Call for Photographers: "Bare Men: The Group Show" is Accepting Submissions

Bare Men: The Group Show 


On October 1, 2019 the male nude in photography will be celebrated.


Submissions are now open for the Bare Men: The Group Show exhibit to be held in New York City.


ENTER BY:
August 10, 2019


Bare Men: The Group Show is a photography exhibition of the male nude curated and presented by Abigail Ekue Photography. This exhibit will showcase photo imagery which celebrates all expressions of the male nude - sensuality, grace, strength, vulnerability and sexuality.


All genres of photography featuring the male nude will be considered -- classical, fine art, self portraits, fashion or glamour, erotic, outdoor/nature or urban, conceptual, dance et al.


Artists at any stage of their career can submit. POC and LGBTQ photographers are encouraged to submit their work.


INFO  +  SUBMIT  WORK: https://www.abigailekuephotography.com/bare-men-group-show


If you have any other questions, please contact for information.

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Bare Men on Zoomin TV

While I was in Houston this past April, I was interviewed and filmed for a new series produced by Zoomin.TV about Bare Men! It was first time being filmed while at work and to be interviewed on camera. I was asked about 20 questions about the series, male nudity, body image, my photography on the whole. It's interesting what they decided to go with for the final cut.



A huge thank you to the Bare Man who was willing to be filmed during our photo shoot and share his insight about participating in the Bare Men project.

The videographer who filmed us is Jason Osborne. We hit if off right away and he handled working with a nude man like a pro.

Repost from Abigail Ekue Photography

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Ask Abbie: How Do I Make Sure a Nude Shoot is Comfortable?

Me at work

That time a gay man asked a straight man to take naked photos of him...


Straight Shooter Asks:


Hi Abigail,

I have a guy who asked me to shoot him naked and I’ve never shot a nude before (apart from my ex girlfriend who was comfortable with me talking her pics) do you have any suggestions on how to make him comfortable ?

He’s actually gay so I don’t want it to create any problem with me shooting him, I’m totally fine with gay people and I wouldn’t mind if he was attracted to me. But how do I not create a tense environment?

Ps: I really like your work, I found it very personal and intriguing, you can capture a really profound side of people

SHE Rides 2018 Calendar

A friend said she was "down for a calendar" of my women biker portraits. A poll on Twitter yielded similar interest so I got to work on a layout.


This was around the same time images from the series were featured on Flavorwire. My under-the-radar personal project had made its first blip on the radar.


Now the SHE Rides calendar is here! It's a 2018, 12-month photo calendar featuring images from the 'SHE Rides' series. I wanted it to be a useful, but also fun calendar so I added the new and full moon for each month, national and religious holidays (Christian, Jewish, Islam, Hindu) and some of the quirky and weird holidays we've come to love - think National Chocolate Day, National No Bra Day, Sadie Hawkins Day, Pi Day, Left-Handers Day etc.


You can order the calendar at this link: 2018 SHE Rides Calendar

Bare Men Exhibit at the Erotic Heritage Museum

"Pierced", Abigail Ekue Photography, 8 x 12 in

This summer - June 1 to July 31 - Bare Men will be exhibited at the Erotic Heritage Museum in Las Vegas!



I sat on this news for almost a YEAR. I received word from the Erotic Heritage Museum curator in May 2016 that I'd be the 'Artist of the Month' at the museum -- and my work would be exhibited for 2 months!!

Exclusive Interview in HUF Magazine! Abigail Ekue: Author, Photographer, Artist, Provocateur

I'm pleased to announce that my exclusive interview in HUF Magazine is published in Issue #54. This summer I was pleasantly surprised to receive an email from the editor requesting the interview and obliged.



It was a fun interview. HUF asked about my first paid shoot and my most recent shoot and how they differed --

My first paid portrait shoot was a male nude shoot. It was for very little pay and the images were for a feminist artist (or painter, I don't remember) to use. I got to use the photos for my portfolio. Around the same time, I was hired to cover a community event. That shoot paid more. My most recent shoot was a shoot for my Bare Men series. It differed from my first paid shoot because I had tons more creative freedom and worked with a model who was comfortable with the terms of the series - visible face and full-frontal nudity. That allows the shoot to flow so much easier.

