Leather

“Make a fist… good. Now flex the arm and turn your head," Jim instructed from behind the camera. "Turn your head to the side and look down at your bicep.”

Rex held the pose, leather cap tilted low as he studied the curve of his own arm. The vest creaked softly as his chest expanded with the flex.

Beneath him, Tommy moved quietly into position.

Jim adjusted the focus. “Perfect. Stay with it. Tommy’s just getting you ready for the next shot.”

Rex was lightheaded as his blood rushed south. He stiffened his thighs to maintain balance, but kept his eyes fixed on the muscle, jaw tight, trying to concentrate on the burn in his arm instead of what Tommy was doing to him just below the frame.

Jim grinned slightly 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.

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 2 - Photo by Jim French (3 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)

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.