This very handsomely designed and produced art book highlights the photography of Peter Arnold who has elected to use only black models for this quite spectacular series. Arnold knows exactly what he choses to communicate in these pages - the majestic masculinity and perfect muscle development and seemingly innate sense of posing for Arnold's camera. The photographs are all in black and white with the exception of some sepia toned images. All are captured with a negative space background: the nudes are not in specific places nor do they require props to maximize the energy of their quite perfect bodies. As Charles Leslie states in his introduction, 'It has been said of certain very gifted white photographers of black men that, no matter how accomplished, the work is somehow tainted by an element of exploitative objectification of the subjects. In the case of Peter Arnold nothing could be further form that possibility. Arnold's work, suffused as it is with an enthralled gaze at the beauty and virility of his men is also clearly in formed by a deep and constant affection.'
Few of the images are of the full body of the model, most are focused on faces, or abdominal muscles or arms or legs or motion as well as showing that their truly is a gift of endowment in this group of models. Some of the photographs appear manipulated with paint, with water, or perhaps it is just the manner in which Arnold controls the light that makes these models seem to be composed of liquid gold. This is a 'forum of Black Gladiators' as Arnold phrases it. 'Physical perfection at its most sensual - photography at its mot naked.' Grady Harp, April 12