But of course that’s not all: Seven chapters–clearly recognisable with a coloured register–take the reader on a trip through one of the most exciting cities in the world. Well structured maps and an intensively updated information section will safely lead the reader through all relevant city districts. Insider tips are highlighted, giving information on aspects which will be new even for the locals.

And since our resourceful editorial team isn’t satisfied with simply presenting a list of gay meeting places. Berlin von Hinten also tells Berlin’s history and Berlin’s stories. It gives extensive introductions to the most famous places, locations and districts in Berlin. If you want to get hold of a complete gay Berlin guide, you won’t be able to resist BERLIN VON HINTEN.

Patrick, what inspired your new cartoons?

My characters are a huge inspiration to me.  I love drawing them and their exploits.  With each new comic and illustration, I feel that I can further depict their lives, and share them with my readers and fans.  That is so important to me.

But beyond that, I really love the idea of pushing the erotic envelope.  An image doesn’t always have to push the blatantly sexual aspects, but I like to infuse as much sensuality into my artwork as I can. Sensuality and masculinity really can go hand in hand, and quite beautifully.  I am always inspired by this, and love to depict it every chance I get.

And what’s your message?

My goal when I draw comics or pin up art is always to entertain in a positive manner.  I like to give my readers and fans characters, stories and images they can feel good about.  If my work is used for escapism, then so much the better.

We live in such a crazy world and there are so many dangers out there. Sexually, you have to be very careful and play it safe in order to protect your own life and the life of your partners.  Sometimes real life can be a bit of a downer.  In my comics I like to depict sex without consequence.  I think it’s great for readers to have the opportunity to enjoy a fantasy that does not involve life or death decisions sexually speaking.  That being said, I always advocate safe sex and like to point out that my artwork is a fantasy… and even if there are no consequences attached to those fantasies it’s important to take care of yourself in real life.

What are your influences?

I grew up reading comic books. My family moved to British Columbia from Quebec Province in Canada when I was only five years old.  I learned to speak English by reading comics as a kid.  So from a very early age, comics have been my biggest influence.  The medium fascinates me.  The way you can tell a story through several small illustrations all one page is amazing to me, and incredibly exciting.  Likewise, I think it’s so wonderful the way you can tell an entire story with one single pin-up.

So when you consider how much I love comics, and the fantasy and science fiction aspects of pop culture, my work starts to make a lot of sense.

And then of course there is my love of the male form.  Men are beautiful, and the masculine physique is in my opinion, one of the most beautiful things in nature. For me it transcends the sexual aspects of the male physicality.  Sure I love the erotic nature of it, but first and foremost it’s the artful beauty of the male physique that drives me.  I love to capture that in any way I can.  I love to amplify it and to put it abashedly on display.  Society still has such a fear of male sexuality and sensuality.  Male nudity is still such a taboo to some.  I like to put it all out there, because it’s time these antiquated attitudes changed.

What does the title - “IlUSTrations” - mean to you?

With “IlLUSTrations” I wanted to emphasize the lustful aspect of my art.  It’s all about the erotic side of male physique, but it’s also me trying to make the statement that it’s okay to desire it.  Often, people are ashamed of their desires, of their lust, when really, there is nothing more natural.  We all want, we all need, and expressing that is very healthy.  Whether you express it by drawing your lust, or by viewing lustful images, or in some other healthy, exciting way, it’s all part of who we are.  For me this book is truly about embracing the hunger and being at peace with it, because it hasn’t always been the case.  It took me a long time to be comfortable with myself and my artwork.  Now that I am I love to share it with others.  Who knows, maybe my comfort with it all will help others be okay with themselves and their desires as well.

“It seems just and deserving to depict Francois Sagat as a contemporary saint, given he is helping to save lives, rather than contributing to causing illness and deaths for millions”, Watson explains.

With this work Watson provokes the Papal States, which continue to oppose the use of condoms, with devastating effect, especially for Third World countries. Like many, he was enraged by the comments of a Vatican official, who claimed a connection between homosexuality and pedophilia.

