Hi, I'm MJ Atlas

In the early 1990s I was living in Los Angeles and happened to meet a man named Peter McWilliams one day while picking up my mail. Peter was an author and a photographer and he had just received a box filled with copies of his new book of photographic portraits. Although I had never taken a serious photograph in my life, I mentioned that photography might be something that I might like to try some day. Peter insisted that we go to the camera store immediately where he gifted me my first film camera with an 85mm portrait lens. 

That chance meeting and random act of kindness began my life-long interest in photography. I soon began taking photos of my friends, many of whom were bodybuilders, and masculine physique photography quickly became my passion.  My artistic goal is to have the men that I shoot be able to see themselves, even for a moment, the way I see them,  as beautiful, living works of art.

I will be forever grateful to Peter McWilliams for starting my artistic journey and to all the Atlas Men who have been kind enough to pose for me. I hope you enjoy the work we have created together.