Here's a quick video that shows what the final proof looks like for my new book Leather Boyz. Blue polyurethane cover, gatefold spreads and more. Give it a watch, it's pretty cool.
Leather Boyz in Production and Live Interview with the Miami Street Photography Festival /
The Leather Boyz print run is now in production. Here are some shots from my printer showing the printing and binding process. This book is going to rule! Also, I have more media interviews lined up that I will share later. But for now you can tune in on Instagram tomorrow at 1 pm for my livestream with @miamistreetphotographyfestival.
You can reserve your own copy here.
Leather Boyz - A Photo Book on the Gay BDSM Scene - Presales are Now Open! /
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.
Outerfocus Podcast presents What's in yer bag with Chris Suspect /
I know a lot of you gear heads have been dying to know what's in my camera bag, LOL. Well now you can find out! Some of my "tools of the trade" may surprise you ;)
A Visual Interview by Jesse Freeman on Japan Camera Hunter /
The High Heel Race, 17th and Corcoran Sts., NW, Washington, DC | © 2020 Chris Suspect
I woke up this morning to see my interview with Japan Camera Hunter is now public. I think this was my favorite interview to do. The author Jesse Freeman asks photographers to respond to his questions with photographs. This often can lead to very interesting answers. I did my best to infuse as much humor as possible into this one. (And no, elbows are not really my favorite body part!)