The painting will be included among more than 150 works by the artist, in the art book Untitled #, which will be released in October by Bruno Gmünder publishing. The luxury art book is the first for Bruno Gmünder in 20 years. Fans and collectors of Watson’s highly sought after art works, include the National Gallery of Australia, and pop icons Elton John and Jake Shears, singer of the Scissor Sisters.

Selected from the highlights found in our photo books, we have put together a super sexy team for the World Cup. You can join the excitement and win too.

That the gay world is fascinated by football is no big secret. In many local bars the excitement surrounding the World Cup will reach its peak this summer when our dream team play their first match.  Or have you laid your bets on the dark eyed Spaniards?

Irrelevant whether you have a sporty favourite, or are you waiting for the players to rip off their shirts rather than score a goal? We have the right team for you! In the course of the next 2 weeks we will present you with our super team. Each of these hot guys represents one of the 11 favourite countries. You can decide who your favourite is - either optically or due to his sport talents, the choice is yours!

Visit us on a regular basis during the World Cup and discover the newcomers to our team. Send us your top tips for the winners of the World Cup until 25.06.2010 to: presse@brunogmuender.com

Should “your” country win the cup on the 11^th July you can win of with a bit luck a copy of our photo book which features the winning model.

The Final!

Today we complete the team with the last two missing players from …England and Brazil

England:

The English team actually won the FIFA world cup only once so far, but at least they reached the final round no less than twelve times. In case they should reach the finals again this year, they need a team that’s truly convincing to finally win the cup a second time.

We have a hot twink for them who is truly convincing, isn’t he? We discovered him in Antonio Bezerra’s photo book Through My Eyes. Well, guys: Break a leg!

Brazil

So far the team of Brasil is on fire. They could easily win the cup for the sixth time, if nobody stops them. If the guys agree to slow down a little–so the other teams have a chance, too–we would willingly send them this hot chico as a “Thank You!”. We found him in Aknaton’s picture book Los Chicos, which will be out in November. So what do you say? Deal?

24.06.2010: the USA

Ooops! We were always told, that the US doesn’t care much about soccer, that’s why we nominated Serbia as an “unlikely-but-possible”-favourite. And now the American team reached the round of sixteen as the best team of group C. Is there more to come, guys?

We keep our fingers crossed and send you two (!) amazing whippersnappers as a support. Of course they are real American guys, taken from the photo book Playing hard to get by the US label Corbin Fisher.

23.06.2010: Italy

After the World Cup is before the World Cup. This simple wise saying from soccer players does not seem to have reached Italy as yet. In any case, in their previous games against the outsiders Paraguay and New Zealand they were only able to score 1:1 respectively.

If the guys want to reach yet the semi-finals, they need to get going a little.  But we all know that the Italian team works best under pressure. We have another player who makes just as good a figure on the field as he does on the soccer bench. He can be found in the photo book Before the Game by the photographer Domenico Cennamo.

22.06.2010: The Netherlands

Admittedly, the competition was weak, but the Dutch team was the first team to qualify for the quarter finals. For this we want the boys in orange to please present sovereign success in the game against Cameroon on Thursday.

For all eventualities, we pack another replacement player in the boot. Firstly one never knows, and secondly this masculine power package is also well worth looking at with or without a game? And he is not even the hottest guy in Mark Henderson’s second picture volume Suburban Pleasures - that is a promise!

21.06.2010: Portugal

Portugal’s men haven’t been really convincing so far, ending their first match with a 0:0 against the Ivory Coast. There’s hopefully more to come, boys! Maybe their lack of goals is due to their wrong training? But in the oh-so-masculine world of professional soccer there are allegedly no homosexuals. This means that a scenario like this one–”caught in the act!”–is rather unlikely to happen in Portugal’s locker room. We liked the picture anyway. More of this stuff is available in the hot’n'yummy picture book Watch us! by Jacob Mott.

18.06.2010: Ivory Coast

In 2006 in Germany the team from the Ivory Coast was in top form. In their group they had however, very strong competition from the teams from Argentina and the Netherlands. They are the favourite African team in 2010. In order that the upcoming games don’t remain free from goals - like the game against Portugal - we are sending our support: a man who is breathtakingly beautiful and certainly a professional, when it comes to meeting men’s needs. We found him in the photo book “The Score” from John Gress, which we’ll publish in September.

