My Nude Model, Richard Poplawski, The Pittsburgh Cop Killer

I’ve taken a bit of a hiatus from photography for a few months due to a recent tragedy

One of my models, Richard Poplawski, murdered 3 police officers in cold blood in his home a few months back, after an argument with his mother about his dog.

This excerpt is from an article on WTAE Channel 4’s website (the full article can be found here)

PITTSBURGH — The man accused of fatally shooting three Pittsburgh police officers and injuring two others was alternately described by friends as “an easygoing, fun-loving guy” and a known gun enthusiast who was prepared to die after he woke up on a bright spring Saturday morning.

Richard Poplawski photo from Pittsburgh police.
Richard “Pop” Poplawski was moved Sunday night around 10:30 p.m. from UPMC Presbyterian to the Allegheny County Jail, where he will remain held without bond pending a preliminary hearing.

Between volleys of gunfire at his Stanton Heights home, Poplawski, 22, was apparently calling friends and family.
“He just told my nephew, Billy, that he was shot twice — one in the arm, once in the leg,” aunt Marianne Klimczyk told WTAE Channel 4’s Bob Mayo. “He just told him to tell everybody that ‘I love them’ because he didn’t think that he was going to get out of there alive.”

Some realities have set in — like you really have no idea what someone sitting across from you is capable of.  Another reality is that life really is taken for granted.  Another is that things aren’t always what they seem.

After the incident, I wondered for months if I should release the photos.  I wondered if I could help to communicate who Rich Poplawski was, how he presented himself and how he viewed himself in an effort to help a stunned community and city better understand how and why Rich could have performed such an awful crime.  I wondered if I could use the artwork as a vehicle to provide financial support to the families who are suffering from their losses.

I have a pretty elaborate file on Rich — which includes all of the following:

• Fully signature-released access to several hundred nude photos of Rich Poplawski
• Hand writing samples complete with signature, printed name and address
• Personal emails detailing intimate information about Rich – from his own perspective about:

Fully signature-released access to digitally personally-taken self portrait

His work in adult entertainment

His comfort level with nudity

His personal art interests and feelings toward art

His desire to be a part of my nude artwork

His self image and tattoos

• Photographs of his drivers license ID
• Typed raw notes from the personal interview with Rich about:

His personal expectations and objectives in the adult industry

His body art, tattoos, and how they relate to patriotism

Rich’s feelings about 9-1-1

Rich’s ego and self image

His confidence

Why he was in Pittsburgh and not in Florida

His sexual escapades

Details about his father and parents marriage

His academic interests

His career goals

What he likes best about his body

What he dislikes most about his body

Detailed feelings about his own: head, hair, eyes, face, lips, teeth, smile, chest, hands, arms, torso, v-line, penis, buttocks, quads, hamstrings, calves and feet

Media is difficult to work with though, and I didn’t want the release of my work with Rich to be a burden on the families or any other party involved.

Beyond that, I need to ensure that anything I release would be dedicated to fairly and competently presenting the persona of Rich Poplawski as he presented himself to me.  No “spin.”  I also needed to be sure the media would respectfully address the artwork that I do — positively portraying my name, brand and image at all times.  Finally, after a few offers from media, I opted to withdraw and completely disconnect for several months.  That time is over.  I am now back.

Regardless, even though I’m not certain if I’m going to release my work with Rich anytime soon, I will be doing more work with more models and I’m looking forward to it!

Nude Swimming (aka Skinny Dipping) Builds Self Esteem for Kids?

Apparently the youth of America are suffering from low self esteem. Many of them are not comfortable with themselfs, their identity, gender, sexuality, etc. From what I’ve been reading, the list goes on and on. Nudists believe they have the answer to some of the many questions posed.

This article, from the Pittsburgh Tribune but Based on a New York Times article, talks about a “summer nudie camp for kids”
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_140985.html

According to The Times article, parents say the camp promotes a healthy body image among kids and teens. Nudists believe, after all, that the body is nothing to be ashamed of and we should all be more comfortable with who we are.

Apparently The New York Times reports that the American Association for Nude Recreation has begun a nationwide expansion of summer camps for nudists aged 11 to 18. While this club is expanding to promote nude swimming, on the other side of the coin, the clubs that have been promoting it for over a hundred years are now putting a stop to it. Yes, the Milwaukee Athletic Club just broke with its 121-year-old tradition and they now require men to wear suits when they swim – and some longtime swimmers aren’t happy about it.

The full article located at http://www.redorbit.com/news/oddities/23361/health_club_ends_nude_swimming_tradition/ explains that:

the club has maintained two pools: one for women and children, requiring suits, and the other for men only to swim laps, in the nude if they wished.

