A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Sideways Superman

South Africa has been really coming on strong with the amazing submissions recently! This one comes to us from Wildfire Piercing in Cape Town South Africa. It was done by Stuart Woods who was Assisted by his partner Lliezel Ellick.

superman

While the hooks look a bit questionable to me, aesthetically this suspension (and in particular this picture) is just stunning.

Comments

69 responses to “Sideways Superman”

  1. Mr.Meaner Avatar
    Mr.Meaner

    This is awesome. Dunno a lot about suspension but Is it kinda weird that there’s no blood leakng at all?

  2. Mr.Meaner Avatar
    Mr.Meaner

    This is awesome. Dunno a lot about suspension but Is it kinda weird that there’s no blood leakng at all?

  3. Mr.Meaner Avatar
    Mr.Meaner

    This is awesome. Dunno a lot about suspension but Is it kinda weird that there’s no blood leakng at all?

  4. Reba Avatar

    yea the hooks look a little shifty, but this is a very well done photo =) thanks for posting it!

  5. Reba Avatar

    yea the hooks look a little shifty, but this is a very well done photo =) thanks for posting it!

  6. Reba Avatar

    yea the hooks look a little shifty, but this is a very well done photo =) thanks for posting it!

  7. Rafaela Avatar
    Rafaela

    I always like seeing the new suspension poses. the picture looks amazing. I can’t help but notice her stunning sleeve, which looks different and has nice linework… good post =)

  8. Rafaela Avatar
    Rafaela

    I always like seeing the new suspension poses. the picture looks amazing. I can’t help but notice her stunning sleeve, which looks different and has nice linework… good post =)

  9. Rafaela Avatar
    Rafaela

    I always like seeing the new suspension poses. the picture looks amazing. I can’t help but notice her stunning sleeve, which looks different and has nice linework… good post =)

  10. Rip Me Open Avatar

    Awesome photography angle 🙂 I dig it <3

  11. Rip Me Open Avatar

    Awesome photography angle 🙂 I dig it <3

  12. Rip Me Open Avatar

    Awesome photography angle 🙂 I dig it <3

  13. deee Avatar

    I love her arm.

  14. deee Avatar

    I love her arm.

  15. deee Avatar

    I love her arm.

  16. humanPincushion Avatar
    humanPincushion

    omg, so pretty!

  17. humanPincushion Avatar
    humanPincushion

    omg, so pretty!

  18. humanPincushion Avatar
    humanPincushion

    omg, so pretty!

  19. KnifeInTheMarathon Avatar

    Everything looks perfect!

  20. KnifeInTheMarathon Avatar

    Everything looks perfect!

  21. KnifeInTheMarathon Avatar

    Everything looks perfect!

  22. TheZLS Avatar
    TheZLS

    I’m probably missing the obvious but what’s wrong with the hooks?

  23. TheZLS Avatar
    TheZLS

    I’m probably missing the obvious but what’s wrong with the hooks?

  24. TheZLS Avatar
    TheZLS

    I’m probably missing the obvious but what’s wrong with the hooks?

  25. Bradde Avatar
    Bradde

    Amazing pic! I saw people post they didn’t like the hooks. this was a “photo opp” we all do this or that to get “that shot. & I mean come on, that little thing could of went up on that many safety pins & they would of held.

  26. Bradde Avatar
    Bradde

    Amazing pic! I saw people post they didn’t like the hooks. this was a “photo opp” we all do this or that to get “that shot. & I mean come on, that little thing could of went up on that many safety pins & they would of held.

  27. Bradde Avatar
    Bradde

    Amazing pic! I saw people post they didn’t like the hooks. this was a “photo opp” we all do this or that to get “that shot. & I mean come on, that little thing could of went up on that many safety pins & they would of held.

  28. hejin Avatar
    hejin

    Aye, this lovely gal did my first suspension! you should see the other pics in the set! they are amazing!!!

    btw… novice still here, what is wrong with the hooks?

  29. hejin Avatar
    hejin

    Aye, this lovely gal did my first suspension! you should see the other pics in the set! they are amazing!!!

    btw… novice still here, what is wrong with the hooks?

  30. hejin Avatar
    hejin

    Aye, this lovely gal did my first suspension! you should see the other pics in the set! they are amazing!!!

    btw… novice still here, what is wrong with the hooks?

  31. beans Avatar

    not everyone bleeds every time they have hooks in them. in fact most times there’s not noticeable blood until you’re well into the suspension or taking the hooks out.

  32. beans Avatar

    not everyone bleeds every time they have hooks in them. in fact most times there’s not noticeable blood until you’re well into the suspension or taking the hooks out.

  33. beans Avatar

    not everyone bleeds every time they have hooks in them. in fact most times there’s not noticeable blood until you’re well into the suspension or taking the hooks out.

  34. paddy Avatar
    paddy

    the hooks are open eye ones not close eye ends, notice where the hook connects to the rope, this could pose a possible weak point, although i would assume the person/s involved are well educated performing suspensions and if they had a past problem wouldn’t use them.

    cracking pic!

