Beautiful: Graham Martin's Bathroom Fantasy

JUST SOUTH OF LONDON BRIDGE AND NOT TO FAR FROM BOROUGH MARKET LIES A SPOT THAT BY ITSELF IS NOT REALLY SPECIAL. YOU PROBABLY WON’T FIND IT IN ANY TOURIST GUIDE, BUT FOR THE ONES IN THE KNOW THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE. HERE YOU FIND A SMALL DOORWAY THAT LEADS YOU FROM THE STREET INTO A VAST BAR/CINEMA CLUB. THE AMBIANCE IS DARK AND COZY WITH A SELECTION OF RICH RED VELVET CHAIRS AND CURTAINING ALONGSIDE BEAUTIFULLY WORN LEATHER COUCHES. ALWAYS DARK LIT BY TABLE LAMPS AND THE LIGHT SPILLING FROM THE CINEMA SCREEN SHOWING THE LATEST OFFERING. THIS IS THE PLACE KNOWN TO LONDONERS AS THE ROXY.

The Roxy is a hidden gem of a place in London Bridge. Many come here to kick back and find and intimate alternative for West End entertainment. Photographer Graham Martin is one of them. Photography has been his passion since his early childhood years, and so it is not so strange that, even though his sought creative expression in fine art, music and drama, Graham eventually ended up by dedicating his time to exactly that first love. Impossible to limit his creativity, Graham operates on pretty much every field photography has to offer, though it is safe to say his real fascination lies in the area of male physique photography. For that he created his website MenArt, as a dedication to the beauty of the male form.

Recently Graham Martin spent some time at The Roxy. While enjoying the atmosphere and having fun, he got to the point that the inevitable trip to the bathroom came along. Entering he was amazed by the black walls with a big Colombian mural in deep red and the huge stainless steel hand basin. It was there and then that Graham had another one of his artistic light flashes. What a fantastic set this bathroom would make for a hot, sexy shoot with two handsome models.

Back up in the bar Graham Martin sought out the owner of The Roxy and put his idea to him. Hoping the idea of having two naked male models in his bathroom would not be too much of a surprise for him, it was Graham who got the biggest surprise when the man in charge warmed up to the idea immediately and pulled out his agenda to set a date right away. Graham’s mind was racing back and forth and it didn’t take him long to organize the project. He found two willing models in Ladi McKenna Lawson and Julian Osborne. Besides the fact they look amazing and that he had worked with them before, Graham also knew that they would easily get into the Colombian vibe of the shoot. The story Graham envisioned was rather simple. Two guys meet in the bathroom, both hot and a little merry from the partying. There is an instant attraction between them and so magic starts to happen as they get closer and closer.

Julian Osborne is usually seen behind the camera, fully clothes and nothing could be further from his mind than being a model himself. Imagine his surprise when, earlier this year and just after turning 40, he was asked to do exactly that for the first time. Though being a bit reluctant at first, Julian was quite amazed at the result of his first modeling experience and it didn’t take much for him to agree to a second and third shoot with Graham Martin. The Roxy shoot proofs what a natural talent Julian is and how professionally he handles this new career direction.

Ladi McKenna Lawson began modeling at the age of 18 for a commercial catalogue. He did it for about a year until he decided to focus on studies and traveling. Since then he has worked for numerous companies and graduated with a Bachelor Honor in Film and scriptwriting. Now 31 years old, Ladi works as a marketing manager while simultaneously completing a masters in scriptwriting. But his passion for modeling also resurfaced and over the past 6 months he has been involved in various photo shoot projects. Graham Martin’s Leather Underground being one of them.

Discovering each other in that sensually decorated bathroom, Julian and Ladi get carried away by their sexually charged minds. The two men forget where they are and gradually the cloths come off. Throwing inhabitations to the wind they give in to their playful side and each take turns playing in the wash trough, enjoying the sensual feeling of warm water running over their bodies. Also a good time to help each other freshen up before getting dressed and heading back to the bar as though nothing has happened. Not sure how they explained their time away or their rather wet clothing but Graham Martin leaves that entirely up to our own imagination. –BM-