Even though I am finding Glee pretty much unwatchable these days, I still cannot completely bring myself to cut the Chord.
Even though I am finding Glee pretty much unwatchable these days, I still cannot completely bring myself to cut the Chord.
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Just Because:
Even though I am finding Glee pretty much unwatchable these days, I still cannot completely bring myself to cut the Chord.
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Skin & Stone: Samuel by Eddie Christie
'Models often question me when I want to put them in an uncomfortable or what seems like to them, an awkward pose, but when the model puts trust into me, symmetry happens.'
It was close to two and half years ago that I first found and then quickly featured the work of Boston artist Eddie Christie. In that piece, (Symmetry Happens) Eddie placed model Jeremy Rowback in a dilapidated old building that long forgotten by most almost seemed to welcome in it's human, breathing visitors.
I loved how Eddie was able to weave model with location. Jeremy's strong, muscular body moved lightly, seamlessly and rhythmically from room to room. The beams, wood and run down walls of the environment contrasted with Jeremy's naked skin and energy to almost blend together both the young and the old, the fit and broken and the smooth and the rough for a set of visually spectacular images.
This symmetry is again beautifully presented in these images featuring Eddie's recent September shoot with artist Samuel Isaias Lora. Many of you may remember Samuel from earlier this summer when I presented his work with YogaBear Studio. (Snake On A Train and On The Mountain) In those posts, Samuel demonstrated his ability to use his body, mind and yoga skills to merge both his physical, and emotional presence into wherever he was posing. Samuel's work as an artist and photographer (Toy Soldier) helps him to get into the mindset of not just placing his body where it needs to be, but his entire being seems in beautiful harmony with his surroundings.
Eddie and Samuel came together when Eddied recently headed down to Washington DC to spend time with one of his best friends from High School and to help him celebrate what Eddie calls one of those, 'Oh I'm getting old' birthdays. Whenever he travels, Eddie tries to book photo shoots so was searching Model Mayhem for models in the DC metro area. At the same time, he was looking at some new images that a fellow photographer had done and discovered that several artists that he knows and communicates with had all done photo shoots with a model he had not come across before. The model was based out of Utah but stated in his profile that he was sometimes in Washington DC, so Eddie shot him a message. Within ten minutes Samuel replied, not only that he was interested, but that he would be in DC at the same time Eddie was going to be there! 'The universe was on my side. Eleven messages later, a few Skype calls and some text messages lead to booking a shoot with this model named, Samuel A very wonderful and delightful person.'
'Samuel said he likes what I do with poses and angles and has a thing for balance and yoga as well as working in nature, all themes I have worked with. Extreme poses, balance, strength and working within the boundaries of nature is what get's me excited when working with a model and Samuel was keen for all of the above. We discussed locations over and over. Finally I decided we would try shooting at an abandon fort and if that didn't work out, we'd move on to private property to complete the shoot.'
'Working with Eddie was lovely. He is subdued, kind-hearted and an explorer. Working with him gifted me the pleasure to lower my inhibitions. We created some beautiful nudes just a few spaces away from bikers, drivers and a crowd. Eddie pays close attention to angle and point of view which is why (I believe) his images work so well; they are the captures that make one go "That is it!". We had a great time discussing ideas and brainstorming as we were inspired by each other's work and others'.
Samuel had just flown in to DC and had very little sleep. After picking him up, and a brief stop to eat, they headed to the fort. Eddie reports first spot was small but basically private, easy enough to see cars in the distance to be able to duck and cover if need be, or time enough to put clothes on if someone walked toward the location. They then moved to a larger building, it had lots of hidden spots and many places that would make for some great images, Sadly however, they were overrun with some preteen boys who given it was a weekday, should have been in school. At one point an adult did come over, and Samuel and Eddie were hoping she was there to gather the boys up to leave. Sadly, she was just doing a head count and making sure all were accounted for.
'Two of my favorite things I loved to do, as a child was climb (climb trees, rocks, mountains) and the other was to explore. I love caves, old barns and abandoned buildings so it was only natural that I started to do nude model shoots in the places I love the most.'
Eddie Christie
Even with their unexpected visitors, Eddie and Samuel accomplished their task by capturing some magnificent moments of skin on stone, limbs on leaves and most amazing, a never to have been expected erotic reversal of intent and purpose. The old fort embracing Samuel's naked body into places and cold spaces the structures creators could never ever have imagined.
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Adam Storke: Mystic Man
With all the recent attention on the cast reunion for the actors from Mystic Pizza, I decided it was time to take another look at one of my favorite movies.
