There was a time, not so long ago, when the question, "Who is Venfield 8?" was perfectly legitimate.
We knew he was a male photographer, specializing in male erotic imagery. He was intentionally anonymous, and he was creating a whole new genre of male photography -- erotic, eye-widening shots that thrust you into the intimate perspective of face-to-dick (or ass) with his subjects.
These days, he's still anonymous, recently married to his partner of six years, and he's still challenging us with his incredible images, but thanks to his Tumblr and some viral images, his work is much more recognizable and he's been a little more accessible lately.
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| Benjamin Godfre |
I first was in touch with Venfield about a year ago, after writing him a simple "I love your work" email. He responded, and we've kind of been in touch ever since. Recently, he agreed to collaborate on this special post.
What started out as an interview project, quickly evolved. There's little you can ask a man who has been already answered what he can within the boundaries of anonymity and confidentiality. So, after a few standard background questions, this piece became a discussion about his art, his direction and more uniquely, about his favorite images.
Right out of the gate, I had to ask….why the anonymity? I wondered if he was already a well-known photographer? Was it another aspect to art and creativity? Or did he just want it that way?
The anonymity stems from a desire for creative freedom. Yes, I am somewhat well known as a photographer, but VENFIELD8 is a way to get away from others telling me what I can and cannot shoot. The funny thing is, is before, people spent a lot of time trying to figure out who I am - guessing all sorts of names, but now, the work speaks for itself and stands on its own. The mystery has faded and now, replaced by expectation of a certain style of work.
Venfield's work is without a doubt, instantly recognizable and iconic. He has a gift for taking pop culture and marrying it with his signature style. One of my favorite series (and I know I'm not alone here) is the Designer Dick series. You know the one...up close and personal shots of men with the logos of famous fashion houses emblazoned on their cocks. One wonders if any of those luxury brands start screaming about infringement, but that hasn't been the case:
With the Designer Dicks, the fashion houses haven't complained. One prominent designer even requested one, and over at LV, I have been told that Marc Jacobs had the LV one printed out and hanging around the office. The thing is, I am not slandering the brands - they are never negative or making fun of the brand. Well, ok - maybe Hello Kitty being the exception...hahaha - but really, I try to make these "what if?" extensions of the advertising campaigns, and no malice is intended. The brands get to look at a nice cock shot - and who doesn't want the free advertising? Its win win for the brands...
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| Designer Dick, Balenciaga 2013 |
"Of all the Designer Dicks, I find this one the most elegant. There is just something about the gold metallic against the graphic black and white shapes. The drip of semen has proven to be somewhat controversial, but I find it perfectly appropriate and natural. It is sexy and intriguing. It is nothing like the way the concept for the shot was envisioned, but the end result turned out so much more beautiful. It was the model's first time, and he was amazing in front of the camera. So handsome, so creative and so obviously gifted...."
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| Vic Rocco |
Beefy model Vic Rocco worked with Venfield on the DD series and had this to say about what differentiates him from other photographers, "I like how he can take one aspect, such as a designer's concept and put his own spin on it... and I am proud to be a part of that. I have worked with many photographers that do the usual point and shoot the man in front of the lens all naked, but he brings new concepts into the art... Another thing that he does is zeros in on a certain body part and in doing that makes you want to see more of what could be that isn't being shown, since the thing shot is so delicious."
The Candy Ass series is also very well known and recognizable. Men's buttholes "sweetened up" in every way imaginable, from topped with whipped cream to Neapolitan "flavored" finishes, Venfield addressed a very real objection from his viewers:
The first of my series, Essence Masculine (the faux cologne ads) feature a man bent over showing his ass - and the feedback was great - except some people asked why I wouldn't use a smooth, more "fashion" ass - which I thought was ridiculous. I love all mens bodies, but a hairy ass is, to me - the most beautiful. The sexiest, the most desirable. But i was amazed at how many people were turned off my it. So, I figured, what if I "candy" coated them to make them more palatable for people? Sort of a cynical response to something that is already beautiful and natural. That was the first one, then I got so many requests to do more, so the series was born.
