Joe Oppedisano Talks Uncensored

IN JANUARY 2006 WE FELL IN LOVE WITH JOE OPPEDISANO. NOT LITERALLY OF COURSE, AND NOT EVEN WITH HIS WORK. THAT WE DISCOVERED SOME TIME BEFORE ALREADY. BUT IN JANUARY 2006 WE MET THE MAN AND DISCOVERED THE PERSONALITY BEHIND THE DARK MASCULINE, HEAVY EROTICALLY LOADED IMAGES. AND WHAT A PERSONALITY THAT IS.

Two years ago Joe Oppedisano had his first book – Testosterone – published, which launched his life in a whirlpool of contradicting emotions and experiences. Joe has always been a man to take decisions in his own hands, which is also the reason why he entered the fascinating world of photography. When we talked to Joe back in 2006, he told us he didn’t think at that time his career had really taken off, but was hoping it would happen soon. Little did he know what would happen in the next two years. Testosterone hit the shelves in December of that same year, shooting Joe’s career rocket high, but leaving his personal life behind. A typical case of ‘be careful what you wish for’? Maybe. After the euphoria of his first book publication Joe found himself in a place he didn’t wanted to be, but managed to get through and survive and has come out of it stronger then before.

With a brand new book – Uncensored – that we already reported on two weeks ago, Joe Oppedisano regales us with bold imagery of rugged men who openly engage in displays of bondage on urban sidewalks and muscular athletes captured in breathtaking form surrounded by lush landscapes, Joe has created a visual testimony of his new self. Brave, unashamed, in control. Each page of the book is injected with a compelling tantalizing display of flesh as Joe embarks upon his mission with a successful mix of masculinity, sexuality, glam and ironic humor. One more time we looked Joe up and talked with him. About his life. About his work. About his success and the price it cost him. And Joe talked with us… uncensored…

Hey Joe, welcome back to BeautifulMag. It has been three years since we published the first big interview with you, so tell us, what’s up?
Joe: Recently I spent 3 weeks in upstate N.Y. at my parents house to relax, recover and finish my next book, Uncensored, which is being published by Provocateur, which is cool because it's the first book they've ever published. It's completely a different direction from Testosterone, which was gritty and hard. This is harder, and actually raunchier, except I wanted to bring those elements into the light and show pigs being pigs in the daytime, and in expensive homes...not just in dungeons.

We have been following your career Joe, and it is safe to say you went fast. Magazine publications, prestigious assignments, video, Testosterone, which must have been quite a crown on your work.  Looking back over the past few years, can you point out some highlights? Being a ‘published’ photographer… Did it change a lot for you?
Joe: Meeting you guys...(kiss ass), well, pretty much the entire thing was a highlight. It was a roller coaster for me because I didn't expect what was about to happen. The book Testosterone happened by accident, and then all of a sudden it was my entire life. In 2 weeks I was working with porn studios and having guys email me naked shots of them – lol. It was cool, but also a mind fuck. My poor ex Brad was going nuts because I was working all the time, hence, ex. I was consumed, and caught up, but yet, at the same time, a lot of my serious clients who I'd worked with for years and who basically paid the bills, stopped working with me because I was now a "porn" photographer...

So I was basically broke, going through a divorce... crazy, and I found myself in a place that I didn't know what was real anymore. I started doing crystal meth...ugh, so gross...but the confidence I should have had at that time was clouded, and I took what seemed like an easy way out. How very wrong I was.

My friends, who are really my brothers, gave me a little intervention, which was kinda humbling... I had no idea they knew... thats what all crack heads think. Trust me - lol.
But, I'm sober now I'm going to stay this way, because there is no other option, but I'm also in a better place.

Testosterone, getting back to the question... was not a crown, but a jewel in what I hope someday, the body of work, will be the crown. It taught me a lot about myself, it made a huge impression on people which I found very positive and reassuring, and made me see what the possibilities were in life beyond my mental box.

