nonchalantly lighting up is a little gem of characterisation. The two naked men who kneel with hands tied behind their backs, concentrating hard on doing their best to service his prodigious cock and well worn boots are handsome and full of youthful virility making their humiliation all the more erotic. Palanca is good natured enough to show us they are excited by it themselves. I love the silky skin textures. Any artist wanting to depict feet as a fetish will want to place them in the foreground like this and Palanca's execution of the tricky perspective involved is skilful and convincing. There's another example in the next picture.

Palanca - Rubber Squad

There is a darker side to Palanca, he has produced images depicting scat, mutilation and cannibalism, hanging, grotesque monsters and limbless devils but for my final selection I have chosen an unconventional fetish image in which a rather stylish 'rubber squad' appear to be rescuing a man who is strapped down to an operating table and about to be injected from a hypodermic syringe by some villain. Well I say rescued, the rubber squad take the opportunity to sample his wares and he doesn't look entirely happy about it. The charming notepaper on which the sketch is done provides a rather camp frame for the image which seems entirely appropriate.

This selection is just a fraction of what I would have liked to discuss of Palanca's art which has many interesting facets. Light hearted on the surface, his work abounds with careful observation and social detail which is interesting and occasionally thought provoking - like his sketches of homeless men offering 'anything' for food. While caricature and sometimes grotesque distortion of the human body feature heavily his men are often beautiful and sexy and portrayed in a sensual, attractive way that makes you want to linger and lust. A rare talent.

Palanca has a blog called PalancaFeet which is a good starting point for exploring his work.

For earlier posts in this series, click on 'A-Z' in the label list below or use the search box in the header to find your favourite artist.

A-Z of Fetish Artists - Parker aka Ace Moorcock

2012-01-06T08:09:00.003Z

Ace Moorcock - Panel from 'Alley' story

A brief mention for Brad Parker aka Ace Moorcock whose comics depicting the wild adventures of Jason, a seemingly naïve country youth complete with floppy blond hair, are often sprinkled with fetish references like restraint and spanking.

Ace Moorcock - Panel from 'Hitchin' story

His downfall is his clothing which invariably reveals a bulging appendage, irresistable to the men he encounters. Parker graphically depicts their lust filled eyes as they sieze poor Jason and plunder his buns with their own ample organs and you are never quite sure if the activities are consensual or not.

Ace Moorcock - Panel from 'Hitchin' story

These are primarily sex comics and as such they work very well with close-ups and strange angles of view that sometimes take a bit of working out but give a tremendous sense of sexual energy and sheer lust. Somehow though, for me, the fetish scenes don't seem to reach the same heights as the purely sexual ones and this selection reflects that odd discrepancy.

I've not found a website for Brad but you can Google lots of examples of his work under both names.

For earlier posts in this series click on the A-Z label below

A-Z of Fetish Artists - Paschke

2012-01-04T10:05:00.003Z

Ralf Pashke is an unusual phenomenon amongst fetish artists in that all the work I've seen by him is paint on canvas. His work is intended to be hung on walls and is therefore not sexually explicit for the most part, but I'm happy to include him here because his subjects do cover a wide range of S&M topics - rubber, bondage, domination even noose play. What's more he portrays these subjects honestly without concealing their erotic dimension.

Paschke - Larky

In Larky, for instance, your eye is immediately drawn to the muscular shoulders of the captive as he strains against the restraints and the rugged face is full of attractive masculinity. Beefcake if you like, but the unzipped rear of his leather jeans, revealing a glimpse of red underwear inside, adds a subtle but uncompromising erotic frisson.

Paschke - qbody

Liberated from having to depict sexual activity, Paschke is able to focus on artistic values and depicting individuals. 'qbody' is more painted more sensually, with subtle muscle definition and body and limb shapes which are pleasing and erotic in themselves. But the mohican style haircut and the wooden staff that makes this bondage position uncomfortably 'real' add a nice gritty edge.

Paschke - Bootlick 2

I'm not qualified to comment on Paschke's technique, his style is a little coarse for my taste, for example the swirling facial features in bootlick2, but of course it's not intended to be displayed on computer screens and it's still a great take on a classic fetish image whose roots go right back to Tom of Finland.

Paschke's website is at Gaymaleart

Deadly fascination

2012-01-03T09:39:00.003Z

Ditch

Don't worry, it's not real!

Visit Kyle's blog for more striking and disturbing images.

Footnote on Bound Gods

2012-01-02T07:58:00.004Z

Luke Riley

Bound Gods - Epilogue

The Chloroform post is the last of my present series celebrating the imagery of the Bound Gods studio. It's been surprisingly hard to choose just 10 representative examples even though I pretty much excluded 'straightforward' dungeon material (probably wrongly) and orgy scenes (which for some reason leave me cold). In the end I did succumb to repeating the water tank and electro-torture themes but I think I've been able to show that the work of this studio has many, different, appealing facets - models with personality, imaginative scenarios spiced with realism and unusual and stimulating fetish devices. All supported by quality photography with a great understanding of what is truly erotic. All the same I have no idea how I have managed to leave out Trent Diesel's hangdog submissiveness and beautiful abs or Luke Riley's spiky personality. I suspect I may want a second bite!

Just to reiterate, I don't derive any income from these reviews and I am immensely grateful to Bound Gods for allowing me to post the images.

Bound Gods Celebration - 10

2012-01-01T11:01:00.006Z

Medical Electro-Torture

My last selection in this celebration of Bound Gods imagery returns to the topic of electro-torture, but this time in a medical context.

Phenix Saint plays a psycho-patient who is restrained in a strait-jacket in a padded cell. He starts starts loudly demanding attention.

His 'restlessness' has a sexual dimension (naturally) and there's a sense of unpredictability and menace from him in this scene. This is a nice shot of Phenix's well developed thighs.

The Ward Orderly (Jason Miller) takes him to an examination room and starts a thorough investigation. When dressed in a smock Phenix suddenly looses that aura of strength and power and submits with more docility than you would expect, especially as the Orderly has whipped his cock out and is shamelessly groping him. This sequence seems a bit unlikely, unless perhaps Jason has introduced a sedating medication into Phenix's buttock before his strait jacket was removed. Anyway Jason decides he to chloroform him so he can confine him.

Phenix awakes to find himself unfrocked and strapped down to the bed. Once again his thighs are the centre of attention, the Orderly has strapped two electro-pads to each of them and is busily wiring them up.

A nice shot of Phenix looking extremely doubtful as the treatment begins, perhaps the sedation is wearing off, but his cock is certainly excited.

Before long he's jumping about in pain. The restraints leave him just enough freedom to writhe and struggle but there's no way of escaping. Jason enjoys the show in his own way. But there's more...

Next, the Orderly takes hold of Phenix's penis and carefully inserts a special electrode into tip. Apart from showing clearly what is happening, there's a nice intimacy about this image but the straps around Phenix's thighs in the background remind us that it is a one sided intimacy.

With the probe fully inserted, the cage-like cap fits snugly over the top of Phenix's cock, held securely in place by the ring which sits snugly behind the flare of his cock head. With Jason's hands removed a glimpse of Phenix's right thigh shows us how his legs are held open by his restraints, a vulnerable position which makes the conglomeration of wires and metal electrodes attached to this part of his body all the more intimidating. It's as though we are looking through his eyes, fearing what is to come.

We can now see that Phenix has been gagged, although this very un-medical, bit-gag will not stop him shouting. Arguably it will protect his tongue from biting during electrically induced spasms but it would be nice to see a less fetishistic design. The brown strapping fits the bill better and allows him just enough freedom to struggle - to Jason's obvious pleasure. You can admire Phenix's thighs to the full here as he begins to experience the second trial and braces himself.

Close up again you can't see what Phenix is experiencing but you can comprehend that there is no escape from the tormenting electrodes attached to him

This picture could easily be glossed over but for me it is pure erotica. You can see how the ring of the cage fits neatly behind the flare of Phenix's penis head, so it is held securely in place. The straps holding the pads against his thighs are so tight they compress his flesh. And whilst Phenix's rigid cock immediately grabs your attention, look also at the lines traced by the front of his thighs as they converge towards the neat pubic mat. It's beautifully erotic and the continuation up towards his pecs would be too but it is broken up by the tattoos on his abdomen. The authentic looking equipment in the background, even the orderlies hand create a tremendous sense of a helpless captive being remorselessly tested.

That hurts! Phenix curls his body and legs up, fists clenched in an involuntary response to the assault on his groin

A marvellous shot of Phenix's muscular body writhing and tensing as his whole genital area is subjected to painful torture by the sadistic Orderly.

Phenix sinks back exhausted.

Jason extends a cynical comforting hand or is he enjoying the feel of his victim's trembling body?

What can I say? Marvellous erotica.

Ref: Bound Gods 11107 Chloroform

A-Z of Fetish Artists - P

2011-12-31T19:27:00.003Z

My A-Z of fetish artists resumes next week with the letter 'P' which will include such stars as Palanca and Player. Just to remind you that I only cover artists with a genuine fetish element in their drawings - leather jackets alone won't qualify! Those who produce computer generated art are not included either, partly to keep a manageable-sized list but also because I don't feel well qualified to comment on that genre. Nevertheless I hope to address it in some way in the future.

My criteria for assessing artists are:- fetish content, technical merit and sensuality.

Paul Patterson - Rugby Scrumdown

As a taster here's a picture by Paul Patterson who I wouldn't have expected to be including in the list, but he will get a proper mention later. Meanwhile any rugby picture is liable to get a mention from me. I particularly like the tight shirts in this image from surprisingly long ago.

For earlier posts in this series, click on A-Z in the label list below or use the search box in the header to find your favourite artist.

Bound Gods Celebration - 9

2011-12-30T14:24:00.009Z

9 The Cylindrical Water Tank

Another water tank scenario but quite different from the Rusty Stevens 'Lab Rat' classic which I covered earlier. Dante is the man here, a regular-looking kind of guy, he is kidnapped by C.J Madison.

After being first stripped and then thrashed hard, Dante is dropped into the water tank with just his hands tied together and his cock and balls roped up, forcing them out away from the abdomen. He has to suck Madison through a hole in the lid while kneeling waist deep in water. Kinky but not really scary.

Madison takes his cock away and pushes a water hose through the lid instead. Water gushes into the tank and it rapidly begins to fill. Dante realises that although he can move around, he cannot get out. He bangs against the lid but it won't shift.

As tank continues to fill, Madison walks away leaving him to face the horror of drowning. Soon he is entirely submerged and terrified.

Next we see Dante down on his knees in the tank but now his body is immobilised, tightly wrapped in a lattice of ropes. His captor has removed him from the tank, tied him more securely then dropped him back in again. The realisation is chilling for now Dante is unable to rise to his feet because his ankles are tied to the back of his thighs, leaving him completely dependant on a length of tube to breathe through. A tube that can escape from his mouth if he struggles too much or which his captor can remove any time he chooses.

