The number 10 is an iconic number. It denotes faultlessness. The men featured in 10, Lewis Payton’s limited edition collection of iconic male images are just that – perfect 10s.

“I wanted each of the 10 images to depict different representations of ultimate beauty,” explains Payton of his collection, being released this month to bookstores nationwide and available now at www.lewispayton.com. “Obviously, all of the models in the shots are physically stunning, but they have distinctly varying personalities and energy. In 10, I strived to capture their uniqueness in still images.”

Payton believes that, because beauty is in the eye of the beholder and varies depending on a wide array of circumstances, no one man can embody true perfection. “I try to capture the unique soul of my subjects when I shoot them. All of these men have physical beauty, but I hoped to achieve something more than just photographing physical perfection. I chose 10 images that reflect the complexity of masculinity and sensuality.”

Men and the male form are often presented to us in a specific way, either as a hero or a sexy beefcake. “Obviously, there is so much more going on inside the male mind, so I really set out to bring an emotional honesty to the photographs. I try to capture both virility and vulnerability in my male subjects. These guys are physically attractive, but I think the power of the work comes from their emotional openness.

“I couldn’t pick a favorite man in 10,” Payton continues. “However, I can say that I have never seen a more perfect body than that of cover model Ryan Daharsh. He is a living Greek statue.”

Daharsh, featured twice in the collection, had a particular impact on Payton.

“I noticed two distinct qualities in Ryan that were equally striking,” recalls Payton. “Therefore, the two images featured in 10 are in direct contrast with one another. “The cover image is distant, masculine and heroic. The final image of Ryan is intimate, vulnerable and very sensual; almost feminine. Both images have wonderful lines and forms to the body, yet each is embedded with its unique emotional content. Though they are opposite in tone, both images reflect perfection.”

Australian-born Payton started his career in journalism. In the late ’90s, he lived underground for a month in Bucharest while shooting a documentary on the lives of Romania’s unwanted “sewer children.” He then journeyed to the Middle East to film the story of a teenage boy’s imprisonment by Syria’s brutal dictatorship after attempting to escape his homeland.

“I enjoy uncovering the layers of a situation or a person. I have limited interest in the surface of things, and I think my work reflects that. I love physical beauty, but if it has no depth then I quickly lose interest. The one commonality in my work is that I am always seeking truth.”

Payton began dabbling in still photography in late 2002 after losing a plum writing job because the magazine wanted a words -and-picture deal. Payton resolved to buy a 35 mm camera and taught himself to shoot stills. He was quickly hooked. “I love the power of photography. In an era where everything is speeding up, simple photographs stop us in our tracks.”

In support of the release of 10, Lewis Payton will embark on an international tour of 10 iconic cities: Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Sydney, Cape Town, London, Berlin, Paris, Tokyo and Rio. At each show, he will present an expanded version of 10 in large format. The exhibited collection will feature more of Payton’s renowned images along with his portraiture collection.

10, the first ever collection of Lewis Payton’s acclaimed photography, is being released as a limited edition of only 3,000 copies. It retails for $39 plus $5.95 postage and handling if purchased online. 10 will be in stores later this month and is available for purchase now at www.lewispayton.com.