Customer Reviews

Roy Blakey's 70s Male Nudes

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As Roy Blakey states in his forward, "BLAKEY'S RESURRECTION, just at first glance, might have made an arresting title for this book of male nudes, or perhaps the even more intimate "ROY'S RESURRECTION," and he further states, "Nevertheless, I definitely have been resurrected." He thanks photographer Reed Massengill, now a close friend, who helped him to secure a gallery exhibition and with the publication of this book. These male nude images from the 1970's have been stored away for many years. If you were coming-of-age in the 70's, you may be familiar with Blakey's work and the publication HE. I think it's great that his work is being exhibited, published and now is being introduced and made available to a whole new generation.

If you liked the look of the men in the 70's, you will likely enjoy these photographs as much as I did. They bring back many memories of that era, the long hair, the light bodies, the innocent looks and poses, and good-looking boy next door type male models. I think these photographs are beautiful for the simple reason that Blakey is a "Master of Light and Shadow." All of these black and white images are posed with no props. I believe the starkness of these images make the models more intimately sensual. Roy Blakey was a former professional figure skater and as you view these photographs you can clearly see the influence that this has had in the way he posed his models.

If the publication of this book is a dream come true for Blakey, then it is a dream come true for us as avid fans and collectors of male nude photography! I sincerely hope he continues to browse through his storage boxes and releases more of his photographic images for us to enjoy. A stunning collection!

Joe Hanssen

What a refreshing addition to the study of male nude photograpy! The men have nice, natural bodies without being "buffed and waxed." And believe it or not, they have hair, both on their heads--some actually have tresses to their shoulders-- and bodies. For that reason they look very 70's. They also look very innocent and appear to be having a good time. Some of them smile directly into the camera. I couldn't help but ask the question though-- there is no information given about who these models are-- as to how many of them are still alive today.

All the photos are shot in a studio with incredible lighting. Some of my favorites are found on pages 53,54 and 104.

Reed Massengill, who edited this book, remembers the first time he saw a Blakey photo in a short-lived magazine of the 70's called "After Dark." I remember fondly my first enconter with that magazine as well. I still have all my copies somewhere. (It was the rag that the now Governor of California chose for his full monty spread.) Mr. Blakey to his credit was shooting male nudes when almost nobody else in the U. S. was. This book, however, is much more than just a nostalgic picture of life before the awful 80's. These beautiful photographs will endure.

70's Male Nudes is the direct result of the recent friendship between Roy Blakey and Reed Massengill. It was almost an accident that the two even met, but when they did, Massengill was quick to remember the extraordinary influence that Blakey had on him. It was 1972 when Blakey self-published his first book of male nudes titled HE. It was a landmark event, for very few publishers at the time were interested in putting out a book of male nudes. The naked female was well accepted but the male body was still somewhat taboo. Blakey helped shatter that belief and paved the way for the many others that followed through the years, including Massengill.

Blakey graduated from the University of Tulsa, served a stint in the Army (where he bought his first camera at the PX), and later ice skated professionally for over a decade. He developed as a photographer throughout his military and skating career, often setting up darkrooms wherever he happened to be stationed. When he retired from skating in 1967, Roy moved to New York City and set up a studio and darkroom in his loft on Sixth Avenue. Over the years, countless men, including many celebrities, posed for him. It is this period of work that is presented in 70's Male Nudes. Massengill helped Roy in bringing 70's Male Nudes to publication, serving as both friend and editor. Now, thankfully, the whole world can again see that spellbinding studio work created by an artist who plugged away crafting a masterful body of work while the rest of the world lay hypnotized by Playboy.

Being born in 1970, I missed out on the natural men of the 70's. I can remember crushes on the natural looking men of the era, but was much to young to realize the erotic value or to even see many nude. This book showcases the wonderful men of a time that I missed out on! The average, but very hot, bodies of Blakey's models are wonders of real life and not the bulked up gym bunnies so overwhelmingly predominant in art photography of recent years. The photos are extremely well done with a variety of types of men from street looking to professionals...all with a relaxed and casual attitude that shows through in the pictures. I enjoy this book a lot and will surely be going back to look at it repeatedly many times in the future!