All about men! Photographer Rubendarío dedicated his  book "Mucho Macho" to the masculine side of men. In our interview he told us what virility really means to him.

Your first photo book is entitled "Mucho Macho". What amazes you about macho attitudes and virility?

I guess that, being grown up in a Latin country, I received an education full of barriers and restraints such as: "Boys don't cry" and "You must be strong in every aspect of your life" ... Not showing any feelings or affections, rejecting the "pink" colour, and so many things in that line of thought. It is possible that such an atmosphere launched my rebel side into a search for that sensitive side behind the strong facade of the macho, never forgetting the masculine, manly aspect. I guess that is the combination that catches my attention: "The sentitive macho".

I really like the clown pictures. What's the idea behind them? Do they have a special meaning for you?

This is a work that has been developed along many years, a series that consists of more than 100 pictures, to me that makes this work very special. I think that usually people see clowns as ugly, silly, funny, even threating characters. I dont find a clown very appealing myself, but I do like humour. I like people who make me laugh and have fun, somehow, my Erotiklowns are my personal proposal of how much sexy and erotic laughter can be.

Some of the pictures in "Mucho Macho" seem like a rather ironic winking contrast to the title. Lollipops, roses and catchy colors ? Why's that?

Ha ha ha! Yes, right to the same point. I specially like mixing feelings, the strength of a man with the fragility of a flower, or with the naivity of a lollipop ...

In your opinion: What makes a man a man?

In my opinion, this has nothing to do with his appearance or sexuality. I think this quality has much more to do with an attitude towards life, with the way you face problems, with the commitment you make with life and everything around.

Where do you find your models? What does a man need to catch your eye?

Some kind of sassy cheekiness in his eyes, an open smile, security in the way he moves and loads of manliness.

You are from Venezuela. Can you say something about the situation of gay men there? What is gay life like in Venezuela?

I come from Venezuela, however, I've been living away from my country for twenty years. Anything I can tell is based on my experience almost as a tourist whenever I visit the country.

I think that in Venezuela, just like in the rest of Latinamerican countries, there's a big taboo around the gay world. There's lack of information about it and it is still seen like some sort of illness or disfunction. I guess there's still a lot of intolerance towards the gay community and, as a consequence, a lack of rights.

How do you work? Do you like experiments, trying things out ? Or do you have a final idea of what a picture is supposed to look like, when you start?

Mostly, I have some sort of draft in my mind, usually very abstract. Once I get to the shooting I mix my mood, the light, what the model inspires to me, the way he sees what I want to get ... this way the work flows. I dont usually ask for specific poses, I rather suggest an attitude, a situation. This way I get what the models can give me not only in a physical aspect but energeticly speaking too.

For instance, in fashion shoots my work is more like film-making, I mean this in the sense that I "direct" my own story or film. I like to combine every different creative aspect of the crew members, not just their technical know-how but also their artistic visions ... make-up and hair stylists, dress stylist, and so on. This way the work grows up and we can start shooting.

What's the difference between shooting something like a record cover and shooting these "Machos" Does it make a difference in your approach?

Most significant difference: number of people in the set. When I do nude shootings me and my models are the only people on there. This means that I take full control of such aspects as make-up, hair and clothing ... Erotiklowns were made that way.

What are your plans for the future? Can we hope for another volume with gorgeous men?

Ha ha ha! I do hope "Muchos Machos" is just the first of a great number of books. I've been working as a photograher for 18 years now and I have a huge amount of pictures of men and good possibilities for many books. Honestly, I love my work and very often I just take pictures of someone only for the pleasure of having them in front of my camera. I guess it would take several books to show you all the gorgeous men I have shot, and, of course, life goes on and I keep on meeting new men, searching, imagining, dreaming and .... clicking!

posted in General, Interviews, Photography on 23.04.2010