New book by Araki

is called <a

href="http://www.photoeye.com/templates/mShowDetailsbycat.cfm?Catalog=ZD128">"Love

by Leica"</a>, where Araki explores the female nude with a Leica camera. The

work is a departure from his S & M style erotica of women in bondage. Instead,

the women engage the camera both sleepily and suggestively while lounging in

bed. Supposedly the result is much more intimate and tender, if not quite love.

I leafed through a copy of this about three months ago at a Tokyo bookstore, so it can't

really be described as "new." The photo-eye link gives publication date as 2006.

Mediocre b&w photos of mostly plain Japanese women lazing around on beds, suggesting

post-coital weariness on their parts, and post-career laziness on the part of the

photographer, who is quite aware that his name and reputation will sell enough copies.

Only for avid Araki fans.

"...suggesting post-coital weariness on their parts, and post-career laziness on the part of the photographer..."

I love that! Very funny, indeed.

Subhash