Couples [Hardcover]

Stefan May (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2002

Already renowned for his sensual and forthright images of men and women, Stefan May has combined his passion for both sexes into one gorgeous volume. With an exquisite eye for the contours of the human body, May photographs his lovers in rich black and white, transforming their embraces into miracles of line and light. This collection features men and women in a wide array of settings and situations, spanning every human emotion and, in characteristic Stefan May fashion, turning the viewer into an unabashed voyeur. A perfect gift for lovers of art?and lovers in general?this intimate volume presents some of the best work ever created by the master of erotic photography.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

· Bold addition to the teNeues line of photography books

· as sensual as Herb Ritts and Bruno Bisang

About the Author

Renowned photographer Stefan May has published several books with teNeues including: Couples (3-8238-5576-X), Men (3-8238-4532-2), Women (3-8238-4576-4), and New York (3-8238-5579-4), the latter under the pseudonym Lance Lensfield.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Te Neues Publishing Company (June 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 382385576X
• ISBN-13: 978-3823855767
• Product Dimensions: 15 x 10.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,488,668 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eroticism w/ passion, playfulness, whimsy ... and pheromones, January 2, 2003

By 

J. Lizzi (Costa Mesa, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Couples (Hardcover)

Photographer Stefan May has compiled a fine collection of b&w photos that rates high on the scale of eroticism, but [thankfully] falls way short of smut. There's a spontaneity in Mr. May's portrayal of passionate couples, but what's more amazing is the intimacy infused in his work through extreme angles, creative cropping and the depiction of depth and movement. I enjoy this book more every time I pick it up.

I'd say that "Couples" falls squarely between the refined artistry of Patrick Demarchelier's "Photographs" and the joyfully haphazard presentation of Sante d'Orazio's "A Private View." Mr. Demarchelier is unsurpassed (my opinion) in "nailing" a photo: perfect pose, perfect angle, perfect exposure, perfect everything. Mr. d'Orazio does a great job of chronicling a glamorous and fun lifestyle. Whereas these two artists (both masters) still leave the viewer somewhat at a distance from their subjects, Mr. May brings us right into the photo with a perspective that can only be had from an involved point of view. Sometimes we're spying ... undetected; other times, we're right in the scene ... point blank, yet ignored; still others, the subjects are looking right at us ... caught in the act. There's movement, there's action, and everywhere there's the sense of erotic touch. Sheer brilliance. The chemistry (yes, those pheromones) of physical attraction is on virtually every page, but nothing about the photography is "dirty" or "in your face."

Save for the thickness (it's not), "Couples" is a large format book with coffee table dimensions. The 100+ photos range from 3" x 5" all the way up to fully both pages of the open book. There seems to be an overall randomness to the ordering, front to back, although there are many groupings (with titles) in place to portray photographic "suites" of a suggestive nature. Not surprisingly, the couples are all gorgeous. Not one looks at all posed, i.e., the spontaneity of the photo shoot(s) comes across very strongly. These had to be the most enjoyable gigs for everyone involved.

"Couples" is recommended for lovers of love, as well as lovers of great b&w photography.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book to own, February 3, 2005

By 

J. Malnar (Zagreb Croatia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Couples (Hardcover)

Not just as a study of black white photography. The power of emotion these photos emit is staggering. I bought it while getting over divorce, so the palpable emotion felt between subjects of May's pics was unbearable. I wept flipping thru it. Really strong.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The benchmark for heterosexual erotic imagery, October 4, 2005

By 

ExCanuks - See all my reviews

This review is from: Couples (Hardcover)

We reviewed this text together as a (heterosexual) couple and both highly recommend it to all who have an interest (or think they might have an interest) in erotic art. All of the images are wonderfully conceived and beautifully reproduced in an oversized hardcover format. After reviewing this collection, it is easy to conclude that Mr. May invented the art of erotic photography. The staging of each detail in each image is absolutely perfect and the erotic tension between the models drips from the pages. An absolute "must have" for any collection of erotic art and the essential first step for any couple beginning an exploration of erotic imagery.