Although most of the attention of course went to Julia Roberts, and Vincent D'Onofrio and William R. Moses were both incredibly hot in the 1988 flick, it is always actor Adam Storke who stands out for me.
Adam played Julia Roberts love interest, the high society frat boy perfectly, both with look and with his acting. Although the New York actor worked steadily prior to the film, and after, he is another actor I have always thought should have been propelled to greater stardom. Mystic Pizza is one of those movies that if you haven't seen, you should and if you have, you should pull it out again.
Below: With Jane Krakowski and John Loprieno from Search For Tomorrow
The Phantom Of The Opera (1990)
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Happy Birthday today November 12th
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Favorite Pic of the Day for November 12th
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A Window Has Been Opened: Steven by Gentlemen Only
I remember when I was growing up in the eighties that when I was well behaved, older relatives would often compliment me by referring to me as a 'nice or fine young gentleman.' I quickly learned this was a term of endearment, indicating that how I was acting was pleasing to them. As I got older it seemed the word was used more to describe only older men, or men of distinction, wealth and sometimes royalty.
I preferred the way it was used when I was young, drawing on the true meaning of the words, being an actual gentle man. It has always been, and remains important to me to be a gentle. Not a week man, not a passive man, but a gentleman. One who is respectful of others, all others, and always tries to consider how my actions impact those around me. Life doesn't always make it easy to be gentle, in fact there are things and people who work intently to push one from gentle to aggressive and it can be a daily battle at times. Remaining a gentlemen however should not as some believe, behavior relegated only to the privileged. Sometimes it seems that it is the regular man, they guy rough around the edges, hard working and fighting the good fight, end up being the gentlest and kindest of all men.
It is these regular gentlemen who have become the focus for Octo, the photographer behind Gentlemen Only. Octo has worked as a semi professional photographer for about 15 years, working in many different photographic genres including publicity photography, theatre and art photography. Initially Octo was very successful with exhibitions of his publicity and theatre work shown in venues including The National Theatre in London. Octo put his photographic dreams on the back burner when he was offered a full time job outside of the photographic industry.
Octo took the job, which he loved, but didn't pick up a camera again for about 10 years. When he did again pick up a camera, he knew that due to time and money, he could not return to the frantic world of theatre and publicity photography. Instead, Octo focused on portrait photography, something easier to control and something he could fit around his full time job. After doing various portrait shoots and actors head shots he decided it was time to try his hand a nude shoot, something that he had never done and that would broaden his photographic portfolio.
'I had no idea how to go about finding nude models but after placing a few adverts I heard from a chap called Dean, who had never modelled before and wanted to give it ago. The shoot started out pretty much as any another shoot, chatting about Dean's life as we captured some portraits, a few fashion images, some creative stuff with lighting, and then it came time for the nude shots. I was a bit embarrassed to ask Dean to undress and equally he was nervous about undressing ... but he did. As he stood there naked whilst I photographed him a thought struck me - I was able to look at and get to know Dean in a way very few people have done before. Dean was a very typical type of bloke, the kind you have a pint with in the pub, or bump into in the supermarket. But here he was, standing naked, revealing his inner most thoughts and feelings about his ex wife, living apart from his child and other aspects of his life. Through this nude shoot, a window had been opened onto Dean's world and I was able to peer in and get to look at and understand Dean as very few people ever would.'
It was through this first nude shoot with Dean that the thought of looking into the lives of everyday guys, and stripping away the superficial layers to explore issues and emotions that are relevant to them began to captivated Octo. So...he set about finding more real men, the type of blokes you'd meet at the gym, or at a nightclub, or in the work place, who would be happy to let me create a little intimate snapshot into their lives. It was this that became the creative spark for his current website Gentlemen Only.
Although Octo's website is mostly filled with men wearing pretty much nothing, It was the mostly clothed Steven who I asked to feature first. I really like that although Steven looks like a seasoned professional, at just 18, this was his first time being shot professionally. Hoping to use his great looks and physique to break into fitness modeling, Steven was initially worried about how well he'd photographer and had no idea what to expect from his first shoot. Steven saw that Octo worked with men with no camera experience and was looking for someone well versed at making the first experience easy and enjoyable but as well skilled at making them look as good as possible. When Octo saw the pictures Steven sent in his initial e-mail correspondence, he was bowled over by his classic good looks and a physique and demeanour that seemed at odds with his young age and was instantly drawn to shooting him. But there was one issue, Steven didn't want to do any nude shots.
'Normally I don't work with men who do not pose nude - the photography market is flooded with pictures of clothed physique stuff or implied nudity, it's a crowed market I can’t compete in – and nudity is a central element of my shoots. It’s the physical embodiment of peeling back the superficial layers to see the man as he’s very rarely seen, but Steven's eagerness to work with me was endearing so I agreed to do a non nude shoot.'
