BODY: Photographers Who Deal With Stereotyping

Thomas Knights

RED HOT IS THOMAS KNIGHTS’ FIRST SOLO EXHIBITION AND IS SET TO PREMIERE IN LONDON AT THE END OF 2013. IT FEATURES A CAST OF HIGH PROFILE AND GOOD LOOKING RED HEADED MALES (MODELS, ACTORS, ARTISTS, AND MORE) AND IS IN LINE WITH THE ANTI BULLYING ALLIANCE. THE EXHIBITION HAS BEEN REBLOGGED ON TUMBLR OVER 30000 TIMES AND HAS A GROWING FACEBOOK.

The aptly named Red Hot project is by photographer Thomas Knights and will attempt to reverse the stigmas attached to ginger men.

He said: “Being a redheaded male myself it's close to my heart and a very personal project.

“It amazed me how our Western culture holds redheaded women to such high regard, almost the 'ultimate' female, and redheaded males in such low esteem; emasculated and de-sexualised in film and TV and literature.

“I don't think any other hair colour has this polarised opinion between genders. If you think about it, there are no Hollywood leading men with ginger hair, and no superheros or action stars.

“Actually, it's almost laughable to imagine a ginger action star, we have been conditioned to think ginger men are ugly and weak. I wanted to flip this on its head and present the redheaded male as the 'ultimate' alpha male.”

Knights revealed the seed for the project was planted when he read an editorial piece applauding fellow gingers Homeland star Damian Lewis and Prince Harry as “hot”.

“I new something was changing, hot ginger guys were so taboo they were exciting. I knew that Red Hot was going to work and the next week I shot the first few guys and it snowballed from there,” he revealed.

As for why Knights chose to concentrate on just men, he believes ginger women do not face the same stigma as the opposite sex.

He explained: “One day I might do a female version, but as the moment it's the guys who need the rebrand.

“How often do you see the nerd, looser or fat kid in a TV show played by a ginger guy? It’s very rare to have a ginger hero, whereas for red headed females in Hollywood it’s a totally different story.

“It's filled with beautiful or sexy red headed females - they are the ultimate woman. I want to present red-headed men as the ultimate men, the alpha male, leading man. I want people to be aware that it’s even possible!”