We’ve always got our eyes out for the next raw talent, and Texan photographer Bad JohnPaul certainly brings that to the table.
His work often portrays undressing (and with their tattoo covered bodies, a depiction of stereotypical ‘bad’) guys, brandishing guns or their own weapon. In an exclusive chat with C&C, Bad JohnPaul tells us that his inspiration comes from the “fucked up media today”.
We first came across BJP’s work on Tumblr; the same place as he started out. BJP says that he enjoys shooting both men and women, but says he has only be recognised for his male photography recently. “After years of cock art, I’m finally socially accepted! [laughs]”
At the start of his career, he recalls receiving hate mail, ‘”[I’m] going to hell’ was a common thing I heard from my ‘fans'”.
BJP explains how after promoting his Tumblr on a local radio show, “male fans would go onto my original tumblr and get confused on why I had nude men with nude females. Straight Texan men didn’t like my mixing of the sex on my tumblr, and I would hear it from them.”
But it wasn’t until he showcased his skills in art, movies and lifestyle in ‘Bad Austin’ magazine that he felt people accepted his work; tits and dicks included.
When we pried into his interest in the male form: “I’m just happy it’s not a woman”, he joked.
“Honestly if ur looking for a freaky answer I really don’t have one. I started shooting my male friends nude kinda as a joke.. a lot of my friends are ex-military and they love doing shoots,” he continues.
Ex-military?! We presume they’re happy to slip back into uniform upon request.
“I choose now to shoot more nudes cause who wants to see a Texas man in clothes?”
“Pop culture and whats happening in the fucked up media today is a huge inspiration in my art. I’m fascinated with everything in the news; Trump, Hilary, gun control, Pizza Gate, the Illuminati. I mean, it’s a sitcom, that’s real life.”
When we asked how he gets his subjects to relax for a shoot, BJP shot back, “NyQuil. Is that not OK?”
