Chicago-based photographer John Gress has spent his career with one foot in two different realms of photography: commercial and editorial. His interest in photography began in his native Oregon when, at age 14, he took his mother’s Vivitar point-and-shoot camera to summer camp. He enrolled in his first photography class during freshman year of high school, and by his senior year was covering major events for the Associated Press. He’s worked with many of America’s top companies on advertising and public relations campaigns, and his work regularly appears on the Reuters news wire and in major publications around the world, including Der Spiegel, Le Monde, The New York Times, The Times of London, The Washington Post, and Sports Illustrated.

Though he’s done great shots of Barack and Michelle Obama lately, you will easily understand why we focused our attention on his male fashion and fitness photography, and especially his recent shootings with Chicago-based fitness model Alexander Williams [above], and Deric Mickens a k a Milkchocolate Mick from Cedar Rapids, Iowa [below].

Hit that gallery link for a nice collection amazing shots by John Gress, including several portraits of a third model named Brian Fountain.

John Gress
Deric Mickens
Alexander William