New York City-based photographer Kevin D. Hoover credits the film The Eyes of Laura Mars with igniting his passion for photography while he was in high school. The images in the film, created by Rebecca Blake and Helmut Newton, captivated him. He desired to one day create haunting images that would affect people the way the works of those artists affected him.
Hoover majored in photography at Columbia College, but the real world quickly got in the way of his dreams. The need to pay rent, bills, and college debt eclipsed creativity and Kevin found himself focused more on earning a living than the challenges of forging a career in the arts. It would take several years and a cross-country move to change all of that.
Though born in Chicago, Kevin says his life began when he relocated to New York. With $500 in his pocket and a job in retail, Kevin planted his roots in Brooklyn. This is where he let go of his inhibitions, broke free of his sheltered Catholic school upbringing, and started looking at the world through different eyes. Colors were more vivid. Blacks, whites, and grays were crisper and had more depth. It was almost like learning to walk and talk all over again. Like going through another childhood, then adolescence, and eventually, a new adult emerged. It is with this new outlook, this new vision, and by using these new senses that Kevin sought to express himself again as a photographer.
Today, with a concentration on physique and fashion photography, but more notedly, artistic and erotic nudes, Kevin credits photographers such as Thomas Synnamon, Rick Day, Justin Monroe, Mark Henderson, and a host of others with inspiring and mentoring him. "They make me want to learn more. To do better. To be better." He continues, "My goal is never to just take a pretty picture. I want to capture a moment. To provoke a thought or an emotion. If my images makes you feel happy or sad or lustful or angry, then the works are a success. But they must make you feel."
Kevin’s imagery of the male physique have been featured in print and digital publications such as DNA Magazine, BeautifulMag, The Male Form, and Blake Magazine as well as countless blogs and websites. His works have also been featured in the several coffee table books, including his own PROVOCATION: Volume 1. The highly anticipated PROVOCATION: Volume 2 will be finally released summer/fall 2018.
You can find more about Kevin and his work on his website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and OnlyFans.com.
READER COMMENTS (