Matthew Ludwinski (6' 150lbs) is 25 years old and was born in Manassas, Virginia. When he moved to New York City two years ago, to be a model and pursue an acting career (after receiving his BA in Musical Theatre), he probably had no idea things would happen very fast for him. Still, as with everything, good fortune doesn’t come all by itself.
When Matthew came to NYC to follow his dream, he learned that is isn’t always easy to stick to your believes. He choose to have an adventurous life, one that doesn’ allow you to sit back and relax, but that forces you to always be alert, always be there where the action is, and always hoping that this time it is you that is chosen from many other aspirational models and actors. It all happened for Matthew recently, when he did a Levis casting at Empire Model Management, who was so impressed by Matt that they signed him on the spot. Since then, Matthew has been shooting with the hottest photographers in New York, was photographed by Rick day for Genre Magazine and can be sen everywhere in Daffy’s campaign. He now also has signed contract with Joy Models in Milan and M&P Models in London, and will travel in three weeks time to Italy for the shows. Yes, Mathew is definitely on his way to the top.
Recently Walter Kurtz thought it would be fun to assist his friend Paul Reitz at a shooting when he discovered Matthew Ludwinski. After Paul finished his session, Walter immediately set to work himself with Matthew, and that shooting became the first of several to follow. In fact, Matthew claims he has never worked with one photographer so much as he has done with Walter, and something tells us there is more to come. The photos show here were shot earlier this week, specially for BeautifulMag. Matthew Ludwinski truly is Walter Kurtz’ happiness, and if it makes Walter happy, it certainly also makes us happy. –B-
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Beautiful Thursday | Matthew Ludwinski and Walter Kurtz’ Happiness
The 'Not So Sexy (?)' Jonathan Jesensky
Believe it or not, but Jonathan Jesensky is rather shy. Jonathan has already experienced life in the cruelest way. Being an ex-marine he served his time in Iraq. For sure not a light adventure. Down to earth as he is, his first and foremost interest is school. He is starting his masters in graphic design next month and will study software engineering right after that. Second on his list is Muay Thai, a form of Thai boxing. Besides that he just likes to hang out with his friends and family, have casual dinners and enjoys a few drinks every now and then. All together, a very average kind of guy, this Jonathan Jesensky. If it wasn’t for his modeling.
Even though Jonathan considers himself an aspiring model, he has built himself quite an impressive portfolio, containing photographers like Steve Henry, James Weber, Eric Lacour and Joe Oppedisano, to name just a few. Jonathan’s face – and body – has enriched many fashion campaigns like Rufskin and Savage Swimwear, and appeared on more than a few magazine covers.
Jonathan is obviously much more then a pretty face and a great body. He lives by James Dean’s motto "plan as if you will live forever, live as if you will die today," is a pretty smart guy and has interests in a broad variety of things. Their really isn’t much in Jonathan we can experience as negative. Except one thing: he is convinced he isn’t sexy. Can you please raise your hand if you agree with him? Mmmm, no one huh… we already thought so… -B-
Read also the Jonathan Jesensky interview on Connex 247.
Monday, April 28, 2008
James Franklin's Cowboys
Over the past few years, the cowboy has gotten a much more different image. From being the fierce frontier fighter as he was portrayed in the films, he has now gotten a more sexy and romantic image, thanks to films like Brokeback Mountain, and singers like Madonna who adopted the iconic look and brought it back into fashion.
James Franklin has his own personal view on cowboys. A view we share with him and like to share with you. Although currently living and working in Los Angeles, James spent 22 years of his life in Dallas, Texas, which of course, is the pretty much the homeland of the cowboys. Ever since he was young, James had great interest in art, varying from art history, design, sculpture and architecture. Until he came in contact with the modern art of photography while attending college. Always wanted to have a career in the creative area, James felt photography could give him great possibilities.
