Steve Stearns

Strength and Flexibility

The male form is much like a fingerprint, unique and different from others in some aspect. And through this series I am capturing the "strength and flexibility of the male form" in fractions of a second.

My inspiration for the series came shortly after I took up yoga and pilates. As a visual learner, I sought out images that would help improve my understanding of these forms of exercise. But I was disappointed to find that most of the available information was geared toward women. Therefore, I decided to undertake this visual project of capturing the "strength and flexibility of the male form" doing various activities that require both power and resilience.

First and foremost, the motivation behind this series is to push my personal envelope and move further along in my journey as a photographer - all while having fun and learning from the experience. Through the process, I aspired to bring out the athleticism and sensuality of my subjects, as well as accentuate each individual's essence, assets, and style. Finally, this series is also about breaking down the stereotype that only women’s bodies are things of beauty.

Most of the models featured in this series are nude (or nearly nude), as I believe this is a necessity to focus attention on their strength, flexibility, and individuality.