On the other side of the globe, there is “outrage over nude swimming” where parents are refusing to let their children swim in Levenshulme baths – because it’s being hired for naked male swimming sessions. This article gives a possible perspective of a threatened mother when this new social taboo is presented.

What’s so odd is that 40 years ago, nude swimming was the norm. It’s what was acceptable. Below, you can see that they even used to shower in groups before they jumped in the pool.

A paradigm shift has happened and I’m curious as to why? I really can’t help but wonder — of all the factors that have gone into this shift. The YMCAs used to enforce nude swimming and many, like the one below, even gyms right above or next to the pool. Between laps, guys would just head over and lift weights — yes, completely nude.

Boys used to even compete in the nude –

Some may wonder why I write about nudity so often. As a nude photographer, folks contact me constantly and say they want to shoot with me — but not completely nude. I understand their fears, but my blogging in many ways is an attempt to bring more understanding to the concept of acceptance of being involved in nude art.

Here are some more nude swimming photos I’ve found in my research:

Burton’s in “Love” with Nudity

Burton Snowboards released a line of “Love” snowboards featuring a nude Playboy model.  Their marketing pitch was:

Hi. My name is Love™ and I’m on the market for someone who’s looking to score serious action, no matter where they like to stick it. I enjoy laps through the park; long, hard grinds on my meaty Park Edges; followed by a good, hot waxing. Whether you’re hitting it from the front or the back, my mid wide shape, supple flex, and twin tips like it kinky. Keegan and Mikkel love riding me, I hope you will too.

As you could imagine, some didn’t take well to this.  I can’t imagine why…

The images weren’t even that graphic:

After a bit of controversy, Burton released this comment:

As a result of the opinions of an isolated group of individuals, we want to clarify where Burton stands on our board graphic artwork. We respect everyone’s right to his or her own opinion, and we also respect the right to protest. That said, here is our position: Burton supports freedom of artistic expression. Board graphics are artwork, and art can be offensive to some and inspiring to others. Snowboarding is a sport and a lifestyle where boundaries are pushed in terms of artwork, similar to the world of music, video games and movies. From Lange ski boot ads since the 1970’s featuring barely clothed women, to the Burton Love series, winter sports have a long history of tongue-in-cheek graphics and advertising. Our product development process is driven by riders, and when some of our pro riders asked for these graphics, we backed them. Burton is a global company, and these boards have been embraced and are a success around the world. We are not breaking any laws by creating these boards, and it is our sincere belief that these graphics do not condone or encourage violence towards women in any way.  Burton’s support of women, from entry level employees here in Burlington to our team riders on Olympic podiums, is unparalleled.  We, as a company, are immensely proud of our record here. We will keep these boards in the market and have no intention of recalling them.

Edgy bastards, eh?  I love it.

Naked Snowboarders?

I recently came across some photos of naked snowboarders. I’m intrigued.  As a snowboarder myself, I’m unsure as to both why and how would anyone would want to inflict these kinds of temperatures on their “skivvies.”  However, I’m not one to judge — if you’re a snowboarder and you want to do some nude photos, let’s talk.  Email me, who knows, we may have one more snow here in Western Pennsylvania.

Naked Roman!

I was in Rome vacationing and I came across this wonderfully sculpted ‘modelesque’ Roman 20-something.  It is often said that Rome wasn’t built in a day.  I subscribe to the idea that it is very difficult to accomplish anything substantial immediately.  Good things do come with time and bodies are sculpted in much the same way.   I shot this model a few years ago while traveling abroad.  He is a good example of a carefully sculpted body that only time and hard work can create.

I briefly spoke with him and through his broken understanding of my english, I was able to make it clear to him that he was going to come to my hotel and shoot some photos with me.  While that sounds oddly stalkerish and creepy here when I type it, I find that it is really quite a different experience when it is happening in person.  If you are comfortable in your own skin, and you are speaking to someone else of the same nature who has worked for years sculpting their body, this is actually a really easy conversation to have.

I’m quite nice and beings that I’m an athletic 20-something myself, perhaps it wasn’t the oddest request he’s ever received.   Also, considering that I don’t financially compensate my models, I had to explain that I would be giving him a copy of the work.  He was thrilled at the opportunity to be a model and have some professionally-taken photos done.  Apparently, in Rome, men are really proud of their bodies.  Nudity doesn’t seem to be nearly the big deal that it is in the States.  He was flattered and before I knew it we were in my hotel room, he was naked and we were shooting on location in the heart of beautiful Italia.