The curved walls of the tank magnify and distort Dante's body shape making him appear like a preserved biological sample in a bottle. In order to keep the tube in his mouth he has to arch his body backward pushing his exposed and roped up genitals forwards. Seen through the glass this looks very sexy we can see he is sporting an erection as though the danger is exciting him.

Madison patrols outside gloating at his victim as he struggles to control his panic.

It's a stunning 'danger' sequence in an otherwise straight forward movie and full credit to Dante for the stunt work. Not everyone could put themselves in danger like that, even knowing that there were plenty of safety precautions - assuming there were.......

Ref: Bound Gods 5974 - The Crazy Perv and His Prey

Men Sharing Clothes 9 - Rubber Vests

2011-12-29T11:16:00.002Z

Rubber vests are like the most memorable of lovers - it's a challenge to get into them, but once you have, they cling to you and squeeze your body tight. They make you look and feel absolutely great when you go out together. They draw bodily fluid out of you in unimaginable, messy quantities. But then you start to realise they need quite a lot of looking after and somehow after a while everything goes a bit slack.

Cody unbuckles

My first model, Cody demonstrates the 'cling' rather well with creases swirling erotically round his body. Fellow wearers will recognise where that look of satisfaction comes from.

But the tell tale signs of previous wear are there, just below the armhole, salty deposits left by a man's sweat. Is Fabricio (below) the guilty party?

Fabricio Smoulders

Mmmm! Trickling sweat! Looks like he might be!

I have to say I wouldn't complain about sharing this man's vest, just look at the way his broad pecs stretch open the neckline. This design is rather good, the restrained shade of blue and carefully placed star work with the low neckline to make the most of a man's chest. But if you are fortunate enough to have massive pecs and a sharply tapered waist, even rubber can't overcome the limitations of an untailored, one-size-fits-all design. Beware of your prized body sleeve screwing up into a tangle further down!

Fabricio Straightened Out

Ah, that's better …...and I am rather partial to sticky-out ears, very sexy!

But I'll let Cody have the last word

Cody straightens up discreetly

Pictures for both models courtesy of Randy Blue (I'm not saying anything!)

For other articles in this series click on 'sharing' in the label list below

Bound Gods Celebration - 8

2011-12-28T10:30:00.004Z

The Pain Competition

In today's selection, Chad Rock and Jason Miller are subjected to trials to decide who is the best 'sub'. In some ways it's standard 'dungeon' fodder which I would not normally linger over, voluntary submission doesn't head up my fantasies though, of course, it is different in the real world. But there are ingredients in this movie which make the imagery a bit special for me.

Firstly there is Chad Rock himself, his slightly 'weathered' appearance, chunky frame and shaved head make him an unlikely looking sub. That being so, shaving his pubes off and kitting him out with a chastity device makes a very nice subjugation statement.

I like the way the two men have been fitted with identical gags and restraints in these pictures and stand up to take punishment in a very manly way. There is a 'buddy' theme of sorts going on here, in as much as the two men are to undergo similar degradation and punishment. However, they are so far apart in terms of outward appearance that the idea of them being matched against each other in competition doesn't really work for me. In serious films it's stimulating for contestants to be unequal and produce unlikely outcomes but in porn I think I prefer stereotypes to prevail. I find it easier to imagine a 'real' relationship between these men (romantic or workplace for example) being tested.

Things get more serious now as Van Darkholme and Christian Wilde (in the mask) lay into our two boys. I love the anguished looks here, the waders draw attention to their ungainly stances as they flinch away from the lashes. Waders accentuate a man's thighs in a delicious way and Jason Miller's physique looks a good deal more substantial here

In this scene, the improvised tape bondage has been replaced by neat rope-work pinning back the captives arms and framing their pecs, a trick that works particularly well with Chad. The chastity cages make way for electro devices inserted into the men's cock-tips and the harness gags have also been removed allowing us to see their facial expressions properly. We are rewarded with serious, manly anxiety moment from Chad as Van Darkholme turns up the juice. Beautiful.

Pegs and hosed water next and another marvellous, very masculine expression from Chad (can this man really be a 'sub'?). Shaved bodies always look good when they are wet or oily and here the shiny highlights also showcase the nipping of Chad's fleshy skin rather well. His natural physique adds a nice touch of realism.

Finally the two men are laid out next to each other with necks resting in the shaped recesses of a rack, chillingly reminiscent of the arrangement used for guillotines. The symmetry and uncluttered nudity of their bodies is very erotic, just a gag symbolising their shared subjugation. Christian looms menacingly over them. It's a great 'buddy capture' image.

Ref: Bound Gods 9486 Rock vs Miller

Silly Hats - A Word From Our Sponsors

2011-12-27T09:41:00.004Z

HRH's Beatrice and Eugenie

Dear Mr Mitchman,

We are absolutely thrilled to be asked to be patrons of your series showcasing silly hats. We feel terribly strongly that it's quite wrong that ordinary girls (like us) should be discriminated against just for being themselves in public. A dead octopus? It's awful and so rude!

Now, with the support of gay men (who we adore and who it is well known know everything there is to know about taste) we are entirely confident that the day will come when silly hats will accepted and appreciated by all. Meanwhile we offer you our utmost support in your inspiring efforts to educate and inform the public on this terribly important issue

We wish all your readers a peaceful festive season and a prosperous 2011

Beatrice and Eugenie

Bound Gods Celebration - 7

2011-12-26T10:20:00.003Z

A Cute Young Man Gets Spanked

Spanking isn't exactly what Bound Gods is famed for, although every film they produce must feature it at some point. I've picked out this sequence because I find it really attractive to look at and because it's a scenario believably rooted in everyday life (although not for long).

Nick Moretti (who I have a bit of a thing for) plays a father who accidentally discovers his son, Colton Steele, in possession of gay, bondage, porn material. Colton has a look which is a curious combination of cuteness and hairy masculinity and it is very sexy. His shirt gives him a youthful innocent air in contrast to Nick's formal suit.

Nick decides to punish his son by spanking him bare assed. Colton's a pretty grown up looking son and he argues with Nick to avoid this childish punishment, but as you can see it's in vain. He's allowed to keep his clothes on and his underpants are lowered only as far as necessary to expose his buttocks, but the rolled down pants succinctly sum up his humiliation and add visual emphasis to his bare backside. It's also a welcome touch of realism to me but you'd have thought Nick would remove his expensive looking jacket for this task.

Colton looks so sweet sprawled over his dad's lap in this outfit, I love the youthful red sneakers, but his hairy backside, now starting to turn pink, shows his real maturity. Nick's choice of chair with it's restricting arms suggests he hasn't had to do this before, making Colton's comeuppance all the more unexpected to him, but possibly less painful than it might have been if dad had been able to get a good swing in.

I love this view, the cavity formed between Colton's cheeks and the rolled down pants is very erotic, irresistible. The olive colour of his pants is sexy too, for me. Nick's putting on a good show of anger here and you can imagine the turning point approaching where defiant protests turn to urgent pleading.

In the full movie Nick goes on to subject his son to an intense bondage scene and sex, supposedly to put him off pursuing this interest. It's all a bit too fanciful for me but good fetish stuff if you disregard the plot. This picture shows a classic, realistic-looking Bound Gods thrashing and Colton looks just as cute dressed in rope as he did in the check shirt.

Ref: Bound Gods 9161 The Reynolds

This Christmas....

2011-12-26T10:10:00.005Z

This Christmas*......will be different

A new collection of images by Mitchell,

loosely themed to Christmas traditions - but with a mitchmen twist!

A new image will be posted every day at the Yahoo! Group
Join now - it's completely free.

Ministry of Silly Hats - 3

2011-12-24T12:52:00.004Z

This is a cheap shot, I know. Justin Munroe intended the silliness in an artistic way, but just I had to include these images.

This model (I haven't been able to identify him yet) looks an absolute beast, but it's hard to tell if that is because of the silly crown or despite it. It's the epitome of a sleaze, if you like, that is both repulsive and alluring at the same time.

This image does the same job in a different way, replacing in-your-face sex with a sort of innocence suggested by the model's baby-like pose and soft looking, hairless body. It is revealed as false innocence by the gaudy over-sized bangles and jewelled sceptre, reminiscent of a baby's rattle but used here for a more adult purpose. Repulsive and alluring.

Silly or not these are marvellous images.

Thanks to Beautiful for showing these pictures from the 'Renaissance' series

and to Justin Monroe for creating them

Turquine's Spanking Art

2011-12-22T08:31:00.007Z

A selection of pictures from Turquine's blog . Turquine has been producing spanking pictures for quite a while using CG techniques - which means he won't be eligible for my A-Z of fetish artists when it gets to 'T' sometime next year - so I'm giving him a mention now.

Turquine - Swift & Sure

I love the willowy figure of the the cop in this picture - and the victims face, which is handsome and seems too masculine to be the face of a person who could end up in this situation. His anxiety and humiliation are clear.

Recently Turquine has been experimenting with soft textures in his pictures, a development which I am following with interest. It means his characters don't end up look liking like plastic dummies but have an essence of realism in a painterly sort of way..

Turquine - College Student Spanked

In this picture the severity of the punishment is neatly expressed by the drawn back arm about to descend and the victim fighting back his tears. The rugged face of the spanker has an evil leer which suggests he has waited a long time for this moment of satisfaction. I also featured some of Turquine's faces a while ago at mitchmen.com

Turquine - Belt Licks

There's a simple directness in Turquine's art that captures the violence and pain of spanking very impressively. The addition of 'sound effects' may upset purists but it certainly adds to the impact of the image. This picture is from a lengthy series depicting the punishment and humiliation of 'Jason' a student by his father. You can follow the story at Turquine's blog here

Bound Gods Favourites - 6

2011-12-19T16:54:00.005Z

Little + Large

Bound Gods productions often depict super-muscular heavyweights knocking seven bells out of weedy looking (relatively!) subs. It's not a scenario that hits my buttons by and large, I prefer a more equal contest less suggestive of men hitting boys. However the imagery from this encounter between Spencer Reed and Zack Alexander (probably better known for more conventional porn) is full of little gems despite Zach's exceptionally boyish face playing up to the stereotype.

The storyline is set in a bar where Zach strikes up a conversation with Reed, a plausible looking barman and persuades him to give a bondage demonstration - rather less plausible.

Anyway Spencer soon has Zach stripped off and is burrowing in his pants, I love to see underwear in these films but inevitably it's all too brief(!) Zach's slender body looks great here.There's a sense of the size mismatch between the two characters here but it doesn't prepare you for the next picture.

This image is just wonderful as beefy Spencer towers (teeters almost!) over the kneeling Zach, like an ogre in a fairytale taunting his normal sized captive. The fact that the camera angle flatters the size of the man in the foreground makes it all the more impressive. Zach looks suitably intimidated - as well he might. He's held in nice economical bondage here. Spencer's state of partial undress (hooray for clothes!) tells you what is about to happen next, fortunately for Zach some body parts are less amenable to bulking up than pecs and biceps!

As the bondage lesson gets going there's another super 'little and large' moment, Spencer appears to grow even bigger with his clothing removed, Zach has a decent body but is hopelessly dwarfed.

