Manual labors

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Ready for my closeup

All photos copyright © by Paul Morris

Like many people during the recent great recession I faced a period of considerable unemployment. When I realized that state was likely to continue for the foreseeable future, one of my first thoughts — after the panic and anxiety attacks, of course — was to use the free time to travel. Events like the San Francisco's Up Your Alley street fair was definitely on the list, but as the time drew near I began to wonder about the financial wisdom of that choice.

At the same time, my federal unemployment money had run out. Fortunately, my home state has their own unemployment program, which I applied to. It has a more rigorous online questionnaire, requiring you to list four job contacts you've made each week.

I ought to be in pictures.  That got me thinking. Why not make some of those job contacts in San Francisco while on my trip? I immediately went online and applied to a couple of adult film companies. Lucikly, I got a call from Treasure Island Media right away. A phone and webcam interview was arranged and within days, they were talking about having me appear in a video shoot during my stay in the Bay Area. YES!

If you're familiar with much of the porn world, you already know that Treasure Island Media specializes in bareback videos, a fact that kept me from responding to them when they had approached me in the past. After all, this was still the pre-Truvada era. The issue came up in the interview, of course, but Nick, the casting director, explained that they could use me in some oral-only scenes so I wouldn't have to fuck without a condom. I readily agreed.

Fair play as foreplay.  My first shoot was to take place the afternoon of the fair. It seemed like a good plan. Although the threat of performance anxiety crossed my mind, I knew I would have all afternoon carousing with hot men at Dore Alley to get in the mood — deeply and thoroughly. At one point that day, a guy in the Powerhouse bar asked if I had ever done porn. I checked my watch. "Not for a couple of more hours," I replied.

At the appointed time, I walked the two blocks from the fair to studio offices. The place is normally closed on Sunday, but handsome and sexy Nick was there to greet me. He had me sign the proper forms and selected an empty area of the office for filming. These short scenes, I later learned, were to be used on their oral sex website (and possibly compiled into a DVD at some point). Nick was in charge of casting, directing, and filming all on his own.

Soon, the other party for the scene arrived. He looked familiar, although I couldn't place him from any specific porn I'd seen. Tan, muscular, handsome, with a shaved head and blindingly seductive smile, he was pretty much every gay man's fantasy. (At least the gay men I know.) He sported a well trimmed salt-and-pepper beard. Only later did I learn that he has done porn work for a number of studios, including Colt and Advocate Men, where he appears under such names as Nick Forte, Skip Piston, and others. (I think he uses the former name at Treasure Island, but I'll call him Skip to avoid confusion with the director.)

After some preliminaries, Nick began filming. I leaned against a wall while Skip knelt down, undid my belt, and opened my levis. His own jeans were already open and a raging boner was straining to break through his mesh jockstrap.

Without a doubt, Skip was an expert cocksucker . And it was even more erotic having our sexy camera man get so close to us and even put a supporting hand on me from time to time. It was terrifically hot, but of course it was still work. Knowing that we were making a video production affected how long Skip drew out the process, how much I showed my reactions, and so on. Consequently, it was impossible to completely get lost in the sensations as I might do otherwise. Despite that, I was of course very aroused, and eventually shot my load on Skip's tongue. After that, he went down on me again and continued to worship my cock until it was once again soft.

Nick gave us each a check, after which I left while Skip and Nick remained behind, apparently to do other shooting. I had "worked" less than an hour.

Take two.  Two days later I returned for a similar shoot. This time the office was bustling with more employees, but to shoot we used the office of the boss, who was not present. My coworker was a cute young man with a close-cropped beard and huge sexy hands. Again, I didn't recognize him at the time, but later learned his porn name was Marcus Iron (see adjacent photos), who also had a considerable porn career with a number of studios and whose image already occupied a certain amount of space on my hard drive at home.

Our director and videographer was to be Damon Dogg, one of Treasure Island's longtime stars (and incidentally a man who had sucked me off at their Folsom Street Fair booth a few years earlier). We were joined by an assistant who held a portable LED spotlight.

