Beautiful

BeautifulMag Interview: Alex Minksy, Optimist

HOW EASY IT IS TO JUST GIVE IN TO WHAT LIFE THROWS AT YOU. TO THINK WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH THAT MAYBE NEXT TIME IT WILL BE BETTER. TO FORGET OR SIMPLY DENY THAT THERE ISN’T GOING TO BE A NEXT TIME. THAT THIS IS IT AND YOU BETTER MAKE THE BEST OF IT. IT IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO BE OPTIMISTIC. TO FIND SOMETHING GOOD IN THE BAD THINGS THAT HAPPEN AROUND US OR WITH US. SO DIFFICULT THAT NOT EVERYBODY CAN DO IT.

We knew about Alex Minsky. I mean, we had seen his photos and heard about his story. But when we received not one but two series of photos from him at the same time, shot by two different renowned photographers – Justin Monroe and Eric Schwabel – we decided to dig a bit deeper in Alex’ background. And we learned there was a story to tell here. And instead of doing it ourselves, we asked Alex to do it for us. And even though the questions we presented to Alex are not so new, the answers he gave and mostly how he gave them are the sparkle that shows the true character of this inspiring man.

Alex, welcome to BeautifulMag. In contrary to many other models, your journey has been quite exceptional. Let’s look a few years back. What made you decide to join the Marines?
Alex: Hey :) thanks for having me here and thanks for sharing my story in your magazine.
It really was not even a choice for me my mind was made up. When I was 18 years old I decided I wanted to join the military, and to me, the only choice was to join the Marine Corps.
 
Do you remember what went through your head when you were told you were going to be stationed in Afghanistan?
Alex: It was my job man. I knew I'd be going over seas when I joined, that never scared me or held me back at all.

When living your life in a warzone, probably taking every day as it came, did you have dreams of your future? Did you have a idea for yourself where you wanted to go in your life?
Alex: I was where I wanted to be. With my marines doing Marine Corps things.

Then one day disaster struck. Your truck hit an IED and you got injured. Severely. Can you tell us about this time in your life?
Alex: Crazy time in my life, and understandably so. But no man I'm sorry. I got hit in the head so hard that my body kind of went into "save me" mode and shut down. I was in a coma for 47 days. But I don't really have any memory at all of about 4 months.
 
Having seen pictures of you when you just joined the Marines, you have made quite a metamorphose. We are not just talking about the effect of the accident. You obviously embraced a passion for tattoos. What’s the story behind that?
Alex: Well I have had the passion to get covered in tattoos since I started getting them when I was 17. I had just been to busy with Marines stuff to get more than 4 or 5. But I always had that idea, to get completely blasted head to toe - ha ha. After I got out the chance came up to get a new one every single freaking week, so that's what I did. Every Tuesday. Bam bam getting’ tattooed.



Alex, you were scouted at a local gym. What went through your head when you were approached to model for Rufskin?
Alex: "What is this guy talking about?" And "this could be fun to try" – ha ha. That's it. Serious.
 
Since that first photography job you have become quite the icon and muse. How do you explain that?
Alex: I just share my story. Share what's going through my fxxked up head most days. And much to my amazement people like it. I think people like the fact that I'm just me being me most days. I have nothing to hide and hold nothing back. No shame.

In addition of being an inspiration for people with disabilities, you have also gathered a large gay fan base. How does that make you feel?
Alex: Love it. Love me some gay dudes.

You have worked with many photographers now, that all have very specific styles and that all must have offered specific experiences. One of them is Eric Schwabel, who has made name for himself as a celebrity and became quite a celebrity himself because of that. How did you experience your collaboration with him?
Alex: Yeah man, Eric is the bees knees :) <3 (He likes it when I do that, hearts and smiley faces - ha ha ha). I work with Eric often. We go well together I think. I've shot with him at least 6 or 7 times. All of which were very productive had good shots come out of it. I think so anyway.

We have seen you in many editorials and photographic series that vary from integer and classy to sexy and provocative. Is there anything you wouldn’t do?
Alex: That's kind of a personal question, don't you think? ☺ But no. Ha. There's nothing I wouldn't do. Keeping an open mind is very important to me.
 
What is next for Alex Minsky?
Alex: I'm going to Disneyland!! Just kidding I was just there like a month ago. Honestly, I don't know man. I'm keeping life simple at the moment. I'm taking each day as it comes. Really just trying not be to much of a knucklehead. –BM-

Optimist, Steampunk Cupid, Series of 3, Side A and Side B as well as Eric Schwabel’s portraits of Alex Minsky in the frame are available for purchase, with or without a personal signature from Alex Minsky. These prints alongside many other work from Eric Schwabel can be ordered at shop.schwabelstudio.com.

