Thirst Traps And Spy Booths — Vintage Gay Photography

Recently sold! There are six more in this limited edition of ten.
Thyrell And Chris Outside The Pendulum Bar SF, 1986 photo by Jim James aka Photojimsf

Sold!

I’m happy as clams at high water! Why? Because I’ve recently completed a third sale to my prolific art collector in Brooklyn, Mr. Ricardo Walton. Who happens to be very handsome too, btw. Here’s his Instagram: @ricardowalton2

Thirst Traps

It was an unusually hot summer afternoon, so I had to make my way to the Pendulum Bar to quench my thirsts. BTW, that was where the black men and those of us who chased them went. Thyrell on the left was quite the charmer, and worked as the doorman/bouncer. Chris Costa on the right was from Springfield Massachusetts, and attending law School in SF.

The two of them were joking and laughing outside like the world was their oyster. Tickling, groping, bitch slapping, and so kind to let me shoot off a roll of film while they horsed around. This is the one shot out of the bunch where they looked serious, maybe even poignant, and oddly enough the shot that made the most impact on me.

The Spy Booth

Just a trivial but fun side note, in the background you can see the South China Cafe. Family run for decades, closed for decades, but very popular with patrons at the Pendulum Bar. With a long counter for single diners one side, there were wooden, cabin booths for groups on the other side.

One particular booth about halfway in, if you sat on the outer seat facing the street, had a direct line of sight to the front door of the Pendulum Bar. I always tried to nab that seat, feast on my stir fried clams with oyster sauce, and monitor the comings and goings for potential, ummmm, models!

Print History

The first showing of “Thyrell And Chris” was in July 2019, part of my “Black And White Nostalgia” exhibit at STRUT SF. That edition was just sold to my handsome Brooklyn supercollector. This is it’s first publishing on the internet, other than the ebook/catalog from the show.

Specifications

Shot on Kodak Tri-X film, and “pulled two stops”, I hand developed this film in the darkroom at Jebbe’s Camera Shop in the Excelsior district of SF. I did most of their darkroom work back in the late ’80’s.

The first edition was printed many years later, 2019, on Noritsu Premium photo paper by Oscar’s Photo Lab SF. The remaining nine editions will be printed on my favorite, Epson Hot Press Natural cotton art rag paper and come in the very convenient 8 x 10 size.

This limited edition also comes with a certificate of authenticity, bill of sale, and is shipped free to the US.

“Thyrell And Chris Outside The Pendulum Bar SF 1986is currently selling for $100.

Price is guaranteed for the next three editions, numbers two, three, and four, through 2021.

If you’re interested in this fine piece of artwork, shoot me your email, I can send you a clickable invoice, and answer your questions.

Only Six Of These Left In The Entire World

SOLD!

“Tom Bowers San Francisco 1984” by Your’s Truly, Jim James Aka Photojimsf

This was edition number four of ten, now there’s only six more available. It went to my esteemed Brooklyn collector Ricardo Walton (Instagram: @ricardowalton2).

The Model

Tom Bowers was that gorgeous carpenter who paraded around The Castro wearing cowboy, indian, and leather outfits like the Village People. He threw house parties in the grand SF tradition; costumed, with tambourines, stimulants, pot brownies. Entire and often multiple relationships were initiated, consummated, and then broken at these affairs.

Here he is in the attic with his old Ducati motorcycle. Tom loved this picture so much. After he saw it, he always referred to me as “my photographer”.

Some History

It’s first public appearance was at Fred’s Cafe, the legendary but now defunct cafe with the killer view at the San Francisco Art Institute. 1985.

The most recent showing was at my “Black And White Nostalgia” exhibit at STRUT SF, a gay community and health center in The Castro. July of 2019.

The image was shot with Kodak Tri-X black and white film in 1984. I developed the film and printed by hand, the first three editions on 11×14 Agfa Portriga Rapid paper. I gave the first two to Tom, and exhibited the third until it sold at the STRUT exhibit.

Since then, I’ve had a high res drum scan made from the negative, very sharp and crystal clear. The remaining editions are giclee art prints using fine pigment inks on Epson Hot Press Natural cotton art papers. This mimics the original Afga papers; warm and creamy, ever so just off white and a whisper of sepia.

Specifications

The prints are 11×14 inches, the image is printed “full frame” with a thin black outline and thick white borders.

This limited edition comes with a certificate of authenticity, bill of sale, and shipped free to the US.

Current price for “Tom Bowers San Francisco 1984” number five of ten is $150.

Interested? Shoot me your email, I can send you a clickable invoice and answer your questions.

Queer Visions Exhibit On Now At Haight St. Art Center SF

Thailand Calling — Bars Reopening

Thailand seems to have kicked coronavirus in the ass, and is now slowly reopening. But not to Americans. Yet. Ever?

Here’s a few posts from our Jomtien Beach community correspondent, Paul Raynor, and Wang Innok, who works at my favorite, ummm, beergarden!, the @Home Bar.

(Above: Manager Chun and two shirtless gentlemen play snooker at the reopened @ Home Bar. Photo credit: Paul Raynor/QM Photography)

Translation: The shop is ready to open….. Please come to drink….

Translation: After the rain stopped……. I thought I wouldn’t have a customer.. foreigner…. but a lot.. Thank you.

I Love Me Baby

Throwback Thursday from 2017…

Pahaha the way she dances in that dress: