Dawn of the Iconoclast

beautiful work…simply amazed by the way this draws you in

An adventurous shot Mel ,I like it a lot, great treatment and highlights.

spot on Mel ,congrats to both you and Joe.

Sorry Paul ,something in this shot reminds me of a Joe

Stunning series…bold image here.

“Within every man and woman a secret is hidden, and as a photographer it is my task to reveal it if I can.”  Karsh of Ottawa)

geez Mel …. how did you stay composed enough to take this ! Hot !

I love the treatment and colours and reflections and the way you’ve made Paul look like he’s under glass under water in a river – trapped again, poor lad :)

Outstanding!!

Very impressive!

hey Mel…. the thanks all go to you for posting this….... woo hoo….... naked manhood ….. whacko the chook…... nice one…..:)

Powerful image – the colour and lighting are superb and a great POV and comp as well!

Just wanted to add that you two make a great creative partnership!

well Mel I have to say…. there hasn’t been any naked manhood around my neck of the woods for a while…. this has made me smile so much its just not funny…. way to go and good on you for being up for this and for doing such a fantastic job of it….. something to remember I would imagine….. :)

thats like a very old painting,,,,,,,brilliant work

The lighting makes this look like a painting. Nice work Mel

Mel, I am blown away by this image… what you have done here is just a masterpiece of style and texture… you’ve almost invented a textural style that resonates so well, and carries this image across into a painterly space.. You are so creative and talented… in awe of your skills!

This is brilliant. When i first looked at it (before soaking in the the title) i was drawn to thoughts of a crucified person .. the title is so apt !!! I really appreciate that it relates to someone whom attackes cherished beliefs (the meaning of Iconoclast) ... the image is evocative and raw in places .. the mind is allowed to wander and wonder.

Fabulous work Mel

it’s perfect :)

Is that cream???

It IS cream isn’t it?? (bites her tongue and sits on her hands)

incredible imagery here… so much is left to the viewer ..while so much is revealed….. it almost looks as if mr v is under water…..the lightplay is superb…........ adrift in darkness while bathed in light…..... bravo…...........b

wooden tongue depressor? Mel, I need one of those leather thingamajiggies 16th century surgeons used to give their patients to keep from screaming ;)

Starts chanting I will be good I will be good I will be good I will be good I WILL BE GOOD DAMNIT!!!!

Fantastic image Mel. Like one of the old masters. Amazing

Where is my damn safe filter….. heheh great textures Mel, Paul buy some pants…

Woah! This is really something Mel! Your treatment of this is totally awesome, as is his pose…brilliant!

Amazing Mel…love the angle and the effects…reminds me of an ancient Greek God..magic work;)

so how was hubby when you got home, and what else did you two get up too??.........LOL
this is awesome….....love it
xkc

lol! @ Kaz…and Mel, you certainly are making ps work for you;)

In the words of Borat – Very nice!!! :)

OMG…..what a fantastic shot Mel…..and so hot…..how did you keep your composure and not drop the camera and run!!!!

Just as well!!!!! You really have done a fantastic job with the treatment!!!

So, this is fantastic art you have created and treated it brillantly.

beautiful work & yes it’s always about the light :)

Intensly beautiful.
That light and shadow play is wonderful, he is such a “giving” model, I really admire that and the strength of his pose… I’ve always thought a male nude should be strong and “manly”... as this is. Well done you two! :D

I will skip the cheap jokes… Superb image!

dar blh blbbbph

flb duh mmm sth

Interesting enhancements, made this very special.

He must be your muse, Mel. This is wonderful.

Well, we’re just getting to know Paul better and better each day aren’t we! Mel, this is exquisite work!! Rembrandt would be proud!!!

very nice work with texture, mel.

Fantastic image Mel, really excellent work :-)

O…................M…....................G!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 0__o
I seriously have no words that can bring justice to what you 2 did, I love your team work, YA!

Iconoclast – destroyer of religious images. well, I can tell you that I’d get down on my knees and pray to that particular image, destroyer or not!

_(I apologize, I’m clearly wicked, but I can’t help myself with a photo like this)

Seriously though – if there were a modern version of statue of David, he just might be depicted in this way. There is something beautifully archaic about the photo. I adore the exaggerated flecks, as if he were standing directing in the light case from an enormous window with its golden dust particles floating in the air. The shadows hide enough for him to still be mysterious and the white substance trailing down his chest draws the eye…right…down…well, you know where.

