Full Of Surprises: Russell Patrick Brown by Richard Rothstein

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What better compliment can you give an artist than to tell them you have never seen anything like it before. Richard Rothstein's work is just that, unique, colorful, sexy and erotic and most of all a beautifully strange combination of provocative with fun.

'Exploring the line between art and pornography, a line I don't want to cross, but a line that is clearly subjective.'

Besides incredible men, if you visit Richard's site you will also clearly see one of his many passions is Manhattan. Richard calls himself a slave to New York and says that all the work on his site is taken on, or under the influence of Manhattan. The Manhattan Rothstien chronicles is clearly the Manhattan of today, yet...I cannot help but feel a distinct 70's vibe. His use of color and framing also makes each of his images feel almost like an oil painting.

Feel is exactly what Richard wants you to do. Richard says a successful photograph makes you feel, more than see. This is certainly a theme which guides the work I try to choose for FH. What I felt when I spent time with his work with Russell is that it would have been amazing to have followed them through the streets of Manhattan the day of the shoot. So much energy, so much fun, so much spontaneity. Although the spontaneity is clear, it is interesting that each shot is so beautifully done, they could have been carefully storyboarded out ahead of time.

'Shooting with Russell is always full of surprises. I suppose it's the same with most photographers, but my favorite shoots are a creative collaboration with the model. I always encourage them to make suggestions and bring as much of themselves as possible to the process. For me it's all about hinting at a story. Russell is an extremely talented man as well as a child full of sexy mischievousness; he listens carefully to my vision and then takes it too surprising places, sometimes very funny and always very sexy. And one of the things I do love about him is that he often--more often than not--combines the two'
Richard Rothstein