Naked in the city

Risk. There is no question that you are inviting the real possibility of problems when you choose to violate society's rules of covering up. Even just taking off your shirt in the wrong situation can get you anything from angry looks to being thrown out the door.

But to get naked in public — really naked, completely bare-assed — takes the danger to an higher level.

It's a chance I've taken a number of times now, heading out with a photographer or other friend to pose for photos or just act on a dare. Often we choose to minimize the risk by going out after dark or on a holiday when few people are around. But sometimes I've even gotten buck naked (without even shoes) in broad daylight.

One such adventure took place just over a year ago. Talented photographyer JayBee took me to several urban locations, including a strip mall, a Krispy Kremes drive-in, a power substation, and a synagogue. I was standing where any passerby could see my 6-foot 5-inch frame completely bare from head to toe.

The electrical substation was particularly scary, as it lay in the middle of a bend in the road. I could hear traffic in the distance but not see it well enough to judge how close it was getting. It was on a normally busy road and I was fucking nervous. (You can easily tell that from the photos!) But I wanted to push myself to take the risk. And to show in a hopefully artful way, that there is more than one way to generate electricity.

And now it's time to get naked again, figuratively, as we post the results of this photo safari in our photo set for February: Naked in the city. As you look at the photos, ask yourself this question: Would you dare do the same?