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Taschen just released a special edition book chronicling the work of photographer James Bidgood. I need it.
Bidgood is the forefather and obvious inspiration for modern fantastical photographers Pierre et Gilles (another obsession) and David LaChapelle. He lent an obviously gay eye to mid-century physique photography and elevated it with storybook production design and hand-painted prints. He did this at a time when gay art was not only on the fringe but wasn't even considered art. He is a true pioneer and a talented one at that. While I think his successors have taken his aesthetic and improved upon it, mostly due to bigger budgets allowing a grander scale of sets and better models, I still love his work for its pure vision and dreamlike charm.
If you need my shipping address please let me know. At $29.99 my affection is going cheap these days.
More of Bidgood's work after the jump...
