Four Days In Key West | Part 2

IMAGINE… A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE IS GAY, WHERE IT IS EASY TO MAKE FRIENDS, WHERE YOU CAN REALLY BE YOURSELF, WHERE YOU CAN ENJOY YOURSELF 24 HOURS A DAY. ALL THAT IN A TROPICAL PARADISE. WELL, THAT PLACE IS WAITING FOR YOU. IT IS CALLED ISLAND HOUSE KEY WEST.



Key West is one of the world's favorite gay retreats, especially among travelers looking to spend a week or two at a self- contained, gay- exclusive resort. And of all the luxury places you can find in the Keys, Island House Key West is among the most popular ones. Island House can be found on the eastern edge of the Historical District of Key West. After they bought it, owners Jon and Martin have transformed the place in a quality resort with a friendly and competent staff.



Recently new York based photographer Jason Rowan and his model Levi enjoyed the unique Island House hospitality for four days in order to shoot a very special reportage. The concept was quite simple, really. There was no storyboard. It was just Levi, discovering and experiencing all the pleasures Island House has to offer, and Jason following him with his camera, making sure we would not miss anything, including the most intimate moments. Enjoy the second part of Four Days in Key West. –B-

Four Days In Key West | Part 1

THE ATTENTIVE READER MUST HAVE NOTICED THAT WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTED ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR GAY VACATION DESTINATIONS SEVERAL TIMES. WE ARE OF COURSE TALKING ABOUT THE POPULAR RESORT ISLAND HOUSE KEY WEST. PHOTOGRAPHER JASON ROWAN AND HIS MODEL LEVI RECENTLY VISITED THE PROPERTY IN FLORIDA AND CREATED A SERIES OF PHOTOS UNDER THE NAME FOUR DAYS IN KEY WEST.



Island House is set in a completely secure private compound, so the choice dress up, or dress down, is totally yours. As Levi found out when visiting Island House recently with photographer Jason Rowan. For four full days they were the guest of resort owners Jon and Martin, and in total relaxed and comfortable atmosphere, they created the extensive photo series Four Days In Key West.



The principal is simple, really. Without any storyboard, Jason followed Levi with his camera while Levi enjoyed his stay at Island House, exploring every single opportunity the popular gay resort has to offer. Much in the style of Jason Rowan’s Room 103, the first series he shot in Island House in 2006, Four Days In Key West shows all the great things Island House has to offer from great furnished luxury rooms to pool and Jacuzzi, from health club, spa and sauna, to outside restaurant. It seems needless to say not only the photographer but also the model had a great time. The photos speak for themselves. –B-

Sharon Mor Yosef's Destiny

SOME THINGS HAPPEN FOR A REASON. IF THAT OCCURS, WE TEND TO SAY IT WAS MEANT TO BE. OR WE MIGHT EVEN CALL IT DESTINY. YOU FIND IT IN ALL SITUATIONS AND ENCOUNTERS, AND IT HAPPENS TO ALL OF US. INCLUDING THE TALENTED MISTER SHARON MOR YOSEF.



For those who just tuned in and haven’t had the time to scroll all the way back to Beautiful’s October 2006, Sharon Mor Yosef is a 32 years old producer/photographer, living in Amsterdam. He did not live their all his life. In fact, Sharon moved to The Netherlands only 5 years ago. Before that he lived in Israel, where he was born in Jerusalem and grew up in the Jordan Valley. His impressive career as photographer and producer started at the early age of 15, when he joined the well-established youth magazine Ma’ariv Lano’ar. If you want to learn more, we are happy to refer to Sharon’s own site, or Beautiful’s earlier article on Sharon Mor Yosef. We would like to talk a little bit more about destiny.



Destiny brought photography and computer art together, and destiny brought Sharon Mor Yosef together with Kfir Benisho, a talented photoshop artist. Both gentlemen strongly believe in a good combination of the their two disciplines, which has resulted in them working together of various fashion stories for different European magazines. And not just that. Sharon and Kfir are currently working on an art exhibition which combines fashion, a good story that the viewer needs to solve, and the fabulous photos that we know Sharon Mor Yosef so well from. –B-

Happy Birthday Steven Muñoz

HIS PARENTS CAME TO THE UNITED STATES BASICALLY FOR THE SAME REASON THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE COME FOR: A BETTER OPPORTUNITY FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY. AND STEVEN IS DETERMINED TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. ALTHOUGH BORN AND RAISED IN ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, STEVEN MUNOZ CONSIDERS HIMSELF VERY MUCH COLOMBIAN, EMBRACING HIS CULTURE AND ITS GREAT HISTORY.



