I learned a lot about homosexual culture by reading C.A. Tripp's book, The Homosexual Matrix. I was especially interested in Tripp's ideas about the nature of sexual arousal. Erotic motivation, he says, comes from "factors that resist the erotic impulse" as much as from those which accelerate it. In other words, a certain "resistance" is an integral part of sexual attraction.
High-resistance sex practices—straight or gay—combine seductive flirting with teasing interruptions that heighten the erotic dance. Acting out forbidden desires in public raises the game to even higher levels—and so does striking poses for eager photographers.
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There was a stylish elegance in this Mardi Gras street scene (what magnificent costumes!) and an emphasis on physical perfection (oh, those washboard abs!). There was erotic role play too—I thought "fan boy" was a submissive until I spotted his friend's collar and cuffs.
It was a transcendental moment. Psychologists call this condition "flow," a state where time stands still, revealing the magic in all its glory. Athletes call this state "being in the zone." To me, flow comes from the here-and-now excitement of shooting exotic subjects—and the thrill of losing myself in the creative act.
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