Hotsnapz | The Return of the King

OFTEN WINES GET BETTER THROUGH THE YEARS. AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE RIGHT MOMENT TO OPEN A SPECIAL BOTTLE. WHEN YOU DO, WHEN YOU KNOW THE TIME IS RIGHT, YOU WANT TO TAKE YOUR TIME TO LET THE WINE AERATE. TO MAXIMIZE ITS EXPOSURE TO THE SURROUNDING AIR. TO LET IS WARM UP AND OPEN ITS AROMAS. THIS IS HOW YOU GET THE BEST OUT OF IT. THIS IS HOW YOU REALLY LET ITS CHARACTER COME TO FULL BLOOM.

In North East of London lies a small industrial area that houses many storage facilities. The buildings are average and neutral and in nothing you can see what is hidden inside. One of these buildings holds a set of storage units that are special. Different from the rest. Most of these units hold a treasure of theater pieces. Decor elements and hundreds of costumes, props and accessories. But one of them is different. One of them is dedicated to creation. Many men, both from the United Kingdom and beyond, have found their way to this place. Because they learned that this place is Simon Barnes hidden kingdom. This is where he works, where he conceptualizes his photographs and where he creates his art.

Someone recently said that Simon Barnes is a master of studio lighting and a man with a personal vision combined with a keen knowledge of how he can better a model's portfolio. He has a sly sense of humor and a well-honed instinct for appropriateness of model and character. Simon operates under the photography name Hotsnapz and has, with that pseudo, made name for himself as one of the UK’s best photographers of the male physique which is backed with a 30+ year career doing what he does so well. And that does not mean photography alone. No Simon is a man who takes things a step further. His background in theater gives him a unique perspective on a shoot and more often than not his works turns out to be a glimpse in a fantasy world of legendary men and warriors. Simon knows as no other how to create small universes with a minimum of props. He changes the personality of his men in the wink of an eye, never allowing to let the model become anything less than the beautiful man he already is.

We have published many sets of Hotsnapz in the past, but the last time his amazing work graced our digital pages was in December 2010. Why did we wait so long to bring Simon back? It is not that we lost interest. On the contrary. Simon Barnes’ work needs to be treasured. After all, it is created with great care and eye for detail and craftsmanship. And thus it deserves to be treated as such. Simon Barnes work is like a good wine, to be enjoyed when the time is right. That time is now. The king is back. –BM-

HOTSNAPZ | BEAUTIFULMAG

Comments

[thegaytekeeper]

LOVE HOTSNAPZ!

[David B. Boyce]

Simon Barnes is indeed a master of studio lighting as well as a visionary in bringing out aspects and elements of a model's personality that even the model himself may be unawares. Thank you, BeautifulMag for acknowledging Barnes' importance to the field of contemporary male image photography! He is indeed a leader!!

[simon barnes]

Guys. A really BIG thank you for such an amazing feature. I am so proud to have been associated with Beautiful Mag over the past few years. It's still the original and best.
Long may it cotinue
Kindest regards Simon