:: Spotlight :: Leap Of Faith

By: Carmine Pascuzzi

This is a topic that I feel deserves some attention. Tony Ryan is a well-known photographer around Australia. He has been instrumental in establishing popular calendars such as Pumped Up Downunder, Bodyline, and Men For All Seasons.

I have known Tony for many years and he is a humble and gentle character who sees the attractive female body as a beautiful gift to the world, and expressing the nude female form in a delicate, artistic fashion.

However, there is a broader, meaningful element to Tony's philosophies and even many of the young women who have posed for his calendars. Behind this creative artform, there is a sensitive side to what young women may experience. Accordingly, Tony established a website called “Leap Of Faith”, thereby providing a link between any insecurities one may feel and the nature of a depressed state of mind, something very common in all fields of endeavour, not just modelling.

I know some of the young women who have contributed their inner feelings towards Tony's website, and it gives the reader an insight into something that may not always be as glamorous as one would think. In fact, there are some beautiful thoughts that have written by these attractive models and which provide some food-for-thought in our everyday living.

This is what Tony Ryan has to say about LEAP OF FAITH.

I have been involved in the modelling industry for over 15 years. I have spent the majority of this time as a model photographer specialising in calendars and posters. My primary passion has been to present beauty and to enjoy my work. In this time I have been exposed to a broad range of creative people and have learnt so much about life and human nature.

Most recently my passion has shifted to a deep study of creativity, sensitivity and mental health. I have encountered an unusually high percentage of people in this industry who have experienced depression or mental illness. Given that so many of these people are highly creative and sensitive I felt that there must be a link between mental stability and creative talent. I have also found that more than 50% of the models I have dealt with have had some sort of depression, mental illness or anxiety in their lifetime. This further had me ponder the affect that aesthetic beauty has on mental well being.

I have started a website to further explore creativity, sensitivity and aesthetic beauty. As part of this exploration I have also looked at the material side of modern day life. I believe that we are becoming a society that is more dependant than ever upon the opinions of others. Looks and status are becoming far more important than compassion and beauty appreciation. We seem far more dependant upon external appearances than we are with who we are as people and try to project false personas in order to impress others.

I have been very honoured to meet so many truly creative people in my employment. I have also met many very aesthetically beautiful women. However many of these people have been highly insecure and at times arrogant and unaware. It is such a pity as I believe creativity and aesthetic looks to be very special gifts to the community. If these people truly valued their gifts and sought humility then they would become so empowering to so many people.

In general I believe that deeply sensitive and creative people have an ability to feel emotions more acutely than most. However when they fear their emotions and protect their sensitivity they become very destructive. Leapoffaith is a website that encourages sensitivity and beauty. It is my desire that people come togeather on this website to openly and honestly share their wisdom. Without ego and with humility, passion and faith.