Smokers Wanted to Participate in "Lighting Up" Photo Series

I am revisiting my "Lighting Up" photo series and I need New Yorkers to participate!


What is it? A series of photos capturing people at that moment they light up. I've always been fascinated with that moment where it's only 'you and your flame'. Everyone has their own style - a flame fingerprint, if you will.

 

Shoot in My City, Abigail Ekue Photography

For the second half of 2016 (how is it the 2nd half of the year already??) and beyond, I will be combining my work and travel a lot more!


So I've a gotta question for you: 

Which cities should I visit for private photo shoots?

Get Bare Men on PAPER

In one of the mysteries of cyberspace, this interview disappeared from the PAPER magazine website. 

I discovered I couldn't discover the article while I was updating the links on my photography website and reached out to the writer to find out what's what. 

Abigail Ekue Photography Photo Shoot Marathon (AbbieSnapsPhotos)

On Saturday, July 16, I will be shooting all day in New York City. I have secured a location in Manhattan and am now booking shoots. The portrait, personality, and editorial shoots are open to any artist, entrepreneur, athlete, fitness professional, nudist, naturist who needs new branding images or anyone who wants professional photos of themselves.


I should clarify, this isn't a 24-hour marathon. Slots are limited! I do have the space booked all day but I also have considered time to eat and decompress between each shoot. Other than that, whatever we can create in an hour and 15 minutes is a-go!


Here are the details:

To Paula, From Bare Men

I welcome the direct notes and emails about Bare Men that I receive. To my relief, they are positive and supportive. Some people share their appreciation of the art, others are advocates of nudity, I hear from men who want to participate in the series, while others who contact me are explicit in their arousal upon viewing the photos.

A couple of the recent notes I've received recently:

"I was absolutely blown away by your Bare Men project and wanted to offer my sincere compliments. I found you on the website "Naked Men, Happy Women". It is a site I check out occasionally, and certainly your work just jumped right of the page! I do love your non-judgmental philosophy, not insisting on ideal or perfect body types. Your talent in this field is most evident!"

This one - Subject: Ekue's wisdom - I received from a man in the Midwest who was passionate about nudity the misconceptions surrounding it:

Abigail, I am a young man from Minnesota. Society deserves no apology for your support of nudity!!!

The human body is not indecent!!! It is a gift which provides opportunities for its occupants to pursue good lives. We all pretty much have the same bodies. We are born nude, we dress nude, we shower nude.....and under our clothes we are nude. Pornography also is absent when particular persons issue zero portrayal of sexual material (for arousal). 

Bare Men featured on Refinery29

Those who are not new to my blog or my work know I've been working on a male nude series, Bare Men, and that it's been a bit of a challenge getting my work exhibited. Who knew penis was so scary?

However...

I'm very excited that a major US-based media outlet has covered my series!  Please check out the latest piece on my male nude series, Bare Men, on Refinery29 -- 

12 Honest, Vulnerable (NSFW) Photos Of Naked Men

"In general, men don't need any more visibility in mainstream culture than they already have. But Bare Men strikes a different chord. Rather than exult the naked male form, Ekue normalizes and neutralizes it. These images don't attack or threaten us; rather, they put us in the position of voyeur, even intruder... After all, how often do we catch men in such a state? What changes when we see a man without his guard up, flaccid and imperfect? Stripped of everything from their clothes to their class, these subjects appear simply as men in their bodies."

The writer, Sara Coughlin did a wonderful job on the introduction, capturing the essence of the series and sharing her take on the images. As an artist, I also appreciate not being misquoted!

Abigail Ekue Photography in Atlanta and Las Vegas

shot in Piedmont Park, Atlanta GA

In December, Abigail Ekue Photography will be in Atlanta and Las Vegas!