Again, I stood most of the time, with Marcus kneeling before me. He eventually got my pants around my ankles and had his own cock out, jacking as he serviced me. Like Skip (and Damon), he was brilliantly talented at his work! We proceeded with the fellatio and cock worship scene. Shortly after I came, Marcus shot his load all over my pants and shoes. At Damon's direction, he scooped up some of his own cum and smeared it on my cock, then went down on me again. Damon wanted him to lick my cum off the floor (he refused) or his own cum off my pants or shoes (he again declined, saying it was now cold).

I wiped off my pants the best I could, then put on my undies (which I had removed for the scene), knowing I would be walking through San Francisco with a damp denim crotch. This was one "walk of shame" I wouldn't mind. I collected my second check (same amount as before) and went on my merry way.

It's probably too crass to talk dollar amounts, but I will say that the first check alone more than covered my round-trip airfare to San Francisco. And since I stay with a friend and not in a hotel, the trip was already profitable. So the second check was all gravy. Or cream, as the case may be.

And that was it. No script, no story, no dialog, no lines, no rehearsals, no extras, no guy in a director's chair barking out orders. Just pure cocksucking fun from two gorgeous porn stars, except that it was caught on film.

And they pay me for this? Yes, plz. Where do I sign up for more?

Sunday in the park, engorged

Some lucky folks live in climates so warm that they can routinely stay naked much or all of the year. But if you're like me, living in a northern and cooler climate, you spend much of the winter longing for warmer days and warmer places. During those times, it helps to relive the good times, the summer days when one could be comfortably naked in the great outdoors.

And if you're like me, you can recall not just being naked outside, but naked in public. One of my most recent adventures in urban nudism took place last summer, when I strolled unashamed, nude from head to toe, through one of Seattle's most famous parks with a full view of the city — while giving the city a full view of me.

In some ways, this was more brazen than some of my other daylight dares: Unlike my day of nudity in Gas Works Park, there was no Bohemian public event to sanctioni such exposure. And unlike my naked walk through Seattle's arboretum, I wasn't lurking near a notorious gay cruising zone. Instead, I was balls out in a large, leash-free dog-walking park with a major biking and hiking trail running through it. The area also boasts one of the most scenic views of Seattle's skyline, making it a popular destination for photographers as well.

Fortunately, my photographer Andrew Adam Caldwell and I managed to steer clear of most park goers, though a couple of guys did walk by us, paying little attention. Luck and daring, not location or time of day, allowed me to be myself and make yet another statement about the value of being clothes free wherever and whenever you like.

If you'd care to share my nostalgia, check out the latest addition to the Nakedism photo gallery, Sunday in the park, engorged. Then drop me a line and let me know where you have been naked lately.

Chains of command

My delightfully huge bed (minus the current mattress) was acquired some years ago second hand from a neighbor who was an aficionado of BDSM. To each corner of the heavy wooden frame, he had attached sturdy eyelets for the purpose of anchoring restraints. Not long after becoming single, I attached chains to the top two corners, thinking they might come in useful now and then. But for the most part, they have served little purpose.

That all changed one Friday night in the summer of 2010.

I met M, a Canadian citizen from Vancouver, through Facebook about a year before and had been casually flirting with him on and off ever since. At some point he started showing more interest in meeting me, and as he needed a vacation, he took some time off work to visit. We talked on the phone several times, and I decided it was worth the risk to offer him lodging at my home for a couple of days.

When he arrived Friday night, I was pleasantly surprised. He looked at least as attractive and sexy as his photos, if not more so. Something of a bearded muscle boy clone, M stands 5 feet 8 inches tall, with broad muscular shoulders, shaved head, strong jaw, and furry tattooed pecs.

I picked him up from the bus station and, after an unexceptional meal at a neighborhood restaurant and a quick visit to a dance bar, we came back to my place and settled into some foreplay.

