We told you about his party; now let's take a look at the book itself.

Larry Utley's photo collection is called Women in Control, Iron Fist, Velvet Glove. From the slick cover design of an Eden-esque reminder to the final pages of spankings and rope work, Utley has created a stunning representation of the female roles within the BDSM world.

It opens with a somewhat long introductory essay by Mistress Miranda, who, for those not familiar with the BDSM scene, is known internationally as one of the top dommes in the world. We read along as she ponders the role of women in dominant roles and the many different ways that it can play out. "In female dominance, a woman who understands herself is powerful," she writes. "A woman who can see the good in her bad attitude, whatever it might be, is even more powerful."

She continues "defining the essence of female dominance," and we are treated to a collection of small photos around the borders of her words. These photos are simple representations of the tools of a woman - a boot, a glove, a strap-on, a whip, a paddle. Small reminders that props are wonderful, but ultimately, it is the psychology of a woman which gives her power. Crack the spine a little further and begin your journey through the eyes of Mr. Utley as he captures glimpses into the world of women from the San Francisco scene. The pages are smooth and soft, sometimes in sharp contrast to the image on the paper. You can tell Utley has practice with this topic; his snaps are clear moments in a scene.

Some pages contain a montage of images while others hold only one face, one body, one duo, or one duet. At times we follow a series as it plays out between a woman and her subject, from the wrapping of a person in a yellow body bag to a cluster of pictures revealing two women piercing one another and reveling in the work. Other times, one page can show ten or twelve different people, different representations of the bond between a woman and her submissive, male or female, or simply a woman clearly feeling her own power.

There are a few pages which catch my eye; one is a woman with an intricate cuff and collar mechanism around her, her eyes away from the camera, clearly gone into a space beyond the presence of the lens before her. Another is an up-shot of a man and woman kissing one another delicately as both their bodies are covered in clothespins attached to their flesh. Simple and elegant, at times Utley reveals more when the subject seems unaware of his presence.

Larry Utley is a San Francisco-based artist and photographer. His previous book, Fetish Fashion: Undressing the Corset, received accolades from the fetish fashion world. He has been featured in print publications such as Skin Two Magazine, and has had showcases and exhibitions in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Toronto.

Ultimately, this is a loving look, somewhat romanticized, of women into bondage, kink and deviance. What it brings to your collection is a personal view of what really goes on, sometimes practiced and polished and sometimes raw and rippled. Let the images draw you in and find yourself or your woman in there somewhere. Visit www.larryutley.com for more info.

Women in Control - by Alexia O'Neil

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