Bud Counts Day, Part 2 - Non-nudes

Bud Counts was a legend among 1950's physique models and one of the biggest men in the business, both in terms of size and reputation.  He worked for Dave Martin, Bruce of LA, and Bob Mizer of AMG at various times.  The story goes that he was discovered by Martin while he was 

still in the U.S. Army and went pro as soon as his enlistment was up.  Part two of his

 day features him non-nude, and he is still impressive.  This is a personal favorite.

Bob Mizer of AMG went over the top with the codpiece and zebra print in this photo of Bud Counts.

Bruce of LA took this semi-nude of Bud Counts.

Bud appeared on several magazine covers in the early 1950's in photos much like this one.  

I have some of them in my collection, but those aren't as good.  Go figure.

Here we have a young looking Bud Counts in a posting strap photo by an unknown photographer.

Bud Counts Day, Part 1 - Nudes

About three weeks ago I posted a photo of Bud Counts in a Dave Martin series, and it brought forth several requests for more photos of the greatest of the big men models of the 1950's.  So it's Bud Counts day all day today, and we start with a classic Martin sea-side pose.

Bruce of LA took this impressive photo of Bud Counts on a sandy beach.

Although it's unattributed in my files, I'm pretty sure this Bud Counts twofer is by Dave Martin.

AMG/Bob Mizer was the source of this Bud Counts derriere photo.

Dave Martin was known for his seaside photos shoots, and most of his pictures of Bud Counts fall into that group.  I especially like the patterns of shadows and light in this one.

I have a small collection of Bruce of LA photos of Bud Counts, and only one of them (already posted today) has frontal nudity.  I'm posting this one as a bonus shot for the Bum Brigade.

Swimmers with Snorkles

Today we look at some snorkelers, starting with this statuesque young man on a beach.

"Look!  I got a fish."

I think this color photo came from a nudist magazine, 

and the subject seems to have both a snorkel and scuba gear.  Odd, that.

Someone found just the right angle for this underwater shot.  Not an easy task.

This model appeared earlier in today's series in color,
and that spear gun looked dangerous both times.

"I'll have to get back to you later because I'm all tied up right now."

Today I'm fulfilling a long overdue request for some bondage shots with ropes.

This unknown tattooed model does not look happy about his situation.

This Bum Brigade Special looks like the unknown late 60's photographer 

used left over props from a "cowboys in the barn" shoot.

Yee-haw!  Cowboy bondage.  I get an AMG vibe from this, but have no info.
Edited to add:  VintagePhysiquePhotographh identified these two in the
comments as John Tristram and Forrester Millard of AMG .

Bob Delmonteque seems to be doing his best to look 

forlorn and pathetic in this photo by an unknown photographer.

I have to put this one in the "not too convincing" category, but the model is nice.
Edited to add:  In the comments the_cham_cham says this is Chuck Steury.

Wrestling Day, Part 2 - 1900 Era Fig Leaf

Part Two of our wrestling day features some big name Eastern European wrestlers from the early 20th Century in fig leaf photos.  We start with Georg Hackenschmidt (1877-1968) who is one 

of three Estonians featured in this group.  He was the first recognized world 

professional wrestling champion and eventually settled in London where he became

 a close friend of author George Bernard Shaw, of all people.

Karl Pospischil was a Bohemian wrestler who lost 

the 1912 world championship in Paris to Hackenschmidt.

Georg Lurich was an Estonian who was successful both as a strongman and wrestler.

He also trained Aleksander Lurich and Georg Hackenschmidt who are both in today's series.

Although he posed as a discus thrower in this 1910 Prague photo, 

Gustav Fristensky was championship level wrestler.

Aleksander Aberg (1881-1920) was an Estonian world champion Greco-Roman wrestler. 

Wrestling Day, Part 1 - Nudes from 1880 to 1910

I had a request for some very old wrestling nudes, so that is our theme today.  We start with a photo from 1880 that is said by some to be by Igout and by others to be by Heid.

 "Die Schönheit" was an early 20th Century magazine that promoted the emerging naturist culture, 

and this photo appeared in one of its issues.

Some of these photos almost look more like dancing than wrestling,

but I won't argue the fine points.  I just like them.

This one looks like a full on pummeling is about to take place, but it came 

to me from a well curated university collection of wrestling photos.

"Put your head on my shoulder."

Solitary Nude Soldiers

Most of my collection of military nudes consists of groups of men, sometimes large groups.  Today I am featuring some military men who seem to have ditched their kit solo.  We start with one that I think might be Vietnam Era, but the medallion doesn't look like a standard dogtag . . .

unless it it covering up the dogtag . . . or he's Australian.  Anybody know?
Edited to add:  See comments for some dog tag discussion.

Mr. Scumbeast had this in the impeccably curated military section of his collection, so I'm 

including it.  He's either hailing a taxi, signaling someone, or imitating the Statue of Liberty.

Is this guy a real soldier?  I don't really care that much, but he does have the right cap.

What more do we need?

This looks like it was taken on some shell-blasted atoll in the World War II Pacific.

I find myself compelled to post this picture of a happy World War I German soldier from time to time for two reasons.  He keeps the chubby chasers happy, and he's so damn cute.

Friday Art, Part 2 - Work by Lynes' Friends French and Cadmus

Jared French and Paul Cadmus were close friends, collaborators, and confidantes of George Platt Lynes.  The first two were also lovers who lived in a very unconventional relationship from about 1938 to 1952 with French's wife Margaret.  So today's art will feature three works by each of the two, starting with  "Model, Unposed" by Jared French.  (Pardon the watermark.)

"Sleeping Nude" by Paul Cadmus is beautifully done.

This study of a bearded model by Jared French looks unfinished.

This is the first of two untitled, undated works by Paul Cadmus I'm posting today.

I immediately thought of ancient Egypt when I first saw 

this 1946 Jared French painting called "Learning."

This undated work by Cadmus is a personal favorite.

Friday Art, Part 1 - the Photographs of George Platt Lynes

George Platt Lynes' male nude work was so groundbreaking and controversial that it couldn't be published during his lifetime.  Fortunately he donated much of his archive to the Kinsey Institute, and we have an amazing body of work to admire.  Today I am posting some of his photos that I feel are particularly artistic, beginning with this dramatically lighted unknown model from 1936.

When I first published this Lynes photo of Chester Nielson a couple of years ago on my old tumblr, I thought Chester was looking at his reflection.  I have since learned that another model, James Ogler, was looking back at him through the almost clear, but slightly translucent, glass.

This 1937 photo of Alain Bouquillon incorporates architectural elements to achieve its artistic impact.  Later in his career Lynes used cutting edge lighting effects.

Lynes photographed Robert Rolf using a technique which I'm guessing combined glass and water.

There are too many interesting elements to name here.  Just enjoy it.

This is Charles Romans photographed in Lynes' apartment

 in a 1953 picture that incorporates art into art.

Boy Next Door, Nudist Style

Today we look at some nudists who are of the boy next door type.

We start with a nice looking young man and his skateboard.

The guy at right doesn't have tattoos.  Those marks on his shoulder are identifiers used at nudist gatherings to distinguish between competitors at beauty and athletic contests.

Something for the Bum Brigade.