Bryan B's Denny Denfield Photos II - Unknowns

Today's series comes to us compliments of Bryan B, and this time we have unknowns by Denny Denfield.  The first model is one I wish had done a lot more work.

My thanks to Bryan for his generosity!

 

Color and 3-D

Denny Denfield was one of the earliest physique photographers to do significant amounts of color work.  All the color shots in today's set have an additional feature, though.  They were all produced in a format that could be seen three dimensionally.  (The movie industry tried that in the 50s, too.)  There's a coffee table book of Mr. Denfield's 3-D work called "Comin' At Ya" that you can buy online.

 

Sword

Denny Denfield was not exempt from the 1950s physique photography use of sword props.

 

Duo

I'd love to go to the beach with these two.

 

3-D, Please

Of all the items from Denny Denfield's 3-D portfolio,

this may be the one I'd most like to see in format.

 

Pole

This model appears to be tossing a pole.  Maybe it's supposed to be a spear.

 

Derriere Pair

Denny Denfield's amateur status kept him from the legal traps that many of his professional peers faced.  Perhaps as a result, he didn't do all that many of the derriere photos that would pass the censors.  This magnificent color shot is a noteworthy example of what he could do in that regard.

 

Classic

I sense a Classical influence in this one.

 

Breathtaking

When I first opened the thumbnail and saw the full size version of this,

it literally took my breath away.  And it still does right now.

 

Classic Hair

Closing the Denny Denfield series with a fellow wearing a classic early to mid-1950s hair style.  When I go through my family albums of that period, which is often, I see it over and over.

Many thanks again to Bryan B for sharing today's photos!

 

PaJaMa Day

It's PaJaMa Collective day, and we start with a photo of Donald Windham

that ended up in the Smithsonian thanks to Margaret French's donation.

 

Jared French I

This Jared French drawing show his ability to depict 

the back muscles of an ordinary male.

 

Hoboken

I wasn't able to find a date for this photo of Jared French

taken in a leaded glass window in Hoboken, New Jersey.

 

George Tooker and Jared French

Provincetown was the location for this 1943

photo of George Tooker and Jared French.

 

Paul Cadmus I

The first of two Paul Cadmus drawings 

in today's set is crayon on paper

 

Smithsonian II

The model for this PaJaMa photo from the Smithsonian's collection is said to be John Butler.

 

Jared French II

This Jared French drawing is thought to be a study for a larger work.

 

Smithsonian III

Our third Smithsonian photo shows a model with a well formed backside.

 

Paul Cadmus II

Our second Paul Cadmus drawing has a date of 1943.

 

Smithsonian IV

Our final image is the fourth in today's series from Margaret Hoening French's donation to the Smithsonian.  I have at least half a dozen pictures of this model, but no name.

 

The Roaring Twenties

All our photos today are from the 1920s, and we start 

with a young man pulling on something.

 

Reaching

This gaggle of men from 1929 appears to be reaching for something.  Maybe someone tossed a ball into the air.  Like the previous photo, I have a feeling it's FKK, but I have no proof.

 

Laure Albin-Guillot

The soft focus is intentional in this 1927 work by Laure Albin-Guillot.

 

George Hoyningen-Huene

I find the composition and posing of this 1929 photo by George Hoyningen-Huene to be quite good 

and bit ahead of its time.  An original print sold at over four times the reserve auction price.

 

 

1928

All the info that came with this one was a year, 1928.  It reminds me 

of George Platt Lynes' work, but I know it isn't his.

 

Roi Partridge and John Butler

Imogen Cunningham took this 1925 photo of her husband Roi Partridge and John Butler, both artists.  Despite what many have described as "chemistry" between the two men, there has never been any evidence that they were lovers.  Both of the men's memoires, leters, and personal papers describe a close working relationship and friendship, but not even a hint of a sexual component.  Oh,well.

 

"Nudity, Bodyculture, and Education."

These three naked Germans appeared in Adolf Koch's 1929 book, the title of which translates as "Nudity, Bodyculture, and Education."  The models and photographer are unknown.

 

Oiled

This is a relatively rare 1920s male nude by a female photographer, Edith Boeck.

It predates the use of oil in physique photography, making it even more unusual.

 

Der Eigene

This 1921 photo by Adolf Brand appeared in Der Eigene, a publication 

widely considered to be the first gay magazine.

 

Post Card

Our last 1920s item is a 1920 French post card.