James Bidgood Hardcover – Download: Adobe Reader, April 26, 2009

This book is a lot larger than I expected, and totally gorgeous. Yes, the shape is awkward and page formatting definitely not ideal for this kind of work — but the content is extensive and the prints are beautiful. Should another reformatted edition become available, I’ll be the first to pre-order. Otherwise, I love this book.

I really enjoyed this beautiful over-sized photography book. What a work of "Art" in itself, from its pink cover to the beautiful photos inside. James Bidgood is considered the father of the gay pulp and glamour aesthetic. An American photographer in the 50's who transformed his apartment into a fantasy land to photograph these beautiful boys. This book is just crammed with photos of beautiful young men. Included are essays explaining his life and these photographs. Some may consider these photos campy, but they have a beauty and style that was really unique to that period and time. James Bidgood was also the director of the homoerotic film "Pink Narcissus" in the 70's.This is a definite must for your collection. A very sensual and emotional book of beautiful photographs. Highly recommended.

I first became aware of James Bidgood's photography years ago at the National Portraiture gallery in Washington D.C. years ago, then again recently at the Museum of Sex in NYC. I adore his dreamy photographs, and it's nice being able to recognize his influence in modern photography. This book was an excellent addition to my collection, and highlights Bidgood's work across the years. It makes me want to own prints of his photography more and more.

High art this is NOT. However, it does explore much. What it does show that a person with enourmous passion and cleverness can create memorable images -- even if you do not agree with them. This is a study of variations of human sexuality. If you are not aware of sex, you might not know how you got to be.

I found James Bidgood's photo examples of lighting and confined sets an encouragement of what can be done in photography. His work has an emotional "feel" that comes out of the book and fasinates the reader. If you are a photographer of the male body, you'll love this book.

Awkward size/shape to the book. But the photography is remarkable.

Been looking for this book for years ... NOW I OWN IT ... the photography is so colorful and interesting ... If your lucky to find this buy it ..

FROM Cover to cover ,an artful book without any doubt ,I gave them out as gifts !!! GAY CULTURE is redundant ..is there any other kind ?

James Bidgood is an extraordinarily talented and inspired artist. Much has been made about the camp element in his work but calling him the "pioneer of camp" both ignores artists and writers from long before who more genuinely deserve the soubriquet AND reduces Bidgood's own fearsome creativity to the level of a one-trick pony. The images are stunning even at a casual glance. Once you realise that they were achieved in a tiny flat in New York on a minimal budget, re-using materials from high-society galas and the like his achievements seem utterly extraordinary. Bidgood found his muse in "Bobby Kendall" and much of the material is a paean to the youth's beauty. At the same time, Bidgood unashamedly examines the darker side of desire. Utterly beguiling. AND if you love this book, you MUST view his film Pink Narcissus, the full story of which is detailed in this wonderful volume.

This book is BIG and oh, so beautiful.I love the Taschen Books, they always surprise me and are compiled with a lot of care and craftsmanship.And now I also adore the photography of James Bidgood. Untill recently I've never heard of the man but now I see where Pierre et Gilles got their inspiration ( They became superstars and cashed in, Bidgood never reached anything close to that status)This book is a MUSTHAVE for everyboby interested in: popculture, theatre design, fashion design, photography, pornography"light". It is eyecandy for gays and straights.It is a lesson for all the producers and artists who are convinced that their work cannot be created without a big bag of money and expensive locations.All these extremely beautiful pictures were shot under an amazing circumstance.Bidgood shot all these picures in his small Manhattan apartment. In his "breakfast alcove".He used his talents as a costume designer and windowdresser to built his "fairy"tale world. He used all kinds of glittering and sheer fabrics and simple light bulbs to create illusions of endless horizons.The book revealed some of the tricks, but even with that knowledge I couldn't discover what and how.I wish I had been a fly on the wall, watching him work.I bet James Bidgood was an aethistic and romantic person in heart and soul. The main subject of his work was the search for a -lost- innocence and purity. I believe him at his word.But what WE see is a extremely decadent glittering parallel universe inhibited only by very handsome, fit, young men.Alone, staring inviting into the lens, or together obviously enjoying each others company.Nowadays we may consider the images rather prejudice confirming: lots of shocking pink, glitter, seetrough trousers etc. ( Aah, come on, it is exacltly like the Amsterdan Gayparade,what am I talking about)Bidgood made his best work in the early sixties. When the years went on his work got more explicit and less dreamy.The bubble burst with his attempt to make a movie in 1971: "Pink Narcissus". He got a outdoor set, a budget and a banker and a timeshedule and then everything started to go wrong.At the end he was so disappointed he refused to take credits. And, ofcourse as any frustrated artist, he distroyed all the setdrawings and photographs that were left in his property.The filmstills in the book show rather nasty, although humoristic, streetscenes. In my mind I can hear the sountrack: Sex Dwarf, Softcell, Lou Reed, Marc Almond, Yeah and if I listen closely, I can even hear the Scissorsisters.So , let me make this clear: The work of James Bidgood is fashionable again. Enjoy Bidgoods Big book of BIG wonderboys.

This book, in it's fluorescent pink binding, is just too camp and colourful to adequately describe. Imagine Pierre & Gilles without the retouching and you have Bidgood's work. Glitter, make-up, outrageous sets, feathers, leather, pretty boys. This book has it all.And, just to make it's point, this book is nearly 22" tall and about 9" wide. It's so tall, I doub't you'll have bookshelf for it, thus forcing you to keep it on a coffee-table where it so srichly deserves to be.

A beautifully presented book detailing all sorts of things about the life of James Bidgood, and his works. The illustrations are candid, but fully in-keeping with the subject matter

James Bidgood was a first of his kind, and it's clear how much he inspired many artists who came after- for example Pierre et Gilles, David LaChapelle and even Jeff Koons.This book is a must to anyone who loves beauty and aesthetics and loves the works of the artists mentioned above..Once again, a beautiful book by Taschen!