Atomic Apollos

June, 2011 : Breaking News! : 

Announcing the winners of Portland's Just Out’s 2011 Pride Amateur Photo Contest!

Winner: “Getting Graphic” “Bliss” by Atom Ion

“Tub Time” by Atom Ion

In the lineage of bathtub self-portraits, this photo speaks to that of an inverted Narcissus. Like the young Greek intent on gazing into his own image, the youth depicted here is focused on a mirror. Yet the subject of his attention is not his own self, half submerged, cleansing and meditative, but the self of the audience. I chose this image for its striking simple beauty and deeper contemplations.

“Faerie Sunset” by Atom Ion

This photo stirs up memories of one of my favorite films, Were The World Mine. This modern musical take on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is filled with beautiful voices and amazing imagery. One of my favorite lines from the film fits this photo perfectly: “We fairies / that do run / from the presence of the sun / we follow darkness like a dream.” Perhaps he isn’t a fairy at all, but Puck, offering the sun a piece of his moon?

“Lumberjack” BY ATOM ION

This is the reason why I love the Northwest—the lumberjacks. They are the strong and hearty stock, and this one is the best of the breed—strong arms and legs, and the best feature, the right amount of body hair. This is going to be hung in my wet bar. (And I will be hunting in the woods.)