The one-legged bondage position shown here is a Bound Gods favourite. In Japanese rope bondage it's a torture in it's own right forcing the victim to balance his entire body weight on one leg for so long that it becomes excruciatingly painful, meanwhile the other leg is bent right back (tighter into the back of the thigh than here) in an position so unnatural that it also becomes unbearable as time passes (and is ultimately crippling). In this faster moving scenario, clearly neither fate is going to befall Zach, with his slight build it would be much less effective and doesn't produce interesting bunched up thigh muscles either so I'm not sure that it works that well here. However, this cheek squeezing moment is a beautifully simple expression of condescending dominance with the victim helplessly immobilised.

Eventually Zach ends up stretched across the bar top with legs held open so that Spencer can insert a ball hook. Zach acts his socks off (!) wincing with the unpleasantness of the forced entry, his bare feet waving in the air are a visual treat.

Zach squirms on the bar top as Spencer forces the steel implement deep inside him, rewarding us with a beautiful view of his abs, all tensed up as testimony to the physical struggle taking place. Not massive in size, maybe, but beautifully defined. His clenching feet convey the discomfort of the penetration he feels. A fitting finale.

Ref: Bound Gods 9485 Bar Bondage Hookup

Last Word on the 'Beanie'

2011-12-17T08:19:00.005Z

Lee John by Gilles Crofta

I actually like this look but I'm not sure if it is because of the hat or despite it!

Maybe it's the chains!

Lee John would make any clothing look good - but then again......

Maybe not!

Fab Abs though.

Pictures courtesy of Gilles Crofta

Ministry of Silly Hats - 2 Continued!

2011-12-15T08:44:00.004Z

Having said my piece on the beanie and Chaz (2 posts back), here it comes again this time sitting on the head of Trent Davies - I'm starting to feel outnumbered here!

Like Chaz, Trent's combo today also includes fetish gear and he looks pretty awkward (not to say camp!) about being asked to wear it.

It's like a student lost in the woods has stumbled across the three bears playhouse and decides to try their things on.

This picture from the same set reveals that Trent sports a neat college boy haircut. Still somewhat at odds with the fetish theme but altogether more attractive. In my book, the knowing, catwalk-style posing devalues these pictures as erotica. But I acknowledge the ironic humour, it's a free country.

Pictures from Freshmen magazine which has now ceased publication I'm afraid.

Bound Gods Favourites - 5

2011-12-13T20:30:00.003Z

This post features another recent release in which two buddies are watching TV in their flat when an intruder bursts in and takes them captive. Bound Gods is great when it gets away from the dungeon.

The two actors Brian Bond and DJ (nearest) look just like two ordinary, straight guys doing ordinary things - no muscle gods here. The bond between close friends is very special and very powerful of course (whatever the sexual orientation) and that's what makes this story special. It can be a source of envy, but this rarely leads to it being tested in a physical way.

The intruder takes the boys captive after cutting the electricity and proceeds to remove both men's clothes. Brian is tied to a chair while DJ is forced nuzzle his underwear, then to suck him off. Equally humiliating for both of them of course. This image with Brian sitting, legs spread wide and grimacing helplessly as his nipple is being tweaked is very striking, the highlight of the set. The buddies are both the instrument and witness of each other's humiliation. Brian's impressive erection is mandatory of course but suggests another layer of embarrassment for him.

Brian is temporarily consigned to the bathroom while the intruder works on his buddy. For the friends, separation and isolation is just as bad as joint humiliation. It's a nice twist. This picture, where he is dragged back to the living room (having been primed for action you will note) is another great picture. Once again the simplicity of the bondage enhances the captive's body - and emphasises his complete nudity.

In the final excerpt the straight boy's humiliation is rammed home by a collar and chain, simple and mundane in a way, but doubly telling in this straight domestic environment. Great story.

Ref: Bound Gods 14589 There's Someone Out There

Ministry of Silly Hats - 2

2011-12-09T08:07:00.007Z

Chaz by Randy Blue
Don't get me wrong, I think the 'beanie' hat can look very sexy, perched on the back of the head. But I'm not sure it really 'goes' with leather apparel.
I'm afraid the 'pulled down' look is probably best left to pensioners out doing their shopping on a cold day.

Without the hat Chaz looks much more masculine. There's no need to distract attention from his basic assets. He's good looking in an understated, guy next door sort of way which is very desirable. He also has a marvellous fleshy, chunky body and an endowment to match. I'm planning a more flattering post for Chaz soon.
Pictures by Randy Blue

Bound Gods Favourites - 4

2011-12-07T10:37:00.003Z

4 Bandaged Legs

This post showcases Dominic Pacifico whose supple body has featured in some fantastic Bound Gods images. I could have chosen a number of moments from his films, but this fairly recent one is most memorable for the leg bondage employed.

I love to see the models wearing clothes because they enhance the body. Dominic's jeans really show off his thighs - which are soon to become a focus of attention.

The 'doubled-back leg' form of bondage in which each ankle is secured to the back of the thigh is very photogenic. The position naturally causes the thigh (and calf muscles) to bulk up and the ties draw attention to this, so it looks nice. It also disables the prisoner in a very obvious way. This original variation, in which dark bandages are wound round the entire doubled-back limb, including the foot, magnifies both these effects. Dominic's legs are rigidly fixed in an un-natural position, a recipe for intense pain if the restraint is prolonged. The dark bindings somehow conjure up all sorts of associations - the middle east, female dress, medicine even, a heady brew!

I like the idea of the captor spending time over preparing his victim, so that he looks attractive and erotic for his punishment. It shows a sort of appreciation of him as well as demonstrating absolute control. Job done, Tyler Saint can savour his prisoner's manly qualities.

From the front the 'disabling' effect is even more striking and slightly shocking, flirting as does it with amputation imagery. The dark bandages perform the same visual function as waders (and stockings!) do, drawing attention to Dominic's thighs and unprotected, dangling cock. Forcing him to balance on his knees like this reminds him of the limits of respect for prisoners, it's another Bound Gods trademark.

Dominic's wrists are loosely restrained and this makes his balancing position doubly precarious. It produces the exciting sight of the victim trying to keep from toppling under the onslaught of lashes. I love the tension in Dominic's arching body and the spreadeagled legs. Of course his efforts only servesto keep him in the firing line and present a more exposed and inviting target, which Tyler attacks with gusto. As always the models contrive to make it look painfully real.

Ref: Bound Gods Not You Not Today 14153

Bound Gods Favourites - 3

2011-12-05T15:39:00.004Z

3 Cop Caught Out

In this choice from my favourite Bound Gods moments, it's not the props that make the impact but the simplest of bondage and punishment combined with good casting and a nice twisted story line. The 'Creepy Janitor' who stalks and abducts college jocks has been a recurring theme at Bound Gods right from the start. Brenn Wyson currently plays the creepy part and he can certainly look scary.

In this film, his secret is discovered by a young cop, played by an actor known only as 'Ned', whose blond hair and clean cut looks create an impression of youthful professional integrity and enthusiasm which, naturally enough, the evil janitor mocks. However, this cop turns out be more steely than he looks and in his search for the truth, strings Wyson up for interrogation.

This image with Wyson stripped naked and balancing on a block is unspectacular but I love it. In the context of the story, vulnerability is the wrong word to use, but his nudity and exposure is brought out strongly by the precarious position, the tight upper body restraint and the fact that Officer Ned is still in full uniform. This lashing is a prelude to an improbable sequence of complicated tortures and sex, but there's a great twist as Wyson eventually escapes and turns the tables.

Now it's the young Cop's turn to be stripped and he is stretched out in a hanging position that produces a beautiful arching of his body, a classic back-stress position which will become increasingly painful with the passage of time and showcases his pert buttocks.. Wyson ruffles his hair mockingly.

Ned's dangling equipment is soon taken in hand, to be tweaked and abused. The directness and intimacy of this torture is very powerful and the result written all over Ned's face. Wyson's vindictive pleasure at his captive's helpless agony is hammy but right in character - and don't his muscular arms look great!

Officer Ned goes on to get the lashing he deserves. Bound Gods have a knack for making it look real and Wyson certainly puts his back into the job. Great sequence.

Ref: Bound Gods The Policeman + Creepy Janitor 11714

Luke In The Can

2011-12-02T10:03:00.003Z

Mitchell - Luke in the Can

A picture destined for a series called 'The Lost Patrol'.
This is intended to be a major story and has been taking shape in my mind for many years, but so far I've only finished a few drawings with rather more sketches. Here we see Luke, one of the members of the patrol, being punished. He's locked inside a small metal cell, exposed to the searing heat of the sun.

Bound Gods Favourites - 2

2011-11-30T11:15:00.004Z

Jeof Pierson plays a fresh faced recruit, straight out of basic training, undergoing an Army Physical and subjected to a series of painful tests by Dr Nick Moretti. Joel is perfect for this, a picture of youthful innocence, he is by turns puzzled, bewildered, then horrified as the tests escalate in an increasingly intrusive and painful way.

In this segment, he is strapped to a birthing chair which is quite often used in gay medical scenarios, but it works really well here. With Jeof's wrists strapped back at shoulder level and legs held wide open, it's totally humiliating already and he shows his dismay beautifully as Nick grinds a three-ball, hook dildo inside him, coaxing him into a terrific glistening erection.

The dildo is replaced by a butt plug, wired up to transmit electrical impulses. Dr Nick fiddles ostentatiously with the controls, selecting the programme and intensity levels while Jeof watches him closely, his face a picture of questioning, dread and pleading. Then the realisation that something is beginning to happen down there and it's not very nice. There's a nice shot of Nick's chest in this picture, I'd have liked him to keep his trousers on for this scene as a sop to authenticity, but I guess it is a porn film!

Dr Nick is still not satisfied and now produces a wand to administer shocks to the poor private's inner thighs making him writhe and dance with pain. A terrific performance by Joel, it really looks like it is hurting and the butt plug looks great nestling between his cheeks.

Ref: Bound Gods Brutal Army Physical 12727

Bound Gods Favourites - 1

2011-11-27T11:36:00.004Z

1 The Water Tank

Rusty Stevens appears as Derek Diamond's 'lab rat' struggling under water while naked and tightly bound, hand and foot.

The water tank is one of Bound Gods simpler props but with the help of clever lighting produces fantastic immersion images.

These amazing pictures are not just about danger and helplessness, there's also something highly erotic about viewing a nude body through water. Rusty's a great looking subject and, for added effect, his heroic build is restrained in a mesh of complex ropework, I love the use of natural fibre ropes. For me this type of bondage is more erotic than the captive being tied to an object like a chair or spread between posts.

The tank as a container suggests a second layer of captivity, like a cage or display case. Unfortunately, there's not a lot more you can do with it and I imagine there are not many models able to cope with this situation as well as Rusty does so we probably won't be seeing it used too often.