ERIC SCHWABEL | BEAUTIFULMAG
SHOP ERIC SCHWABEL | BEAUTIFULMAG
ALEX MINSKY | BEAUTIFULMAG

Beefcakes & Glamour Boys

A LOT HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT MODERN MALE PHOTOGRAPHY BUT IF WE ARE HONEST WE HAVE TO ADMIT, THE ART IS NOT THAT NEW. IN FACT ALREADY IN THE 1920’S FAMOUS ACTORS SUCH AS RUDOLPH VALENTINO AND RAMÓN NOVARRO WERE KNOWN TO USE PHOTOGRAPHY TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR PHYSICAL ENDOWMENTS. THOUGH FAR LESS FREQUENT AS THE CHEESECAKE LAYOUTS OF ACTRESSES, SOME MEN WERE BRAVE ENOUGH TO SHOW THEIR BEST ASSETS AND HAVE BEEN DOING SO ALL THROUGH THE 20TH CENTURY.

Over the last hundred years it has become more acceptable to see nude and semi-nude photos of men. Especially the past 20 years, male physique and fitness photography has become a real industry. Asides from that, men have become more aware of their own physical attraction and sex appeal and are no longer shy to show what they’ve got. Golden Czermak decided in 2011 that he wanted to explore more this fitness area of photography and has since then created a finger-licking portfolio of male model portraits.

Golden Czermak was born and raised in North Alabama and this is where he currently resides as well, after having lived a brief period in the United Kingdom. Golden’s passion for photography was born out of dire need for stock imagery while working as a graphic designer. Everyone active in that profession knows how many times one needs to fall back on image bank photographs and how difficult it is to find exactly what you need. Instead of spending hours in searching and a fortune in royalties, Golden decided to take things in his own hands and started to shoot his own images. Much cheaper that way and a guarantee you get exactly what you need.

After picking up the art, it became soon evident to Golden Czermak that there was more to photography than just shooting the imagery he needed for his graphic designs. So after he first concentrated on landscapes, plants and animals, Golden boldly took the next step and started shooting humans. Initially family and friends and eventually models. As mentioned earlier, in 2011 Golden decided to concentrate more on the fitness part of photography, which ultimately landed him a huge billboard assignment. Golden Czermak now knew he had made the right decision and opened in August 2012 his FuriousFotog in Athens, Alabama, concentrating on standard portraiture, event and wedding photography, but with a focus on fashion and fitness work.

Last month we introduced you to Golden Czermak’s work in a feature called Cowboys and Angels. Today we are happy to bring you some more of this very talented photographer from Athens, Alabama. The portraits need very little explanation. It is clear that Golden has embraced fitness photography and vice versa. With style and flair he presents us the crème de la crème of local and international fitness boys, and gives a new meaning to definitions such as beefcakes and glamour boys. If there would be one way to describe Golden Czermak’s men, we would simply call them golden boys. –BM-

GOLDEN CZERMAK | BEAUTIFULMAG

Stansted Boys Part 3 | George

UNTIL RECENTLY STANSTED WAS MOSTLY KNOWN FOR STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET. AN AIRPORT LOCATED IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT DISTRICT OF UTTLESFORD IN ESSEX, 48KM NORTH EAST OF CENTRAL LONDON. WHILE INTRODUCING YOU TO STANSTED WE PREDICTED THAT IT WOULDN’T BE BEFORE LONG THAT THIS NAME WOULD BECOME INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN. AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

Sometimes you read stories in the news that for one reason or the other put a thus far anonymous town on the world map. Often this happens due to dramatic events, but sometimes it is because of something nice and cheerful. As it is the case with Stansted today. Because this is the hometown of real life couple Charley and George.

We introduced you to Charley and George early March through a series of photos shot by Malemodel.nl photographer Gert Kist. At that time we predicted that these two handsome lads would put Stansted on the world map and that is exactly what they did. Enough so to follow up with a solo feature for Charley half April and now again an editorial dedicated to his second half George.

Now it wasn’t in Stansted that Gert Kist met Charley and George, but that is just a detail, isn’t it. In fact, the two Brits met the Dutch photographer earlier this year when they made their first visit to Dutch capital city Amsterdam. Amazingly so as both Charley and George travel quite a lot through Europe. Where Charley fills his days mostly being a financial advisor, George is a personal trainer and a well sought after model that brings him, and Charley, on regular trips to European destinations. Alas, Amsterdam was never part of their itinerary until recently. As mentioned before, George has quite some modeling experience under the belt, even though he is only 18 years old. And that experience shows in these sensual portraits shot by Gert Kist. George poses like a natural, turning and twisting in front of Gert’s camera to show off his best assets. With this solo set of George we close the Stansted series but we can not guarantee we will never feature the couple again. Let’s face it, they are just too yummy to ignore. –BM-

MALEMODEL.NL | BEAUTIFULMAG

And the winner is...

ROBERTO ARAUJO IS AN ACTOR AND AS AN ACTOR HE KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO MAKE A SMASHING FIRST IMPRESSION. IF YOU DON’T NOW ONE IS GOING TO NOTICE YOU. ROBERTO ARAUJO IS ALSO A PHOTOGRAPHER AND AS PHOTOGRAPHER HE KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BUILD UPON FIRST IMPRESSIONS. BECAUSE IT IS THAT ONE THING THAT MAKES THE IMPRESSION THAT GUARANTEES THAT YOUR NEXT SET STANDS OUT FROM ALL THE REST.