From the start, it was clear that one goal of his visit was serious sex play. I sometimes feel a little intimidated by situations where sexual performance is expected even before we meet. I tried to lower expectations with a few comments here and there, but I also knew that I was in for a penny, in for a pound, as they say. And I do mean pound.

M and I were already naked and going at it on my bed with the usual touching, kissing, and oral service when he mentioned that he liked to be restrained.

I took
a perverse
amusement in his
discomfort, knowing that
it also indicated a
kind of twisted
pleasure for
him.

"Oh really?" I asked. This would be interesting.

Before long, each of M's arms were chained to the bed corners, his legs free to curl up and back while my cock found his willing hole. Despite earlier concerns and the desensitizing aspect of condoms, my cock remained hard as I entered and repeated slammed into his ass. With every thrust, M screamed in pain and delight.

After a while, I told him I wanted to flip him over. He was able to do so, crossing his arms, without my releasing the chains. He bit the pillow and continued to scream as I pummeled his ass in this face-down position.

Every butt is different. With M, I was getting enough sensation to stay hard but not enough to approach orgasm. But we persisted just the same, fucking for a good hour, his screams getting louder by the minute. The chains having put me in complete control, I took a perverse amusement in his discomfort, knowing that it also indicated a kind of twisted pleasure for him.

By this time, it was quite late at night, and I can only wonder what thoughts were occurring my housemates in the room below. But no matter. I was on a mission.

Back in missionary position, M's ankles on my shoulders, I resumed fucking him, finally coming to a deeply satisfying orgasm. As I pulled out, he spontaneously asked me to empty the contents of the condom into his mouth. I did so, working the cum deeper into his mouth with my cock as he jacked himself into a screaming orgasm of his own.

We were both grinning — and panting — from gratified exhaustion when I released M from his bonds. We quickly readied for sleep, turned out the lights, and curled up like spoons for some well deserved rest.

Come here often?

For those who are looking for a public naked dare but are concerned about the risk, a good starter dare is to take off all your clothes, hop in your car, and drive through the nearest automated car wash. Some of these are now so automatic, you don't even have to talk to an attendant at all. But of course it's more fun if there is at least some chance of someone seeing you.

If that's too tame, kick it up a notch by stroking off while your car is getting washed off. Try to have an orgasm before the car wash is over. True, that can make things a little rushed, but hey it's a dare. It's more about the challenge than about edging.

I have done this particular dare at least four times. My favorite was when I met a handsome young man online to join me. We drove naked through heavy traffic to get to our destination. The attendant could tell we were obviously shirtless. I have no way of knowing if he could tell we were fully naked, but he seemed to have a mischievous smile on his face as he took our money and sent is through the roaring brushes, clothes, squirting soap, and spraying water. We were too preoccupied with the novelty of it all to get all the way to orgasm, but we knew we could always take care of that later.

Fortunately, I recorded one of my solo trips through the car wash at a later date. If you want to see the cleanup job and the happy ending, head over to our Naked Dare Theatre and enjoy a screening of Pressure Wash & Spit Polish.

Sextronics

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The rust of the story

Sitting atop a piece of land jutting into Seattle's Lake Union stands the remains of an Edwardian gasification plant, in operation for roughly the first half of the twentieth century. Today, as the centerpiece of Gas Works Park, it is part of the National Register of Historic Places, and the final destination of the hundreds of naked revelers that lead the annual Solstice parade.

As such, Gas Works stands as one of the few parks in the United States where, once a year at least, one can stroll around in broad daylight as naked as the day you were born.

But beyond the pleasures of simple nudism or even public exhibitionism, the experience of stripping naked in front of these ancient, rusting monoliths brings to mind fantasies of steampunk eroticism. Might a parallel world offer a Victorian factory of naked slaves? Is our naked wanderer the last survivor of a pandemic that brought technology to its knees while conveniently also eradicating textiles? Has a technological singularity created a mechanical intelligence that uses total nudity to keep its human subjects in line? Or is it merely the familiar dream — or nightmare — of find yourself at your job completely naked?

