Alpha Males [Hardcover]

Henning von Berg (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2007

Henning von Berg first made a name for himself with his photo shoot in Berlin's Reichstag - in 1999 he photographed six naked men, later known as the "Reichstag Rascals", and created an international sensation, catapulting von Berg into the international limelight. He's maintained his penchant for architectural backdrops and bizarre, erotic group scenes to this day, both things that make his images so distinctive. He prefers to work with natural lighting and in unusual settings.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

In the meantime he has published over four hundred images, been represented in countless numbers of international exhibits in museums and galleries. A former engineer, Henning von Berg is a true shooting star in the world of photography. His previous release UNIVERSAL was a co-production with Kingdome 19. Alpha Males is a 160-page, large format coffee-table book and is sure to be a big hit around the world.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Bruno Gmunder Verlag Gmbh; First Edition edition (December 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3861874687
• ISBN-13: 978-3861874683
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,090,487 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Title Says It All, December 29, 2007

By 

H. F. Corbin "Foster Corbin" (ATLANTA, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Alpha Males (Hardcover)

Henning von Berg's ALPHA MALES is certainly far and away the best book of male nude photography of the year and the most engaging collection by a single artist since Paul Freeman's beautiful BONDI CLASSIC. This outstanding retrospective published by Bruno Gmunder, consisting of over a hundred photographs in color, black and white and sepia, is divided into three sections: "Germany", "North America" and "Round The World." Dr. Boris von Brauchitsch and David Leddick, himself the editor of several similar volumes of photography, have written brief introductions to the photographs. The photographer also includes an occasional quotation to accompany the images from Shakespeare as well as Quentin Crisp and Gore Vidal, whom he calls his "admired role models," along with Martin Luther King, Sir Ian McKellen and John Waters, for their "outspoken fight for equal rights, liberation and freedom," a strange accolade, however, for Mr. Crisp who was mostly famous for being Quentin Crisp and living so long.

While a few of these photographs are predictable-- "Twins," for example of a young god leaning against a mirror-- von Berg creates images over and over of the male animal in all his glory, often erect, without repeating himself, no small accomplishment. Furthermore, he is inclusive in his choice of models. Caucasians, blacks, Asians and Latinos, the musclebound, those sans muscles, the older (the model Leo Jackson) as well as the younger, the tattooed, the occasional cross-dresser, all get to do their thing before the photographer's lens.

There seems to be no end to either von Berg's creativity or humor. Some of his most effective shots include several naked men together, often doing risque things ("Domination IX" and "Domination I", "Intermezzo III" and "Intermezzo IV." Also "Exercising" and "Training," both photographs that are beautifully naturally lit from the windows, should you happen to notice.) Many of the images from North America are shot in the rugged desert of California far away from the madding crowd of censors. Some of these shots are scary-- for instance, in the photograph entitled "Hanging" the model is hanging just by his fingers from a ledge of a high buiding. Also "Cliff Dancer" in which the model clad only in a tutu appears to be stepping off a high mountain ridge. "The Milk Man" is shot just after having poured milk down the front of his body. Obviously von Berg is playing with words in his shot of the blond seated before a Hardman grand piano.

Some of my favorite photographs: "Brandenburg Gate" and "Stairway" from the Berlin series; "The Bat" in which the model, wearing a bat mask, is crouching on a high cliff; "Russian-Brazilian Hunk," aptly named and exquisitely lit; the last photograph in the book, "Sampson's Hair," albeit fake dreds; "Meditation IV," a brilliant juxtaposition of a naked man inside a beautiful church; and finally "Cook," of a thin young man wearing only women's platform shoes in a pose that Helmut Newton, one of the photographers von Berg lists as among his idols, would have approved of, accompanied by a quotation from the acerbic Mr. Crisp: "For flavor, instant sex will never supercede the stuff you have to peel and cook." The most amazing picture in the collection has to be "Antenna." When you see it, you'll understand why. (The pages in ALPHA MALES are not numbered so it is difficult to refer easily to the photographs.) The photographer does name his models, however, and gives the dates and locations of each shot. Most of the models are included more than once as well.

This book is one you will come back to again and again and that will bring you much pleasure.

5.0 out of 5 stars Alpha Males, September 10, 2011

By 

jim s. "computer man" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Alpha Males (Hardcover)

Lovers of male erotica should be thrilled by this gorgeous volumn. Some of the worlds best bodies are posed against everything from the rugged outdoor
mountains to abandoned buildings and villas. The range of models should please the most esoteric connoisseurs. This beautiful book belongs in every erotic library.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Raw and Powerful, April 22, 2009

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Thomas J. Wu "TJ Wu" (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Alpha Males (Hardcover)

This book is very different from the rest of many erotic male nude books. It has raw energy in the imagery and graphic elements in the setting that give strength and beauty at the same time.