Jeff Palmer is a photographic artist who manages to find in the human form those aspects that are most private and most vulnerable, In this Calendar he samples portraits of men alone and men together, never in the throes of passion but instead in the silence of need and tenderness. Each of these beautifully rendered photographs suggests repose, tranquility, absorption in the beauty of the male form appreciating the Grecian grace that comes with health and care of the physique. At times he pairs images of the same model in sleeping form, and in awakening to the realities of and personal pleasures of day, while at other times he concentrates on the form at rest or sleep, in bed with subtle light or in the beauty of nature outdoors.
The images of men together are particularly significant in that they are not in active gratification, but instead in those moments of repose, tenderness and warmth that are the moods here. There are some images that are simply faces where touch is the model's hand supporting his face - the message is in the eyes - while others capture sculptural curves in isolated body parts, alone and shared. Waiting for a new book by Jeff Palmer, at least we have photographs of beautifully healthy male models who just happen to be sharing the pleasure of the care of their bodies. This is a sensitive, moody, gentle, respectful praise of the male nude and Jeff Palmer knows how to capture this as well as any artist today. Grady Harp, September 11