curtis ryan woodside He has spent years researching the ancient world and has built a reputation as a filmmaker and Egyptologist, with documentaries streaming on major platforms. He has long believed that gaining credibility requires sacrifice, especially in order to be taken seriously in academia, which requires abandoning modeling work.
The pressure came to a head in 2018 when his agent told him that he would never be respected on set as an openly gay man. A comment was left. Woodside shifted his focus completely to ancient Egypt, putting aside the parts of himself he once held onto.
“I was furious,” Woodside said. “Who I’m attracted to has nothing to do with my ability to study history objectively.”
Years later, that belief would be put to the test again, this time in front of the cameras.
say yes to vulnerability
In December, while living in Italy, Woodside was contacted by a Milan-based photographer. Emanuele For nude photography. This question caused hesitation. Her body shape has changed from when she was a model. Health issues and a back injury led him to rebuild his relationships with confidence, even as he felt stronger and happier than before.
Instead of waiting for an imagined “perfect” moment, Woodside decided this was it.
“Take a picture now,” he said. “It’s different when you’re older and wondering why you didn’t do it.”
The shooting was not provocative. It was about presence.
Trust, subtraction, and the power of gaze
For Emanuele, nudity was not about exposure, but about reduction. By eliminating distractions, we aimed to reveal intimacy without pretense. What attracted him to Woodside was his facial expression, not his physique.
“His gaze suggested the whole world,” said the photographer.
Before filming, boundaries were quietly understood. Music filled the room. The awkwardness is gone. What remained was a collaboration rooted in mutual respect.
“I always work with sensitivity,” Emanuele said. “A person who takes off his clothes puts himself in a vulnerable position.”
Living with both visible and invisible scars
Woodside’s relationship with her body has long been shaped by trauma. As a child, he survived a severe dog attack that required months of facial reconstruction. Scars remain, some visible and others felt every day.
“I don’t really like looking at my face,” he said. “It takes a lot of confidence to be in front of the camera.”
Because of its history, filming was both terrifying and liberating. Everything changed when I saw the first image. My fear subsided. Trust took over.
Redefining masculinity and confidence
The final image lies somewhere between serenity and power. They resist stereotypes and prefer quiet power over performance. For both artist and subject, this work pushes aside narrow notions of masculinity and perfection, ideals often amplified by social media.
“The perfect body doesn’t exist,” Emanuele says. “Beauty lies elsewhere.”
Woodside hopes his viewers, especially queer men struggling with self-image, see possibilities instead of pressures.
“Get out of your comfort zone,” he said. “Even once”
beyond a moment
This shoot did not replace Woodside’s work behind the camera. I honed it. He is less interested in proving himself to others and more focused on following his curiosity wherever it takes him.
“I know I’m good at what I do,” he said. “But you’re allowed to explore.”
Curtis Woodside didn’t let go of his past when he returned to the frame. He regained all his scars and strength.
Source: Gayety – gayety.com
