Herbert Tobias, Part 1 - Attic Series

Today I am posting a two part series featuring the work of German photographer Herbert Tobias.  Part one is photos that are supposed to be part of a series from the mid-1970s called The Attic.  I say "supposed" because I've seen some of these with both different dates and titles on various websites.  In any case, I think they are some of Herr Tobias' best.  We start with a coquettish over the shoulder look from a model whom I've seen in other works by this artist. 

 

Attic II

I've see that expression on men in cruise bars before,

and finding it an attic seems strange.

 

Attic III

I like the use of the bare light bulb in this one.

 

Attic IV

I'm not certain that this image was meant to be included in the attic 

series as it doesn't really look like it was taken there.

It is, however, an attractive photograph.

 

Attic V

I can't tell if our model in the final attic photo is reaching

 for the light or hanging from a rafter.

 

Herbert Tobias, Part 2 - Assorted

Part two of our Herbert Tobias series is comprised of assorted works,

and we begin with Hamburg, 1972.

Joseph with Cannabis

This is Joseph with Cannabis from 1975.

 

Siegfried 1981

The hazy look in Siegfried 1981 is said to have been intentional on Herr Tobias' part.

 

Marlene Chansons

Herbert Tobias called this 1975 image Marlene Chansons mit Kerlen, which translates 

from German slang as Marlene Dietrich Songs with Guys.

 

Lazy Afternoon

Closing the set with Lazy Afternoon from 1980.

 

Bruce for Sale Day

As many of you know, I frequently visit vintage photo online auctions and resale websites.  Recently, hundreds of photos by Bruce of Los Angeles have been turning up, many of which I had not previously seen.  One site in particular was selling as many as 40 prints in a single lot without bothering to name a single model, and some of those guys are quite well known in hobbyist circles.  The part that surprises me most is that I've referred to this site in the past as well curated.  Not any more.  In any case, I'm posting ten of these that are new to me, six of which I have been able to identify.  We start with an unknown black model on a black background.  Wish I knew his name.

 

Bart Horne

Bart Horne is best known for a series of photos in which he posed 

with a bicycle, but I really like this different style photo.

 

Robert Weitknecht

I wish I could find some full frontals of Robert Weitknecht, but so far I've had no luck.

 

Bobby Kennedy

This 1964 photo shows Bobby Kennedy looking like he's holding the moon.

 

Skinny Sword

There's probably a name for that long skinny sword, but I don't know it.

I don't know the name of the model, either.

 

Mike Kevin

This 1971 photo shows Mike Kevin, a model who went on to work for Colt.

 

Statue

The model here looks like one of those black marble statues 

that I saw in Rome a couple of years ago.

 

Mark Nixon

Mark Nixon and his profound tan lines appears with a bamboo staff in this one.

 

Ball and Grass Mat

Two of Bruce Bellas' favorite props, a ball and his checkerboard grass mat, 

appear in this photo of a model whose identity I wasn't able to figure out.

 

Frank Affrunti

I'm not completely sure that out last Bruce for Sale model is by Bruce.  A search brought up the name Frank Affrunti, and this looks like him.  The problem?  All the other photos of Mr. Affrunti that I've been able to find are by Lon of New York.  This does, however, look like Bruce Bellas' work, and several models were known to have moved from New York to California in the 1950s.

 

Odds and Ends Again

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G-Rated

I got this handsome young man during the sack of tumblr.

 

Trio I

In the first of two trios in today's set, we see three guys on a rock.

 

Porn star

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Legs

Those of you who like legs will no doubt appreciate this one.

I keep looking at the two liquor bottles on the floor.

 

Majestic

Suddenly, I'm thinking "majestic."

 

Trio II

Why do two of these guys have their heads tilted?

 

 

AMG Lookalike

Is it just me, or does this one make you think of an AMG lookalike?

 

Poolside

I thought this poolside number might be amateur,

but if so, I think it was a talented amateur.

 

Puzzler

This last one puzzles me as to era.  The piled up hair might be a clue.