Customer Reviews

Outback

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Paul Freeman's gifts as a photographer have been seen in many books - this is his fifth solo monograph and he is also featured in other well known books of photography - and yet this particular book, OUTBACK, marks a new standard of excellence for Freeman's talent. In a brief but as usual insightful introductory comment by expert David Leddick, the purpose of this large collection is lauded: according to Leddick, Paul Freeman has taken the usual approach to capturing the male nude from that of semi-artificial 'shaved and polished' tropes in studio settings or squeaky clean environments to the other end of the spectrum. That is, Freeman has concentrated on the personalities of men at work and men as men and has found the perfect setting for capturing this new look - the Australian Outback. While this book continues to celebrate the beauty of the male form, it also steps into the poetic arena of sharing the day to day lives of men isolated from society in general, men performing acts of tending the land and the flora and fauna of the vast reaches of raw Australia. And in keeping with this approach Freeman begins his survey with his very fine poem about the pioneer like atmosphere of the scantily inhabited setting he has chosen to present his special images of men at work.

Does this change of emphasis away from the dramatically lighted oiled and shaved muscle men and toward the casual view of scruffy men at work and relaxation on ranches work? Absolutely! In OUTBACK Freeman's skill has allowed the viewer to observe men as men - at work and at play - all in the setting of the spectacular beauty of Australia's 'last frontier'. These magnificent 'models' are seen shearing sheep, riding trucks, motorcycles, machines, tending horses, taking breaks from work in the barns, lying in the mud after rainfall, working the soil, and while we follow this group of men during the hours of toil Freeman invites us to gain acquaintance with the men, discovering personalities as well as complete views of the men both in work garb and in the buff. These a swarthy men, rarely shaved, at one with nature - a fact that makes them even more sensual in the natural flow of the environment, the weather, and the camaraderie of working and playing together.

Another aspect that makes this survey of the male is his sensitive use of color: sepia toning for the muddy scenes and careful use of development techniques add a timeless feeling to this superb collection. Yes, the photographs are in color, but in Freeman's artistic hands the colors are either muted or sensitized, depending on the atmosphere of the image. There is nothing that feels posed in these images of men: the works on every page give the sense of the photographer (and hence the viewer) as a welcome quiet observer of a very special collection of virile, highly sensuous men at one with nature. For this viewer this is the finest of Paul Freeman's books to date and one of the most unique and original monographs of the male nude yet published! Highly recommended for a very wide audience. Grady Harp, August 09

Following publication of Bondi Road, I wondered what aspect of Bondi life Paul would capture next; I could not have been more surprised when Outback appeared in Sydney bookstores. The book marked a 360 degree turn in setting and context, and could not be more different from the Bondi series. Most surprsisingly, Mr Freeman has captured the arid outback landscape as superbly as he captured cosmopolitan, urban Bondi. I don't think the native Australian landscape has ever been photographed more beautifully. Of course, when the focal point of the photographs are beautiful, fully naked men, the landscape does not necessarily occupy the reader's undivided attention! Mr Freeman has introduced a new collection of male subjects in Outback and all are stunning. There is a strength and confidence in these subjects that exceeds even those in the Bondi books, as if they are products of the uncompromising environment they inhabit. I am hoping that Outback marks the beginning of a long and enriching photographic journey through the Australian landscape and cannot wait to collect other books in the series.

Paul Freeman creates unique masculine worlds with each book. Not merely a collection of photographs, each book is a conceptual whole, featuring fresh-faced men who appear unaware of their own beauty, but fully engage with Freeman to offer themselves to his eye. I have nothing against books of beautiful photographs of beautiful men, but these books of Freeman's go beyond that usual format. At the close of each book, one feels there has been a real adventure with real men. Exciting and very sarisfying. Exceptional work.

I simply can't get enough of the magnificent Outback book and simply wanted to proclaim about this fascination I have with the work! It is by far the most beautiful book I have ever opened! The guys are simply stunning dead gorgeous-nothing less-and so "natural" that you are just in total awe .And the background is also magnificent. Its simply out of this world, the photography is outstanding , the whole setting unique. This is the 1st time I write about such a publication and Paul deserves all the praise of the world. I keep it open on my desk at home at all times, moving from one set to another but always with the same delight (and often with a swelling in the right place !) How on earth could one find such beauties like the one on the cover ???? Amazing ... and so different from what we see in other books and magazines .I am kind of drooling with anticipation for the next one but at the same time I keep saying " How could he do better than this one???" To me it is "the reference" and the standard for all male nude photography to aspire to.

If you are looking for a collection of stunningly beautiful photographs of men that move you and take you on a story-telling journey , and not just a bunch of pics of `hot' guys in samey poses, what better way to celebrate photographer Paul Freeman's self- publishing business turning five, than with a sixth book of his work - Outback Currawong Creek.

With 240 art photographs of male nudes and portraits on 200 luxuriously large format art stock pages, this beautifully bound and dust-jacketed book continues Freeman's photographic story of hardworking and intimate male camaraderie in the Australian rural heartland. Look for printandsound in the more buying choices icon under new. While supplies last.
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If you are looking for a collection of stunningly beautiful photographs of men that move you and take you on a story-telling journey , and not just a series of pics of hot guys, if you are looking for an intelligent artistic and inspired depiction of the male nude and not just a bunch guys awkwardly performing samey self conscious 'sexy ' poses, if you are looking to re-discover on every page the naturalistic sensuality inherent in an exhilarating array of uniquely astounding men and not a yawningly repetitive rendition of a ken doll wax and shine replete with colour by number tattoo spray tan, neatly manicured and clippered EVERYWHERE, if you want to be moved in more places than one, if you want a heavy dose of wonderful technique, thoughtfully executed context, brilliant lighting, unique environment and actions, and scenarios located in wonderful sometimes dreamlike realities, instead of a series of precious pumped pussies play acting doing nothing really convincing besides posing, if you want to view work of serious intelligence, sensitively considered, instead of efficiently executed desensitized schlock, if you are looking for an uplifting reaffirmation of the many variations and the diversity within the male ideal , to realise and admire the
living art of male diversity captured in a healthly vital performance of life, and are bored with what some stylist back in the
shave-em-down-build-em-up-eight-pack eighties said was the epitomy of hot , and who ever since seems to have been performing fake actions on fake sets lloking 'manly' while really looking liked a puffed up pre-pubescent, and if you need to be overjoyed to have realised before you an array of wonderment at gentle strength , at innocent gorgeous laughter at captured moments of twilight delight of provocative contemplation of matey interaction , of photography that reintroduces you to the male in photography as works of art, then Paul Freeman's Outback book is for you.

What a joy and delight! Thank you so much Mr Freeman!"