FORM & FUNCTION
Award-winning photographer Blake Little talks to Attitude about creating the images for his new book, CONSTRUCTION NUDES 1981–1985
Words Markus Bidaux
Brion against curved wall
Armando opening tarps
B lake Little is an awardwinning, Los Angeles-based photographer who has shot the likes of Tom Cruise, Glenn Close and Jane Fonda. He is also known for his LGBTQ+ portrait series. Now, the first of these projects, which was carried out after Little completed his photography degree over 40 years ago, is being celebrated in a newly released book, CONSTRUCTION NUDES 1981-1985. In this interview, he explains how the images are a product of their time.
Describe the inspiration behind your construction series.
I’ve always been fascinated with architecture, construction sites and raw materials like concrete, rebar, steel and dirt. When I found these locations, I went there primarily to take pictures of the locations themselves as architectural pictures. But then I quickly realised I wanted to bring models there once I saw these amazing, unique locations. The work is inspired by classical art, but also by the work of physique photographers like Bruce of LA and Cult Studios, and even the work of contemporary photographers at the time, like Robert Mapplethorpe.