Customer Reviews

Erotic Bondage: The Art of Rope

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Edward Lee was a recognized painter and sculptor in the UK before taking up fine art photography thirty years ago. His photos have been shown in numerous galleries and have been widely published and purchased for museum and private collections. This book represents an interest in artistic bondage that was only kindled recently when he met and befriended a model named Chloe, whom Edward attributes as the major source of inspiration for this project.

Erotic Bondage: The Art of Rope contains over two-hundred beautiful, black & white images of delicate young ladies in various states of bondage. The melding of rope with skin with hair and various other props, all captured in beautifully toned prints make this one of the most exciting books ever done in this genre. Although there are a few images that could be categorized as extreme, most of the work possesses a more gentle flair. This unique sense of innocence and beauty is achieved perhaps in part because Lee's models are normal, pretty, girl-next-door types, and not the leather clad, Goth queens that so typify the genre. If damsels in distress are your thing, then this is you calling card. The polished, high-end photography is just icing on the cake.

I guess I was thrown off by the the name, "The art of rope." I expected there to be instructions, but alas, there were only pretty pictures. Not that the pictures were lacking in style, composition, etc., but I wish I had bought the Japanese book instead (I think it's called the Art of Japanese Bondage). So, if you enjoy bondage as more of an idea, or are already well schooled in bondage and need some fresh ideas, go for it. Otherwise, I suggest you turn to other books.

The photos are nice, but I found that they didn't resonate the true aura of bondage. i didn't get a feeling that the ladies were really into it, and that their bondage felt real. Instead, it felt a bit staged. And in the end, yes, they are staged, but I wish the photographer would have been able to present to the viewer at least some of the feelings and the general emotion a sub feels while tied up.

Also, I was expecting a bigger book (in size of pages) although that was my mistake - it gives the dimensions on amazon.

It has taken me almost 6 six years to bring myself to look for this book. I am the model's aunt and lived through the horrific times with my brother and other family members as the truth unfolded. Robert (Bob) Edward Lee Shell is serving a 32+ year sentance for the death of our beloved Marion, the cover model he convinced to help him make money through selling this book. By the way, notice she died June 3rd 2003 and this book was published after her death. He had promised Marion's mother he would not publish nude pictures of her, so he changed his name around hoping we wouldn't notice.....such a liar!

The purchase of this book is contributing financial gain to a broken down 60+ year old man who is in prison for killing the teenage model on the cover!

Although the photographs in this book are somewhat enticing, I wouldn't recommend this book. The models appear apathetic, and the bondage performed is pure slop. Anyone with any knowledge on the topic will find themselves dissappointed, and the rope work is not only impratical but dangerous (and filled with slack.) If you're looking for artistically executed rope bondage, do not look here - this book is all fluff.

Wow, to call this book a disappointment would be a huge understatement! Actually, to call this book a waste of money would be more appropriate for me. Since the title was "Erotic Bondage Art of Rope", that is what I expected. Very few of these photos are erotic, let alone include bondage. Of the pictures that do contain bondage, most are not with the use of rope. When the "models" in here are bound with rope, the thought of using any kind of skill with rope work was never involved. The knots are so sloppy, I just can't bring myself to call any of this rope work. I think the photographer had a small child tie the knots while he set up his camera and equipment. It seems to me that the quality of the photo is what was important here, not the quality of the subject matter. If what you are looking for is quality black and white photo's of attractive women who were bound with rope by someone with some skill in the actual art of rope work, you should look elsewhere. If you are someone who is into photography who likes to figure out what camera was used at what exposure ect. you "might" like this book. If you want photos of women in handcuffs and/or chains, you might like this book. If you like photos of women in wooden stocks, you might like this book. If you like pictures of women climbing a tree or laying on a blanket with or without a dildo in her mouth and no bonds at all, you might like this book. Even if you do like those things, you can find better photos of them than you will in this book, and for far less money.

This book is a masterpiece! Edward Lee sheds new light on the underground world of bondage and S&M by presenting just the right blend of art and erotica to make this book sensual yet tasteful. A coffee table book for the alternative crowd, it features well-known bondage models such as Elkie Cooper and Julie Simone, as well as a host of other beauties. This book is a must-have for anyone interested in or fascinated by the world of BDSM.

A more appropriate title would be Erotic Bondage: The Art of Bondage. A very significant portion of the photos don't have any rope in them, and most of the photos that do involve rope are very lackluster. Ties are very simple, sometimes sloppy. Certainly not what was expected from a book that claims "Art of Rope."

From a technical standpoint the photos are very well done. From a content perspective, the book never gets off the ground. Edward Lee certainly knows his way around a camera; how he just needs to expand his knowledge of artistic rope bondage.