Men behaving badly for the cameras
The masterminds behind the must-have calendar of 2008 have outdone themselves with their 2009 offering.
Award-winning Australian photographers Ross Brownsdon and Travis de Jonk’s Bad Behaviour calendar for 2009 sizzles more than last year’s thanks to their master craftsmanship.
And this year they’ll also be doing a special calendar for the girls.
De Jonk said he and Brownsdon were always conscious of using fresh and imaginative shots to make their calendars more appealing than most found on the shelves today.
Unlike many others showing nothing but men’s bodies and famous faces, Bad Behaviour has a strong concept with photos that either promote a smile or a strong urge to jump in and participate, de Jonk told Sydney Star Observer.
Much of what still comes out of Australia is unoriginal -” beefcake and guys in their underwear etc. -” or an outdated kitsch representation of Australian identity -” outback, blond beach boys -” that is not only out of touch with the Australia that is part of an international community, but also just panders to an outdated myth to an international market.
We just try to stay true to ourselves. Overall what we are really trying to do is create powerful and beautiful images that transcend sexuality.
Brownsdon and de Jonk have established themselves as two of Australia’s most successful photographers, both commercially and artistically. They have had numerous exhibitions and contribute to leading publications, both locally and internationally.
You don’t have to be gay to appreciate these images. They aren’t just about sex either, de Jonk said.
Fantasy is what we are really about -” it’s a vast and exciting topic artistically, that defies the typical boundaries and categories. We often trap ourselves within boundaries and categories within the gay community.
But fantasy is all about escape, and it’s an idealistic vision. There is no right or wrong. There is no solid ground. And that is a very exciting prospect for a visual artist.
The pair are planning to release a women’s calendar this year, applying the same skills to those images that have seen sales of their male calendar soar.
But girls, you will have to wait until November to get a look at that one.
info: To order a copy of the Bad Behaviour calendar visit www.badbehaviourpublishing.com.
What Sterotypes? You calendar depicts what main stream society already see’s about the GLBT community, which is just a generalisation. It’s time for us the get classy..
Oliver and all those like him should take a moment to actually have a look at exactly what they are criticizing. Clearly you have not taken the time to actually read the article or check out the rest of the images from the calendar. You’ve just made a series of un-informed assumptions.
As one of the producers of the Bad Behaviour Calendar, I can confidently tell you that I’m neither a FAT EXECUTIVE nor do I EXPLOIT anyone in my community. I care a lot for my community. I try to break the stereotypes, and move the quality of art produced from my community, foward.
The worst thing of all Oliver, is how close minded you really are. Just because you don’t agree with something, doesn’t meant that it doesn’t have a right to exist. You are entitled to your opinion, and so are the rest of us.
I’m proud of what I create, I’m proud of being gay, and I’m proud of my community.
I Oliver, am proud of being Homosexual however when I see these stupid Nude Calenders it makes me embarrassed to be a Man. Is this what weve become? I can flick through all these Calenders and pictures and see nothing but Men in a locked cage exploited by some fat Executive behind some desk somewhere. Shame! Shame! Shame!!!!!!!!
Actually, what makes me ashamed is that there are people like Oliver and Jamie in our community who are clearly unable to respect and appreciate the diversity that is part of our community.
Shame on you for being so judgemental. Perhaps you would be better off joining the ranks of the Niles and Pells who also carry on with this kind of crazy crap.
Ur so right Oliver. It’s so tacky to have this on a front cover. I’m ashamed to pick this up.
This is the kind of thing that gives homosexuals a bad name.