Steven Muñoz’ parents came to the USA in order to make a better life for themselves, and that is exactly how they raised their son. No wonder Steven grew up to be an intelligent, smart and driven man. The fact that he is incredibly sexy doesn’t hurt either.



Steven is currently attending university, where he pursues a degree in business management, hoping and working hard to get as far as obtaining his master degree. And being raised with motivation and discipline, it isn’t very likely he will give up before he actually really does that. In the mean time, Steven also found his way in front of the camera of Ricardo Muniz, Coquichulo Images, whom we all know from – for example - his great work with model Deilin. Steven’s interest in modeling is actually due to his attraction to photography. The art of it, the dramatization, the theatrical approaches, the lighting... that is what really drew him into it. From looking at movie posters, CD covers, and the pages of magazines, seeing both the editorial spreads and the ad campaigns, he just knew he had to be involved.



Steven mostly has print and commercial work in mind, knowing that his heritage and stats will limit him to spreads for predominantly urban wear. "I know that this is a very competitive industry, and I know there are a lot of obstacles for me personally, that would make a career as a model difficult," he explains. "But I honestly believe that given the opportunity, given the right guidance, and mixing with the right people, I do have a very good chance of being quite successful. I know I have a good, marketable look. I do not doubt that for one second. This is the main reason that I have not given up."



Steven has had the chance to work with several photographers and has built which gained him knowledge and experience and that has resulted in building quite an impressive portfolio. He hopes modeling can be a gateway for him to step into acting and/or music, and maybe give him the chance to do some modeling in Colombia where the industry is pretty well established as well. "So far, I have had a lot of fun doing what I am doing, meeting great people, constantly learning, and I’m just looking forward to what the future will hold for me." Oh, by the way, Steven is 20 years old, and about to turn 21 in only two days. Happy birthday Steven. –B-



Steven’s editorial was partly sponsored by Jannice Cameron, Director of Marketing, Isaco International, the company behind papi underwear. To purchase the underwear, tanks, and cap featured on Steven, go to www.papiinc.com.

Michael Biserta on Fire

THE NEW YORK FIRE DEPARTMENT, BETTER KNOWN AS FDNY, IS KNOWN FOR MANY THINGS. NOT IN THE LEAST THEIR HERALDIC ACTIONS. ONE OF THESE THINGS IS WITHOUT DOUBT THEIR YEARLY FDNY CHARITY CALENDAR. AN OTHER ONE IS FIRE FIGHTER MICHAEL BISERTA.



Staten Island fire fighter Michael Biserta made name for himself by some over-enthusiastic water hose action on a Guys Gone Wild video. For most of us a pleasure, but for the FDNY a scandal that made them decide to stop publishing their famous calendar. Ever. And that is a shame, because who wouldn’t want to have a real hot firemen on the wall?



But not everything is lost. Michael, who was the cover man of the 2008 calendar, expanded his fifteen minutes of fame into a true modeling career. He signed a contract with Red Model Management and published a calendar with On Display Men. Yes, you hear it right. Michael Biserta did his own 2008 calendar, and that gives you once again the opportunity to have at least one fire man on your wall. And that brings us also to the core of this article.



Besides being responsible for the photography of the Michael Biserta 2008 calendar, Californian raised and New York based photographer Kristopher Kelly is also the man behind these stunning new photos featuring the sexy fire man. Although the temptation must have been their, Kristopher did not give in to it and photographed the hot fire fighter in a most sensual and erotic way, proofing there is more to Michael than what everybody already saw. Kristopher Kelly brought the true model out of Michael and if these fabulous photos do not launch Michael Biserta’s international modeling career, we do not know what would. –B-

Michael Biserta’s 2008 calendar, shot by Kristopher Kelly and produced by On Display Men, can be found in the ODM store by clicking here.