Dian Hanson; Bob Mizer
Koln: Taschen, 2016.

“From a quarter million male nudes, editor Dian Hanson selects the best physique photography from Bob Mizer, founder of Physique Pictorial, America’s first indisputably gay magazine. Printed from the original 4 x 5 negatives for utmost clarity, this two-volume, seriously strapping lineup includes movie and TV stars Nick Adams, Glenn Corbett, and Ed Fury. An hour-long DVD is also included, containing 18 films made by Bob Mizer between 1954 and 1968, in black and white and color, all edited specifically for this book. They range from simple posing routines by bodybuilding stars Keith Stephan and AMG favorites Forrester Millard, John Davidson, and Steve Buono, to sword and sandal star Ed Fury’s first physique film, to gladiator extravaganzas, wrestling adventures, crime dramas, and—a Bob specialty—humorous morality tales, starring Jim Paris, John Tristram, Monte Hanson, and other models featured in the book. Mizer’s take on Dr. Frankenstein’s monster, in posing straps, is a standout.” (publisher’s blurb)

Ben Robertson
Sydney: Blue Books / Studio Magazines, 2004.

A special issue of Blue focussing on leather and SM. (not only) Blue was a glossy coffee table art magazine produced between 1995 and 2007 by Studio Magazines in Sydney, who also published the successful photography magazine, Black+White. “Blue’s agenda is to showcase artists whose work is an authentic representation of gay relationships, gay lifestyles and gay issues” (Blue’s editorial statement) and it did so in a large format filled with nude and semi nude art photography. The premiere issue featured William Yang, Tom Bianchi, Pierre et Gilles, Edmund White, Fiona McGregor, and Ian Roberts, and over its 12 year history featured work from top photographers and features on artists and celebrities including Robert Mapplethorpe, Leigh Bowery, Boy George, Erwin Olaf, k.d. lang, Bruce of LA, Dennis Rodman, Elton John, John Waters, Karl Lagerfield, Jeffrey Smart, Yukio Mishima, Paul Cadmas, William S. Burroughs, George Platt Lynes, Gilbert and George, Rupert Everett, Uma Thurman, Wilhelm von Gloeden and countless others.

Ben Robertson
Sydney: Blue Books / Studio Magazines, 2004.

A special issue of Blue focussing the male figure at the beach. (not only) Blue was a glossy coffee table art magazine produced between 1995 and 2007 by Studio Magazines in Sydney, who also published the successful photography magazine, Black+White. “Blue’s agenda is to showcase artists whose work is an authentic representation of gay relationships, gay lifestyles and gay issues” (Blue’s editorial statement) and it did so in a large format filled with nude and semi nude art photography. The premiere issue featured William Yang, Tom Bianchi, Pierre et Gilles, Edmund White, Fiona McGregor, and Ian Roberts, and over its 12 year history featured work from top photographers and features on artists and celebrities including Robert Mapplethorpe, Leigh Bowery, Boy George, Erwin Olaf, k.d. lang, Bruce of LA, Dennis Rodman, Elton John, John Waters, Karl Lagerfield, Jeffrey Smart, Yukio Mishima, Paul Cadmas, William S. Burroughs, George Platt Lynes, Gilbert and George, Rupert Everett, Uma Thurman, Wilhelm von Gloeden and countless others.

Marcello Grand
Sydney: Studio Magazines, 2003.

The fourth instalment of the Blue magazine special issues focusing on masculine beauty through the lenses of 50 photographers who are interpreting the theme of athletic prowess and bodily strength. (not only) Blue was a glossy coffee table art magazine produced between 1995 and 2007 by Studio Magazines in Sydney, who also published the successful photography magazine, Black+White. “Blue’s agenda is to showcase artists whose work is an authentic representation of gay relationships, gay lifestyles and gay issues” (Blue’s editorial statement) and it did so in a large format filled with nude and semi nude art photography. The premiere issue featured William Yang, Tom Bianchi, Pierre et Gilles, Edmund White, Fiona McGregor, and Ian Roberts, and over its 12 year history featured work from top photographers and features on artists and celebrities including Robert Mapplethorpe, Leigh Bowery, Boy George, Erwin Olaf, k.d. lang, Bruce of LA, Dennis Rodman, Elton John, John Waters, Karl Lagerfield, Jeffrey Smart, Yukio Mishima, Paul Cadmas, William S. Burroughs, George Platt Lynes, Gilbert and George, Rupert Everett, Uma Thurman, Wilhelm von Gloeden and countless others.