Let these and other fantasies fill your mind as you enjoy photographer Andrew Adam Caldwell's 2014 photo essay that we call Dream Factory, now showing in the Nakedism gallery of undraped art.

Barefoot nakedism

Although activities involving public nudity are always welcome to us nakedists, many of the participants are not technically naked. Cyclists in the World Naked Bike Ride events, runners in naked races, and even streakers very often wear some clothing, especially shoes. And of course you can't blame them for wanting to protect their feet from sharp terrain or rough bike pedals.

Still, to go out in public with nothing, not even shoes, is not only more brave and daring — it is also just more naked.

I learned this myself many years ago when attending a men's naked dance in my home town of Seattle. It was great fun hanging out with other naked men and letting our bare bodies sway to the music. But it wasn't until I took off my shoes and felt the hard dance floor on the soles of my bare feet, that I really felt connected to my nakedness and to my environment in a totally exposed and vulnerable way.

Indeed, I would venture to say that any nakedist activity — stripping games, nudism, CMNM, CFNM, naked dares, forced nudity, and more — becomes more intense and erotic when the naked individual is not only nude but barefoot.

For example, I'll never forget how my voyeuristic interest was peaked when, while riding my bike (nearly) naked at the Solstice Parade, I saw one man running alongside the many cyclists totally nude from head to toe. He didn't even have a bicycle on which to make an escape. But there he was, jogging along the hard pavement, his feet as bare as the rest of him. It was a hot sight to see.

Any nakedist
activity becomes
more intense and erotic
when the naked individual
is not only nude but
barefoot.

Fellow nakedist EB, who wrote an amazing account of his walking miles from his clothes stark naked, has voiced a similar sentiment. In a comment on that story, he wrote, "A few weeks after I did this walk I repeated the first part of it on a slightly different route but this time barefoot as well. Adds to the rush knowing I could not easily run."

I had a similar experience once when visiting Southern California. On a dare, four of us walked around the block naked, except for our shoes. It was a warm night, and almost too easy. So, after a couple of them had left, my remaining friend and I decided to do it again, this time in bare feet. It was much more satisfying, not only because of the elevated risk, but also because I felt more engrossed in the experience, feeling my bare skin touching the sidewalk every step of the way.

Finally, there are, of course, those foot fetishists who enjoy bare feet just for their own sake. Several years ago, as favor to one such friend, I took some naked selfies in a way that featured my feet prominently. In the spirit of barefoot nudism, I'm sharing them here on Nakedism for the first time, in a gallery call Feet First. Check it out, and the next time you decide to strip down outside, be sure that you also remove your shoes.

Daylight exposure

There are at least two kinds of naked dares. In the traditional dare, someone, be it friend or stranger, challenges you to get out of your comfort zone — and your clothes — and do something naked in an unusual and possibly risky place.

Then there is the self-dare, in which the nakedist determines his own naked behavior at a time and place of his own choosing.

On the face of it, the self-dare seems, well, less daring. After all, if you can choose your own risk level, why get naked anywhere but in a safe place?

That reasoning is suspect to be sure. Some people are so into naked dares that they might actually talk themselves into doing something even more daring than an outsider might ask.

Moreover, the self-dare allows a certain element that regular dares do not: spontaneity. One can be out about one's business with no thought of stripping in mind, when suddenly an opportunity presents itself. It may seem just safe enough to strip off on a moment's notice. But there is still risk involved as one can never control who may come along and spot you, naked, in a public place.

Such was the situation I found myself last summer when I was out for a daylight photo shoot with photographer Andrew Adam Caldwell. The plan was to get naked in the Washington State Arboretum, a public park, underneath some freeway on ramps. The area was known to be a gay cruising ground, and therefore relatively safe for nude photos.

But when I saw how quiet the park was — at the moment anyway — I chose to stroll away from the "safe" cruising area and walk underneath the freeway ramps, in full view of the portions of the park where people walk their dogs and boaters paddle by. And so I did, my semierect cock bouncing along, and bare feet padding along rocky ground that would have made it difficult to run for cover. Finally I completed the dare with a full-on public masturbation session.