Now, almost two years after your first book, you are back with another one: Uncensored. What can we expect? It looks like Uncensored is much more personal than anything you have done before…
Joe: Two years... seems like last year, but yeah, it was 2 years ago. Well, what you can expect is not what you're expecting.The photos in this book are all very personal for me, I was feeling like a one trick pony (or thought of as one) and wanted people to see there is more to my work than what you know. I shoot women's clothing campaigns, I shoot CD covers, I directed Colton Ford's music video "That's Me", and produced a DVD KNOCKOUT! for Greenwood Cooper about Ultimate Fighters. My head is A.D.D. 210%, and I look at everything in a different way. So, I wanted to give people PORN, but my version of porn. Testosterone had almost no dick in it - only 12 pages. This book is full out, balls to the wall. enema giving, urinating, cruising, sucking, fucking, rimming, cum dripping PORN. BUT, it's outdoors, in French homes with chandeliers, marble fireplaces and antique furniture. There's one section that I did that is based on a bunch of filthy jock boys and what they would do in grandma's house when she's out at night playing BINGO.  Another section is based on fantasies of walking down the streets, alley's or toilets in NYC and by chance, running into some hot janitor, business man, hustler, etc... It's porn glamorized, but FILTHY! Actually, I think that it's really what every man wants to be. It's easy to be a pig at night, when no one can see you...but to be outside, on the street, and yourself, being completely uncensored...that's when you know you're a pig.

Joe, you have had quite a journey over the past few years. Where are you now in your life?
Joe: Right now, I am taking 2 steps back. Like I said, I spent some time upstate to get strong mentally, emotionally and physically and get ready to kick some ass. We plan on doing a lot of promotions for the book, and I am still finishing my PR from KNOCKOUT!. I decided to not start work again until September, having had a few weeks to stay out of NYC, enjoy my family, my mom's food, redo my web site, bla bla bla.

I am planning to move forward, not look back. My mistakes were the mistakes that made me the person I am today, and I have no shame or guilt over them. If anything, I hope my fuck ups can inspire someone to slap themselves awake. I want to keep saying fuck you when people tell me "no", because no is not in my vocabulary. I want to push myself and see just where I can go. That's how this book got made in the first place... That's one of the reasons the book is called Uncensored.

What is the next big thing for Joe Oppedisano?
Joe: Your guess is as good as mine... ha ha ha.  We'll see... But in the mean time...check these out... Uncensored pre-ordering on www.10percent.com, Colton Ford's That's Me video and the trailer for the Knock Out DVD.

Sorry, I know... I am a SHAMELESS WHORE!
OX
Joe –B-

The interview BeautifulMag had with Joe Oppedisano in 2006 is still available for reading at: Gettin' Dirty with Joe Oppedisano | Sex with Joe Oppedisano | Playing with Joe Oppedisano.

JOE OPPEDISANO | BEAUTIFUL

Comments

[Anthony Lacy]

These photos are literally sexy and stunning, and the derrière's are beautiful (pun intended).

[Seth]

No thanks. I prefer his work when it was something you did not have to hide from your mother!

[Daniel]

WOW such an amazing pics! i love them! im looking forware to more from him... so hot!! and by the way... amzing blog... well mag hehe its reaally cool :D
gretins from Mexico! :D

[daz]

the most adorable images ever - thank you x

[Andre DeLoach]

I am so happy to read that Joe has re-energized himself and is staying true to his vision of masculine pig-out sex regardless of the defection of his past clients.

I believe Joe is now better able to attract those new paying clients who want EXACTLY what he so exquisitely has to offer because he is producing new work that is an even clearer and more authentic reflection of his delicious erotic visions. Those uncomfortable with Joe's moist and musky sex-festive work will do well to move on because they are not the ones his work is directed towards anyway.

Having read more about Joe's journey, I am even more inspired by him and his work. I will be sure to buy a copy of his book!

And more importantly, I will follow his example and stay absolutely true to my own creative vision as a professional photographer.

[Pierre]

The pic of the construction worker in front of the urinals is just perfection !!! Total BOING !!! Any more pics of that model, the suite?