Award parties are hot. It doesn’t matter if it is the Emmys, Tony’s, Oscars or Golden Globes, each award festival is a reason for many to throw a party in glamour style. Offering ones guests to feel like a star for one night. Where champagne flows and no outfit is crazy enough. Expressive as he is, Roberto Araujo loves to host these kind of parties. And his New York circle of friends love to join.

Scott Lester only moved from Georgia to New York City a few months ago, but was able to settle in comfortably and make many friends. Roberto Araujo being one of them. So when Roberto decided to host one of his popular Award parties, this time dedicated to the Golden Globes, Scott was present. And all in the tradition of Award parties, Scott decided to make a splash, which he did wearing golden shoes. Which Roberto absolutely loved: “The shoes were a hit at the party and I jokingly said: "We need to do a photo shoot with those shoes. You just wearing the shoes."

Though starting as a joke, Roberto Araujo and Scott Lester actually started to play with the idea of a shoot based on Scott’s golden shoes. They talked about the idea and Roberto came up with the outfit. “Scott looks great wearing anything...or nothing at all. So we went through the whole range of him wearing the gold shorts with knee high socks to him wearing nothing but the gold shoes.” Roberto Araujo loves working with models who are not afraid of trying new and fun things. He has been very lucky to have found models who trust him and were willing and able to create fun, bright and sexy work. In Scott’s case it were the shoes that triggered the idea. It were the shoes that made the impression and that became the foundation of Roberto’s inspiration. And it looks like Roberto Araujo has once again a winner. –BM-

ROBERTO ARAUJO | BEAUTIFULMAG

BeautifulMag Cover Story | Villainy & Virtue

AFTER HE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL, ALEX MINSKY ASKED HIMSELF THE QUESTION MANY YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ASK. WHAT TO DO WITH THE REST OF HIS LIFE. ALEX WASN’T READY TO SETTLE DOWN. HE WAS IN SEARCH FOR ADVENTURE. AND SO HE SIGNED UP WITH THE US MARINE CORPS. A CHOICE THAT WOULD ALTER HIS LIFE PERMANENTLY.

Alex Minsky wanted adventure and he sure got it. After he joined the Marines he was sent to combat in Afghanistan. While on a midnight patrol there, Alex Minsky’s truck was hit by a homemade bomb. Alex was severely injured and soon realized that this was the beginning of his biggest adventure so far. Alex lost his leg and was told he would never be able to rejoin his men on the battlefield. Crushed by what happened to him Alex searched for comfort, which he found in alcohol. It went from bad to worse until events made him realize that he was on a self destructive path, and that wasn’t the adventure he had set out for. And so Alex fought and found the strength to come back.

Now, 24 yeas old, Alex Minsky is one of today’s most sought after male models. Martin Ryter, Michael Stokes, Eric Schwabel, Tom Cullis. They are some of the renowned photographers who already worked with the young veteran. And many are still lining up. Alex has learned to be positive and has come to realize his adventures have not ended yet. And that is how he arrived recently in the studio of Justin Monroe.

“This soldier is no joke,” Justin Monroe comments on his collaboration with Alex Minsky. “There are so many hot things about him. Studying his tattoos is like going to an amusement park. You want to follow everything line, color, and word until you have taken it all in. Just when you think your eyes have had enough, you are slapped in the face with his stacked body. Tattoos cover his entire body and he told me he was not going to stop until there was no skin left. I said “Alex, please do not tattoo your beautiful ass or face!” He just looked at me and laughed.” Villainy and Virtue is a song by Dead to Fall in which they pass judgment on fake people. “You pretend to be part of the flock and somehow you convinced us all that you are something you are not” is one of the phrases from the song. Alex Minsky is certainly not part of the flock. “He is one of the most unique individuals that I had the pleasure to have in front of my camera. There are so many things about Alex worth taking note of. He is a walking piece of art and a gay man’s wet dream. This 24 year old is a survivor. After surviving a terrible bombing incident in Iraq, where he lost his leg, he was in coma for 58 days and almost lost his life. He rebuilt his mind body and spirit from the ground up. Photographers everywhere are seeking him out and he is becoming the muse for many.”

Justin continues: “When he came to the shoot, he seemed a little shy but very eager. He was excited to see what madness I had in store for him. I told him that I was going to photograph him in a rhinestone skirt and jewels. He laughed and said, “Lets do it!” I get a sense that this boy likes to be crazy. I did not want to shoot him in the typical jock/athletic manner, which seems to be the current trend when it comes to Alex. He is much more than that and enjoys the creative process. The afternoon was very fun. His enthusiasm made time fly by. Not only was he extremely easy on the eyes, I feel like I made a new friend.” Alex Minsky went through hell and back and came out stronger. He learned to embrace life once again and that there are other adventures waiting for him. Not only is Alex a war hero. He is also a hero of life. –BM-

ALEX MINSKY | BEAUTIFULMAG
JUSTIN MONROE | BEAUTIFULMAG