Gerhard Riebicke Day

Gerhard Riebicke was one of the best interwar German photographers of nudes, both male and female.  For our purposes, of course,we will focus on the males, starting with this man on a beach.

 

Balls

Riebicke took a lot of pictures of men doing various things with balls.

You'll see several more photos of the sort today.

 

Exercising?

Not that it matters, but I'm guessing this is some sort of exercise.

 

Shower

I found this Riebicke photo of an older man showering last December.

 

Quintet

Here we have five young men working out with cannonballs.

Disclosure:  I removed yellowing from this one.

 

Riebicke and FKK

I may have posted this one in an FKK set a while back,

but I just found out it is both by Riebick and FKK.

 

"New" Version

I published a slightly different version of the photo a few years ago,

but I like the "new" one I recently found better because it's clearer.

 

Wrestlers

This is my favorite of the day.

 

Standing

Although technically not the best of Riebicke, I like this standing male.

 

Jump!

Ending the set with a man jumping, hopefully for joy.

 

Muybridge Panels Day

The last time I did a Muybridge series, it was single frames, so this time I will post 

photo sequences, some of which have matching images from different angles.  

We start with a pole vaulter from Animal Locomotion Plate 164.

 

Rock Heave

Muybridge photographed a number of men heaving various sized rocks,

and Plate 314 shows a man with a mustache and a small cap.

 

Dumbbell I

Plate 325 is the first of three showing men with dumbbells.

 

Dumbbell II

The model for Plate 326 shows us a fine backside while working a dumbbell.

 

Bucket I

The model for Plate 398 was shown sloshing a bucket of water from several viewpoints.

 

Bucket II

Plate 399 shows one of my favorite Muybridge models tossing a bucket of water.

 

Topsy Turvy I

In the first of two panels from Plate 488, a man is walking on his hands.

 

Dumbbells III

A second panel from Plate 488 features a third man working out with dumbbells.

 

Plate 519

Muybridge himself is generally thought to have posed naked here for Plate No. 519, as well as for number of others in his catalog.  One observer even says he was proud of his athletic body.

 

Topsy Turvy II

I don't know if our closing model from Plate No. 522 was an acrobat or contortionist.

I suppose he might have just a limber University of Pennsylvania student.

 

Bill Melby Day

Today is Bill Melby day, and we will see five photos by Don Whitman of Western Photography Guild, four by Bruce of Los Angeles, and one by an unknown.  We start with the only indoor shot 

of the day, and it is, perhaps surprisingly. by Mr. Whitman of WPG.

 

Bruce I

Our first photo of the day by Bruce of LA shows off Bill Melby's derriere on a beach.

 

WPG II

The pose for this Don Whitman photo of Bill Melby looks like it was adapted from his wrestling career.  That would make sense because Mr. Melby had stopped removing his chest hair 

when he transitioned from competitive bodybuilding to professional wrestling.

 

Bruce II

This woodland shot by Bruce of LA is one that I only recently acquired.

 

WPG III

Our only color image of the day is a classic Western Photography Guild location and pose.

 

Locker Room

This photo is said to have been made in the locker room 

of a wrestling venue where Bill Melby performed.

 

Bruce III

Initially, I had not photographer attribution for this beach photo of Mr. Melby,

but I subesqently saw some convincing signs that it is by Bruce of LA.

 

WPG IV

Don Whitman used what I call the "playing the castanets" pose for this one.

 

Bruce IV

I posted this Bruce of LA photo of Bill Melby over five years ago,

but I'm pretty sure you viewers won't mind a repeat.

 

WPG V

Closing the Bill Melby series with another amazing photo 

by Don Whitman of Western Photography Guild.