16.06.2010 France

Allez les bleus! Actually the French team won the soccer world cup only once so far, but in the top ranking of the world’s best teams they are among the top ten. “Top league” is as well the player which we have chosen for the blue-white-red Eleven. We discovered this cutie–who proudly waves his flag–in Rick Days top selling photo book “Players”.

15.06.2010: Argentina

Twice the Argentinean eleven has won the World Cup. Moreover we owe it to this country that Madonna took singing lessons (in preparation for the role of the Argentinean First lady “Evita”). We send trainer Diego Maradona our support with an absolute dream man from Pedro Virgil’s second picture volume “Gods of Football”. Therefore: hit the tones with Madonna, hit the goals with Maradona … and we cross our fingers for Argentina.

14.06.2010 Germany

Well, well … for the snoop factor in the German World Cup team, we have among others Lukas Podolski, but also this guy cannot be ignored. He came to our notice in the cheeky and sexy photo volume “Nasty Boys” from the British label Eurocreme. And as one can see: the boy knows how one holds balls. We send him onto the field for Germany.

11.06.2010: SPAIN

Our representative for Spain is a hot model featured in the fifth photo book “CINQ” from the Frenchman Fred Goudon. Don’t you agree that this sensitive macho would stand out in the Spanish team?

And, who is the hottest player? Send us an email today (25.06.2010) with your favourite to presse@brunogmuender.com. And with a bit of luck you win the photo book of your star!

Photos in the text: Rick Day Players

MARK, your new photo book Suburban Pleasures is the most successful title of our publishing program for the first half of 2010. What does this mean to you?

Of course, I’m delighted to hear that news.  I’m sincerely honored and grateful.  When I finished the book earlier this year, I hoped it would be well-received, but I had no idea it would prove as popular as it has become in such a short time.  I guess that indicates I’m on the right track!

Have you received feedback from friends, family and fans? What was it like?

The response from friends and colleagues has been very positive, but what is even more exciting are the favorable reviews from many of the models who appear in Suburban Pleasures - they are usually a tough group to please and I’m gratified and honored that several of them have even purchased the book for themselves!

You had quite a huge success with your first book, as well - Household Idols. What made you turn away from traditional interiors to a more modern, coolish air?

More than anything I wanted more space (literally more square footage) to shoot and I had completely outgrown my tiny bungalow in Los Angeles, where most of Household Idols was shot.  In my newer work I wanted to open up my compositions to create a more dramatic sense of atmosphere and depth.  The new house, with its more contemporary lines and walls of white and glass, gave me the opportunity to experiment with light and space as never before.

You photographed all these immaculate men in your private home. This requires a really good and trustful connection between model and photographer, doesn’t it?

Indeed, in this line of work, creating a comfortable and professional atmosphere for the model is incredibly important, no matter what the location may be.  The model must feel safe and at ease, which is one of the many reasons that shooting in a private home offers distinct advantages over other, often more public, locations.

While Household Idols had clearly visible influences of baroque and renaissance art, Suburban Pleasures is really modern, a little Bauhaus even. What other periods of art history are you interested in? What could inspire your next project?

I’m glad you noticed those connections!  As an art historian, I’m fascinated by a wide range of artistic periods and cultures, but to be honest, with perhaps a couple of exceptions, I don’t knowingly attempt to mimic any particular style or period from art history, but as you point out, I have clear, albeit somewhat unconscious influences.  Recently I’ve been working on several series of images - ideas that I began to develop toward the end of my work on Suburban Pleasures … so stay tuned!

The settings of your photos - whether opulent or not - are always arranged very thoughtfully and carefully. How do your pictures develop in your head? Is there first the idea for a setting or do you see a man and then start thinking about the right background for him?

Before a shoot I always make notes about where and how I want to photograph a model, along with wardrobe, accessory, and styling ideas.  However, when the model arrives I often change or modify my initial concepts to suit the model’s strongest physical attributes, or his skin tone, or even his personality. In this business (or in most businesses for that matter), having a well-considered plan in place is always good but being able to adapt or change at a moment’s notice is equally important.

