photo essays

Thats right, Art. A lot of people have a very hard time seperating porn and art, but for me, this book, as well as all of Ward books, was an easy decision. This is Art. Plain and simple.
With art and photography taking a huge turn these days in the area of erotica, it is very difficult to come up with something new and powerful. I know this because I am a photographer myself. Tony Ward has found a way to take extremely graphic erotica and turn it into beauty with his disturbingly grainy photographs.
Using very high contrast film, then enlarging, you are able to see every single little grain in Wards work, making this a Wow experience.
I will warn all readers though. This book is not for the squimish. If you are offended by depictions of homosexual sex, or any graphic sex acts, then this book is not for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a great art monograph with extreme erotica, get this book. It is incredible.

Tony Ward crosses the line here...

Orgasm XL is an in-your-face exploration of human sexuality - and it's graphic, so powerfully graphic, that it will undoubtedly be too much for many of Tony's fans. But for those who enter the world he's created here with an open mind, the reward will be undeniable. Sexual deviations are not the focus here; just raw sexuality, mostly between male-female couples though there are frequent glimpses of girl-girl action. Beautiful women take their men into their mouths, an interracial couple shows us everything, and lesbian lovers engage in electrifying strap-on sex. These are similar scenes that one would find in most porn magazines, yes, but none could pull it off with the artistry that Tony does. It's not the grainy texture, nor is it the black & white film; what Tony does here is something indescribable that sets his work above the average, technically-oriented, Brooks Institute-trained photographer. The scenes he's created, his composition, his choice of models, his creative angles, his flair for graphics and design, everything, when taken as a whole are much more than the sum of their parts.

Hey, anybody can make a Gumbo with the right recipe, but it takes a true artist to cook up what Paul Prudhomme does in the kitchen. And that's what master chef Tony Ward does here - he cooks up a 5-star jambalaya that some might say is too spicy, but I say that's what makes it soooooooooo good, cher!

Technically, the photographs are fine, nothing spectacular like Stuart or Merritt, but well done. The problem I had with this book was: where did the author stopped the art and started the schock value?
The "grainy-ness" of the photos make them look seedy and corrupt, which is part of the experience, but the golden shower and double fisting shots look straight out of one of those porno sites you get spammed everyday with.
I consider myself very open and liberal when it comes to sex and everything that surrounds it, but I have to give this book four stars only because I will need to hide it when I have guests; not that I mind people seeing art, but I feel there are a lot of people out there who will most definetely get offended by the photography.
A very fine publication, with very good photography and extremely erotic subjects.