Admidetly, this was one of my first shoots with an “uncircumcized” man.  To date, I had not seen an uncircumsized penis.  I’m a little embarrased to admit that I thought something may have been wrong at first.  He later explained to me that most Europeans are not circumsized.  The only penises I had seen in gym classes through grade school and college had been circumsized.  At this point, this work really was becoming more and more of a “study” to me.  I was discovering and studying the physical-cultural differences in men between different countries at the young age of 22 or 23 at the time.

While the penis is such a guarded and sometimes taboo ‘member’ of the man’s anatomy, this was my first chance to really associate it with diversity and variety.  I guess I had overlooked most of them, I didn’t realize how different they really are.

The Nude Thinker

The thinker is one of my favorite pieces of art.  If you’ve never seen it, The Thinker (French: Le Penseur) is a bronze and marble sculpture by Auguste Rodin held in the Musée Rodin in Paris. It depicts a man in sober meditation battling with a powerful internal struggle. It is often used to represent philosophy.

Originally named The Poet, the piece was part of a commission by the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris to create a monumental portal to act as the door of the museum. Rodin based his theme on The Divine Comedy of Dante and entitled the portal The Gates of Hell. Each of the statues in the piece represented one of the main characters in the epic poem. The Thinker was originally meant to depict Dante in front of the Gates of Hell, pondering his great poem. (In the final sculpture, a miniature of the statue sits atop the gates, pondering the hellish fate of those beneath him.) The sculpture is nude, as Rodin wanted a heroic figure in the tradition of Michelangelo, to represent intellect as well as poetry.

Rodin made a first small plaster version around 1880. The first large-scale bronze cast was finished in 1902, but not presented to the public until 1904. It became the property of the city of Paris – thanks to a subscription organized by Rodin admirers – and was put in front of the Panthéon in 1906. In 1922, it was moved to the Hôtel Biron, which was transformed into a Rodin Museum.

More than any other Rodin sculpture, The Thinker moved into the popular imagination as an immediately recognizable icon of intellectual activity; consequently, it has been subject to endless satirical use. This started in Rodin’s lifetime.

In case you could not tell, I lifted that right out of Wikipedia.  The reason I’m focusing on The Thinker is because I recently came across an interesting photo as I was digging through my years of archives.  I started to go through some photos from one of my first shoots ever and I came across this one.

This model was one of my first and this photo is one of the first photos I really liked.  It reminds me of The Thinker, but in a 20th century point of view.

Months prior to the shoot, I read that this tattoo, the bio-hazard emblem, is often used in the gay scene to depict being HIV positive.  I remember talking to this individual about the tattoo and he was completely unaware of this at the time that he got the tattoo.  He had since heard this several times.  I guess that is part of the risk you take when you get a tattoo.  You never know what that symbol may already mean to some people or what it may mean to others in the future.  This reminded me of the Asian emblems that non-Asian language speakers (or readers) have tattooed on their body.  One might ‘think’ that folks would ‘think’ these lifetime decisions through more thoroughly, perhaps even do a little more research up front; however, with a little alcohol, cash and an hour or two to spare I guess you never know.

Regardless, the story of the tattoo, the remnants tied to one of my first shoots, and the photo that ultimately (and beautifully) correlates with the ‘Gates of Hell’ in today’s modern pop culture pushed me over the edge to write about it this morning.

Another reason why I primarily only photograph men

Today’s Pittsburgh Post Gazette had this story in it:  “Ohio University prof’s nude, topless photos trigger suit”
http://www.post-gazette.com/localnews/20030511photog0511p3.asp

ATHENS, Ohio — Eight years ago, Ohio University hired renowned

Larry Nighswander

photojournalist Larry Nighswander to direct its visual communications school, figuring his talent and industry contacts would add prestige to OU’s acclaimed communications program.

Larry Nighswander.On Monday, Nighswander was fired as director in the aftermath of a $3 million lawsuit filed by a student who says Nighswander used his position to coerce her into posing topless for him while they were alone in a locked campus studio.And in a locked safe in his law office near campus, OU special counsel James Sillery has stowed numerous photos of other students — completely nude or topless — that were confiscated from Nighswander.

For now, no one will reveal how many students appear in those digital photos, which were obtained from Nighswander’s Palm Pilot and copied onto a disk.

Because of the unknown facts, I can’t figure out if this guy was a monster, a chump or just plain shit out of luck.  I’m just unsure if the noted “sexual comments and touching” (detailed in the full story on the newspaper’s website) actually occurred. It comes down to ‘he said, she said.’  Therefore, doesn’t the ’she said’ usually win by default unless there is proof otherwise?  I’m not a lawyer, but you read stories about incidents like this all the time.  This is what scares the hell out of me when I receive emails from women asking me to shoot.  I feel like I would need to have to several assistants (aka witnesses) there for the entire shoot.  I guess I could fear that a man would do the same thing, but I don’t.  I believe that if I niche my brand, Tony Sand, in an area where I feel safe and if I become known as Pittsburgh’s Photographer of Nude Men, then there is some built in safety in the brand awareness that is created.

