Brian Finke's 'Bodybuilding': Photographer Captures Fetes Of Athleticism, Pageantry and Ritual (PHOTOS)

To most outsiders, the practice of bodybuilding is the convergence of vanity, pageantry and gallons of oil. For artist Brian Finke, however, the bodybuilder's world was worthy of a two-year photography project capturing glimpses of these dedicated amateur and professional athletes in action.

Simply titled "Bodybuilding," the collection of photographs highlights an array of individuals who push their bodies to unfathomable extremes. The 2005 series features women and men of all ages, exploring -- lightheartedly and seemingly without judgment -- a realm where obsessions with appearance and uniformity far exceed societal norms.

Scroll through the slideshow of "Bodybuilding" below, and find more images on Finke's website here. As always, let us know what you think of the work in the comments section.

h/t New York Daily News