Action, nature, nudity: three secrets of Ryan McGinley's photography

New York-based photographer Ryan McGinley is known for his unusual, heart-wrenching projects. His series "Kiss and Make Up" is a prime example. The photographer has many remarkable works, spanning portraits, landscapes, and reportage. McGinley has also proven himself a talented master of nudes. Naturally, they are as extraordinary as everything he does. (Warning: Nudity.)

In an interview, Ryan McGinley admitted that he particularly enjoys photographing nudes. The photographer believes this interest stems from his youth, when Ryan and his parents visited Italy as tourists and saw Michelangelo's frescoes. Now he believes that exposure to the great master has left its mark on his work, and he subconsciously strives to recreate the frozen moment captured by the great Renaissance master.

Perhaps it's not just about art, but also about the lack of freedom the photographer subconsciously seeks to escape. Ryan was born the eighth child to a deeply Catholic family of a Korean War veteran and traveling salesman from New Jersey, eleven years after the birth of his seventh child.

By his teenage years, his older siblings had already moved away, and his family paid him minimal attention. Ryan's closest family member was his brother, 17 years his eldest. He was, he says, "wild, fun, and brilliant." He also attended art school in New York City.

Tragically, Ryan's brother died of AIDS when he was only 13. Before that, he had attempted suicide several times. The experience transformed Ryan into an emotional, sensitive person. At 19, he left home to study and began associating with members of subcultures.

His acquaintances included punks, skateboarders, artists, and graffiti artists—his life was fun and interesting. These people became the first subjects of his photographs. Now in his late 40s, McGinley still enjoys photographing young people most. His exhibitions have been held worldwide, and his photographs have been published in renowned magazines.