Peter Allemano

SUMMER 2009 -- WONDERFUL NEWS!

According to CameraArts Magazine, Px3 Prix de la Photographie Paris is “Europe’s biggest and most prestigious photography competition.”  This year, photographer Arturo Macias’s portrait of me -- “Attack” -- has come out a winner!  Specifically, “Attack” won Third Place in its category:  Professional/Advertising - Book Cover.  You can find it through this link, near the bottom of the page:  Attack

FOLLOW-UP:  On July 9, the Px3 Prix de la Photographie Paris announced its 2009 People’s Choice winners, tallied from 17,987 votes.  “Attack” won first place in the Book Cover category.  See People’s Choice.

“Attack” is also reproduced below, and it appears both in my “Affirming the male sex” album (where you can post a comment) and in Arturo’s port (MM no. 662828; so please stop by and offer him your congratulations too; here is a direct link:  Arturo Macias).

MY STORY:

When I was young, I modeled professionally on and off for two decades.  During the late ’80s and early ’90s, I pursued the biz peripatetically, anywhere from 3 to 6 months a year, in several European countries and Brazil -- where the markets were more receptive to my “look” than here in the States.

Yes, I really am 54 years old today (with no portrait hidden away in a closet!), and when I joined ModelMayhem in November ’07, my primary purpose was to make a visual statement -- with a small selection of non-commercial physique and art shots -- celebrating my return to function after a catastrophic brain injury.  I’d suffered a cerebral hemorrhage due to a rare birth defect called an “AVM,” and it had rendered me a hemiplegic -- without movement or sensation on the left side of my body.  Fortunately, brain surgery to remove the AVM and prevent further hemorrhages was successful.  So not only am I up and about again, but it appears that my fellow New Yorkers will have to put up with my corny sense of humor for years to come.

The responses to my presence on MM have been very gratifying, and I’m enjoying the experience of collaborating with photographers to create images that are (hopefully!) beautiful, fun . . . and sometimes a wee bit provocative.  What a difference this shift in objective makes!

During my commercial career, there was always a specific goal for any given shoot, and it was usually to convey an impression of sublime contentment or self-actualization arising out of my using the client’s product or service.  So my venture into creative modeling is a wonderful new experience for me, as I expand my options for self-expression and sometimes even incorporate some of my strong sensibilities on gender issues.

I consider myself to be a masculist and I do volunteer work on behalf of a nonprofit men’s rights organization.  So if having these aspects in a model might be of interest to any photographers visiting my profile (in addition to my “look”), then I would especially welcome the opportunity to talk with you!

I feel happy to consider all types of gigs, whether “tests” or for-a-fee.  Feel free to contact me directly, though -- for paid work -- I prefer to simplify invoicing by working through my longtime booker, the wonderful Linda Zuidmeer, at Thompson Models:  (212) 947-6711.

In closing, it bears mention that I find a lot of inspiration from my fellow MM members.  I feel awed by some of the creativity being displayed on this Web site!