See Michael Alago's Polaroid Encounters of macho muscle men

Michael Alago has released his fourth photography book, Polaroid Encounters: 1998–2009.

Following Rough Gods, Brutal Truth, and Beautiful Imperfections, the artist and former music executive, who famously signed Metallica, continues his work of capturing "macho masculinity in all its flexing, flirting, full-frontal glory," as a release notes.

Shot from 1998 to 2009 in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, New Orleans, and New York — including Alago's Chelsea apartment — the 142-page book of Polaroids features "tricks, friends, models, bodybuilders, tattooed roughnecks, and ex-con boyfriends in various settings and stages of undress and arousal," the release adds.

Alago — whose journey in music and surviving addiction and the AIDS crisis is chronicled in the 2017 documentary Who the F**k Is That Guy? The Fabulous Journey of Michael Alago — is excited to share this long-running project with the world.

"I’ve been waiting a long time for this work to be released," he shared with Out. "So many men, so many stories. I’ve always been intrigued by the one-of-a-kind instant image you get from a Polaroid — the immediacy as well as the anticipation. Polaroids, particularly these Polaroids, feel uniquely evocative, intensely of-the-moment, and intimate. I’m deeply grateful to finally share Polaroid Encounters with you."

Polaroid Encounters is available as a limited edition exclusively from punk and hardcore books and zines publisher Shining Life Press at www.shininglifepress.com. The first 100 books come with a signed Polaroid from Alago’s collection.

See a sampling of Polaroids ahead. Additionally, Alago will discuss the photos and sign copies of Polaroid Encounters on June 12, from 7-9 p.m. at the Bureau of General Services–Queer Division, 208 West 13th Street, Room 210, New York City. Learn more at bgsqd.com.

$Polaroid portrait of a shirtless, muscular man with slicked-back dark hair and heavily tattooed arms sitting on a bed in white briefs, resting one hand near his chin and looking off-camera. Image from Michael Alago\u2019s book Polaroid Encounters$

Bo Garrett, adult film star

$Polaroid of a muscular man wearing white briefs and flexing both arms while standing in a doorway inside an apartment. Posters and framed artwork are visible behind him. Image from Michael Alago\u2019s book Polaroid Encounters$

Chad Connors

Polaroid portrait of a shirtless man with tattooed arms standing on a rooftop at dusk, wearing a dark fedora with a plaid band and holding a cigar in his mouth while crossing his arms. A city skyline appears in the background

Cole Tucker

Polaroid of a muscular man with short gray hair and a goatee posing indoors in black briefs, standing against a wall and looking directly at the camera

Colton Ford

Polaroid of a muscular man in a red wrestling singlet flexing both arms against a black background, looking directly at the camera

Derick da Silva

$Polaroid photograph of storefront gym signs hanging above a city street, including a large sign reading \u201cDoug\u2019s Gym\u201d against a bright blue sky. Image from Michael Alago\u2019s book Polaroid Encounters$

Doug's Gym

$Polaroid portrait of a shirtless man covered in extensive tattoos, including intricate black facial tattoos and geometric designs across his neck and chest, posing against a deep red background while looking to the side. Image from Michael Alago\u2019s book Polaroid Encounters$

Druso

$Polaroid of a shirtless muscular man posing on a rooftop with his hands clasped behind his head, standing against a sunlit city skyline and blue sky. Image from Michael Alago\u2019s book Polaroid Encounters$

Gary

$Warm-toned Polaroid portrait of a shirtless man with a long braided beard and shaved head, staring directly at the camera against an orange background. Image from Michael Alago\u2019s book Polaroid Encounters$

Jeff T

$Polaroid photograph of a shirtless man turned away from the camera, revealing a large full-back tattoo portrait of Jesus wearing a crown of thorns. The man is seated in low-rise jeans against a dark background. Image from Michael Alago\u2019s book Polaroid Encounters$

Jesus Christ tattoo

$Polaroid of a shirtless muscular man wearing a chain necklace and wristwatch, looking down while fastening or adjusting jewelry with both hands indoors. Image from Michael Alago\u2019s book Polaroid Encounters$

Massimo

$Polaroid of a man wearing white briefs and a New York Yankees baseball cap, posing indoors with both hands behind his head while standing in a doorway beside a bookshelf. Image from Michael Alago\u2019s book Polaroid Encounters$

Muscle Pickup

$Polaroid portrait of a shirtless blond man with short spiked hair and tattooed arms posing outdoors in front of dense green foliage, looking directly at the camera. Image from Michael Alago\u2019s book Polaroid Encounters$

Oliver Blond

$Polaroid portrait of a muscular, hairy-chested man wearing a black leather mask and thin armbands, posing with his hands behind his back against a dark red curtain backdrop. Image from Michael Alago\u2019s book Polaroid Encounters$

Paul P

$Polaroid of a bearded, shirtless man wearing a baseball cap while sitting in the driver\u2019s seat of a vintage pickup truck, looking toward the camera through the open window. Image from Michael Alago\u2019s book Polaroid Encounters$

Rich T

$Polaroid of a muscular man wearing black briefs and posing indoors beside a couch and stacks of magazines, with framed artwork and a silver record plaque hanging on the wall behind him. Image from Michael Alago\u2019s book Polaroid Encounters$

Rod Roddick

$Polaroid photograph of a pair of worn white Adidas sneakers on the floor beside crumpled black shorts in a dimly lit room. Image from Michael Alago\u2019s book Polaroid Encounters$

Sneakers

$Polaroid of a nude muscular man wearing a black leather hood, wrist guards, and ankle cuffs while posing on all fours on a patterned carpet, looking toward the camera with his tongue out. Image from Michael Alago\u2019s book Polaroid Encounters$

Tim Dax

$Polaroid silhouette of a muscular man flexing both arms while seated in front of a large window overlooking a sunlit cityscape. The figure appears in shadow against the bright skyline. Image from Michael Alago\u2019s book Polaroid Encounters$

Tom

$Polaroid of a muscular man with dark hair flexing one arm while posing shirtless indoors, wearing a gold chain necklace in front of metallic curtains and a table with pink flowers. Image from Michael Alago\u2019s book Polaroid Encounters$

Trick

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See Michael Alago's Polaroid Encounters with macho muscle men

The artist and former music executive shares over a decade's worth of sexy male portraiture in Polaroid Encounters: 1998–2009.

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