Ref: Bound Gods 7153 Lab Rat Revenge

A Tribute To Bound Gods

2011-11-26T11:58:00.003Z

Alex Lemonde as a Cop tied in shirt and jockstrap

It was in 2004 that 'Bondo Gods' appeared with high quality images showing muscular, good looking men all tightly tied up with ropes in the japanese style.

Bruce Marasco Tied Naked To A Chair

These images and films certainly made a great impact on me then and their work continues to inspire me now. It amazes me how Van Darkholme continues to come up with original, sexy imagery.

I don't plan to become one of those blogs that constantly post from Bound Gods but I would like to pay tribute to the prolific creativity of Mr Van Darkholme but posting a small selection of my favourite inspiring scenarios from the site.

to be continued

Link:- Bound Gods

Ministry of Silly Hats - 1

2011-11-24T08:57:00.007Z

Ales Hanak in Maritime Gear

Oh dear! I'm all for humiliation scenarios, but only if the victim ends up looking sexy.

The picture below, from the same series (courtesy of Freshmen magazine) is at the other end of the scale. Ales looks bemused at being asked to plant himself in a bunch of daisies. As well he might, it's not exactly a setting redolent of masculinity is it?

Humiliation? Tick!......... Sexy? Tick!

Ales Hanak in the Daisies

But, the resulting picture captures a marvellous combination of boyish bashful charm and the physique of a young adult. It's visually interesting too - that swirl of daisies is like a bow wave, seemingly cradling, supporting Ales body.

Pictures like this fire my imagination. You'd have thought this was a million miles from fetish but just imagine the daisies as an alien anemone engulfing the careless hiker - or the unsuspecting model!

Mitchell - The Whipping of Squaddie Steve

2011-11-20T08:45:00.003Z

Mitchell - The Sting Of The Whip

This is a picture from my last series, 'Squaddie Steve', a scene where Steve is severely tested by the evil Sergeant Tarrant in the Regimental Chapel. The full story with illustrations can be downloaded (free of charge!) as a PDF from my Yahoo! Group - see sidebar to join. My military punishment images of course owe a lot to Royale Studio's and 'Guys in Uniform' pictures from the 60's and 70's but more recently inspiration has flowed freely from the Bound Gods site.

Tom Of Finland - Tailors and Hidden Eroticism

2011-11-18T09:24:00.003Z

In my review of Royale Studio's Soldier-Sailor set, picture 11, I remarked how Tom of Finland used the 'man and his kneeling dresser' theme in pictures produced about the same time. The picture I was thinking of is shown below, it was produced in 1959.

Tom of Finland - At The Tailor's

Inside leg measurement is a classic subject for corny innuendo, Tom's young tailor has a good fistful at the top end of the tape but the young man seems completely oblivious of it. Like Royale, Tom plays down the erotic intent. But this picture is relevant to Royale in another way, as it also contains disguised sexual content like Royale's pictures did. If you don't know the piece already, look at the image on the back cover of the fat man's magazine and you will discover exactly what he thinks of the young man being fitted out. I can't recall any other picture by Tom that has a hidden explicit message like this - but perhaps I've just not spotted them yet.

Tom of Finland - Fine Adjustments

The second 'dresser' picture is from 1963 and, together with the previous picture from 1959, brackets the Royale era quite neatly. This time it's a modelling theme and exploits the idea of a hunk being 'adjusted' by a lesser mortal. Tom uses the clothing in a much more adventurous way. The G-string is extremely revealing and it's unconventional strap made from chain, plunges down between the model's buttocks creating a sexy rear view which even today gives a bit of a jolt. Note how Tom uses the mirror in exactly the same way as Royale did to provide this second viewpoint. The dresser's adjustments are less intimate this time, but as he bends in his ever-so-tight jeans, his backside seems to have caught the hunky model's eye.

Tom of Finland - Measuring Up

Picture 3 is less well known, a locker room scene whose date I can't discover, but the frontal nudity fixes it later. The fashion looks circa 1970. This picture captures the 'kneeling dresser' pose in classic form and the drawing of this particular young man is rather nice. Tom used submissive kneeling quite a lot around this time in a variety of situations. In the best ones, like 'the careless motorcyclist', the victim is being forced down.

This image is a curious mixture of the explicit and the coy. The spectator's cock is rather substantial but points downwards - at one point in the crazy world of censorship this was a genuine yardstick of acceptability. It doesn't really add a lot to the picture but did represent a statement of liberation to it's audience at the time.

The proximity of the dresser's face to the jocks equipment is another fairly obvious erotic feature, but what exactly is the dresser measuring? Inches count in this area! What is he doing with his hidden left hand? Probably up to no good judging by the various facial expressions.

The tape measure is quite a useful accessory here, visually highlighting the jocks backside and providing a sense of his being temporarily captured while his 'vital statistics' are assessed.

I have a recollection that there is another picture by Tom on this theme but I haven't been able to find it. It shows a kneeling shop assistant assisting a young man into a very revealing new outfit but in this picture the assistant is very obviously embarrassed. If anyone can help with this, please get in touch with me via the comments feature or the e-mail link on my profile.

Men Sharing Clothes No 8 - Brothers in Underwear

2011-11-16T09:34:00.007Z

In previous items in this series I played with the idea of models unwittingly or knowingly sharing clothes worn by another man. This group from Captured Guys gets 2 brothers, Hunter and Zack, to pose in the same underwear for bondage and then spanking.

Hunter gets to go first. The Hanes briefs don't seem to be a very good fit, maybe they belong to his brother, which would explain why he looks so unhappy wearing them. Sisters are noted for swapping clothes, but not brothers. Not like this. Fortunately, once he's bent over the looseness in the pants disappears and he is about to be given other things to think about. In fact, I think he is already thinking about it!

Hunter spanked at 'Captured Guys'

Now brother Zack gets put his privates into the pouch warmed by his brother's gear - and by the spanker's hand behind of course.

He seems quite resigned to his fate, but let's face it, that tape gag means business. Underneath his mouth is wide open and stuffed with something you'd rather not have in there. Still, at least it's not his brother's pants.

Zack spanked at 'Captured Guys'

The boy's are sharing the same spanker's hand as well!

Finally here are the two boys presenting their results so we can compare them. They seem to have got off quite lightly this time.

Two for the family album.

For other articles in this series click on the 'sharing' label below.

Royale Studios 17 - The Soldier-Sailor Set (FJSS) - 9

2011-11-14T09:11:00.004Z

This series of 21 pictures covers a lot of ground and it feels as though there must have been many more images produced during the shoot. Maybe they were discarded for reasons of quality or content. Perhaps they were simply kept back for lack of publication space. It's tantalising to think there might be some around today.

Fred Collins (L) and John Skilling (R) Wrestling by Royale Studio

In modern times we expect a series of pictures to end with the men naked and grappling with each other, but the best I can do is to add this one of John and Fred wrestling, not quite nude but nearly. Geeks like me will notice the Royale code Fred-John-WRestling.

Fred Collins and Tibor Urgay by Royale Studio

This picture (right) of Fred from a set with Tibor Urgay shows Royale could do upper body shots - and what a body Fred has! We barely glimpsed it in the FJSS set. I suspect the demands of creating special erotic effects with shadows got in the way of highlighting muscularity. Or perhaps the uniforms were thought sufficient by themselves. By the way, I suspect the G-strings here have been 'sanitised' .

John Skilling by Royale Studio

Here is John Skilling, truly naked and lying on the same wrestling mat as above. It's a classic 50's/60's glamour pose, but rather risque without clothes on. He looks very cute and urchin-like with those dirty feet.

John Skilling, nude by Royale Studio

Finally another picture of John nude, more classically posed for safety,
but showing off his 'wasp' waist and succulent bottom extremely well.

These pictures give us a glimpse of what is missing from the uniform sets.

I would love to see them recreated by a skilled modern photographer
unfettered by constraints on nudity and eroticism.

For earlier articles in this series click on the GIU/Royale label below

If anyone has better copies of these pictures which they are willing to share I would be very pleased to hear from them

Royale Studios 17 - The Soldier-Sailor Set (FJSS) - 8

2011-11-11T17:52:00.004Z

Royale Studios - Soldier-Sailor 20 & 21

In the aftermath of the fight, both men are strung up by one wrist suggesting a punishment for their brawling. They look at each other in a humorous Oliver Hardy moment - 'another fine mess.....etc.' I like the way the ropes create continuity through these final pictures. Bondage was strictly a taboo subject in the UK at this time, but the point of this picture is not so much about immobilisation but about securing the boys so they don't get into any more mischief. The eroticism derives from their being tethered together, so close that their bodies could be touching, Royale didn't risk that but a modern day photographer free from their constraints could create seriously erotic images from this idea. Once again here Royale pass up the chance to highlight the upper body definition of the models.

The final picture No 21 shows the pair working together to free themselves and this subject matter allows them to actually touch, entwine even! Fred's knee is positioned just above the sailor's groin casting a shadow which highlights his bulge. His own groin is being lifted towards the sailors face providing plenty of suggestive material. Sailor John's pose in this picture is sexy and appealing to me for a reason I can't really explain, his low key, natural posing in this set is a subtle delight.

Royale Studios - two pictures from 'Unapproved'.

The last picture in the Soldier-Sailor set brings me back to my opening speculations about connections with the 'Unapproved' set. Compare the pictures, above, from that series with No 21 above. The same uniforms of course and the two men are also tied together, with handcuffs in this case. They climb upwards seeking to escape punishment. The similarity of the idea with No 21 is remarkable. If they aren't directly connected they surely must have sprung from the same source. The FJSS storyline of squabbling and detention for punishment would also provide a neat prequel to 'Unapproved' whose opening scenes are shrouded in some mystery. But that's another story!

For earlier articles in this series click on the GIU/Royale label below

If anyone has better copies of these pictures which they are willing to share I would be very pleased to hear from them

Royale Studios 17 - The Soldier-Sailor Set (FJSS) - 7

2011-11-10T16:22:00.002Z

Royale Studios - Soldier-Sailor 18 & 19

In 18 the drum is brought forward and it looks as if the sailor has lost the fight, his head is bowed and submissive whereas Fred's open pose is more dominant and his right arm is threateningly poised, suggestive of holding a whip or stick. The sailor appears to be reaching for the rope on top of the drum. Even so, the well-known punishment scene in No 19 comes as something of a surprise. The complete submission of the sailor in these two pictures has a subtle eroticism for those who enjoy such things (like me!) but there's no disguising the sexual message behind the belting of the his upturned bottom. Spanking images may have been commonplace in the early 60's but not in this sort of context with grown, half naked men.

For physique fans No 19 showcases Fred's chunky body and legs splendidly and for once his posing is spot on. The shadow on the wall behind adds a second viewpoint in a distinctly menacing form. The accessories get more than a walk-on part in this picture, the strap in Fred's hand appears to have come from the drum in No 18. Notice that the ropes have also become separated from the drum and now look as though they might even be wound around the sailor's wrists, flirting with another UK taboo - bondage.

