Herb Ritts Day II

When I posted my first Herb Ritts series back in January, several viewers expressed an interest in seeing more of his work.  Sorry to be so long, guys.  I'm pushing my 1985 cutoff for vintage out a few years for this set, but I don't think many will complain.  We start with an special perspective. 

 

Richard

A late 1950s car makes a nice backdrop for Richard Gere in this 1979 Herb Ritts photo.

 

Fred

Herb Ritts called this 1985 photo Fred's Back,

but I think his backside is actually the main item.

 

Sean

The only name given for this was "Sean, Hollywood, 1985."

We'll see another guy named Sean shortly.

 

Clay

I find the application effect quite striking in Clay on Mantle from 1988.

 

Fred and Dan

This is Fred and Dan Wrestling, Closeup Version from 1984.

 

Nude on a Log

The Getty Museum is the home of the original print 

of Male Nude on a Log, 1987.

 

Male Nude

My source only named this one from 1984 as the obvious "Male Nude."

 

Sir Sean

Herb Ritts photographed Sean Connery in 1987, thirteen years before he became Sir Sean.

 

Wrestling Torsos

Ending the Herb Ritts set with Wrestling Torsos, Version 1 from 1984.

 

Herb Ritts Day

Herb Ritts (1952-2002) was a remarkable photographer who more than one critic described as having the camera as an attachment to his body.  Like Richard Avedon, George Platt Lynes, Horst P. Horst, and others, he made most of his money doing fashion and celebrity work.  For our purposes, however, we will mainly be interested in his male nude and semi-nude photos.  Despite having survived HIV well into the time of successful drug treatments, Mr. Ritts sadly died from an ordinary strain of pneumonia that most 50 year olds would have shaken off.  His publicist said,  "He died of AIDS."

 

Fred

Our first male nude by Herb Ritts is Fred at Silverlake from 1984.

 

Djimon 1989

This is Djimon, Three-Quarter, 1989.

 

Torso with veil, 1985

 

Herb Ritts used a veil in this 1985 photo, but it doesn't really cover up much.

Torsos

Here we have Three Male Torsos from 1986.

 

Tony

Who knew a huge rope could be so sensuous?

This is Tony with a Rope, Los Angeles 1986.

 

Sphere

Man with a Sphere is from 1989.

 

Paul

Herb Ritts did a photo shoot at El Mirage Dry Lake in 1985 in which some of the shots were done

 with the models coated in clay from the mud flats.  This is Paul, Rear View.

 

Unnamed, 1989

This unnamed piece from 1989 is one of my favorites of the day.

 

Bubble Muscle

Our last Herb Ritts photograph of the set is Bubble Muscle from 1987.  Although I get 

a faint whiff of steroids from the model's thighs, it's still a work of art.