But what falls between the covers is much more exciting, and cutting edge. As in Eros, the subjects are all high fashion models, but this time approximately half of them are white European, and the balance are black African.
There's more bare flesh in Men than in Eros, as well, and it's in more imaginative and provocative poses.
Men not only shares Eros's giant oversized format, but climbs one rung on the ladder higher, being a full inch taller. Perhaps the largest format male nudie book ever published.
Men has a similar photo index at the back of the book, but Men not only identifies the subjects but groups them into 29 photo shoots of varying lengths that creates cohesive sub-themes.
The four-photo "Fountain" spread is, perhaps, the most raucous. The un-named model frolicking in the public fountain somewhere in Europe appears to be a gay male incarnation of Diana Ross in her sartorial continental extravaganza, Mahogany. You can almost hear the theme song from the movie soundtrack playing. "Do you know where you're going to? Do you like what life is showing you?"
Then we see him in an inspired headshot, in profile, crystal-clear beads of moisture substituting for his absent crown of hair. Deeply inhale his profile, and then tell me if it doesn't mimic the outline of the bare-naked dome-like head of Il Duce himself, Benito Mussolini.
The all too brief, two-photo spread titled "Paper Factory" dazzles even the most jaded eye. Shimmering light cascades off the strong, subtle body of the subject as if it were droplets of rainforest mist.
I won't venture so far as to imply that this sweaty character has the power to heal all ills, but I am certain that if you laid the limpest penis across his hard, flat, abs, that flaccid member would feel life surging back into its every last infinitesimal corpuscle."Fight Club," with ten plates is the longest, most gritty segment. Although every picture in this shoot has a patina of reality due to the authentic setting and attire, you are always aware that these are sexy models having a lot of fun play-acting. The first picture is the most light-hearted, and my favorite. The boxer challenging an armless mannequin to a bout!
Another contender for best body in Men is the sole subject in a three-photo series called "Pool," although I don't see a swimming pool in sight. We see this marvelous man in several extremely seductive poses that put his musculature on full view, as if he were displaying each and every muscle and tendon in his body for a medical student, or an artist. His entire body is impressive, but I liked his butt the best, not perhaps what some would term a bubble butt, his tail is too well integrated with the rest of his physique for that distinction, but nevertheless a marvel of physical prowess and carnal beauty.
In the first photo we find him on all fours, albeit a very creative and flattering as well as sexual such position, ready for cum what may.
"After Hours III" is a solitary plate of a glorious masculine vision, a macho stud much like Lorenzo Llamas at his peak, emerging from the sea, his wet hair slicked back, his hands clasped behind his neck.Two other superlative photo shoots, "Corsican" and "Men Only IV", present similar musculature attributes.
The first two plates in "Men Only II" are the kind of images that will be permanently seared into your mind no matter how long you live. The first one features four curious young men lined up in front of wall, perhaps after a swim, tugging at their Speedos, pulling them down, sneaking furtive peeks at each other's personal equipment.
The next entrant in the series tops even that winning composition. One of the gang of four now apart from the group, his head tossed back with carefree abandon, an ebullient expression on his handsome face, the very personification of joy, and unbridled delight. Virtually, a non-sexual orgasm.
My favorite subject graces "East Village," a brief, two-man photo spread featuring a pair of heavenly blonds. It's the older, hairier, meatier, fair-haired boy who lights up my life. The duo appear together only in the fourth, and final picture taken atop a downtown building. But the plucky youngster is partially blocking the object of my lust, and I can only hope he takes a flying leap off that building!Men: Photographs by Stefan May is one third of a three part series, including Stefan May's Women and Stefan May's Couples. Men contains 116 duotone photos on 128 pages in a hard binding. Published in 2003 by teNeues in Germany.
The retail price is $45, but you can find it from $25, on up on Overstock.com, and other online book merchants. Men also comes in a special collector's edition in a slip case with a signed photo print. The lovely 2005 Men Calendar, is unfortunately, completely sold out.
www.stefanmay.com www.teneues.de
Your comments are always welcome:ErnieAlderete@charter.net
