One look at kinkedkenny.com and it's easy to see why I'm glad Kenny Lee, the photographer responsible, decided to stay in Toronto during a stopover 13 years ago.
Born and raised in Vancouver, Kenny fell in love with Toronto during that trip and he's been there shooting hot, kinky guys and gals ever since.
The amazing part is that you'd never know it to look at his images, but he's only been doing photography for 2 years - and he taught himself!
I gave him a little smack for saying he's not a professional. In my book, if you get paid to do something, you're a professional!
"I'm sure if a professional photographer looked at my shots, they'd say this shadow or that shadow is out of place" he laughs. Well.. I disagree.. when you're this much of a natural, you can make your own rules - and who's to know you didn't mean for that shadow to be there!
He conceded that point (I think he was afraid I would spank him! lol) and went on to say that his favorite method of shooting is to use natural lights. (my favorite too!)
"My biggest thing is that I want a natural kind of mood that you can't get with all studio lighting.. I hate that godawful flat lighting. There's just nothing sexy about it.. I love dark and shadows.. and I rarely use external light sources."
I don't know many photographers who can set a mood quite as well as he can. From dark alleys to bedrooms, to washrooms in gawd knows where - it's clear what this man is all about. Raw, kinky sensuality where you can all but taste and smell the sweat coming off his sexy models.
Kenny's first career was in hair and makeup, which he did quite successfully in the fashion industry until a stint in the hospital, and the subsequent 6 months of recovery time he needed kind of threw him out of the loop. When he was ready to get back into the swing of things, he discovered that the industry had moved on without him..and it was time that he tried a new career. Which he did, clearly with gusto!
He's gotten some really great reviews and he says he's even had "professional" photographers wanting to assist him just so they can watch his process. I'm personally hoping he keeps his trade secrets! His entire site is full of images "stamped Kenny".. but then again, imitation is the best form of flattery isn't it? He's done a lot of fetish fashion work - being familiar with the fashion industry in his former life helped him out tremendously, but his true love is shooting sexy, confident men. He's had his images printed in Instigator Magazine, shot many events in and around Toronto, not the least of which is Mr. Leatherman Toronto, International Leather Sir Boy, and Bootblack 2008.
He's also lent his particular style and flair to many events in Toronto - infact, he helped Lena Love with some ideas for her "show".. you know that one, where she was masked, dressed like a guy and fucked a guy onstage while wearing a strap on?! (MY HERO!! how do I get that gig next year? LOL )
He also mentioned one show in particular where Buck Angel (whom he's also photographed) fist-fucked Lena on stage.. I have to say my jaw was hanging open, literally while he described that... lol
Despite the fact that this is a new career for him, Kenny's moving along quickly - with many shows currently running (one at The Painted Lady in Toronto at the time of the interview).
He's also got 3 shows coming up in Montreal, and he's talking with people in Berlin about going out there to show them his work and do some shows. If anyone can appreciate the raw, gritty, stark sexuality of his imagery it's those Germans!
He's also telling me that he's working on a bedside book this year that will be full of images you'd definitely want to have beside your bed when it's time for "sleeping"!
I'm sure we're going to hear much much more about Kenny soon.. but in the meantime, if you love leather/fetish.. and all around unique and sexy photography, do yourself a favour and check out his website.
www.kinkedkenny.com