Friends & Brothers. Adam Raphael. Softcover. HM Publishers. First edition 2004. 116 pages. 10.25" x 9.5". ISBN 0970802021.
Very good condition. The binding is square and tight. No creasing of the spine. The pages are clean, no markings, no creasing or tears. The covers are clean, very minimal wear / edge wear, 2 small circular discolorations? back cover lower left.
Free domestic shipping USPS Media Mail.
Touching and tender, and beautifully designed, what a dedicated display of youth this book is. It is a world of good-looking, sensual, yet innocent young men that Adam Raphael seems to capture in all of his photography. Where does he find all of these hot looking young guys? I am really impressed. It is a tribute to these young men that he immortalized them at the peak of their beauty and fleeting youth, a time that will not last forever. Ask any former model for the proof. It is also to these young guys' credit that they worked with a talented professional photographer like Adam Raphael to frame their beauty forever.
Following Adam's first book, "Friends", this is a welcome addition and new collection that includes more "Friends" and now "Brothers too." The sepia toned, color, and black and white images are printed on sepia-colored backgrounds and are beautifully photographed displaying these handsome young men wrestling, playing ball, enjoying a day the beach, and just having a good time. Adam has accomplished what he set out to do (be sure to read his foreword) capturing the innocence and beauty of these masculine & handsome young men at the peak of their athletic ability. What is intriguing about these photos is the playfulness of these young guys, who are naturally photogenic as they peel off their shirts to expose all the hard work they done in staying in shape and improving their bodies.
Adam is a gifted photographer and each book he publishes seems to get better and bigger. This book belongs in every serious collector's library, and in the hands of everyone who appreciates excellent photography and youthful beauty. A stunning achievement!
For those connoisseurs of fine photography who happened upon the refreshing work of Adam Raphael in his successful debut monograph FRIENDS, this new collection appropriately entitled FRIENDS & BROTHERS will come as no surprise. Raphael's vision of the male form differs from those of better-known photographers: he is more concerned with the vitality and natural beauty of his models than he is in creating dramatic, titillating portraits. And as a result his images capture more of the essence of youth, of the radiance of the young males at their most fit moment in life, that elusive but eloquent Walt Whitman Presence.
Working with primarily non- (or pre-!) professional models, Raphael avoids the practiced pose, opting for the transient moment of interaction both between groups of beautiful young men and between individuals and the photographer. At times he captures technical virtuosity as in #83 Sven Florida where the whiteness of the undershirt appears almost otherworldly against the more natural tonality of flesh and leather ball. In the opening portfolio #2 - 5 Brian & Gerard Florida, two men are at play on the beach in a captivating progressive motion of game that echoes Muybridge pioneering studies that have influenced artists for the past century. In #21 - 26 Justin, Sven & Curtis Florida and in # 61 - 63 Buddy & Paul Florida the joys and tenderness of male bonding is fresh and robust and never cloyingly sentimental. And as for sensual celebration of masculinity the closing portfolio of John New York is about as fine as it gets.
Adam Raphael grows as an artist with each book and each exhibition: FRIENDS & BROTHERS is satisfying on every level for the ever-growing wide audience for appreciation of the fleeting joys of the male form at its zenith.