Fashion photographer West Phillips has traveled the world photographing gorgeous musclebound men for many top underwear campaigns.
But while he was always grateful for the work and to be doing a job that he loved, one thing often bothered him.
“I realized how much was lacking in Western media when you’re looking at photos and advertisements and other photographers I was following on social media,” Phillips tells PinkPlanet.
Particularly, he noticed a lack of Asian representation in the male modeling industry. So decided to do something about it!
Phillips turned his camera lens towards the Asian male form for a project that eventually became Asian Male Portraits, a stunning new coffee table book dedicated to celebrating Asian male beauty and changing perceptions and attitudes toward gay Asian men.
“I think the mass media in the West don’t find [Asian men] to be appealing, they don’t find them to be sexual,” Phillips says, “and that’s something that I didn’t understand.”
Asked whether he thinks his project is having an impact on how gay men, in particular, view Asian men, Phillips replies, “I hope it is. I can’t say for sure, but I certainly hope it is.”