For earlier articles in this series click on the GIU/Royale label below

If anyone has better copies of these pictures which they are willing to share I would be very pleased to hear from them

Royale Studios 17 - The Soldier-Sailor Set (FJSS) - 6

2011-11-09T15:39:00.006Z

Royale Studios - Soldier Sailor 16 & 17

The confrontation hinted at in the last images (14 & 15) develops in pictures 16 and 17, Fred's smile suggests it's a fairly mild disagreement. The sailor's left hand, arguably miming a cock-pumping action, may offer a clue. Fred's riposte is a pointing finger poised as though to penetrate the sailor's ring of fingers. You can interpret this as an exchange of insults (along the lines of wanker - bummer) or as a more suggestive exchange, but in any event a fight develops in No 17.

The fighting is purely symbolic. This is the era of AMG whose films and photo stories usually employed amateurish wrestling sequences, partly to camouflage their sexy flesh on flesh images, but also to combat the public perceptions of universal effeminacy amongst homosexuals. Royale's uniforms are intended to create a similar manly effect and there's usually some male-male conflict in the form of a fight and/or punishment scene.

These are not the best pictures in the set due to the stilted posing and Fred's over-acting but you get a decent view of their outfits in these print quality images and for me the sailor still represents real eye candy in No 16. Royale's lighting here doesn't do justice to his lean upper body muscularity but just look at how it showcases Fred's thighs! The introduction of a military drum adds authenticity to the scene.

For earlier articles in this series click on the GIU/Royale label below

If anyone has better copies of these pictures which they are willing to share I would be very pleased to hear from them

Royale Studios 17 - The Soldier-Sailor Set (FJSS) - 5

2011-11-08T08:22:00.005Z

Royale Studios - Soldier-Sailor 14 & 15

I have commented before on my admiration for pictures 14 and 15 which show the two models shot from between the other's legs. The sailor has now ditched the full length trousers for white shorts which suit him admirably, this is a feast of chunky legs! The low viewpoint enhances this no end of course but the boys have hitched up their hemlines for good measure. The headgear also works well in this image.

The soldier's pose in these pictures is quite aggressive, arms folded or hands on hips (in 15), spoilt only by the slight inward bowing of his legs. The boy sailor by comparison seems wary, almost fearful - very sexy. The wall shadows, framing the far figure add drama and menace to the scene as well.

These compositions are so dramatic and arty that you almost miss the 'hidden' sexual ingredients - there are ambiguous highlights on Fred's shorts in No 14. On the sailor's shorts in No 15, a mysterious balloon-shaped shadow created by the multiple lighting (from Fred's head?) suggests the shape of a curving penis. More explicitly, the enticing cleft between the buttocks in both pictures, well defined and perfectly aligned with the other model's head perhaps hinting at fellatio.

But if you stand back from the detail and just look at the 'shapes' in these pictures, there's another much more subtle erotic message at work in the overall composition which everyone sees subconsciously, and yet without seeing it. The open legs of the models form a strong triangle, overtly suggesting masculinity and solidity of course, but also creating visually a sense of upwards 'thrust'. The effect of placing a figure between the legs is to suggest an arrow-like shape. This especially true of No 14, notice the shape of the white 'space' around the central figure. The man in the middle is the 'shaft' of the arrow. At the apex of the triangle above him, at the point of the arrow, is the other model's anus, rendered all the more 'visible' by the open-legged stance.

By the time you've got this far, the shape of the beret on Fred's head becomes almost indecent! You can read equally suggestive meanings into the horizontal lines of the sailors cap and his chunky build compared to Fred's slender outline. I've no idea whether the photographer worked all this out, how much was intuitive, how much accidental, but I think it gives an understanding of how these photographs worked on their audience who were not distracted as we are by the barrage of internet imagery and had time to study the pictures and fantasise. This is why they still have the power to intrigue us today, if we take the time to look.

There's a better copy of picture 15 in an earlier article in this thread.

For earlier articles in this series click on the GIU/Royale label below

If anyone has better copies of these pictures which they are willing to share I would be very pleased to hear from them

Royale Studios 17 - The Soldier-Sailor Set (FJSS) - 4

2011-11-06T10:08:00.005Z

In picture 11 the direction of the plot becomes clear, the two models have swapped clothes.

At one point I wondered if the EX2 designation on the Catalogue page for this set referred to exchanging clothes but I suspect it may just mean Example 2.

Men swapping their clothes is in itself an erotic idea which has quite complex associations to do with shared intimacy, borrowing identities and displaying oneself in a new way. I have a separate series which showcases this theme, click on the 'sharing' tag below for more.

Royale Studios - Soldier-Sailor - 11

John the sailor looks just as good in Fred's shorts as he did in sailor's whites and the submissive kneeling pose is very erotic. He appears to be conducting a close quarters examination of Fred's groin area, hands on waist, poised to pull him closer or perhaps to release the flap. Funnily enough, Fred looks rather nervous!

As an aside, around this time Tom of Finland also picked up on the erotic potential of this 'dressing' theme in a couple of pictures in which a kneeling tailor assists a muscular stud into new clothes (see my later post on this). It's interesting to speculate whether one inspired the other although this is the era when having trousers fitted was more usual than buying off-the-peg.

Royale Studios - Soldier-Sailor - 12

In 12 we see the models from the rear. John the sailor's tapered torso is highlighted by the high waist on the shorts but exaggerated by freak shadowing on his right side as the photographer strives to highlight Fred's rather interesting frontal bulge in the sailor's pants. It's a tight fit, his backside is also very well displayed. It's interesting to compare this image with No 5 and to see how different the two body/clothing combinations appear

The theme of men swapping one set of clothes for another crops up more than once in Royale's uniform sets, usually in the context of a recruitment storyline (i.e. civilian to military).

It's a good excuse for showing flesh but is partly inspired by the National Service era in the UK when all able bodied young men were called up for a period of service in the armed forces. Of course, once you introduce homosexual overtones, recruitment into an all-male service takes on a whole new flavour.

Royale Studios - Soldier-Sailor - 13

In the final picture of this group the boys are undressing again and the shot of the sailor opening the flies on his shorts (which are to be unbuttoned of course not unzipped) would grace any modern photo set. Even in this fuzzy image the definition of his six pack and the curve of the stomach are very sexy. Fred's packet is indistinct here but would have been interesting in the full print. The naturalistic posing around the drum centrepiece makes a nice composition and it captures an innocent, shared intimacy which many of us will remember from our own early experiences with other men.

For earlier articles in this series click on the GIU/Royale label below

If anyone has better copies of these pictures which they are willing to share I would be very pleased to hear from them

Royale Studios 17 - The Soldier-Sailor Set (FJSS) - 3

2011-10-31T19:34:00.003Z

In picture 7, both men wearing tops and this is as fully dressed as they get. It's worth pointing out that while this set appears to show men getting dressed, the purchaser of the individual prints had the option of viewing these pictures in reverse sequence, so the men start fully clothed and gradually loose clothes with progressively more sexual innuedo until they end up naked.

Royale Studios - Soldier-Sailor - 7

Here there's some sort of conversation going on. The subject becomes clear as the pictures progress but it's clear there is a degree of reluctance on the sailors part - which is always good for erotic tension!

The soldier's battledress top was a style that ended at the waist (like a bomber jacket) and so always had the erotic potential to be worn without the normal accompanyment of full length, somewhat baggy trousers of the same material. His shorts in these pictures, hitched up to give full exposure to Fred Collin's thighs, would have looked startlingly like underwear, producing more of an erotic frisson then than they do today.

The sailor looks pretty smart in his full uniform (if we overlook the trouser creasing of course!) Royale would have made it themselves. It's reasonably authentic although the black collar ribbon (in memory of Nelson) looks too broad. The British Naval cap is another tricky style of headgear (erotically speaking) but always looks cute tilted forward like this. As you can see, the jumper-style top ends just above the crotch and frames beautifully the undulations in that area! I've never liked the practice of wearing the belt over the jumper but it is militarily a correct way to dress.

Royale Studios - Soldier-Sailor - 8

The sailor now begins to undress again revealing his attractive backside to us as he does so. The mirror reflection (possibly assisted by the hazy reproduction) is nicely erotic showing a well proportioned body and attractive face rounded off with a glimpse of flesh and interesting bulges. Fred seems a bit of a spare part in this and looks a bit awkward. The jolly grin is meant to reassure censors that there's no funny business going on. But it's no accident that he is placed so close to the sailors reflection, their legs almost appearing to touch or interlock. Or that the sailor in the reflected image appears to be admiring Fred's rear and becoming aroused by it.

Royale Studios - Soldier-Sailor - 9

Picture 9 is print quality and gives us much the same scene as 8 with a slightly different view of the sailor's midriff and well padded groin area. You can see the front flap clearly here and the curious disappearing belt.

Seen with the addition of the battledress top, Fred's shorts have now taken on something of the appearance of those worn by schoolboys or scouts. Men dressing as Scouts is the subject of other Royale sets, a tricky theme these days but not then. Other than Fred's admiring look and his proximity to the reflection, there was little to disturb the genteel here.

This image is meant to suggest that the Sailor has difficulty removing his top (possibly because it is wet, although Royale pictures usually play down the attractions of the upper body) It is setting the scene for No 10 where Fred gallantly steps in and gives him assistance, providing us with an excellent view of his thighs in the process.

Royale Studios - Soldier-Sailor - 10

The erotic significance of the sailors bent over pose needs no explanation but you should also notice which part of Fred's body he is bending his head towards, it looks almost as if Fred is pushing up to meet it. The sailors hands placed on Fred's waist are intimate in their own way but again this produces a suggestive shadow - and is that balls I see?

For earlier articles in this series click on the GIU/Royale label below

Royale Studios 17 - The Soldier-Sailor Set (FJSS) - 2

2011-10-29T08:37:00.007+01:00

My copy of Picture 4 is from a full size print and I have to admit this frontal pose doesn't seem very sexy, although it shows off Fred's marvellous thighs and John the Sailor's upper body well. The significance of the image relates to the models now having assumed a military persona. This is the era of compulsory military service when young men are forced to leave their friends and family and enter a tough all-male environment where they have little freedom and have to do exactly as they are told. Seen in this light the un-military poses and resigned facial expressions make more sense.

Royale Studio - Soldier-Sailor 4

However, John's trousers seem just too tight here, they appear have been stuffed to hide what is inside but the groin detail is interesting - is that darker area wet? His belt disappears inside the front flap of his trousers for some reason, which doesn't enhance their top line although I can understand the sensuality of that idea. You can see the wet creasing more clearly on the lower leg here. Tucking the trousers inside the gaiters is the correct way to use them, they serve no practical purpose with shorts - except for those who enjoy seeing strappings round limbs!
N.B. Apparently gaiters with shorts was OK, see reader comment below

Royale Studio - Soldier-Sailor 5

Things improve in pictures 5 and 6 as the pair admire themselves in a mirror. Curiously, the reflections of these men (especially Fred, the soldier) look much more impressive and interesting than they did in the straight forward frontal shot of picture 4, even the set of the beret seems more natural. John the sailor's back and bottom look great while Fred's poses show off his shorts particularly well, they curve around the thighs giving them solidity. These pictures are well composed and appealing but there is no lack of suggestive sexuality when you consider the sharply defined ass cracks and the frontal bulges.

