Body
Alchemy: Transsexual Portraits
Photographs (and some
text) by Loren Cameron
Copyright 1996, 112 pages, $24.95
Cleis Press
ISBN 1-57344-062-0
Capsule:
Quality photographs and text describe Cameron's triumphs and
disappointments in transitioning from woman to man. The book also
sensitively documents other female-to-male transsexuals. A
divergent section covers the various options available for
developing male-like genitals.
Full review
Alchemy is the key word here, and a quote at the beginning of the book defines alchemy as "becoming who we are," of progressing from a state of confusion to a state of wholeness.
Looking at the photo on the cover, the book would seem to be about virility and muscular grace. A lithe, tattooed man in a heroic pose is pictured injecting something into his buttocks. As one soon discovers, this man is Loren Cameron, formerly a woman, and the author/photographer of the book. What he is injecting is testosterone, the elixir which brought about much of his transfiguration.
The book is all about masculinely-inclined women who become men (without reproductive powers) using hormones and surgery. The casual reader will look at these photos of transsexuals and say, yes, these people appear to be men who fit the image that American society expects. In our culture, it seems necessary for people to offer up a recognizable male or female persona, and not something in between where people are bound to ask, "Are you a man or woman?"
Body Alchemy begins with Loren Cameron's written account of his youth in Arkansas and his gradual realization that, as a teenage girl, he/she was "different" and was attracted to women. Eventually he/she came to San Francisco and lived in the lesbian community. At age 26, he/she made "the decision" and began the long process of transforming into a man. At about the same time, Loren began to use photography to document his journey. He admits that initially his photos were crude, but as the book abundantly proves, his carefully-crafted images eventually attained the level of art.
Initially many of the photographs are nude self-portraits of Cameron. They serve as his mirror, saying, yes, you are now a man, and you are sexually attractive. Some of the photos of him are melodramatic and abstract, and only work with text. For example, a heroic picture of him holding a flag depicts his first march in a gay/lesbian parade as a transsexual. Other self-portraits convey his consternation and humor with comments such as "You're really a woman," "You're the best of both worlds" and "Do you have a penis?" surrounding them.
Cameron writes well about his mixed bag of accomplishments, triumphs and difficulties. Even within the gay/lesbian community there is some rejection of his transformation.
After the self-portraits he moves on to documenting other female-to-male transsexuals. Where early in the book the text offers the most information, now photos and text become equally important. There are vignettes of 16 individuals and the photographic portraits (some before-and-after) are excellent. Again, the average reader/viewer will say, "These look like guys."
Amidst these portraits of other transsexuals, the book takes quite a twist and turn with a chapter on the various alternatives for developing male-like genitals, becoming a bit of a medical textbook. There's no ambiguity here! Photos show what happens to female genitals when male hormones are taken -- the clitoris enlarges and can resemble a small penis. Artificial testicles can be added. Some transsexuals are content with this progression. Or, if one desires a more penetrative organ, an artificial penis can be created surgically (which is shown). Here one is reminded of the late and controversial photographer Robert Maplethorpe, who could photograph both very classically and abstractly alongside photographs of penises and overt sexuality.
The book concludes with a section of photos and text about Loren Cameron and lover Kayt (see photo below), who identifies as lesbian/butch and "is cut from the same cloth" as Loren. A final shot (not so classical) humorously shows Loren and Kayt in bed watching TV, eating popcorn. Lest the reader assume that he has attained domestic tranquility, Cameron admits that from time to time male hormones cause him to lose his equanimity and explode.
Loren Cameron and Kayt, from the book Body Alchemy. Photograph ©1996 by Loren Cameron.
Body Alchemy opens the transsexual experience to the light of day. Loren Cameron has exposed his deepest emotions and has photographically invested female-to-male transformation with a certain beauty. If I were to make a single suggestion for Loren's future work, it would be to have his photography less formal and posed.
Ratings (five stars = highest rating):
Photography ****
Text *****
Book design and printing ****
(Reviewer: Valory Gravois) (Copyright ©1999 by Alchemist/Light Publishing)
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