In the Studio [Paperback]

Tom Bianchi (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 20, 1999

In 1991, with the release of Out of the Studio, Tom Bianchi revolutionized the way in which artists conceptualize and photograph men. Now, with In the Studio, Bianchi once again responds with a body of work that will startle and challenge the world of photography. Eschewing the settings normally associated with his work, he has created his most intimate and erotic portrayal of men. Raw, powerful, and intensely erotic, this is the finest work yet from Tom Bianchi.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

For years, Tom Bianchi thought certain of his photographic studies of male nudes were unpublishable, too frankly erotic. Then a mentor explained to him that "the better pictures were the ones which took the viewer behind closed doors." For In the Studio, Bianchi frees himself from all restraints, reveling in male bodies galore. (If artwork that contains even the suggestion of sexuality offends you, consider yourself warned.) Quite a few of the photographs play with the idea of images and representation, as Bianchi poses his models in front of life-size drawings and mirrors, and even makes the occasional appearance in the mirror himself, a camera held tightly to his eye. In Richard/Bound, Bianchi reenacts the Prometheus myth, substituting a gradually ripped jockstrap for the eating of the liver, bringing the series of photos--and the model--to a provocative climax. "Authority is inevitably impotent to suppress the beauty I see," Bianchi exults. In the Studio certainly puts paid to that assessment.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (October 20, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312243049
• ISBN-13: 978-0312243043
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 9.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,831,514 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tom Bianchi is one of the most published visual artists and writers in the world.

His nineteen books of photographs, poems, and essays primarily cover the gay male experience in a variety of contexts - from aesthetic philosophy - IN DEFENSE OF BEAUTY - to poetry to erotic photography. He is currently working on an album and stage presentation of some poems being set to song from his book MEN I'VE LOVED.

Tom was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. He got a law degree at Northwestern and practiced corporate law for ten years. At thirty -four he left his position as Senior Counsel at Columbia Pictures, tore up his law degree, pasted it into a painting and had his first one man show with Betty Parsons and Carol Dreyfuss in New York. Shortly thereafter, Tom had his first major museum retrospective at the Spoleto Festival in 1984.

In 1990, St. Martins Press published OUT OF THE STUDIO, Tom's groundbreaking book of male nudes, frankly gay and affectionally connected. That book opened a door for more honest visions of gay men and a better understanding of their intimate lives. Thereafter, nineteen of Tom's books have been published, three documentary films about Tom's work have been distributed, and Tom's work has been published in more than thirty anthologies on the male nude. His ON THE COUCH series, DEEP SEX and EROTIC TRIGGERS deal with the expression of conscious sexual energy. This body of work has earned Tom respect as one of the most important artists dealing with erotic imagery and imagination. His body of work is the largest record ever made by a single artist of a culture's intimate life.

Tom also co-founded a biotech company, CytoDyn, developing a new therapy for treatment of HIV / AIDS.

TOMBIANCHI.com is Tom's website that includes detailed information on Tom and his work. Tom writes a blog which is a showcase for new work and the world as he sees it. The posts are fun, witty and sexy. And for people who want to go behind the scenes there is a huge archive of over 20,000 images with weekly updates in the Members Area.

Facebook: TOMBIANCHIFANPAGE - Here you will find updates on Tom's work and includes photo galleries from shoots as well as Tom's travels around the world.

Twitter: Follow Tom @tombianchi

You can reach Tom directly through all the places above if you are interested in being a subject of his books and films or are interested in collecting Tom's work.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HOT HOT HOT-Bianchi's Best and Most Erotic Work To Date, April 18, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (OKC, OK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Studio (Hardcover)

I have been a long time fan of Tom Bianchi's work (he is a close 2nd on my list of favorite photographers .. behind Bruce Weber), and have always thought that he has pushed the envelope of Nude Male Photography. He doesnt just take pics of solo glamour boys in coy poses.. He takes pictures of naked men in homoerotic situations interacting with each other while nude. He pushes that envelope even further with "In the Studio." This is simply a daring and breathtaking work. While "out of the studio" referred to being open and free to be yourself among "extraordinary friends,".." In the studio" takes advantage of the privacy and security that the studio provides, allowing more erotic situations to surface. He pushes the envelope by illicting images that male nude photographers today shy away from, and some might consider fit only for pornography, but i agree with Mr. Bianchi in that "there is no such thing as pornography, just bad camera angles". "In the Studio" features an array of erections, sexual situations, and yes.. orgrasms... Meaning that many models are shown with all out erections, some show models carressing their erect penises, even a pic of two body builders caressing each other's penises in their hands. Even pushing this idea further, there are about 3 photos where the models have climaxed, leaving trails of semen on their ripped torsos. Another interesting thing about this book, is that often, Tom, has put mirrors strategically placed so you can see him taking the pictures. In these pictures, Tom is also nude while snapping the pictures. This really gives you insight to the process of taking the pictures, and makes you feel more like a part of the action. (I wonder if he was nude the whole time while taking the pictures for his previous efforts) :) .. also.. It was a pleasant surprise to see how great his body is.. no wonder he has such appreciation for the male body. This is definately the best book of Nude Male !Photography i have come across in some time.. So.. why didnt i give it a '10' rating?? There is only one thing i would have shown different. The majority of the pictures in the book are taken from the model's neck down... Or often their face is turned away from the camera.. I thought this was the biggest crime in the pic of the two bodybuilders holding each other's penises. If the pic was showing them in a deep kiss, or a romantic look, would have pushed the pic over the edge of eroticism ... My second complaint is just pure selfishness.. I WANTED MORE!! I hated reaching the end of the book, and am eagerly awaiting his next volume..So Tom if your readng this... hint hint :) I hope you enjoyed my review.. I am not a professional writer (as you can tell by reading this review), i am just a fan of Male Nude Erotica in Film and Photography.. Please feel free to email me and tell me what you think of my review, and talk about your fave books :)

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Man's Own Presence: Simultaneously Strong and Fragile, September 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: In the Studio (Hardcover)

I must agree wholeheartedly w/ Matthew Fisher of Bend, OR, who also reviewed this latest powerful work of Tom's. Tom's presence is made both an example as well as an undertone throughout. Through his eyes, I find it hard (i.e., difficult) if not impossible not to celebrate male power, animal magnetism, strength, and grace, as well as man's innate physical mortality. All the more reason to make the most of who we are and, as a community of men in the larger global family, catalyze and synergize the fulfillments of the obligations we have to our holistic selves: body, mind, spirit, will. The embracing of strength, power, and physical beauty is an obvious inclination for most; however, Tom shows us that, in addition to this, recognizing and embracing our vulnerability is never an act of cowardice, but rather, a quintessential way of knowing how to offer each other ourselves as complete human beings, as friends, as lovers, as playground and gym buddies, and as proud men. Tom, we love you always for this reminder!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Touching the Truth, May 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: In the Studio (Hardcover)

Bianchi's photographs seem to have stolen a thought from everyone's mind that views his art. Exploring new experiences of sexual exploration, Bianchi goes where most photographers have only dreamed of. I am moved to say there is no such work as pornography, only pictures. However, the most innovative of all Bianchi's bold explorations is the inclusion of himself in the photos he shoots. Whether he is visible or there is subtle feeling of his presence, the artist's image seems to manifest itself in every frame, more vividly than before. This collection of photographs is by far more introspective and inviting than any of his work to date.