Royale Studio - Soldier-Sailor 6

I have seen it said on one blog that the intended recipients of these pictures were contemptuous of the obvious padding and rejected it, but that is to miss the point. It was illegal to sell or buy explicit images or excessively suggestive ones for that matter. The customers may have despised it but they knew it was all they were going to get. They had to make the best of little mounds hidden amongst the swimwear, rejoice in the shared understanding of subversive symbolism and enjoy the game as studios pushed at boundaries with ever more audacious images.

For earlier articles in this series click on the GIU/Royale label below

I would be pleased to hear from anyone who has better quality copies of these pictures and is willing to share

Royale Studios 17 - The Soldier-Sailor Set (FJSS) - 1

2011-10-25T09:25:00.004+01:00

The FJSS set is a fairly typical example of what we might call Royale Studios 'Uniform' work - they also published a lot of conventional beefcake pictures featuring prominent bodybuilders. These military themed pictures seem quaint and artificial at first sight but closer investigation reveals a strongly erotic content can be as thrilling today as it was then.

The opening shot shows the two models posing naked apart from their footwear. The sailor on the left is ironing his uniform (yes, with a cold iron!). This is studio print and you can immediately see how good the quality of the photography was and also how well-built the models were. Just look at the sailor's back and the soldier's thigh development.

Royale Studio - Soldier-Sailor 1

This nudity would have been a problem in 50's Britain. Muscle posing in swimwear was OK but just putting two nude men together like this, in a pseudo-domestic situation without any pretence of classicism was risky. The positioning of the iron contrives to conceal the naughty bits but this would be regarded as smutty rather than artistic.

Royale tried to disguise the erotic nature of these pictures, but the police could hardly fail to notice the positioning of the sailor's grasping hand, right in front of the soldier's groin and the focal point of both men's gaze. I suppose they might just have missed the erotic significance of the iron's pointed shape and the curious resemblance between the lower part of the handle and a man's scrotum, but seen with the right eyes this picture is simulating a jerk-off, plain and simple.

Publishers did seek to wriggle out of prosecutions with the argument that “evil is in the eye of the beholder” but it didn't work very often, not least because the artifice is very obvious once it is spotted.

The first picture is the only one in Royale's catalogue sheet for this set which shows the models naked where it counts. It's a bit of an 'odd man out'. From the second picture onwards they are both wearing trousers.

As an amateur Royale sleuth , the first picture also stands out to me in another way in that both model's gaiters (the ankle strappings) are light coloured whereas from picture 2 onwards, the soldier's gaiters look dark (as they should do, army gaiters being coloured khaki rather than white which is for the navy uniform). It makes you wonder if the first picture really belongs here but having said that, the ironing table does appear in both pictures 1 & 2, so maybe it's just a trick of the light.

Royale Studio - Soldier-Sailor 2

Picture 2 is taken from the catalogue sheet, so it's fuzzy but this is another great picture. The high waisted trousers show off the sailor's tapered torso rather well but the beret (a tricky garment to wear sexily) is less helpful for Fred's soldier image, try covering the rear overhang with your finger and you'll see what I mean.

At first glance it all seems quite respectable, the pose is intimate in nature but has a classical ancestry in studies of the hero being readied for battle. Movie buffs will also recognise the female equivalent (maid dressing mistress) from numerous frivolous comedies of this era. So it's actually a commonplace image. Naturally the implied master-servant relationship would appeal strongly to British sensibilities at this time'!

But if you think this picture is just naïve beefcake, look again! John the sailor's trousers are so tight that his balls are clearly outlined and his relaxed open pose seems to offer them up, unguarded, to Fred. A shadow cast by the soldier's arm looks like a cock which Fred is grasping. Which the viewer knows he can do, if he undoes the button in his hand and lowers the flap at the front of the sailor's trousers. Clever stuff.

I have heard that Royale tailored garments to individual models to ensure this revealing fit. The soldier's shorts look as though they have had this treatment too. Royale also soaked them in water to make them cling to body contours, the vertical creasing below the sailor's knee and lack of volume where they tuck into the gaiters suggests this is the case here.

The preparation for these sessions must have entailed considerable work and would have made an erotic movie in it's own right! The thought of innocent new models being put through all this unexpected intimacy and awkwardsness just to earn a few pounds is sexy too, it's a theme I am following in one of my current series at the Yahoo! Group “Naive Models” (see sidebar) .

Royale Studio - Soldier-Sailor 3

In picture 3 the 'dressing' roles are reversed with the sailor adjusting his buddies belt. The wet tight clothing shows off his behind, and Fred's also looks good, you can also see some nice musculature in their backs and thighs. The sailor's profile is attractive too, you even get a sense of how sexy the fashionable quiffed hair was at this time.

Fred's pose is a bit stiff and distant, possibly deliberately so, to fend off any criticism of intimacy. There's an element of lens distortion in this picture which increases the separation effect. Royale were probably on safer ground with this one although in the context of the whole set the proximity of hand to bottom is still suggestive, particularly with Fred's backward glance seeming to say 'what are you up to?' There are the makings of a very sexy image here.

To be continued

For earlier articles in this series click on the GIU/Royale label below

Lightbox Feature

2011-10-22T09:09:00.006+01:00

If you notice something different it's because I have turned off the lightbox feature which Google recently introduced without telling anyone. It effectively extracted all the pictures in a post and displayed them 'filmstrip style' in an overlay. I don't think it's suitable for this blog where it is intended that you read the text alongside viewing the pictures. I wish computer geeks would stop fixing things that aren't broke!

Update Monday 24th - However I will qualify my criticism by saying I think the lightbox display looks better than the old style 'box in the corner of a white screen' format which is why I haven''t switched it off on my mitchmen.com address. I rarely post more than one picture on posts there.

Royale Studios 17 - Two Mysteries Solved - 5

2011-10-15T10:23:00.005+01:00

Royale Studios - 'Unapproved' series 1

Above is another picture from the Unapproved School series showing the sailor more clearly, is this the same model as in 'FJSS' below?

Royale Studios - Soldier Sailor (FJSS) Series

I must admit I am not sure but it's a tantalising thought!

The next picture, also from Unapproved School shows the sailor with his cap off and this is clearly a different man, John Dawes, another Royale favourite.

Royale Studios - 'Unapproved' Series 2

Unapproved School was published as two sets and the images show here come from different halves so it's concievable that the models changed between sets, but you can judge for yourselves, probably not.

Why does it matter? It's only because the opening scenes of Unapproved School are somewhat incoherent with dressings and undressings and punishments for no clear reason before the escape sequence gets under way. (see my previous article on 'Unapproved' for more). If the FJSS series is a precursor then it might untangle the 'storyette' a little.

In my next posts I'll look at the FJSS set and reproduce it with some full size versions of the images.

For earlier articles in this series click on the GIU/Royale label below

Royale Studios 17 - Two Mysteries Solved - 4

2011-10-09T10:51:00.005+01:00

In my previous post I suggested that the catalogue label 'FJSS' stood for 'Fred and John' the names of the two models. The 'SS' I suspect is simply Soldier-Sailor. This is not just a wild guess. Royale advertisements which I have do mention a Soldier-Sailor set (without showing a sample picture unfortunately). Connoisseurs will also know that there are other Royale pictures circulating on the the internet using this label but they are from a different set 'Unapproved School', you will probably recognise the one below.

from Royale Studio's - “Unapproved School”

You can immediately see a striking similarity to the uniforms used in the FJSS set, sample below and the soldier is clearly Fred Collins once again.

Does this mean the two sets are linked? And what about the EX2 bit? More next time.

For earlier articles in this series click on the GIU/Royale label below

Royale Studios 17 - Two Mysteries Solved - Part 3

2011-09-20T13:51:00.005+01:00

As an aside, the Catalogue labelling system used by Royale Studios was sometimes based on the model's names (for example EAM = Earl Maynard) and sometimes based on the title of the 'storyette' (e.g. NAGA = Navy Gash). I suspect this one, 'EX2 FJSS', is a combination of the two.

The sailor who took my fancy in this set appears in another Royale Studio catalogue as 'JOS', he is shown in the same uniform and complete with the drum, see below.

Royale Studio - JOS - John Skilling?

This is another great 'shorts' picture, showing off the model's trim physique very well. I only wish I could lay hands on a decent copy of it! Cross-referencing the catalogue ID to other pictures in my collection I believe the model's name is John Skilling.The other model is a Royale stalwart, Fred Collins 'FRC' in the picture below

Fred seems to be one of those models who get bigger as they undress, no wonder Royal wanted him to shoehorn his backside into their shorts and other gear! These two must have been great together. So it looks as if the FJ in FJSS comes from the model names. I'll talk about the 'SS' bit in my next post, it leads my little investigation off in another direction altogether! There will be a little break before that as I'm off on my annual holiday until October.

For earlier articles in this series click on the GIU/Royale label below

Royale Studios 17 - Two Mysteries Solved - Part 2

2011-09-17T09:53:00.004+01:00

Royale Studios - Catalogue Page 'EX2 FJSS'

The Catalogue Page mentioned in my previous post is shown above. I don't know if it has an official name but I call it 'The Drum'. You can see the belting over the drum picture at No 19.

The picture shown at No 15 is one I used previously in my first group of posts about Royale/GIU, namely in the Guys in Uniform post No 10 where I wrongly attributed it to that studio. The picture came to me with no identifying information and after much thought I guessed at GIU based on the picture quality and the 'through the legs' imagery which I knew GIU used. I was wrong and I'm glad to set the record straight now.

Sailor Confronted - Royale Studio

I love this picture, so you can imagine my delight to find a companion piece in the catalogue with the characters reversed - No 14.

In my next post I'll talk about the strange catalogue ID and the models before going through the set in more detail with some better images.

Royale Studios 17 - Two Mysteries Solved - Part 1

2011-09-15T17:31:00.003+01:00

Royale Studios - Military CP

This picture by Royale Studios will be quite familiar to Royale enthusiasts and frequently crops up in spanking collections. It's a striking image with a couple of strapping men (nice thighs!) and all the usual Royale paraphenalia. The use of the military drum adds a touch of originality and makes you wonder what's actually going on here? But I have never been able to link this photo with other Royale stuff - until recently when a member of the M_M Spanking Group shared an old Royale catalogue giving the whole set of 21 pictures. This discovery also provided the solution to another conundrum which I had mentioned in one of my earlier Royale articles. I will reveal all in my next post!

For earlier articles in this series click on the GIU/Royale label below

Mitchells A-Z of Fetish Artists - My Favourite 'O'

2011-09-10T09:55:00.002+01:00

It is my custom to select a favourite for each letter based on the criteria of Sensuality of style, Fetish Content and Artistic Technique. There are really only four contenders here with a relavant 'body of work', namely Okawa, Olaf, Osamu and Osze. It's one of the less difficult choices for me.

