As someone who has never inhabited or photographed a male body before, I was struck by how foreign it felt — physically and symbolically. Male genitalia, in particular, often carries a contradictory cultural weight: seen as powerful, fragile, humorous, even “gross.” It’s a body part saturated with meaning.

In researching the male nude, I came across this insight: “The traditional male nude is less about nudity and more about the type of masculinity being portrayed.” That framing resonated deeply, especially in today’s climate — where masculinity is being scrutinized, redefined, and challenged through conversations around toxic norms, incel culture, male mental health, and gender fluidity.

I asked Nick — my friend and collaborator in this series — for his perspective. He shared:

“Masculinity has long been associated with dominance, aggression, and emotional repression. I believe it’s time to redefine it to include empathy, vulnerability, and emotional openness — traits often dismissed as ‘feminine’ but crucial for healthy relationships, leadership, and society at large.”

These images aim to reflect that duality — the male body as both strong and tender. Throughout this project, I found myself asking: Am I photographing this body like I would a woman’s? And what does that even mean? Society often conditions us to see bodies through a gendered lens. But when you strip that away, what remains is something more universal: complexity, strength, fragility — our shared humanity.