Clothing is not an option, and bare-naked skin rules the day! Whether they are in the shower, in the pool or in the sea – Dylan Rosser’s men have two things in common: They are always as sexy as can be – and they are always wet. Hence the title of his newest photobook: “Wet” The photographer has been shooting the male nude for almost two decades and has worked with beautiful men from all around the globe. Based mainly in Ibiza (Balearic Islands), he often works in other locations like NYC, Paris, Los Angeles, Cape Town, Bali, Sydney. This photo book includes several never-before-seen images taken in the Mediterranean Sea, pools in Palm Springs and Los Angeles, showers all over the world, as well as some studio work. Since Dylan never works with clothing, here instead he uses water, almost like a fabric, washing over the body. “Wet” is a careful selection of tantalizing images showing a mix of full frontal nudes (flaccid and erect), striking portraits, and a close-up focus on skin, water and texture.
Originally from South Africa but based in London for over 10 years, Dylan Rosser is considered one of the best male nude photographers. As Bruno Gmünder recently released his fourth photo album, NAKED, Dylan answered our questions.
How did you get into photography? It started as a hobby I pursued in my spare time. Then a friend asked me to take photos of him for his dating site profile (Gaydar), and other similar requests followed, which eventually led me to photographing escorts for their magazine advertisements. Everything happened gradually, both my apprenticeship and the work itself. Do you remember the first nude photo you took? Not exactly, but I think it was on vacation in Cape Town. I saw an advertisement for a model offering his services to photographers and contacted him to test the potential of my camera. At the time, it was a film camera, and I probably still have the negatives somewhere in my studio.
I read somewhere that you started out as a graphic designer. Do you think this experience helped you with the composition of your photos? Definitely. For me, design means creating a logo, page, or advertisement that's pleasing to the eye, well-balanced, and sophisticated. And that's exactly what I try to bring to my photographic style.
After X-posed, Red, and 100, you're back with Naked, a fourth album of photos (which are superb, I might add). Even though the title seems to leave nothing to the imagination, how does it differ from your other albums? Much of my work published in the first three albums was taken in my small studio, with a minimalist and simple background. The challenge posed by small spaces is interesting, and it forces me to work on composition even more, but over time, it becomes a constraint. In a limited space, it's difficult to step back far enough to photograph the model's full body. With this new book, I allowed myself a wider variety of locations and didn't limit myself to my studio. I used, for example, the full potential of gigantic warehouses and extravagantly decorated hotels. Otherwise, Naked still has what characterized my other photo books, that is, very handsome men without any clothes and quite a bit of frontal nudity...
How do you select your models? I use model networking sites (like Model Mayhem), Facebook, word of mouth, and I directly approach certain guys I think have what it takes. But since it's a lot to ask a model to pose completely nude, my offers are often turned down. Are there any models you work with often or for a long time? Unless I come up with a completely different concept, I prefer not to photograph the same models more than once. Sometimes, after a studio shoot, I ask a model to photograph them outdoors, or after working with me on another type of project, a model calls me back to say they're okay with full-body nude photos.
Once a model becomes my friend, I prefer not to work with them again for nude photos. I know it may seem strange, but it's easier for me to work with a completely nude stranger than with a completely nude friend.
In general, is working with porn stars different from working with other types of models? Generally, porn stars are much more exhibitionistic, which is good for this type of photography. Models who enjoy playing with the camera and who know their bodies well are more likely to achieve better results.
You've worked with a huge number of models. From what memory, what was the most memorable or fun encounter you had during a photoshoot? I was on vacation and met a very attractive model one night at a bar. My friend convinced him to come by the next day to take some photos. He had a stunning body and agreed to do nude photos, but not full-frontal ones. The next morning, he called me to tell me he'd been partying all night and had a permanent erection. I was convinced he was going to cancel our appointment and go to the hospital immediately. But no, he just wanted to meet earlier for the photoshoot and then go to the hospital. So, throughout the entire photoshoot, I had this gorgeous model in front of me, constantly erect, striking different poses to hide his enormous erection. We took pictures in our swimsuits, and his dick kept wanting to stick out of one side or the other. It was pretty funny. It took a lot of photoshoots later to cover it up. Let's just say it was a pretty surprising morning.
Do you have a favorite body part that you enjoy photographing? There are several parts of the body that interest me: the penis, obviously, but also the torso, abs, and face. Emotion is most often conveyed through the gaze.
For Dylan Rosser, is beauty synonymous with physical perfection? I think they're two different things. Physical perfection, for me, is a big cock, six-pack abs, a V-shaped torso, and exaggerated proportions reminiscent of comic book superheroes. True beauty doesn't require all of that and is more about softness and vulnerability. For me, you need flaws to be beautiful.
- Publisher : Bruno Gmuender
- Publication date : September 1, 2017
- Language : English
- Print length : 112 pages
- ISBN-10 : 3959853130
- ISBN-13 : 978-3959853132
- Item Weight : 9.6 ounces
- Reading age : 18 years and up
- Dimensions : 10 x 0.75 x 13.25 inches