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This site has several purposes. One of them is to expand the boundaries of physique photography. Our aim is to take the best outdoor color bodybuilding photos possible and constantly to improve our photographic abilities in terms of imagination and creativity. It would be presumptuous to think that we could have much effect on the standards of current bodybuilding magazine photography. In the old days of Ironman Magazine, we used to look forward to Mike Neveux's wonderful full-page color studio photos of bodybuilders. Most of what one sees in all the magazines these days is limited to standard competition shots and posed gym "grunt" shots, showing the pros baring their teeth while they exercise with massive weights. Many of the photographers taking these are technically far more accomplished than we are. But what they're devoting their time and energies to is dictated by editors. The approach is unimaginative and dead-end. Another purpose is to provide a record of several types of competitions. The NPC has established a policy of not allowing photographers to take photos for Web sites not associated with the major magazines. Check the NPC Web site for the rule about this. This policy effectively bars us from covering their shows. We also think it is not in the best interests of NPC competitors. In the age of the Internet, it greatly diminshes the exposure amateur bodybuilders can receive, and it tightens the control of the NPC over the careers of their athletes. But the NPC is not the only game in town. Between covering WBFA competitions, including the Mr. America, photographing a number of Musclemania shows, and shooting a few additional contests here and there, we have more than we can handle anyway. Another purpose of this site is to give bodybuilders of African descent the exposure they deserve, but are not getting in the media. You think there isn't media prejudice against Black bodybuilders? Black bodybuilders dominate the competitions, yet there's at least one high circulation magazine that simply doesn't print photos of Blacks who aren't so Van Diesel light that they cannot be recognized as African-American. Another magazine, pre-eminent in its category, has a deliberate editorial policy of not printing photos of any dark-skinned bodybuilder who is bald. The editor is said to claim that such use would alienate advertisers. Frankly, we think their policy just expresses outright prejudice. And how many Blacks do you see on the covers of bodybuilding magazines? About a year from now we're hoping to provide you with statistics to back up these assertions. At some point, our photography takes on political overtones. You won't find most of our most overtly political photos on this Web site. We're saving them for some serious photo exhibitions. But many viewers will find that by looking very carefully and by thinking as they look, they'll find that some of our photos contain meanings greater than superficial glances reveal. It isn't an accident that one serious critic has called our photos "an extension of the 1960s civil rights movement." Another purpose of this site is to help its featured athletes make contacts and reach out for work as personal trainers and advertising models. As this site grows, we're being seen by more and more people. We now receive between 12,000 and 20,000 hits a day from approximately 185 countries. We have begun to see growing interest in hiring the people on this web site for commercials, TV, videos, and print advertising. In a very real sense, musclephotos.com can be as effective a tool as any bodybuilder wishes to make it. We're also interested in seeking legitimate sponsors for bodybuilders on this site. In the last 12 months, we've found several who are now helping bodybuilders pursue their careers. We encourage suggestions and comments from all of our worldwide viewers. That's another way of saying that we'd reeally love to hear from you. E-mail us any time. |