Title: XXX 30 Porn-Star Portraits Author: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders Publisher: Bulfinch Press Publish Date: 2005 Pages: 144 Genres:: Straight Photography,Reviewer: J. Henry

Rating:

Greenfield-Sanders pays homage to painter Francisco de Goya’s portraits of “the smart one” clothed and nude in 30 Porn-Star Portraits.

Now, one might not expect a book so aptly titled to be a piece of art, or to contain thoughtful, informative, and declarative essays by the likes of Gore Vidal, Lou Reed, John Malkovich, and A.M. Holmes, but Greenfield-Sanders–-a renowned photographer of entertainers and political figures–-brings naturalism to his work in having actors both clothed and nude seem un-sexual yet alluring. While there is nothing gratuitous or even overtly sexual in the poses, Greenfield-Sanders effectively captures sheer beauty and appreciation for truth.

The pictures of the porn stars–-legendary and new–-are adjacent to each other; one can admire how flawlessly the poses complement or how dissimilar the facial expressions seem on each subject's face. Starlet Brianna Banks seems to emit more sexuality in her nude photo, while her clothed photo in oversized sweatpants and sweatshirt seem to reveal less sex appeal and more attitude. Ron Jeremy reveals a more playful side in his clothed picture with his slight smirk and in his nude maintains a serious expression while maintaining the same physical stance. The portraits are beautiful; after getting over the initial curiosity of wanting to see each person’s nude photo, one can go back and admire the subtle ways in which Greenfield-Sanders captures the beauty of each of his subjects. Just a warning: pictures showing the excessive breast augmentation necessary in this industry may be disturbing when in comparison to more natural figures like Chloe and Heather Hunter.

Insights into the lives of each subject are provided, detailing why they pursued a career in pornography and why they enjoy it so much. A list of each one’s most notable films is listed in case an admirer may want to explore further.

The articles incorporated from friends of Greenfield-Sanders vary. There are interviews--such as the one between acclaimed female sexual liberation author Nancy Friday and legendary porn star Nina Hartley, or the interesting exchange between filmmaker John Waters and popular porn director Chi Chi LaRue. Essays fluctuate from the personal (such as John Malkovitch’s revelations upon his first pornography viewing) to the informative (the blocking of pornography websites in Pakistan and Iran by Salman Rushdie). Musician Lou Reed’s essay is a personal narrative on the various avenues to sexual stimulation that are becoming available online.

The exchanges in the interviews are the most compelling as the reader learns more about the industry from the inside. Nina Hartley and Nancy Friday shed light on feminism and how it is not man-hating (as stereotypes would lead you to believe), but rather more in tune with what turns a woman on. LaRue proclaims that he will never film a scene, gay or straight, without the actors using condoms: “Rubbers are just fine. You can still just be dirty and fabulous with condoms and still be safe.”

In the Foreword, journalist Simon Dumenco notes the photographer’s success in creating and displaying his art. “He creates vivid character studies that are uncannily narrative in their stillness.” I couldn’t have stated it better myself.