When the editors of Made in Brazil posted the first photos of new face Weder Wilhan a year ago, they triggered a surprisingly strong controversy. They received over a hundred emails with comments ranging from His deer-in-the-headlights look will sell nothing! to He totally has ‘IT’!

However, one reader suggested: Instead of wasting time wading through 100 emails of criticism, use it to shoot the guy B&W with some great lighting that accentuates his good looks. Dark and moody. That should shut them up for a while! And that’s exactly what Brazilian photographer Didio did in a recent shooting.

The guys at Made in Brazil are still convinced that Weder — now 18 and signed with 40 Graus Models — has all it takes to become a world-class model. Mau Medellin, over at Model Misbehaviour, says that he reminds him of his friend Leandro Maeder, and that photographers like Michael Roberts and Mario Testino have already set their eyes on him.

Your take?

Didio photography
Made in Brazil’s first post about Weder
40 Graus
Model Misbehaviour