Was I seen? Yes, but I'll never be sure by how many. We saw a canoe go by, and more than one person walked past us not very far away. At least one person (apparently quite interested) hung around the whole time watching me do my cock walk.

Fortunately for us all, the self-dare was caught on video and is now available for your viewing pleasure in our Naked Dare Theater. So go ahead, check out Bare assed in the park. And then drop us a line and let us know of your wildest self-dare.

Lifting naked

No matter what you think about public or shared nudity, there are some occasions on which most people agree that nudity is appropriate: A shower, for example, or bathing. Swimming is a bit more controversial, but even then most people agree that apparel should be kept to a minimum.

So why not working out? Why wear an abundance of fabric when you are just going to overheat yourself with vigorous exercise? And why not take the logic to its conclusion and work out in the nude? The ancient Greeks did, of course, and we still celebrate the artistic representations of the bodies these workouts produced.

All of which is ground we covered here at Nakedism, first when we celebrated the original tradition of the Naked Olympian, and again with our video exploration of a naked dare in a public gymnasium. Now we bring you a photo set from that daring video. Photographer Andrew Adam Caldwell was on hand to document my buck naked weight lifting and stripped bare cardio, much of it with a full-on boner.

Whether you like naked dares, public nudity, or just the very natural idea of getting your exercise without a lot of clumsy clothing, check out this month's photos, Gym nasty in the Nakedism galleries. Then try a little naked workout of your own, even if you only move the muscles of your hand.

Update your desktop for the new year

January is traditionally a time of new beginnings — new resolutions, new tax planning, new hopes for a better year. So why not some spiffy new images to liven up your computer's background? Yes, that's right: It's time for more of Nakedism's own special brand of naked desktop wallpaper.

This time we bring you three variations on the theme of public nudity. The first celebrates the brazen exhibitionist who stands naked in broad daylight in a busy downtown setting, visible to the passing crowd. The others portray a more tentative exploration of public nudity. In another, our naked man is testing his own bravery or exploring the novelty of being naked where most are clothed. Still another might depict a more frightening (but no less erotic) possibility of public nudity in which the exposed man is now victim, having lost his clothes to a bet or naked dare. Or perhaps someone stripped him and abandoned him, forcing him to desperately find shelter where he won't be caught.

Whether these scenarios interest you or whether you just like seeing a naked man on your computer or tablet screen now and then, check out the latest downloadable images in Nakedism's wallpaper collection. Then click the link for your preferred size and use your browser's options to save it to your system or apply it directly to your screen background.

O horny night

Every December, Christians around the globe recount the story of poor lonely shepherds who received the fantastic visitation of an angelic messenger heralding the arrival of their messiah. The angel was shortly joined by an entire choir of heavenly beings.

The story is amazing on the face of it, of course. But it raises some seldom asked questions as well. That shepherds should stay out at night suggests that the weather was not particularly cold. And if they weren't cold, and if they were only in the company of their fellow men in the dark of night, one wonders how important it would have been to be covered by all those robes that religious art always depicts? Men will be men, and it's likely that those doing little more than watching sheep might need a little diversion, even if it were at their own hands.

Then there is the visionary experience itself. Have you ever noticed how many paintings and sculptures of religious ecstasy show people with their o-face on? These artists may have tapped into a greater truth, a profound connection between religious euphoria and sexual release.

It was with those thoughts in mind that photographer Adam Andrew Caldwell and I decided to explore the truly ecstatic nature of this mythic tale. In this view, the shepherds were not only in touch with the divine creation of their own bodies, but were brought to an even higher state of physical exultation by the erotic manifestation of a sensuous angel.

To see the results of this photographic meditation, strip down, head on over to the Nakedism photo collection, and invoke the gallery we call Come Ye Shepherds. And while you do, feel free to engage in a devotional ritual of your own.

