Upper East Side, NYC

My good friend Zack, along with his good friend Andy, put together their second "gay calendar for straight men", this one of course for 2017.

The calendars feature artistic, often evocative images of the duo — in character as Yolo and Armando Martinez — and they task their photographer and graphic artist friends to help create content in the form of images for the calendar month pages.

I was lucky enough to be one such friend, and began that morning's photoshoot on the roof of my apartment.

Flying by the seat of our wonderful variety of fabulous pants, I pretty much let Zack and Andy get into character (they pretty much live there anyway), and much like real brothers, they interact with each other and engage with both the camera and each other's space with aplomb

Their choice of wardrobe — chosen and styled by their equally flamboyant friend Lizzz [not a typo] belies the cold temperatures of this early winter morning.

Wanting to make good use of the surroundings and wealth of wardrobe choices, we began a transition from my building to the deli across the street...

... and into the back room of the bar situated right under my apartment — continuing the editorial tale of two internationally known male supermodels who were partying in some other city, and on the plane that landed them in New York, where they were just going to full-heartedly continue their revelry.

Alas, all good, crazy things must come to an end, as even our two wild, playboys eventually succumb to their days-long party exhaustion...

... And our very fun shoot comes to a close.

I was only tasked to provide for one of the calendar's month's image, yet am now grateful and honored to have my images featured in two of the months. The greatest honor is being of any degree of help to promote the calendar, the sales proceeds of which go to — and benefit, in whole — the River Fund, which is "the number one poverty frontline center in New York."

"RIVER FUND," as it states on the Yolo Martinez website page, "serves more than 15,000 families, not only by providing weekly groceries but also helping them enroll in some 180 government assistance programs and other services designed to help lift them out of poverty."

All-in-all, this was a great fun way to do great good.

•••·····