Gert:

I was born into a German family defined by genuine comfort and even more authentic irritation.  Relying on the means given to me by the former and in pursuit of more of the latter, I arrived in New York while still in my twenties.  I tried marriage, but that was not the lifelong blessing I had hoped it to be.  I next had some success as a society walker--until the husbands found out I was straight.  There followed a period when I was sought more intimately as "arm candy" by women we might politely call cougars.  That was also not what you would term a prudent life strategy.  So I began working as both a photojournalist and fine-art photographer (not under the name Gert, of course).  Soon enough, my life of honorable indolence was increasingly interrupted by accomplishment, and it has rather gone along those lines ever since.

Now that I was more settled, I wanted to reconnect with a love of the human form in all its beauty, dignity and strength but in a way that I hoped would draw out deeper meaning.  I wanted something that had not been attempted with the photographed nude before, so I started by practicing on myself.  I had done female nudes for quite some time, but the male body was new territory for me artistically.  I began pulling from my own corporeal form notes of pathos, irony and humor.  Then, while in Paris, I met Gisela, and the rest was magic.  A new sense of joy and irreverence came to the series.  Although she started solely as a model (for the first ten minutes, at least), Gisela quickly assumed the role of equal collaborator.  We would soon take turns goading each other on--two free spirits up to mischievous fun--accepting greater risks being naked both in public and in the resulting photographs.  We've taken our show on the road to luxury hotel suites and public places on four continents (so far); we have not been arrested yet—but we are still relatively young and have many more stories in pictures yet to tell.