by Howard Roffman (Photographer)
Howard Roffman is a fine photographer as proved to many, including me, in two of his previous collections, TALES and THREE. PICTURES OF FRED has, first-rate, candid and more formal portraits of this very young, handsome, French model and gymnast. However, the accompanying text is so precious that it becomes annoying, esp. with several "typos" in only two pages of text. And since this descriptive essay is very brief, appearing at the beginning of the volume with portions reproduced in various other sections of the book, I wondered why it was even included. Why not have a writer as good as Roffman is a photographer write the text and make it much less manipulative? Some of the phrases are actually as melodramatic as the kind found in paperback, romance novels (i.e. "One night I found Fred alone. He seemed sad, withdrawn...The conversation shook me.

Fred had kept his wisdom hidden...By the time the sun set, we were both drained. We collapsed on his couch, and he fell asleep in my lap, naked, vulnerable.")

If a picture is worth a thousand words, I'd like some more pictures and alot fewer words, please.

Howard Roffman captures both the striking beauty of a man and that man's youthful nature. Fred can be seen in a variety of situations, from playing with his dog to being physically excited in a shower. One also sees Fred's compassionate side as he embraces a friend. The lighting is magnificent, accentuating Fred's features. I recommend this book to all those who seek high-quality male photography

Howard Roffman has managed to capture this soft, breathtakingly beautiful young man in his very unique, sensual way. Not just a smut book, but a small window on someone elses world that leaves you gasping for more, and anxiously wondering where Fred is. You will love him, envy Howard, and move to Paris, France. Possibly the best coffee-table book last/this year.

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