  35. paddy Avatar
    paddy

    the hooks are open eye ones not close eye ends, notice where the hook connects to the rope, this could pose a possible weak point, although i would assume the person/s involved are well educated performing suspensions and if they had a past problem wouldn’t use them.

    cracking pic!

  36. paddy Avatar
    paddy

    the hooks are open eye ones not close eye ends, notice where the hook connects to the rope, this could pose a possible weak point, although i would assume the person/s involved are well educated performing suspensions and if they had a past problem wouldn’t use them.

    cracking pic!

  37. Pincushion_Princess Avatar
    Pincushion_Princess

    Beautiful beautiful shot!! <3
    this lovely lady suspended me for the first time…….woop 🙂

  38. Pincushion_Princess Avatar
    Pincushion_Princess

    Beautiful beautiful shot!! <3
    this lovely lady suspended me for the first time…….woop 🙂

  39. Pincushion_Princess Avatar
    Pincushion_Princess

    Beautiful beautiful shot!! <3
    this lovely lady suspended me for the first time…….woop 🙂

  40. cere Avatar

    Not even gonna touch the hooks issue here but rather respond to this,

    “come on, that little thing could of went up on that many safety pins & they would of held.”

    Its this kind of thinking by the general public which allows idiots to start trying suspension and seriously hurting people.

    Those hooks are highly questionable and the only thing that would make it ok is if it was mentioned beforehand to the suspendee that safety was being compromised for a photo op and the suspendee and artists both understood the possible risks involved and deemed it was acceptable for those pics.

    But as hooks, they are almost unforgivable as the knowledge on what to use and why is pretty much completely out there for anyone wanting it.

  41. cere Avatar

    Not even gonna touch the hooks issue here but rather respond to this,

    “come on, that little thing could of went up on that many safety pins & they would of held.”

    Its this kind of thinking by the general public which allows idiots to start trying suspension and seriously hurting people.

    Those hooks are highly questionable and the only thing that would make it ok is if it was mentioned beforehand to the suspendee that safety was being compromised for a photo op and the suspendee and artists both understood the possible risks involved and deemed it was acceptable for those pics.

    But as hooks, they are almost unforgivable as the knowledge on what to use and why is pretty much completely out there for anyone wanting it.

  42. cere Avatar

    Not even gonna touch the hooks issue here but rather respond to this,

    “come on, that little thing could of went up on that many safety pins & they would of held.”

    Its this kind of thinking by the general public which allows idiots to start trying suspension and seriously hurting people.

    Those hooks are highly questionable and the only thing that would make it ok is if it was mentioned beforehand to the suspendee that safety was being compromised for a photo op and the suspendee and artists both understood the possible risks involved and deemed it was acceptable for those pics.

    But as hooks, they are almost unforgivable as the knowledge on what to use and why is pretty much completely out there for anyone wanting it.

  43. cere Avatar

    Then again i could be completely wrong and those hooks could have been made under the strictest of watch and have full data sheets on them with an insane MBS.

  44. cere Avatar

    Then again i could be completely wrong and those hooks could have been made under the strictest of watch and have full data sheets on them with an insane MBS.

  45. cere Avatar

    Then again i could be completely wrong and those hooks could have been made under the strictest of watch and have full data sheets on them with an insane MBS.

  46. hejin Avatar
    hejin

    Knowing her, I’d say she has very good knowledge about hooks and suspensions… so I’m quite confident she knew what she was doing…

  47. hejin Avatar
    hejin

    Knowing her, I’d say she has very good knowledge about hooks and suspensions… so I’m quite confident she knew what she was doing…

  48. hejin Avatar
    hejin

    Knowing her, I’d say she has very good knowledge about hooks and suspensions… so I’m quite confident she knew what she was doing…

  49. Lliezel Avatar

    It was awesome to be a part of this series…photograph by Clare Foxcroft Williams (Sweet Nausea Photography Facebook group)…she did a pain ritual series as her final body of work for her graduation from art school.
    Check it out at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6084525079

    I have trusted my life, and many of my friends’ lives, with those hooks and their kin who are exactly the same shape. They have never failed me and I would never jeopardise anyones’ safety by using substandard tools.

    To Cere…I feel it’s your arrogant attitude that ruins so much of the beauty and spirit of the piercing industry. Instead of celebrating the presence of like minded humans, it comes down to the horrid irrelevance of my hooks are better than yours???? So sad.

  50. Lliezel Avatar

    It was awesome to be a part of this series…photograph by Clare Foxcroft Williams (Sweet Nausea Photography Facebook group)…she did a pain ritual series as her final body of work for her graduation from art school.
    Check it out at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6084525079

    I have trusted my life, and many of my friends’ lives, with those hooks and their kin who are exactly the same shape. They have never failed me and I would never jeopardise anyones’ safety by using substandard tools.

    To Cere…I feel it’s your arrogant attitude that ruins so much of the beauty and spirit of the piercing industry. Instead of celebrating the presence of like minded humans, it comes down to the horrid irrelevance of my hooks are better than yours???? So sad.

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