The spooner the better

At Nakedism, we accept the common nudist belief that almost any life activity is more enjoyable when naked. But some naked doings are more fun than others. Take cuddling for instance. Is there anything more delicious than the skin-on-skin frisson of personal body contact and intertwined limbs with a companion than cuddling? And how much more intense that simple pleasure becomes when done free of the normally required clothing. It's one of life's most amazing but free and simple pleasures.

Given this wonderful fact, we decided one afternoon to make a short video about the simple pleasures of naked cuddling. In a world where nudity in film is almost always about hardcore sex, this seemed to be a good change of pace.

Of course, you know what they say about the best laid plans. When two naked friends being touching and holding, other ideas can arise. And when those two friends are naked... Well, the cuddling can be quite intense.

If you think you might agree, check out Cuddle Buddies, the newest video in Nakedism's Sexy Time Theatre. And maybe you'll be inspired to join in, perhaps by wrapping your hands around a favorite part and cuddling yourself to complete satisfaction.

The first man

For many years, as Halloween approached, I wanted to show up at a party as Adam, the legendary first man, whom Genesis tells us lived naked with his wife until, tempted by a serpent, they partook of the fruit of knowledge, making them ashamed of their nakedness and causing them to cover their genitals with leaves. Considering the other repressive parts of the Bible, I find the story of people living in blissful, shame-free nudity to be a wonderful image. And of course it's the perfect Halloween role for any nudist or exhibitionist.

To be truly effective as a costume, I knew I had to be as naked as legally possible. Flesh-colored undies or any sort of wrap-around for a leaf loin cloth spoiled that image to my way of thinking. Instead, my idea was to wear a sock over my genitals, secured by a silicon cock ring, and then attach a leaf to that. Finding just the right snake at a costume store also inspired me to overcome my own body shame and fulfill this long-held dream.

Because Adam is depicted as clean shaven, I eliminated my beard and shaved anywhere that might seem too suggestive. Then, at the appointed hour, best friend and Nakedism photographer-in-residence Andrew Caldwell (shown here in his costume as a ghoulish "Eternal Footman") joined me as we headed out for an evening of Halloween fun

In light of the
many repressive parts
of the Bible, the story of
people living in blissful,
shame-free nudity is
a wonderful
image.

Before that night, I had been concerned that I might not measure up to expectations for such an audacious costume. Thankfully, I quickly realized that my fears been baseless. I had a great time mingling with friends and meeting new ones. I even got a proposition or two and some quick makeout sessions with a few cute guys.

Naturally some rude and/or drunk people had to grab at the costume rather than simply ask how it was attached. But it was designed to be secure, and held up very well. Although, nervously, I did adjust it several times to make sure it was in place.

Of course, in the actual story, Adam didn't wear anything all until after eating the fruit. So before the party, Andrew and I met at his studio for a full-frontal consideration of Adam's natural state. Members can check out Andrew's photographic work from both occasions by visiting our latest photo set, Adam's bone, in Nakedism's photo gallery. Then drop us a line or add a comment below and tell us about the most naked Halloween costume you ever dared to try!

Alley of the balls

What urban location could be more fabled than the alley, that grimy slice of space between buildings, home to trash containers, drug deals, illicit sex, rape, rats, cats, and more?

For reasons like this, our mothers warned us to avoid alleys. In those dark slivers of urban decay, what might happen? A simple shortcut could suddenly turn into a mugging, with your attacker taking your watch, your money, your credit cards. But what if the bad guys don't stop there? Maybe they want to be sure you don't follow them. Maybe they order you to strip, and you suddenly find your assailants running away with every stitch of fabric you had on.

Or maybe your naked alley fantasy is a little less severe. You strip down for some quick playtime with a new friend only to discover some hobo has made off with the clothes you left in a neat little pile. What do you do now?

