Ian Marshall by Kelly Grider

GOLDEN VINTAGE

In a recent trip to NYC, Ian payed a visit to photographer Kelly Grider.
"It was a fantastic experience being shot by Kelly. He uses really old cameras, some are over a hundred years old. The cameras require a specific way of shooting and, of course, also use film. Kelly will set up a shot with the camera and then disappear behind the cameras draped curtain to focus the lens and prepare the shot. I then had to keep extremely still whilst the film was inserted into the camera and whilst the picture was taken."

"It's quite nerve racking to know that you only have one chance at a photo. If you move, only slightly, then the picture will be ruined. At one point Kelly literally had to clamp my head to stop me from moving! Of course, you can’t see the clamp, it’s hidden behind my head, I wonder if you can guess which picture it is? In this age of fast paced digital photography, this was a really interesting and enjoyable experience."

"What I like about Kelly’s work, is that he manages to capture male beauty through the lens of these very old cameras. They are artistic, sexy, and they have the genuine vintage quality that can’t be replicated digitally. His images also capture all the bits and pieces that are usually smoothed out during Photoshop editing. I’m proud to be maturing and I like that you can see the wrinkles! It feels like a true, honest image."

Ian grew up in Worcestershire, England, and is now living in London working as a Project Manager for a deaf charity. He can also be seen throughout London nightlife dressed as a Unicorn, where he performs at various dance and cabaret clubs, as well as music festivals around the country.

Ian admits that he didn't always find it easy to bare all and was once extremely body conscious, however though performing, he found that taking his cloths off can be a very freeing experience. Ian can be seen Unicorning about the London, and sometimes performs for Naked Boys Reading.