Olaf and Okawa are tops for technique, but I prefer Okawa's less photographic style. For fetish content you can take your pick from Okawa, Osamu and Osze. Osze's dark story lines get a special mention here. But for sensuality of style, Okawa for me is a clear winner with a very 'restrained' and attractive style.

Overall my choice has to be Okawa.

Okawa - Tethered Young Captive

This final example speaks for itself, a glorious evocation of a young male, well muscled with silky skin. I love the fuzzy treatment of his hair contrasting to the firm solidity of the flesh. His arms are tightly bound to his body in an intricate but asthetically pleasing harness and the coarse hairyness of the rope is superbly captured. Tethered to a tree and exposed to the elements, he wearily awaits his captor's wishes.

Okawa is one of the 'Greats' of gay fetish art.

For more articles in this series click on the A-Z label below.

Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Otokono

2011-09-08T08:31:00.003+01:00

Otokono (also known as Bo) is the last of my 'O's. Fetish is a bit of a sideline for him but I thought these pictures of robotic assailants are interesting. They form part of a group in which some of the images are fanciful 'toys' entirely under the control of their lustful users but they are wearing wristbands which hint at the possibility of restraint. In other pictures that restraint is explicit, the robots are in control.

Otokono - Chained for Pleasuring

It's no surprise to see 'big' men from a Japanese artist and there's a slight family resemblance to Tagame's men but without the body hair. The man struggles with his chains, sweat pouring from his body and forming pools at his feet. It's not clear if he is succumbing to his sensuality or trying to escape from the probing of his body, but he clearly doesn't have access to the 'off' switch. Bo's command of anatomy shows through the cartoony style and it's nice to see the robot attachments detailed so carefully.

Otokono - Held Tight

The second image is less ambiguous. The victim's struggle in the firm grip of the machine is even more convincing here but you can see he has the remote control in his hand. Or perhaps that is for the television, this robot has a camera record the penetration in close up. I have no idea what the object in his mouth is or why it is so complex and organic-looking.

Otokono has a big site with lots of examples of his work at Bo's Gallery

For more articles in this series click on the A-Z label below.

Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Osze

2011-09-04T17:14:00.003+01:00

Osze has an easily recognised style and has been widely published in the commercial press - for example in the 'Meatmen' series of comic anthologies. He always draws big, muscular men like the engineer depicted in 'The Basement' title page below.

Osze - The Basement

This is a raunchy picture which captures young masculinity very well and I like it, not least for the cock-hugging dungarees. The subject's facial features (e.g. nose and mouth) are strangely undersized whereas the arm and body muscles (and other equipment of course!) are highly exaggerated. These are perfectly legitimate artistic techniques, but there's a hardness about the muscle shadowing that to me seems to somehow obscure the sensuality and shape of the body. The artist Cavelo also does this and I struggle with his work too.

Osze - Chandelier 1

In this Chandelier torture above Osze captures the drama of the situation, the victim's indignity and his pain amazingly well. The eye is drawn immediately to the 'attached' end of the slanting rope which forms one corner of a classic triangle shape and this composition creates a visual 'upwards' signal too. I find it fascinating how the detail of the chandelier is lovingly, precisely crafted in this picture - in contrast to the rather casual treatment of the figure in the background. The mechanics of directing the dripping candle wax onto it's target appear to defy gravity but Osze neatly introduces a separate slanting background wall to deceive the eye.

Osze - Chandelier 2

The second example is equally Gothic in concept. The threat from the vicious-looking 'Pit and the Pendulum' axe is probably less severe than it first appears (as long as that rope holds out!) The blindfolded victim can't actually see it of course, but it forms part of an interesting use of slanting lines, including also a jet of recycled beer, all angled towards the captive at the focus of the composition, emphasising his helpless isolation.

These two pictures give a sense of the intensity in his comic stories, the muscle men end up having sex which is raunchy and sometimes brutal. They are totally engrossing once you get into them. It's a bit like watching humanoid beasts rutting and he captures an earthy lustfulness you won't find in most porn films.

There is an entry for Osze at Tom of Finland Foundation but the link doesn't seem to work. Googling 'Osze gay artist' turns up examples posted on other blogs although some I looked at were corrupted as well. Information from readers welcome

For more articles in this series click on the A-Z label below.

Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Osamu

2011-08-09T08:45:00.006+01:00

Osamu's work is an uncompromising mixture of sex and domination embellished with magnificent cocks and agonised expressions of captive victims. Despite his Japanese name the faces of his protagonists, particularly the captives, are western in character as in the first example which is possibly his best known image.

Osamu - Bondage Fantasy

I have called this 'bondage fantasy' because it seems to explore ideas of captivity and domination in a fairly abstract way without an identifiable setting or narrative. The captive's youthful swirl of blond hair seems curiously at odds with his chunky, mature build but Osamu's pictures always show adult males.

Osamu - POW abuse

The scenarios are often military in nature, with uniforms suggesting the torture of POW's from WW2 and further back in history. The activities depicted don't go beyond sexual abuse, but the staves and whips wielded by the attackers offer ample explanation for the unmistakeable pain in the victim's face.

Pulp Fiction Image - POW atrocity
In the aftermath of the second world war, memories of the atrocities committed and humiliations heaped on enemies were perpetuated for many years by popular fiction and films in highly stereotypical form, as in the pulp fiction image shown above (not by Osamu). My readers will not miss the erotic element in this picture and Osamu's images from the same period seem to reclaim the stereotype and defiantly celebrate it. I think fetish enthusiasts will intuitively recognise the psychology at work here, even if we couldn't explain it!

Osamu - POW abused 2

It's the bondage element that is the central appeal of these pictures and Osamu has a knack for making the captivity look convincing, loaded with danger and humiliation for the struggling victim. The water colour based technique speaks for itself, it is accomplished (despite some anatomical oddities!) and typical of it's time.

I don't have a link for Osamu but would welcome information from readers, the archives of GMBA (current link in sidebar) are always worth a look. Good sources for Gay Fetish Asian Art in particular are Jeunes and Tagame. For those interested in comic depictions of POW scenes I recommend a visit to Aquadude's fascinating archives.

For more articles in this series click on the A-Z label below.

Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Orez

2011-07-23T09:20:00.002+01:00

I only have one picture by Orez in my collection but I'm sure he must have produced more, it's quite apparent that he has a well developed technique.

This image has a number of memorable erotic motifs of which the most obvious is the 'Beauty and the Beast' theme (or perhaps it should be youth and age?) The older, kneeling man is a veritable satyr seemingly covered in hair and the embodiment of lust. The portrayal of his captive does not suggest innocence either, the pugnacious face, nipple ring and clumpy boots all suggest he is an tough, experienced hand - but possibly not quite prepared for this ordeal.

Orez - Tree Stump
A powerful sense of threat is produced by the caveman-style, spiked club and the array of various sharp-edged tools scattered around. Orez pushes the menace right to the edge without quite resorting to Greasetank-style explicitness. The bondange depicted is refreshingly uncomplicated, but still chillingly effective - the young man's manhood is uncompromisingly secured to the flat top of a symbolically saw-off tree-stump. Tom of Finland also employed lumberjack images involving sawn off trees but as far as I can recall he never made this freudian association (although he certainly flirts with the threat of mutilation in later work).

I generally prefer lusher, prettier styles but this spiky, pen and ink technique adds a sense of uncontrolled, spontaneous horror to the image through association with the historic depictions of genuine atrocities and punishments - by Goya for example.

I don't have a link for Orez but would welcome more information from readers

For more articles in this series click on the A-Z label below.

Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Olaf

2011-06-24T15:15:00.004+01:00

Olaf was a prominent illustrator for magazines like Drummer in the 80's and his work is much admired for it's technical skill and detail, typified by the Inquisitive Cop picture below.

Olaf - Inquisitive Cop (my title)

There's an element of tribute to Tom of Finland here, in the cop's face for example. The amazing detail in the tweaking hand suggests a photographic reference which is legitimate in my view as long as there is 'added value' by the artist.

Olaf - Slave's Gambit

Many of his pictures hint at fetish subjects without depicting anything very specific, no doubt a consequence of commercial constraints. The enema example here is an exception and it makes a dramatic statement. Technically there's quite a contrast between this picture and the previous example with somewhat muddy detail in the mid-section. It almost looks as though two different poses have been 'married' together. I must say, however, that the treatment of the bound hands is excellent.

Olaf - Devils 3

The final example is completely different, one of a series in which two devils ravish a man in a churchyard. To me this is a glimpse of the real Olaf, full of spontenaity and excitement, and unashamedly glorying in lust and eroticism. The blobby shaped background is a bit odd but in this picture technical correctness simply doesn't matter, it expresses it's subject with great panache and life, qualities which are rather less apparent in his 'better' art.

I don't know of a specific site for Olaf.

There are small exhibitions of his work at Erotic Art Collection and at Gay Erotic Art Links

You can also get a book of his work - just Google 'Olaf Gay Artist'.

For more articles in this series click on the A-Z label below.

Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Okawa

2011-06-17T13:19:00.005+01:00

I cannot talk about Okawa's art without observing that it is unmistakeably Japanese. The delicacy of style and colouring has some kinship to modern day Kimura, but unlike that artist there is absolutely no westernisation of the faces, or the clothing (Okawa often uses traditional loincloths and headbands) or the settings, which feature pine trees and even cherry blossom!

Okawa 031 Snowbound (N.B. all titles are mine)

From a fetish point of view the most interesting manifestation of these influences are the pictures where the captive is left outside exposed to the elements - rain, snow, the sea etc. I can't think of any other artist who has explored this theme so interestingly. Of course depicting water in it's various forms presents technical challenges but Okawa acquits himself well.

Okawa 04 Shipbound

There is one exception to the 'Westernisation' discussion , at one point in his career Okawa seems to have been influenced by Tom of Finland whose bikers in leather jackets (above) and tight jeans with turn-ups start to appear in the supporting cast. Okawa captives are transplanted into Tom-like settings and even the drawing style echoes Tom. I'm cautious about the authenticity of these drawings but it's an interesting group.

Okawa 51L Treetied

Generally speaking Okawa's captives are not naked, in accordance with the mores of the time, but he usually skillfully fills the boy's loincloths with erotic bulges, sometimes accentuated and enhanced by carefully placed bindings (see other pictures in this article).

The example of frontal nudity above is almost unique in my collection (a few other images I have appear to have been censored) and the stretched, beautifully depicted genitals show what we have missed out on. The suspended victim and his beating with a stave are typical Okawa themes and leave us wondering if this is austere family discipline, military - or something more sinister. Okawa doesn't shrink from violence and some pictures show the bloody aftermath, but it's not gory.

Many of his young men (as here) are characterised with soft, slightly fleshy, almost feminine faces and while this is absolutely authentic, for me personally it is less erotically appealing than, say, Hasegawa's leaner look or Tagame's brutal looking protagonists, which stand at the other end of the facial spectrum. In this picture the cropped hair helps and I must admit, that I do like fleshiness in the body styling. I shouldn't leave this picture without pointing out the graceful leg lines and well-drawn feet.

