An uncircumcised dark-skinned man lays on his side in a velvety space. His hands are held sharply behind his back, and a lock of tightly dreadlocked hair crosses his forehead.
The tiny watermark on this stunning photograph reads J. Isobel De Lisle Photogaphy, so I think that’s the source of the image, although I’m not certain. The picture was sent in by cand86, who writes with such succinct thoroughness I don’t know what else I can add.
I stumbled over this and thought it quite gorgeous; I love the angle, I love the twist of his arms and that the focus isn’t on the means of bondage, and of course his face is beautiful and open—one of those “strength in bondage” shots I love so on this site.
I love this image. The model is breathtaking and the talent of the photographer is plainly obvious. The photograph is artistic and arousing and thought-provoking all at once. Most interesting of all is, as cand86 points out, that the focus isn’t on equipment, but solely on the male form.
How one presents information is often just as important as what that information is (if not more so, in some circumstances). This is why imagery is so important for sighted people and why it constitutes a massive proportion of society’s cultural constructions. The visual monopoly of the male gaze in mainstream culture really makes a difference—in everything.
Far from being immune, subcultures like many sex-positive and otherwise diverse groups actually showcase a microcosm of the mainstream stranglehold on what you’re allowed to look at: only women. However, as Filament Magazine editor Suraya Singh said on Kink On Tap episode 18:
One thing I find with photographing men is that the more you do it, the more beautiful you see the male body as. The more you look at the male body, the more potential you see in it. […] The reason, I think, why people believe that women are naturally more beautiful is because that’s what we see all the time and we’re just so used to thinking through that lens.
(Skip to 1 hour, 18 minutes and 55 seconds for the quote.)
Update: I received a supportive note from the photographer and thought it would be nice to share it:
Hi! I’m J. Isobel De Lisle. Just found that you featured one of my photos on your page. Have to say, of all the random blogs my stuff seems to be ending up on today, I really love yours. Such a lovely, well thought out write up on one of my personal favorite photographs I’ve taken. Keep rocking!
Especially considering how much criticism is directed at me personally, and this site in particular, I feel immensely grateful when artists or photographers whose work I like take the time to write me with encouraging remarks. It means more than you know. Thank you for creating imagery like this, J. Isobel De Lisle, and thank you for writing me.