Its just a gorgeous photo!! Once again, I find myself all woozy.

I’m erm, blushing somewhat, in a school girl kinda way…but also in a grown-up girl kinda way.

Wow, Mel, you do know how to render a PVZ. I really love what you have done here…on so many levels. The tones just make this piece so sexy.

With this piece, and also with “Thinking Wet Thoughts” on Pauls page, I just love how the masculinity is so sexy and strong, but with a subtle, introspective emotional element…often when you see the naked form photographed, its all raw power in the presentation. But this – its soft and sexy as well.

P x

Mel, I swear I went back 3 times to make sure this was from you. I first saw it and thought, cool, a new one from Houk… or Flamejob… or maybe Da Vinci’s come back from the grave and signed up with RB cause his old stuff was just a bit too clean for the current generation iconoclasts…

So this is an amazing piece in its own right. It is as vulgar as it is beautiful. It evokes pain as it evokes orgasm, and depicts anguish as it does elation. The perfect iconoclast breaking down our perception of good and evil in a new form that encompasses all…

But… (pinches himself to make sure he’s not in some weird dream), it is actually YOU that’s blown me away more than the image. I joined RB in August 07, and yours were some of the first pictures that caught my eye. Beautiful wide angle seascapes and coastlines with HD effect, amazingly stunning landscapes of places strange to me that drew me in and put you right at the top of my list among all the amazing talent on this site. Then over the months, I see you experiment with different techniques and subject matter and realized that your talent went way deeper than I had imagined… but now, seeing this (and with my jaw still resting firmly on my foot), I realize that your talent is fathomless. And I so can’t wait to see where it will take you next!

As for Paul, I hope he had a great shower and hasn’t gone and hidden the soap…

OK, I’m not going to admit to liking PVZ in the raw, but as a piece of art, OMG, this is excellent …

And Mel, I do apologize for the typos. See, I was suffering from a fever (caused by this amazing photo of yours), because I meant to say ”...standing directly in the light cast from an enormous window…”

Whatever works muse-wise, Mel!

very nice image. the colors are just great.

Amazing effect,so dramatic,I love the gold sparkles.

WOW! Your a great team!

OMG!!! How the hell did this one slip past me??? well done you!!! Next time you two are doing a shoot – please, please invite me along to help, I’m happy to just stand there holding something…. Anything….

HOT DAMN! How’d you let me miss this!!! Just fantastic job catching the light on the droplets!!! And of course, I love the dark, craggy background, just a fabulous job, m’dear!

WOW mel, this is truly canvas art in a re known gallery space. excellent work. like a masters paintings. ;-) xox

Your artistry in photographing this is very very impressive matey…fantastic light and the waterdrops add such a great element…well done!

Very beautiful and classy!

The beautiful male nude, simply under done in modern photography. So, thank you – now my husabnd is not alone!

Beautiful, as attested to by all the previous comments. Painterly.

Frist, being that I am also a member of OE, my congrats on getting something accepted – they are such hard asses! They have denied some of my work done for the Yale (USA) Masters of Photography Program! Secondly, this is utterly beautiful. A classic painting with a single light source, like the Dutch masters. This is awe inspiring and leaves me breathless. Paul, at his finest, totally exposed, and completely fine with it. Kudos to you both. WOW.

EXQUISITE !

Unbelievable rendered by a true master (in this case mistress) of the medium. Paul looks breathtaking beautiful with the darks and lights coursing through his hunk of a bod. Well done both of you. Yum.

oh MY! This is literally breathtaking and I am not just talking about the man…..Love the pose the water the post production treatment ! all very painterly!

Awesome work Mel

I can’t say anything else just awesome !

Love ‘N’ Laughter

Kriss

Wow – an incredibly powerful and stunningly beautiful work, Mel!!! :))))

I love this image its like an old classical painting.

This image is absolute perfection Mel. One of the best portraits of a man I’ve ever seen. The details, the lighting, the pose and the beyond perfect title combine to bring out the man and the story in an impeccable way. unbelievable!!!

There’s something dark, something mysterious, something painterly about this image that makes it very appealing. Beautiful work Mel!