Author | Hannibal Alexander
Throughout history, nudity and the human body have inspired exceptional art. Photographer Darren Ankenbauer is taking this tradition into the new millennium of photography with his exceptional portraits of men in their natural form. Nudity isn’t the draw to his work however, as not all of his photographs are of men in the buff. Ankenbauer focuses more on the essence and the spirit of his models rather than just their flesh.
His pieces can be found in his self-published zine “Handbook,” or on his website. Starting November 8th through the 10th, about 40 of his favorite works will be displayed at the Leslie Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art. These works show off Ankenbauer’s aesthetic of beautifully shot men in an organic and natural environment without any of the added digital effects and trickery that have become so popular.
In the following Q&A, readers will learn what inspires his work, the difficulties and the triumphs of sticking to his unique style, and what to expect from his gallery exhibit and the future of his art.
In regards to your upcoming show in November, what is your thought process when selecting what you will display?
It’s a very organic process really. Without too much thought I simply pick the ones that I feel a strong connection with.
What is the most gratifying/fulfilling thing about exhibiting your work? And on the flip side what is the most nerve-wracking thing about it?
It’s such a wonderful thing as an artist to share your work with people and experience their reactions. I love coming to New York, so showing my work there will be very exciting. The most nerve wracking thing, I am not much of a “see me in the spotlight” kind of a person so having to do a bit of networking and having some attention focused on me makes me a bit uneasy.
What should fans of your work expect from this show?
I will be showing about 40 images, all from my Handbook Magazine pictorials. Black and whites with a raw sexuality.
Where would you say your passion for photography began? How old were you and was there a specific catalyst that made you decide you wanted to pursue it professionally?
I started taking photography seriously about 7 years ago when I was 41. I have always been a fan of “beef cake” photography and I knew that digitally I could create some very moody and sexy imagery. I am a self-taught photographer with a graphic design background and it all started for me then. So with the success of Handbook and my images I started pursuing it more seriously.
On your website you talk about capturing “moments”, and getting the “essence” of the subject. Once a shoot is over, do you ever come across any difficulty finding the few pictures that capture that person’s vibe?
No. That has never happened. Honestly. I take about 300 images of each model so I have a nice pool of shots to choose from. And, the way I shoot my subjects is very natural, meaning I let them do what they want. Just to be themselves.
Do you go into your shoots ever wanting a specific thing or a specific look? Or do you just play by ear depending on the model you are capturing?
It depends on the model and the place where I shoot them. Sometimes I will set up a scenario in terms of a set and props, but will let them decide what they would like to wear. I have helped out in that area as well if they don’t have the appropriate clothing items to compliment the environment where we are shooting.
How do you find your models? I would imagine at this point some of your fans probably reach out to you requesting photos?
I find men from all over. Manhunt, Facebook, DudesNude, Adam4Adam, etc. Those are all great resources for me but also I receive a lot of referrals from past models. And, yes, I am contacted occasionally by guys who are interested in nude modeling. So if anyone out there is interested contact me at [email protected].
You’ve been published several times, how did it feel to see your work for the first time?
I was so excited to see some of my images in print for another publisher. It’s a pretty satisfying experience to see your work reaching a larger market. It speaks volumes to how far I’ve come with my work.
Your nudes are sexy yet artistic, but I’m sure you come across people who write them off as “porn.” How do you address those types of comments?
It does cross a fine line between art and porn. I think the fact that some of my models do sport erections brings it a slight bit more to the adult media industry. That being said, if you look at an image as a whole piece, the balance, the framing and subject all make for a very artistic image.
Usually the negative comments come from the people who are not quite sure how to accept a creative sexuality.
What made you decide to start your zine, “Handbook”?
I had been laid off from my graphic design job and couldn’t find anything out there I was interested in. So, one evening in October I started writing down ideas for my own zine and how I wanted to lay out the book. I found models and a few advertisers – long story short, it all happened pretty quickly and I had my first issue printed in January.
What are your plans to expand your “brand” as a photographer?
I will always be connected creatively to portraiture so I guess I could say that I would love to be able to build a more extensive portfolio of celebrity gay icons in the future. Male and female.
Are there any other styles of photography, or the creative medium in general, that you would like to experiment with in the future?
I am very content to continue shooting black and white images. However, I am shooting more color images but in a muted style. I like to subtract a bit of saturation and light so the image almost looks dull. Someone commented on one of my color portraits as “a painting.” I take that as a big compliment. I should also mention that I never want my subjects to look fake or doll like. There are some photographers who like to create these high gloss, overly airbrushed and overworked images to achieve that effect. That’s not my style and I will always maintain the true integrity of my subjects.
Are you working on any future projects that you would care to speak about?
Yes, I am working on a book deal with a large publishing company at the moment and I am hoping if all goes well, to have something out by them around Spring 2014. Keep your fingers crossed!
Any other information you would like our readers to know about?
Sure, please friend me on Facebook and visit my sites handbookmen.com and darrenankenbauer.com.
Please feel free to contact me if you would like to schedule a portrait session. Always relaxed and fun!