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| Candy Ass #2, 2013 |
"I saw this model across the beach in Hawaii and was instantly drawn. I like nothing more than a beautiful hairy ass, and the color orange is my favorite, so this to me, is an instant classic. I love the subtle curls artfully beckoning the viewer closer... one could get lost in there."
I reached out to Matt from BoyCulture for his take on Ven's vision and approach to his art. "I think Venfield 8's work is unique in that it's like sensual, but unerotic, eye candy with an unexpected portion of brain food. He's making comments on sexuality, the male ego and the fetishization of fashion, and doing so with great humor."
Fans of Venfield will know that it's not all cock and tails. One of his favorites:
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| Beauty Is No Guarantee, 2013 |
"I love the tropical saturated colors that run contrast to the desolate and grungy back alley location. The dichotomy of the beautiful, perfect specimen of masculine beauty in such an unglamorous environment is somewhat cliched, but here, I find the concept of the currency of beauty very fascinating.
To me, this picture raises more questions then it gives answers, and I like t
Venfield 8's most recent project, MOONR8KR, sees the transition from still photography to moving pictures.
Furry hunk Jon Galt (and partner to Vic Rocco of two years) was part of the project. "While the first time is one you always remember I have to say working with Venfield on the Moonr8ker short film was the ultimate experience...[It's]so beautiful and mysterious and alien it captures the beauty of the male form with an interesting story about the birth of a new alien on earth. I was honored to have been part of the that project and absolutely LOVE the images that were created from it."
Lisp: What inspired the desire to do a movie? Was it just a natural progression from still photography into living, breathing images, or is there a more significant purpose?
V8: For me, translating the Venfield 8 aesthetic into the moving image was always a challenge that I wanted to try. I have done various films in my career, but with Venfield 8 I usually work in the single shot genre - always trying to make my point photographically with just one chance. With a film, you have to keep it moving and interesting, so hopefully I have done that...
Lisp: Is the stormtrooper the protagonist in moonr8kr? I feel like we're witnessing the "birth" of a hero, or maybe even a villain? ...The story seems to take place on a deserted, desolate and sandy world...much like Star Wars' Tatooine....am I detecting a theme?
V8: Moonr8kr is the name of the titular character. He is not so much of a hero or villain, but more of an observer. As we see what he sees, as the journey carries on, he will be seen as a messenger. But he is also a reflection - so there is a bit of hero and villain inside him, just like there exists in all of us....The desert was chosen for Moonr8kr's birth, not out of any Star Wars reference, but out of its inherent graphic nature. Moonr8kr will soon find himself in all sorts of environments - some alien, some mundane.
Lisp: I love the stormtrooper mask...it's another pop culture moment married with erotic photography...what inspired this? It's fucking gorgeous!
V8: I love the mask too.I was inspired by Damian Hirst's For the Love of God - in which he took a human skull, dipped it in platinum and then studded it completely with a few million dollars worth of diamonds. It is staggeringly beautiful, but a bit sinister. For Moonr8kr, I wanted the same recognizably as a human skull, something iconic and interesting. The Stormtrooper just made sense, because he represents the everyman, is fictional, but is seen as nameless, anonymous ( like me ) and the fact that he is essentially cloned and always part of something bigger ( usually nefarious) was intriguing. Underneath the mask, there is a story. And this one stands out - not that he is really a Stormtrooper in my eyes. He is something otherworldly - different. The mask is authentic, then covered in several thousand dollars worth of Swarovski Crystals each individually applied. It is a process that took months. I think the result is beautiful, new, and quite chic.
In case you missed it, here's the first installment of the MOONR8KR series:
I feel confident suggesting that we've seen only the beginning of what this intensely talented photographer has to offer, and he's going to keep giving it to us in the familiar air of anonymity that he seems to have mastered.
I've enjoyed my conversations with Venfield, but I'll close with something that BoyCulture's Matt said, "My experience of Venfield 8 as a person is that he's intelligent, loyal, provocative and intensely creative, but without any drama. That, in and of itself, is a form of art. Or a form of magic."
Stay tuned for the next wave of his magic wand! Here's a hint:
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