Many of you will have seen and hopefully checked out the Aussielicious Blog. What you may not know is that the author Brenton and I have become friends after having first met about two years ago at a Lifesavers with Pride Mardi Gras Parade Rehearsal.
Brenton who is also a photographer recently agreed to an interview about the blog, his art and his love of getting nude!
BRENTON: Initially I started the blog so that friends overseas could keep up with what I was up to. Then I started the public nudity challenge and it took on a life of it's own.
2. Nudism is a strong theme on the blog. Can you tell us what is the appeal of nudism? What was your first experience like?
BRENTON: Growing up I was intensely prudish. NO ONE saw me nude, but towards my late teens I was curious about nude beaches. Perhaps it was the appeal of seeing nude men although at the time I hadn't worked out why that was appealing. I like the liberating feeling of being nude and the first time especially, while really nerve wracking was very liberating. In some ways it's like coming out. You think everyone is going to be pointing and staring but they aren't.
3. You recently started a Skinny Dipping group in Sydney. Do you plan on continuing the group once the weather here starts to get warmer again?
BRENTON: Absolutely. It was a lot of fun the few times we had dips and got a few people together.
4. Is the group open to all or is it primarily for Gay men?
BRENTON: It's open to all but I guess with the connections on facebook so far it's only been gay men. A few girls have joined the group but none have shown up yet.
5. Have you got any favorite spots to nude up?
BRENTON: The beach is the best. Anywhere warm enough and out in nature is great.
6. What is the riskiest place you have ever been nude?
BRENTON: When I started the public nudity challenge all those years ago I had some photos taken on the steps of the opera house at 6 am. I was nearly caught by police and there were tourists out and about already too.
7. It’s quite common for people to ask questions about the possible sexual tension at such outings. Obviously Nudism is not about sex. What would you say is people’s greatest misperception about Nudism and Nudists?
BRENTON: I would say, especially with gay men, that the lines are blurred. For me nudity can be sexual and sensual but by and large it's just freeing and relaxing. Misconceptions probably include that everyone is walking around with a hard on and staring at each other's junk. Sure people look but they don't stare and most people get used to being nude once they've tried it a bit and don't get hard. Sadly the notion that all nudists are fat and old is closer to true than not. Here in Australia young active fit people seem to be shy about getting their gear off.
8. You have started the Aussiebum challenge with a few of your readers, what are your goals/ expectations for yourself?
BRENTON: My goals are to feel healthier, eat better, be fitter and as a bonus, look better.
9. Obviously how you look is a very important although not always positive influence on our lives, particularly in Gay mans culture. What was the reason behind starting the challenge?
BRENTON: It was to look better but lately I've felt sluggish and a bit out of shape so wanted to fix that. I'm focusing on the visual aspect as my motivation because that's my weakness, my vanity. My father also had a mild heart attack earlier in the year and my eating habits aren't much better than my parents' so it's time to try and fix that.
10. Although some of your readers have made comments that they see no reason for you to be unhappy with your body, obviously there are things you want to change. Do you think that given the pressure in Gay culture to look a certain way that we can ever really be happy with ourselves?
BRENTON: I've said on Aussielicious and I maintain it's true, that a lot of men have some degree of body dysmorphia. Just as women have been bombarded for years with images of unattainable beauty, gay and straight men are now subjected to endless images of guys with amazing physiques and flawless looks. Sadly what we don't realise or factor in, is the use of photoshop. Even stunning looking models are "fixed" in photoshop to be even more perfect.
11. As well as the blog you are also a keen photographer. How is the preparation going for your first exhibition?
BRENTON: Slower than I would like apparently. Trying to shoot relatively consistently and often.
12. How do you think your work will be received? It can be quite nerve racking standing there while people validate your work. Has your choice of content been influenced by what you think will be well received by the viewers? What influences have there been on your choice of theme?
BRENTON: I hope it's received well. I'm trying to not just shoot buff guys not wearing much. I'm hopeful that a strong theme and distinct look is evolving or it. The influences have been photographers that I've always admired like James Houston as well as ideas that have come from my subconscious that I'm trying not to over analyse too much.
13. Right now I am struggling to find my own place as a photographer. Do you find it difficult to come up with original concepts for your work? How do you decide what ideas are worth pursuing?
BRENTON: There are times when I find myself shooting things that have been done a million times before. Let's face it it's hard to shoot hot guys in swimwear or underwear and do something new. It's a saturated market. If I'm on a shoot like that, I just try and do it in my own style and think of it as a learning ground to hone my skills.
14. You have been pretty open on the blog about your experiences dating, both positive and negative. Do you ever worry that a potential partner of date might read the blog and have a negative reaction to what you have said? Have you ever had this happen?
BRENTON: It hasn't happened in a way that I'm aware of, but it probably has happened. I love blogging and I've always been an open book, heart on my sleeve kinda guy. Some of the bad dating stories are just too ridiculous and horrendous not to share. If you don't laugh you will cry so I try and laugh at it.
15. Lastly do you have any future plans for the blog? Any sneak peaks of what might be coming up?
BRENTON: Half the time i don't know what I am going to put on it day to day. I find stories out there on the net that I think need to be shared and sometimes it's from things that happen to me, like bad dates. I've got some vague ideas and plans but nothing to speak of at this stage sorry.