Leather

“Make a fist… good. Turn your head—look at the bicep,” Jim said.

Rex held it, studying the flex as the leather creaked.

“Perfect. Stay with it,” Jim added. “Tommy’s just setting you up.”

Rex stiffened slightly, focusing harder on the burn in his arm.

Jim smiled behind the lens. “I love working with professionals.”

Image 1 - Rex Morgan

Leather is one of the most layered symbols in vintage physique photography. It echoes many masculine worlds at once: the cowboy with his boots and chaps, the cop with polished gloves and dark sunglasses, the pilot in a flight jacket, the biker roaring down the highway with leather tassels whipping in the wind. Over time it also became deeply tied to BDSM and gay leather culture, where entire bars and wardrobes grew up around the look.

Image 2 - Photo by Jim French (Gene Winchester (thank you for the ID, Boz Bochner;) in the middle and 2 unknown models in leather)

Image 3 - Bosch Wagner (close-up in leather chaps)

Image 4 - Unknown Models (playing pool)

Image 5 - Hog Chopper (on a motorcycle)

Image 6 - Nick Battle (in leather chaps)

Image 7 - Lester Branch (in leather jacket)

Image 8 - Photo by Bruce Bellas (unknown model in leather)

Image 9 - Josh Kincaid (in leather and sunglasses)

Part of the appeal is simply sensual. Leather feels good to wear. It creaks and rubs as the body moves, and it carries that unmistakable smell many people find intoxicating. What fascinates me is how leather sits somewhere between identity and costume—something that, for some men, is a way of life, and for others just what you throw on for a Saturday night at the Eagle… or for a few minutes under the photographer’s lights.

Image 10 - Ledermeister (in leather jacket)

Thoughts?

I have a lot of unknown models in this line-up, so any help with ID's would be appreciated.  Do you have a favorite among this collection?  If so, why?  And your stories are always welcome here.