I feel bad for Larry, and I’m not sure I can even comment on whether professors should be allowed to shoot nude photos of their students.  I can see it as an abuse of power on one side but I can also see it as a great expression of art.  I feel bad for all parties involved and I really hope Larry did not hurt that girl.

Getting your six-pack back in shape after the holidays

Building Six Pack Abs

Many of the models I’ve worked with through the years have many tips and tricks as to how they keep their lean and sculpted bodies.  For instance, this model of mine, Sam, does 1000 crunches per day during his lunch hour.  I’ve tried to do this myself and I only made it to 500.  (and my stomach hurt for a few days)

After the holidays wind up and after we all “let things go” a little, there are a few tips and tricks to shedding that excess baggage created by all the holiday “splurging.”  Power yoga, running, biking — all the good old fashion cardio tricks seem to be the answer.  I’d say pick up a Men’s Health magazine and find a good regiment and stick to it.

There are also a few resources out there like The Abs Diet that Men’s Health puts out there.  As well as other programs like P90X and best-sellers like Body-For-Life.  These are all great resources that teach you good tips on eating and exercising.  Note that I did not say dieting and cardio.  Health is all about balance and that’s what I look for when I make recommendations to guys I work with.  Body-For-Life, p90X and The Ab Diet teach you balance.

Balance seems to be the key for many people.  Finding ways to eat healthy, push your body to a few physical limits and make sure you drink enough water, supplement and get enough sleep — you know, all the things your mother told you to do.  My mother and grandmother preached these sermons too; however, they don’t have six-packs though.

So as I prepare for my last holiday feast of the 2008 holiday season, I’ll also be planning my recovery workout and eating plan for first thing in the morning!  Best of luck to all of you in the New Year and stay in touch and let me know how you are doing with your workouts!

10-year-old boy against nude beaches?

I read a story today about a 10-year-old Kapti Coast boy who has taken action in a bid to stop other children from seeing naked men at their local beaches. 

Michael Hayward from Kenakena School was walking on Paraparaumu beach with his mum when they stumbled across a man sunbathing naked.

Horrified at what he saw he launched a petition and with 144 signatures on it – presented it to the Kapiti District Council on Friday.

Michael says families should not have to be exposed to naked men. 

More on the “‘Horrible’ sight of naked man spurs boy’s protest” story here, but I have to wonder if little 10 year old Michael is the culprit behind the petition, or could the real fuel to the fire be Michael’s mother — who “rang the police about the sunbather…”

My what people will do for press these days.  At least Michael got his 15 minutes.

Famous Nude Swimmers

 

Yet more information on my ongoing study of nudity in America… as well as my recent posts on “Gender Equality Kills Nude Swimming” and “Swimming Nude Was the Norm 30 Years Ago” –

Much of this detail on nude swimming came from Wikipedia:

In ancient and not so ancient times skinny dipping was the only method of swimming. Swimming suits had not been invented.

Benjamin Franklin, an avid swimmer, possessed a copy of the Art of Swimming by Melchisédech Thévenot, which featured illustrations of nude swimmers. Among other notable Americans, Presidents John Quincy Adams and Theodore Roosevelt are perhaps the best-known skinny-dippers. Quotations from the diary of Rev. Robert Francis Kilvert, an English skinny-dipper, in Cec Cinder’s The Nudist Idea, show the transition in the England of the 1870s from an acceptance of nude bathing to the mandatory use of bathing suits.

Skinny dipping was once very common in the U.S., especially for young boys and girls swimming in a secluded pond, swimming hole, or section of a river. Swimsuits were originally uncommon in these settings, as they were made out of materials such as wool that required extra care to deal with and were of limited practical benefit.

Although modern swimwear is more practical, skinny dipping remains a fairly common activity in rural areas, where an unwanted audience of outsiders is rather unlikely; yet it may be forbidden even there by law. Today, many swimmers in the U.S. limit their skinny dipping to private locations due to concerns about being nude in public.

Before the YMCA began to admit females in the early 1960s, swimming trunks were not even allowed in the pools, and high school swimming classes for boys sometimes had similar policies, citing the impracticality of providing and maintaining sanitary swimming gear and clogging swimming pools’ filtration systems with lint fibers from the swimsuits. These practices were common because of the perception that there was nothing wrong or sexual about seeing members of the same gender in the nude, especially in these indoor contexts among equals in ‘birthday suit uniform’.