Man with Meatball Subs, Washington, DC, 2014 from Chris Suspect’s Book Leather Boyz ©2020
Keeping true to my New Year's resolution of publishing 4 books in one year, I am very excited about the release of my second book for 2020 called Leather Boyz, the follow up to Gratuity Included.
This collection of images goes deep in its exploration of the gay BDSM scene. From puppy play to latex vacuum beds and everything in between, the 51 black and white images photographed over seven years from 2014 to 2020 serve as an anthropological study of the subculture’s people, codes, fashion, and practices.
This project started in 2013 when I was out doing street photography in Washington, DC, and happened upon two men in leather chaps. Sensing the potential for an image I followed them to a hotel near Capital Hill. The entrance and lobby were filled with people in various states of dress and undress. I felt like a fish out of water and was very intimidated by the scene in front of me. I took a few pictures and then left. The following year I came back with a friend who was familiar with this scene and that gave me the courage to shoot more freely. Over time and after sharing images with some of my subjects I felt more welcomed and have since pursued photographing this culture from the perspective of a documentarian, street photographer, and portraitist.
This first edition is only 150 copies and has a unique design featuring several gatefold spreads and a blue film dust jacket. Subsequent editions will not include the blue film design. All books purchased online are hand-numbered and signed. Preorders are open now and the book will ship on or around June 15.
The images in this post are part of my gay leather food sequence (yes there is a sense of humor in the book) and also depict how the gatefolds work. The cover, while a bit abstract, displays the symbol for BDSM.
