Customer Reviews

White Boys

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

 

 

Sam Carson, who in one of his lives is an architect, has given us another superb collection of handsome young men in what could be called a sequel to his beautiful FIRST EXPOSURE. The format here is similar to his initial offering. The models are all young, wholesome, more attractive than the boy next door and photographed in color, in nice, soft, flattering light. On the other hand, how could one photograph any of these men in a way that would be unflattering? Many of the models are wearing underwear-- Calvin Klein and Abercrombie & Fitch owe the photographer big time-- proving once again that often beautiful people are sexier partially clad rather than completely nude. A couple of the men have tattoos, I spotted an earring or two; but for the most part, these are all boys you could introduce to your prim Aunt Helen.

Mr. Carson's biographical notes indicate that he has photographed 5,000 young men so there's obviously plenty more where these photos came from. He is one of a handful of photographers currently doing this kind of photography whose work stands out from the rest of repetitious, generic-like images. For me, the mark of a fine book of photography is one that I come back to again and again. This one definitely makes the cut.

Sam Carson has an architect's eye for structure, interplay of light and shadow, the plinths upon which beautiful edifices rise, and the stability of well made creations. A successful architect in California, Sam Carson also successful in his other field of endeavor - the art of photographing male models.

WHITE BOYS is a beautiful book bursting with healthy young sportsmen who seem as at home in front of Carson's camera as professional models. The pleasure here, aside from the obvious one that the young men selected are all from the cream of the crop status, is the sense of casual stance and attitude he achieves. Each richly colored photograph is well composed, the models are in various modes of either crisp white underwear - or not...., and the overpowering feeling is one of admiring healthy subjects who care for their bodies and love sharing that concern with Carson.

There is more emphasis on mood and atmosphere than on displaying full nudity: Carson seems to be aligned with the stance that partially clothed models are far more sensuous when left with some secrets beneath the drapery of garments. The models are tanned, at times tattooed, but in general they all appear to be the All American Abercrombie and Fitch types. This is a book to please everyone who admires the brush of health that makes young sportsmen gleam. Grady Harp, October 06

I found this book to be a well presented portrayal of the youthful male body, with subtlety of mood and tonal shading.

Slim volume with few artistic nudes (mostly clothed models). Very dated (80's?)! This is a generally disapointing volume, don't waste you money!

Too many wangs for me, sticking up to say "Hi there". I likes "The American Boy, A Photographic Essay" much better. Guess I should have guessed that "WhIte Boys" would be like it is, from the cover.

There is no doubt, it is just plain sensual. Now, if the photographer will turn his lens on the older male, he will have hit a home run. This is a stunning book, fun, and not crude.