LA photographer, Blake Little, is in London Thursday June 14 to do a book signing for his book 'The Company of Men' at Gay's the Word. Lots of pics of hunky bears in the woods. "Most importantly, Little’s images shatter mainstream stereotypes of homosexuality and underscores that masculinity lies beyond sexuality".
The following Saturday XXL are having a 'Company of Men' party at Pulse, where you can get the real deal. Gay's the Word bookshop is at 66 Marchmont Street, WC1N 1AB and Pulse is at 1 Invicta Plaza, SE1 9UF.
The Company of Men by Blake Little is a photographic exploration that celebrates and updates the traditional archetypes of masculinity. Little’s twist on these various embodiments of virility comes in the fact that all of the subjects of his book are gay.
Photographed over the last seven years, Little’s portraits of these men are unadorned and focus on the individual strength and character of each sitter. Taken as a group, they represent his ideal, a surprising new vision of male beauty that is quietly subversive and powerful. Most importantly, Little’s images shatter mainstream stereotypes of homosexuality and underscores that masculinity lies beyond sexuality.
With these photographs, Blake Little has illuminated a new and seemingly inconspicuous subculture that extends through rural communities, small towns and cities across the country. While each subject appears solitary in their photo, together these men comprise a vast brotherhood that connects them. And while the work captures a social movement that is specific to this time and place, as seen through Little’s camera, the results are timeless.
The Company of Men is Blake Little’s second book and contains 89 full-color plates, with a forward by punk icon and spoken word artist Henry Rollins.
"To get the images he did, Blake had to strike up a conversation through his lens with the men on the other side of his camera. It is the power of that immediacy, understanding and trust which makes the images so striking. Blake was after something, the truth of his pursuit is not lost on the faces of the men in this book, it is in fact the thing that gives them such collective power."
Henry Rollins
Publication: April 2011 Specs: 10.25” x 12.5” • 132 pages • 89 Photographs • Edition of 1,000 • $50
YouTube Video Documentary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XELVxV_Mw30&context=C34d5f94ADOEgsToPDskJWZjdlGasw1CcMpIwFBhPo
Blake Little Photographer: http://www.blakelittle.com/
2374 Creston Drive LA CA 90068 323-270-8161
The Company of Men Website: http://www.companyofmenbook.com/
