Ryan Austin Davy

A Taste of Male Beauty

Ryan's images allow viewers to be amused by showing men in unconventional ways. The images are designed to illustrate the male form as a thing of beauty and to be gazed at by everyone. Ryan is purposefully making viewers realise that these images are also designed to reveal ideals about the male body. However, the subtext that underpins the raw nudity that Ryan is unpicking the negative ways of imposing unrealistic expectations on men, for instance, to be muscled or beautiful. It’s actually hard work and a real imposition to be the ideal, to possess flawless parts. Ryan is playing with what photography can do. This involves focusing on ideal forms in four strategies revealing tension between ordinary people and the beautifully proportioned body that is a big imposition to achieve.

The first involves men posing in recognisable statue positions, imitating symbols of the idealised form. Ryan is utilizing the average man to reveal the pressure between the concept of male beauty and the everyday man. The second entails literally imposing a photograph of the ‘muscle man’ onto a slender built body using projection. This directly supports the notion of the imposition to be the ideal. The third concerns men’s representation. Ryan's images are of men trapped in imaginary boxes. He considers one is always trapped within a stereotype, constantly judged by others. Not only is he making this point, Ryan is also making a joke about photography, about being trapped in the photographic. The imaginary box represents the frame, literally trapping men in their frames. The final is highlighting the fact photography and society is obsessed with forming flawless body parts. One is broken up from an entire person and people see others as collections of modified physical forms.

2006 – 2009|BA(Hons) Photography, 2:1|Nottingham Trent University
2004 – 2006|AVCE Art & Design, Double Award, BC|Filton College
1999 – 2004|10 GCSEs, grades A-C|Filton High School

Skills
Technical|Competent using Canon digital SLRs and studio lighting. Ability to print in black & white darkroom. Full clean driving license. 

I.T|PC and Mac literate. Proficient using Word and PowerPoint. Experienced using data-input systems, such as Merlin, CSS and Comms. Capable of using digital image processing software; Adobe Photoshop CS2.

Photography Practice
For the past four years I‘ve been an official Equestrian and Wedding photographer within my uncle’s photography business. I also undertake my own commissions for various clients.  

Professional Development
2006 – 2009
Having attended many guest lectures at university I have gained a realistic insight into the photography world, learning what to expect and having a goal to obtain a successful and creative career in the field.

Exhibition June 2009
In my final year at university I created an exhibition showcasing my work and the work of five other course-mates for the beginning of June. It was one division of the final Degree Show Festival, named Photoradar* involving the entire year group. www.photoradarfestival.co.uk

Work Experience
2009 Deepblue Networks advertising agency, hamburg, germany
Created an image Product Campaign maintaining strict agency guidelines for client Davidoff Cigarettes. Released January 2010. 
www.db-n.com

2006  Venture Photography
Gained first hand experience of professional level photo-shoots with clients.

2004  BCLO Ltd advertising agency
Experienced my initial insight into a professional advertising environment.