I notice that people often draw their inspiration from the wrong source. They choose a role model like Lazar Angelov. Someone with qualities that are unattainable for them, thereby condemning themselves to frustration.
Lazar Angelov
As a fitness photographer, I always ask clients in advance to provide examples of the type of photos that appeal to them. Nowadays, I explicitly mention that they should pay attention to aspects such as lighting, pose, and composition.
This became necessary because I often received example photos that, as a fitness photographer, I thought:
“There’s nothing special about that photo except the model.”
As a photographer, that doesn’t help me.
If you send a photo of Lazar Angelov that is not particularly outstanding, then you have no guarantee that if I replace Lazar with you, the result will be the same. Moreover, you don’t need a fitness photographer when you have his look and want such a photo.
Then you just take it with your phone.
But the chances are that you don’t look like Lazar. I often make the comparison with a woman who goes to the hairdresser and says:
“I want Beyoncé’s hairstyle” and then is disappointed that she doesn’t look like Beyoncé with that hairstyle.
As a fitness photographer, I deal not only with the model’s face but also with the physique. I am especially interested in lighting, poses, and compositions that make your body and face look good.
Unattainable physique
Aside from photos, you can have Lazar as an example for your fitness goals. Often not very useful either. Lazar has a few qualities that most people don’t have.
I’m talking first and foremost about his ridiculously perfect abs (and you can hear my envy in that).
When I retouch photos, I only emphasize existing features; I don’t create them. If I were to do that, I would probably draw abs like Lazar’s.
Those nearly perfect abs (he ‘lacks’ just a bit of separation between the lower abs) are a matter of pure luck. Sure, you have to be lean enough to show them and have the necessary mass in the core muscles to make them stand out. However, the distribution, including the linea alba that separates the various “rolls” from each other, is genetically determined. So, you can’t do anything about it.
You can take it as an example, but you’re likely to set an unattainable goal.
Natural or not?
I also find it funny when people talk about his “natural, aesthetic look”. The site nattyornot.com rightfully compares Lazar to the old three-time Mr. Olympia Frank Zane. Lazar is the same height but weighs more (dry). Frank Zane is known to have used anabolic steroids.
It is therefore very unlikely (and I’m putting it mildly) that Lazar, thanks to better protein, other supplements, and more knowledge about training, has better stats than a three-time Mr. Olympia on steroids.
Now, I understand that compared to the current six-time Mr. Olympia and his competition, his physique indeed looks more aesthetic. But if you think you can achieve such a physique naturally, you’ll be sorely disappointed.
This applies not only to Lazar but to many “aesthetic” fitness models who consciously or unconsciously create the illusion that their physique has been achieved naturally.
Genetics
But even without “aids”, some will achieve more results than you, with or without them. When I receive a compliment about my physique, I always emphasize first that I’ve been very lucky. Of course, I work extremely hard for it, but I know that many with the use of steroids cannot achieve what I naturally do. This can be due to dedication and knowledge, but largely, these are genetics.
If you’re looking for inspiration, for example, to lose your excess fat, you’re better off with someone who has walked that path and might look less impressive. If it’s about knowledge and you want to know how, then I’m your guy, but not because I have a six-pack that I’ve had since I was five.
The Head
In Men’s Physique and Bikini Fitness competitions, you often hear complaints that the participants’ faces play too big a role in the judging. Not surprising, given the criteria, you often have similar shapes on stage. If one has Brad Pitt’s face (although perhaps not the right example at the moment) and the other has Vincent Schiavelli’s, you know who wins. And the fact that probably no reader knows who Vincent Schiavelli is underscores my point: popularity is often determined by qualities over which you have no control.
Just styling the beard growth to such a beard is not within reach for many. I have the same annoying gap in mine that interrupts the line.
What’s your point?
My point is that if you remove all those qualities over which you have no control, there is little left than what millions of others have achieved as well.
More importantly, if Lazar is your example, and you do everything he does and are just as dedicated, you still won’t be satisfied. Because you’re not Lazar. You’re much better off being inspired by someone who has walked the same path as you and has a look that is achievable for you, in terms of body and face. After all, it’s nice to have an example that you can actually follow and an ideal that is achievable.
Just to be clear. I have absolutely nothing against Lazar Angelov.
If you got it, use it.