These are just a couple of the ideas I wanted to explore when Nakedism photographer in residence Andrew Adam Caldwell and I made our way to an inner city alley near a gay sex club for a midday photo shoot. Fortunately for me (the naked one), the alley was closed off to the public. But it was still a bit unnerving to stand by the exit door and hear the bustling footsteps of city dwellers walking by just inches from my nude body.

At one point I did peek out and invited a friendly face in. That gentleman wanted to do more than just look at me naked, however. But since he declined to be photographed, I declined to let him use my body. Fortunately, he left peacefully, choosing not to take advantage of my complete lack of protective apparel.

You, however, don't need to be so polite. You are free to ravish every inch of my bare cock, balls, and more with your eyes in this month's gallery, Alley Cock, now available in the Nakedism photo department. You'll see me helpless, naked, even barefoot.

Go ahead. Enjoy a little rape fantasy. I won't tell.

Riding bare

By now you've probably heard of the World Naked Bike ride, the annual event in which people in cities around the globe strip naked and ride in groups to raise awareness about oil dependence, body pride, and more. If you need a refresher course, check out the Nakedism blog post on the subject from a couple of years ago, Naked Riding 'Round the World.

"Bare as you dare" is the rule at these events, and more than once I have dropped trou in broad daylight to join the other cyclists for this, one of the most public naked events of the year. Although WNBR is not normally considered a naked dare, it certainly takes daring to be so naked in public, riding through and by crowds of clothed people. And no doubt some people have joined the ride just on a dare from friends.

You can see my participation in this event in the 2012 gallery of photos called Naked for a Cause. But this month we add video to that narrative. Although balls out naked, I remained behind the camera this time, recording many moments of Seattle's 2012 ride from my handlebar-mounted camera. If you're curious, feel free to check out Bicycles Built for Nudes, now playing in our Naked Dare Theater.

Coming out of the clothes closet

Meet Nakedism's newest discovery Patrick David. Patrick comes to us from Canada, where he's been exploring his nakedist tendencies. "As an exhibitionist and nudist, I find any chance to show it off exciting," he told us. "Although I've always known I was an exhibitionist (and nudist), it wasn't always easy to explore in a country with more winter than anything else."

"But when the opportunity presented itself, I did what was possible to show it all," Patrick continues. "At pools I would wear speedos and roll down the waist band and tuck up the legs virtually turning it into a thong. When my buddies and I would go camping, I'd be nude the minute we got there until it was time to go home. And now as a retired guy I can afford the time to visit the nude beach south of the city at my leisure.

"But my real passion is public nudity. After retirement I had time on my hands and decided to get into competitive bodybuilding. Although you are only 'nearly nude' on stage, it's still a great feeling to show it off. It feeds my need to be naked in as much as you can in public.

“The ultimate chance to be nude in public was yet to come. Turns out a good friend became the model coordinator for a local life drawing group. So he thought a competitive bodybuilder would make a good model — assuming I would be comfortable nude in front of people. Little did he know how much I had been looking for the opportunity to take my nudism to a new level!

"I've perfected that craft and now get a lot of calls to work as a nude model. It doesn't get much better!"

Nakedism's photo set of Patrick, now on display in the Nakedism gallery, include many of the poses he uses in my posing sessions. He's also working on a set of poses with two male models, which will take things to a new level. "That's something I'm excited to explore," he grins.

"My ultimate nude fantasy would be to be featured in a documentary on the life of a nude model," Patrick muses. "Can gay porn be far behind? I'd definitely be up for that."

We think that's a great idea and wish Patrick all the best in a sexy life without clothes.

Screw the looking glass

Sing, o muse, of the tale of Narcissus, handsome son of Cephissus and the Liriope, who spurned the love of others and found satisfaction only in the sight of his own reflected image!

Or so goes the myth. Today, the name of this self-centered man is applied to an egotistical obsession with one's own beauty and an unhealthy pride and selfishness generally.

At the same time, however, experts tell us that is good to love ourselves, that self-esteem and a strong self-image are signs of a healthy psyche.

Where do you stand? When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see? Are you willing to remove all your clothes for that reflection and study your own nakedness in admiration?