Although his style is always evolving and changing, many people categorize James Franklin’s work as commercial. For sure his Cowboy Series has gotten huge media attention over the past years. For James they were the result of another personal development. For sure they give a whole new dimension to the concept of cowboy. Looking at these beautiful men dressed in nothing more then jeans and leather chaps makes you almost long back to the time that cowboys were just the regular boy next door. And be honest, wouldn’t you like to have a neighbor like that? –B-
JAMES FRANKLIN | BEAUTIFUL
Sweat
Based in Vancouver, Canada, The Sweat Under Gear Group provides today’s man with a line of products that reflects his athletic and fashionable lifestyle. Sweat is all about honoring your age and body type, no matter what it is. Without compromising quality, comfort and style, Sweat strives to complement today’s man with products that speak to his lifestyle and sense of masculinity.
You won’t find pretty colors and playful prints in the Sweat Under Gear collections. Instead, Sweat offers products that allows you to feel masculine and sexy, with the freedom to show off your best asset. Sweat is underwear you wear with confidence. "Our friends kept telling us that they wanted to see a line of underwear that reflects their active lifestyles, shows off what they got, but that didn't have shiny fabrics and outrageous prints." said Talon Thompson, co-owner, "Underwear that suits a man not only in his 20's, but in his 30's, 40's and even 50's."
The motivation to create this line comes from the shift we are now seeing as the Baby Boomers spend more time on healthy eating, exercise and sport. "Our styles are appropriate for a man of any age - lets face it - we are in better health and shape than our fathers were at our age and should have the choice to wear underwear that looks and feels sexy." adds co-owner, Ronald Smith.
Sweat Under Gear will launch it’s complete site in June 2008, but already you can have a sneak preview on the Sweat blog, so you can place your order as soon as the official site is operational. The premier line will include: Sweat Briefs [“What good is underwear if you can't tell what is under them? These briefs are anything but regular and are not the ones your Father wears”], Sports Briefs [“We know you want your stuff to stay where you put it. These briefs hug you in all the right places to keep everything perfectly in the spot you placed it.”], Sweat Jocks [“A signifier of your masculinity. They conceal while they reveal by showing you off but not showing it all.”], Fighter Briefs [“Are you ready for the challenge? Fighter Briefs come in white for your good boy days and black for those fun bad boy days. They fit snuggly against your body and will stay that way during any activity you have in mind.”], Swat Trunks [“Get a reaction to the contents of your trunks. These trunks will have you running to the mirror to see what you got.”]. –B-
Justify My Love
Sexual power is something that over the past decades has shifted from the intimacy of the bedroom to a more public place. Not in the least thanks to people like Madonna, who, through controversial ways, has opened the possibility to live in a society in which we can more freely express our sexuality and make it discussable.
Only 18 years ago Madonna released the song Justify My Love. It cause international controversy due to the accompanying video and became one of the first to be banned by MTV (and look at where hey are now). Still that didn’t stop the singer. On the contrary. She adopted the style of the song to her following album Erotica, and her book release SEX. The song Justify My Love has been covered and sampled by many other artist ever since, and has become a universal inspiration for the expression of sexual freedom.
Frank Louis is a photographer who always seems to surprise us. We know him from his beautiful intense window portraits [A Room With a View]. Photos of half naked men staring out of a window, or nourishing themselves in a ray of light, filtered through semi-transparent curtains. Recently we also brought you his series with ex-Broadway dancer Frantz G. Hall [Beautiful Thursday | Dancing In the Dark]. An experimental essay in which natural light has been replaced by a game of shadow and contrasts. And today we bring you Frank’s latest work, a series inspired by that very same song Justify My Love.
According to Frank Louis this series is his darkest work up till today. No romantic poses and dreamy looks. No natural sculptures. No. This series is all about sex. About that unstoppable urge to completely give yourself, let yourself go, loose control and be yourself as you never were before. Lust and sex is a power by itself and can give you a freedom you can not find in anything else. Looking at this wonderful work from Frank Louis, we wonder what he will bring us next. Yearning. Burning… -B-
Make-up: Steve B
Justify My Love was released on The Immaculate Collection, Madonna, 1990. Written by Madonna, Ingrid Chavez and Lenny Kravitz.