Okawa 05b Crucified

The same characteristics can be seen in the 'crucifixion' image. In this picture the skillful use of lighting and perspective stand out, but don't miss the complex rope patterns and securing nuts which are clearly and convincingly captured. I love the hairy legs too. The triangular wedge between the victims legs is perhaps an over-enthusiastic elaboration. It produces a nice division of the testicles but I suspect the victim is too well supported to feel it's full divisive effect.

Okawa 31L - Tied and Beaten

At the end of the day Okawa is a bondage artist and the final image exemplifies this. Even today, in an era awash with male bondage imagery, it is simply stunning in it's quality, beauty and impact. The rope tethering the victim to a nearby tree or post greatly increases the psychological effect.

Okawa is one of the great fetish artists.

I don't have a link for Okawa - even Jeunes Asian Art doesn't cover him - but I believe there are books available and Google will throw up more examples.

For more articles in this series click on the A-Z label below.

Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Oda

2011-06-07T09:14:00.004+01:00

Oda Toshimi is one of those artists known for a particular striking image, or in his case a set of images, depicting the punishment of a captured Japanese soldier during the Sino-Japanese war. The captive is subjected to a variety of tortures while onlookers jeer and laugh.

Oda - Captive slung on a pole

I picked this example, partly for the unusual cigarette torture, but also because of the depiction of captive transportation. There is something highly erotic about a tied man being carried off from the scene of his capture to another place where he can expect to be abused. The usual technique is for the hunky captor to sling his acquisition over his shoulder, caveman style. This method, suspended from a pole carried between two men, is favoured for a heavy or struggling victim and is much beloved of Tarzan scenarios, but otherwise quite unusual. It suggests the victim is prized and/or dangerous, (if not necessarily destined for the stewpot!)

The style of the pictures with their soft colours and flattened perspective is distinctive, but I can't see any clear cut link to traditional Oriental art. The characterful faces and explicitly detailed tortures make the images memorable. They are often put forward as example of classic, post war (WW2) Japanese erotic art. However, there are some interesting features.

The naked captive is muscular and handsome, but leaving aside the generous erection which he maintains thoughout his ordeal, the youthful, innocent way he is depicted makes him seem almost like a martyr in the context of the drawing. His tormentors include women and all their faces are caricatured in a Hogarthian way to show their hatred of the captive and amusement over his fate. However, they are all fully dressed in heavy clothes and there is not the slightest hint of sexuality in the way they are depicted, despite being engaged in genital tortures. Their interest in the victim is limited to jeering his erection and punishing it.

It almost lends a flavour of historical realism to the picture with a political jab at the barbarian Chinese thrown in for good measure. Perhaps it's only a sophisticated form of masochism where the victim is not even desired by his torturers. It has to be judged by the standards of it's era, which I am not qualified to do. Certainly the representation doesn't stand in the way of enjoyment for fetish enthusiasts.

I don't have a link but you can find a couple of articles about Oda via Google

For more articles in this series click on the A-Z label below.

Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists

2011-05-29T17:05:00.004+01:00

The letter 'O' gives us a small but select band of fetish artists to make up for the break since 'N' including Okawa, Osamu and Osze. I will launch the new letter with a picture by Owsley a study of two sailors kissing which isn't really fetishistic at all (unless you count naval uniforms!) but is a really attractive and erotic image. I believe the title is 'The Lottery'.

It is ostensibly a straight-forward romantic picture that could easily be created in photographic format, but if you study the detailing, it lifts it into a different realm and is a great example of the special capabilities of hand drawn art.

Dennis Owsley - The Lottery

The picture has two focal points, the kissing heads and the hand grasping the bulge, cleverly making it romantic and erotic at the same time. These areas are portrayed in ways to match these moods. Thus the sailor's eyelashes are almost feminine, the neck and jaw lines of his friend are simple sensuous sweeps crossed by the dotted curves of his dog-tag chains (which by themselves succeed in giving 3D shape and depth). The groping hand, in contrast, is uncompromisingly detailed, chunky and masculine with fingers spread wide suggesting improbable, but very sexy bulk between his buddy's legs. The outlines of the buttocks and detailing of the buttoned flap contribute greatly to the sexiness of this area suggesting other destinations for the hand to explore.

There is more technical interest in the soft, pointillist detailing of the torso (causing it to recede) compared with the sharp almost plastic flicks of the creases radiating from the knees in the foreground. I find the open trouser leg with a hint of hemlines and glimpse of sock disappearing into the darkness completely fascinating.

I'm afraid I don't have a link for Owsley, but as usual I'd welcome contributions from those who do.

For other articles in this series click on the A-Z label below

Chased

2011-05-16T07:30:00.007+01:00

I am a bit of a fan of Chase Hostler, he is lucky enough to have a face that looks both cute and masculine and also posseses a chunky body that has developed, with training, into sensuous plumped up (dare I say voluptuous?) curves without looking musclebound. He obviously works hard at it, but others less gifted by nature might labour endlessly at the gym and never achieve this look.

Chase Hostler tied up in swimming trunks

Chase's self confessed narcism (see his blog) is rather less appealing (if true), so I like these swim bondage images by Aaron Corbett, which appear to be putting the young man firmly in his place (as per the mitchmen motto!). The jazzy swimming trunks and sun visor suggest a flashy, style-conscious persona in need of a dose of reining in and realism! Swimming trunks and bondage always go well together anyway (see my older posts for more examples), for me there's a sense of vulnerability and reality that isn't there with underwear bondage.

The rope used on Chase is thick and strong-looking and applying it to his upper body nicely highlights it's bulk and curvature. This halter style rope harness is body enhancing but can also be used to anchor the hands higher up behind the the back, making it harder for the captive to wriggle them free. The lower body arrangement is more decorative!

If you like this model visit Chase Hostlers Blog which has lots of nice pictures (I love the cowboy gardener!) and gives you some insight into his personality and life.

Squaddie Steve

2011-05-07T18:39:00.003+01:00

Squaddie Steve by Mitchell

Squaddie Steve is the hero of my latest story at the mitchmen yahoo! group. He is a soldier stripper who runs into unexpected problems on a hen night gig.

The original picture that inspired this story goes a long way back but I became so taken with Steve and his adventures that I have produced a number of new pictures for the story, including the one above. This one threatens to run and run!

You can see more of Steve at the Yahoo! group
(link in side bar)

New Royale Series

2011-04-14T18:43:00.006+01:00

Royale Studios - Soaking a Sailor

I did a survey of the Royale Studios output last year, but I have never seen this set before. A sailor is abducted by his comrades and subjected to various punishments. This rarity has been uncovered by Sailor Al at SailorUniforms Blog and you can see much of the set posted there. Have a look! Apparently Royale often wetted the model's trousers to get a clingy fit. The T-shirts showcase some muscular arms too. This set features lots of bondage but the real interest is the Sailors themselves.

I have now fully implemented the GIU/Royale label linking to all my articles about Royale and Guys in Uniform Studios.

Warriors - 4

2011-04-12T17:31:00.004+01:00

Jay Diers - Spartans

Continuing with the warriors theme, this picture is part of a group by Jay Diers, also reviewed at Beautiful Mag (Link = Spartans). Despite the grimace, there's not a lot of tension in the pose but it's nice to see the 'male overpowering male' scenario acted out with an erotic flavour. The odd looking helmet is quite sinister but the Spartan association ain't what it used to be since Hollywood took an interest.

Warriors in Bondage 3

2011-03-27T21:14:00.003+01:00

Warriors in Bondage
Roger and Harry are taken into captivity.
My fantasy adaptation progresses with this simple combination of art and photography.
I hope Simon will forgive my liberties with his images from Hotsnapz

Warriors in Bondage 2

2011-03-22T09:47:00.005Z

Continuing with the theme of fantasy warriors in bondage,
I found these men at Simon Barnes' photography site Hopsnapz

Roger Snipes by Simon Barnes
Roger Snipes' appearance has many qualities appropriate to a fantasy warrior including a muscular body and stern facial expression. This pose also suggests nobility and humility.

Thankfully, (from my point of view) there are no long flowing tresses of hair and Simon has not given him furry underwear (I'll overlook the leggings!) I must say, if the weather is good enough to run around half naked (and bare foot!) on the battlefield I can't see why a warrior would need to wear fluffy animal skins evolved for colder climates!

Harry by Simon Barnes

'Harry' somehow cuts a more modern look thanks mainly to his tidy short hair. This style is quite popular in Hollywood films for well connected Romans and their Generals. Did barbarians have hair cuts too? Probably, but perhaps not as precisely coiffeured as this!
For authenticity I'll settle for the muscles, sweat and blood.

Harry's a bit young for the warrior role depicted in my previous post but I can imagine him following Roger into battle to meet their fates.

You can see more of Harry and Roger at Hotsnapz
Simon's photography is worth looking at, it has a bit of unexpected edge sometimes.

Warrior in Bondage

2011-03-16T20:24:00.004Z

This picture turned up in my posts recently and is one of my current favourites. I love the concept of the warrior tamed. The bizarre, forked restraining device has an erotic impact which I can't explain. It looks like an image from fantasy fiction which isn't my normal fare but I like this.

The humiliation factor in this image is nicely judged, not over the top but very real. The nudity is understated but still obvious. The hands crossed in front rather than behind suggest forced submission as opposed to the need for restraint of the angry captive. They also give a sense of embarassed modesty. The mature, muscular body (although it's somewhat at variance with the glimpse of youthful jaw) suggests to us that he is a captive of some substance, an experienced, dangerous warrior bought to heel. A worthy conquest.

Sorry I've no information on the artist.

Vest Buddies

2011-03-07T09:24:00.004Z

I've been doing some 'vest' items on my main blog to keep things going along while home commitments continue to monopolise my attention. I stumbled across this one while doing a picture tidying exercise. I do find tight vests on a well muscled chest powerfully erotic and the combination here with jeans and large belt buckles here only serves to add to the sexy mix!
I don't find either of these men particularly attractive but as a pair they project a powerful sense of shared male-ness.

Ross Watson

2011-02-12T08:25:00.004Z

Ross Watson - Untitled

Ross Watson's series of pictures combining old masters and photographs of young men is a technically interesting for the skill with which he blends colours, textures and the models poses into a seamless composition. The choice of Francoise Sagat to play the crucifixion victim (above) is apt given that model's fascination with the bizarre. Transplanting a person you feel you know into a representation of a historical drama which you also recognise gives this image a frisson of unreality and fetishistic danger which is entirely appropriate for this blog.

Ross Watson - Untitled
This example is less successful because the adaptation doesn't go with the flow of the original picture. The man emerging from the sea has a delightful slender torso (which is why I selected it) but he isn't connecting with the other characters and I can't work out why he's wading along with his arms over his head like that, unless he's sleep walking.

Most of the images in this series end up looking surrealist rather than staying true to the original but serve to illustrate that the gulf between that movement and the old masters is less than one might suppose. I have posted another example on my mitchmen2 blog

You can also find more examples of this work at Beautiful together with a gushing review which is a work of art in itself!