Smoking

Mico drifts to the window, lighting a cigarette, still coming down from the moment before.

Dan watches him, then reaches for the camera. “Don’t move… that light’s too good.”

He drops down near his feet. “May I?”
Mico meets his eyes and nods—permission granted—Dan gently flops his spent organ to the other side with a quiet thud, framing the shot from below.

“Hold that—right before the drag.”

Mico pauses, easy, satisfied—drifting into the afterglow.

1. Mico Donato aka Cochito (afterglow)

In the UK, they call cigarettes “fags”—a word that lands a little differently for gay men. I can’t help but think of the Marlboro Man as the American counterpoint—smoking as identity. Rugged, cool, a little outside the lines. It was sold as a look, but also lived that way—smoke breaks, asking for a light, instant connection with whoever else was out there in the cold. There’s a whole quiet tribe in it.

2. Ed Bowersox (posing strap and smoke)

3. Ben Pascham - Frederick of Hollywood (class ring and smoke)

4. Dana Sumers (pump and smoke)

That shows up in these images. The cigarette adds just enough—cool, adult, a little defiant—but also oddly human. Sometimes it’s barely there, a small white line between the fingers or a trace of smoke you almost miss. And then there’s that old code: a cigarette in bed, after, saying everything without saying it.

5. Bob Long (a squat and a smoke)

6. Unknown Models (I had mislabeled the model on the left Jim Cassidy) (afterglow II)

7. Unknown Model (afterglow III)

For me, it tips less into erotic and more into something slightly absurd—even funny. Maybe because I’ve never been a smoker. But I recognize something in it too—the pull toward what you’re told not to do, the quiet admission that we’re not perfect. It frames the moment in a way that feels honest.

8. Jack Fontan by GP Lynes (back and smoke)

9. Hog Chopper (leather and smoke)

10. Joe Porcelli (blue stool and smoke)

Feedback?

Anyone have info on the model with Jim Cassidy in #6 or the model in #7?  Any thoughts about smoking in these images in general?  Any memories around smoking to share?  I know Hog Chopper shows up a lot in my posts so far, but I just find him iconic and the quality of his photos stand out to me...sorry not sorry;p