From December 1 - 3, I am booking private portrait and nude shoots in Atlanta and Gwinnett County. All shoots done "on-location" meaning I come to you or we can meet at a location you'd like to do the shoot, indoor or outdoor.


Limited slots available for the "Show Them Who You Are", "Me, Myself & I" and "The Darker Side of Lust" packages. Book your shoot via my calendar by clicking here.

Bare Men featured at Autumnal: A Group Show

Some of you know about the uphill battle I've faced since starting my male nude series, Bare Men. But I've continued work on the series -- meeting and working with great men along the way and creating wonderful, thoughtful and provoking art.


On October 22, photographs from Bare Men will exhibited at Autumnal: a group show at arthouse.nyc. The opening reception is from 7 to 9 PM.

#AbbieSnapsPhotos in NYC! (UPDATED)

We've been in the grips of a humid summer here in NY. And I don't do humidity if I don't absolutely have to. I also know there are lots of other people like me and we all should be in a great mood to create some great photos. So I've changed the date of #AbbieSnapsPhotos. It will take place on Thursday, July 16.

Remember, you can always check the hashtag on Twitter for the latest updates!

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Want a freebie?

On Monday July 13, #AbbieSnapsPhotos around NYC. I'll tweet my location throughout the day using the hashtag #AbbieSnapsPhotos. Find me and get your photo taken! I will be in high-traffic areas as well as some quieter locales.

One shot deal, one press of the shutter. 

Summer Photo Deal from Abigail Ekue Photography

It's officially summer here in NYC!


What's gonna happen when Summer's Gone?


I know! You'll look back at your photos taken by Abigail Ekue Photography and relive every glorious moment.


$250 for a 2-hour portrait, lifestyle and/or branding shoot and you'll receive 10 high-res photos.


This deal is good for the summer and open to anyone in New York City, Jersey City, Hoboken and parts of Connecticut served by Metro North.

My First Solo Trip to Las Vegas

"You're the only person I know who goes to Vegas with plans to do all this other stuff besides the casinos," said my brother as I rattled on about what I was gonna do once I got to Las Vegas.


Don't get me wrong; give me a chunk of money and a hot streak and I'll gamble the night away and roll around naked in my winnings in the morning. I wanna be a whale; flying into McCarran International Airport on a private jet, driven to my villa and eat meals prepared by a personal chef.

But I can't resist the call of the other side. What's down that block? What's down that hole? What happened here 40 years ago?

So off I went to Las Vegas, camera in tow. Yes, I did The Strip and didn't care if I looked like the biggest tourist dork gazing upward most of the time and taking landmark selfies (1, 2, 3, 4). But I also had plans to walk along desert roads, experience the Las Vegas art scene, drink where the locals drink and channel my inner Danny Ocean.

#seemetakeover Includes Abigail Ekue Photography

This Thursday, July 24, SeeMe takes over 2 of the biggest billboards in Times Square - Express (9000 sq foot LED) and American Eagle (15,000 sq foot LED and 25 stories tall) - for the #seemetakeover.

WWE Wrestlemania 30 Press Conference in New York City

WWE Wrestlemania 30 Press Conference at the Hard Rock Cafe in
New York City

On April 1, in the heart of New York City's Times Square, the WWE held their WrestleMania 30 press conference at the Hard Rock Cafe. The event was hosted by Michael Cole and featured Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon, COO Paul "Triple H" Levesque, Daniel Bryan, John Cena, Randy Orton, Batista and the host of Wrestlemania 30, "The Immortal" Hulk Hogan.

WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan will host WrestleMania 30
in New Orleans, LA on April 6. 

WrestleMania 30 will take place on Sunday, April 6 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. 

Bare Men Preview (VIDEO)

Work continues on my male nude series, Bare Men. The book layout is at 90%. The images that will be featured in the solo exhibition are selected for the most part. But what was going to be the preview exhibit for my series has been cancelled. The images that were selected for the juried exhibition were pulled from the exhibit. The reason I was given was that the other artists did not want to share screens with me because my work would have to be seen along with theirs and they didn't want any of their guests to be offended.