Is there something left you’d like to say to your fans out there?

The models I photograph certainly have legions of followers and I’m delighted to be able to create new images for their fans to enjoy.  But I find it somewhat astonishing that my work might actually have a fan following - that’s thrilling to consider.  If you’re out there, please know how honored I am that you appreciate my work and how truly grateful I am that you’ve made Suburban Pleasures such a success.

Interview: Peter Peschke

According to a study of the University of Leipzig, Germany, 79% of younger men shave at least one body part in addition to their beard. In some way that’s a pity, after all a hairy hunk is not only something yummy to look at but also his fur enlarges the surface of his skin and intensifies his sensibility. Lucky men we are: While reaching physical maturity up to 90% of our nearly not visible childhoods downy hair turns into a proper fur. The anthology HAIR shows us where this leads to. On 260 pages it offers a burly package of photographed, drawn and painted hunks - all bearish and sexy.

Flip through the book here.

The editorial team of our Spartacus International Gay Guide works continuously to present a yearly overview of all relevant addresses for gay tourists and globetrotter–up-to-date, comprehensive and world wide. Of course we do whatever we can to produce a guide that’s worthy of the title “excellent”. According to the IGLTA–the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association–we succeeded: Celebrating its 40th anniversary the Spartacus International Gay Guide has just been awarded with the Hanns Ebensten Hall of Fame Award by the IGLTA. This is an acknowledgment for our efforts in guiding gay men around the world, in save but adventurous style.

The 39th edition of the Spartacus International Gay Guide was released in March 2010. Beside 22.000 addresses on 1.216 pages from 128 countries worldwide —ranging from hotels to clubs and even hot spots –the guide also gives information on the social and legal status of homosexuals in more than 190 countries around the globe.

The IGLTA is the only global organization dedicated to connecting businesses in the GLBT tourism industry. More than 2000 travel agency, hotels and other businesses worldwide are members of this US-based, non-profit association.

The Hanns Ebensten Hall of Fame Award is awarded in memorial of Hanns Ebensten, who died in 2006, aged 82. Ebensten was a pioneer of gay travelling. Back in the early 70ies he lead a group of gay men on a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. In his book “Around the world in 80 years” he discusses the years he and his partner spent leading tours “for men only” all over the world.

Also when it comes to comics and graphic art we’ve pulled out all the stops: Comics like BIKE BOY by Zack and the imaginative iLUSTrations by Patrick Fillion are funny, sexy and pretty often deliciously naughty. With the voluminous UNTITLED # we are the first to present an overview of the surprisingly brilliant work of the realistic painter Ross Watson.

Last but not least we’ll present the highlights of our photo books in several excellent calenders–which will make the turn of the year just as hot as the summer. For the first time half of our calendars comes in an attractive XXL size.

Further information on all releases of the upcoming half-year can be found in our new publishing catalogue. Please download it here:

http://www.brunogmuender.com/content/verlagsprogramm/

Enjoy!

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!

Buno Gmünder Publishing releases about 25 photo books every year, published worldwide. Many of our photographers are known internationally and worked with some of the biggest stars of our time. But also young and non-established talents can find a forum here, especially in our anthologies, for which we are always looking for new artists. The topic of our next anthology will be …

… the kiss!

While lots of sex practices are a matter of personal preference, a kiss is the essence of every romantic bonding. A kiss is a sign of love, it seals a relationship (”You may kiss the groom”), and it is often the introduction to steamy hot sex. That is why we will devote our next anthology to kisses. The title says it all. Kissed will pay homage to the romantic side of love.

So, a book full of just interlocking lips? Of course not! A kiss can be blown, hinted, even imagined. And one can kiss more than lips … a muscle, a butt, a foot, or even the entirety of life itself … A kiss can be shown as a single image, or it can be depicted within a sequence of images, it can even be an artistic metaphor. Imagination and romance have no boundaries.

You want your pictures to be a part of the Kissed anthology? Send us your pictures and convince us with your talent. All information on the recent project can be found here: kissed-expose2