For a long time, I struggled to find myself attractive. Indeed, my forays into naked self-portraiture with my first digital camera were an attempt to pose myself in a way that would overcome some serious self-loathing and let me see myself in a positive light — literally. Years after beginning this hobby, I achieved what I consider a very positive milestone when I moved into an apartment with large floor-to-ceiling mirrors. There I discovered that I had improved my body and my attitude so much that I enjoyed jacking off to the sight of my own bare flesh and hard cock.

Of course, a healthy life is a balanced one. Narcissus took that same of self-admiration so far that he ignored others and eventually drowned chasing his own reflection.

As for me, I seldom masturbate before a mirror anymore, but I reserve the right to explore that possibility anytime the mood strikes. In fact, I did just that a few years back in the studio of photographer Andrew Adam Caldwell. We were preparing for photo shoot, but before I stepped under the studio lamps, I stopped to admire my form in a large mirror sitting in the back of the room. Andrew recorded that moment for you in a photo set called Narcissus, now featured in the Nakedism photo department.

I leave it up to you whether is is a healthy exercise or not. If you think it is, try finding a mirror of your own and embrace the Narcissus within.

Balance of power

Most of the time we assume that good, healthy sex acts represent an equal sharing between two people. Whether one is insertive or receptive, the assumed ideal is that each person is getting exactly what they want.

But in real life, as also in a lot of erotic fiction, there is often an imbalance of power, sometimes subtle, sometimes overt.

Take the issue of penetration, for example. In our heterosexist culture, the insertive partner is assumed to have more power over the one receiving. In BDSM stories, the cocksucker is assumed to be the submissive, the victim. This of course is an extension of male chauvinism and misogyny that assumes that anyone who takes the receptive or "female" role is weak. But does that really make sense? What could be more vulnerable for a man than to have his most sensitive organ within the teeth and jaws of another? One quick bite would quickly reveal who really had the power in that arrangement.

Then there is the issue of clothing. On the one hand, nudity is often portrayed as a symbol of power and control — as in the case of heroic statues or when exhibitionists terrorize shocked women. On the other, nudity is seen as the ultimate vulnerability — such as when prisoners stripped to reduce their resistance or when school boys are depantsed by bullies.

A powerful imbalance presents itself when when one person is naked and another clothed. And in our culture, the naked person, whether it be a patient with a clothed doctor or a naked pledge with clothed frat brothers, is often assumed to be the one with less power. Take that naked person outside, where they run the risk of being seen and arrested, and the vulnerability increases exponentially. Or so we assume.

The issues of control, power, and vulnerability are never far from the mind of a true nakedist. So we decided to play with some of these symbols and situations in our latest video, Naked for my cocksucker. Check it out in our Nakedism Video Theatre and decide for yourself: Is this a balanced arrangement? Or at any moment could one person find himself a kind of sexual victim? And if so, who would it be?

Down under

Observers of art and erotica often point out that a little clothing can be even more arousing than full-on nudity. When parts of the body are left to the imagination, the imagination runs wild.

That may be one reason that so many models are photographed in underwear or why a certain sports magazine is so successful with its swimsuit issue.

And it may also account for the popularity in many cities of underwear parties at gay bars.

Of course we also have the law to thank for underwear parties, as public nudity, even in a private club or bar, is still illegal in many cities of the world. Those of us who can't take advantage of "boots only" night in certain London clubs or "bare naked billiards" in certain Portland bars might still find some almost-naked pleasure in stripping down, at least partly, for a local undies night.

And once you have a group of men congregated in nothing but a few inches of sheer fabric, it's not uncommon for a little more than flirting to go on. In a dark corner of a bar, who knows what shorts may fall or parts flop out for some furtive mutual pleasure?

That, at least, is the theme behind this month's photo set. Sexy pal Gary returned for this hot collection, trying on as little as possible and ending up with even less. It's all waiting for you now in Underwear Party, the latest addition to Nakedism's growing collection of photo galleries.