
In an age where the majority of porn reduces women (and some men, too) to sex objects, we sometimes forget that sex makes us vulnerable.
We also forget that sharing sexual pleasure with someone is a very intimate thing.
That's why, 13 years ago, Beautiful Agony started curating videos from real people, taken while masturbating. The videos are shot from the shoulders up so the viewer focuses solely on the person's face, bringing the sensuality, beauty, and vulnerability back into the orgasm.
The results are sweet, strange, and sometimes hilarious. Take a look for yourself.
Cofounders Richard Lawrence and Lauren Olney started Beautiful Agony in 2003.

"We wondered whether film of a genuine, unscripted, natural orgasm — showing only the face — could succeed where the most visceral mainstream pornography fails, and that is, to actually turn us on," they wrote on BA.

The site "kicked off with a handful of videos made by curious friends who liked our theory."

"The results amazed all of us."

People loved it. "It soon became obvious that Agony had to endure, so we started to charge subscriptions and pay the contributors."

"Submissions then began to come in from all around the world."

Beautiful Agony expanded, adding interviews with its contributors.

"We added Confessions, probing inquisitions where contributors are asked to bare their souls about all things sexy."

All the videos live in the BA archives, like a little bit of history of human sexuality.

"They're a very candid and sometimes hilarious insight into human sexuality of the early 21st century."

In addition to the website, video clips have been shown at New York's Museum of Sex and LA's Hollywood Sex Museum.

Some videos are free to view on BA, but many, many others are available by subscription.

And remember, the site is always accepting submissions, so if you're into it, you can always contribute a video of your own ;)

Find more of Beautiful Agony's videos online.
Head to BeautifulAgony.com, and you can find it all.