'For an 18 year old, Steven had the physique, sensibilities and confidence of someone much older. Although he was full of youthful optimism he was also very realistic with a life plan already firmly in place. At the time he was working in a clothes store, but wanted to break into physique and fitness modelling which would hopefully enable him to save enough money to train as a commercial flight pilot. Often the removal of clothing also brings a removal of inhibitions. The non nude aspect of the shoot didn't remove as many layers as I usually like, but I was pleased with the pictures we took and am happy that we were able to create a striking glimpse into the life of this handsome, confident and somewhat wise beyond his years young gentlemen.'
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Stage Actor Of The Day: Aaron Lazar
It was a couple of years ago that I was first introduced to the work of actor and singer Aaron Lazar. It was the Tony Award performance from Company featuring Aaron along with Neil Patrick Harris, Patti Lupone, Stephen Colbert, Martha Plimpton and a host of other Broadway vets. Although it was Neil who was front and center, it was Aaron who I couldn't take my eyes off.
Next three images via Amy Dickerson
I finally ordered my own copy of the DVD from Company, and got to relive the incredible performance from Aaron and the rest of the cast. Lazar attended Duke University where he earned a BA in music in 1998, while completing the prerequisite classes for medical school and taking the MCAT. He then studied at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where he earned an MFA in musical theater in 2000. Only months after arriving in New York City, Lazar landed as the understudy to the lead in the Broadway National Tour of The Scarlet Pimpernel got the showbiz bug and abandoned his aspirations of being a medical doctor for the stage.
On Broadway, Lazar has appeared in Les Misérables, A Little Night Music, The Light in the Piazza, Oklahoma, The Phantom Of The Opera and is currently on stage in Mamma Mia. Some of you might recognize Lazar from role on television on A Gifted Man, Person Of Interest, Ugly Betty and White Collar and on the big screen in J. Edgar.
Company 2011
The Onion
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Night Is Young And the Music's High
I have been watching, and mostly enjoying this seasons DWTS. I can't however get my head around Corbin Bleu. He is adorable, immensely talented as a dancer and a great performer, yet he leaves me a bit cold. He is not arrogant by any means, but there is a slight 'too cool for school'vibe he gives off. He is sort of lacking in the personality department which makes his talent much less appealing.
Whatever it is about him that I cannot connect with is enough to have me not really watching too closely when he is on. My money is on Amber Riley! Ryan Murphy and the producers of Glee should be ashamed she is not dancing, not to mention belting out songs on their show week after week, not just the odd guest shot.
The one plus of last night was the return of one of the hottest men on the planet, dancer Gleb Savchenko. Although Gleb's return marked the end of the road for Val Chmerkovskiy (oh, and his partner Elizabeth Berkley) it was well worth seeing another talented but rather 'cold' personality, exit the ballroom if it meant a shirtless Gleb was back.
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Happy Birthday today November 14th
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Favorite Pic of the Day for November 14th
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Exemplar: Sean by DAVISICON
'With the right model, a photograph can make you do many things. it can make you think, laugh, smile, cry, want, need, and of course it can make you wanna be the "model" or even better "it can sell you something" you didn't know you wanted or needed!'
When I first featured the work of William from DAVISICON, (Recumbent) William shared that his love affair with photography began with the magazine covers he saw on the shelves when he was just a boy. The models chosen to grace the covers are usually the ones the editors have decided are the most likely to draw our attention and exude the most sexual appeal to have us stop, pick up the magazine and want to see more.
It was these specific cover shots, the iconic shots engrained in our memories that formed the basis for DAVISICON. Creating these shots, meant finding models; new talent, new face and new bodies strong enough to not only fill the pages on the inside, but strong enough to grace the cover and be that model that we all want to get to know a little more about...
It takes more than a pretty face and hot body to make the cover of a magazine. It also takes skill and brains to maneuver your way through the industry, agents, ModelMayhem, photographers and decisions about how to get started. Who to connect with, who to trust and whether to pose naked are just the beginning of all the questions that have to be answered. Besides shooting cover ready models, one of Williams passions has becoming helping them there. It was this passion that led to Male Modeling for Amateurs, which in which William includes basic common sense information and advice for amateurs looking to enter the modeling business.
I am not sure there could be a better example of what William can do, with both his advice, and his camera, that his new work with Sean, a 20 year old new model from San Antonio. William says he knew Sean had a very beautiful and special look that needed to be noticed in detail and in a special way. William had noticed him months earlier and saw that Sean did not seem to be receiving much attention with the photographs he had been using. When he contacted him, Sean explained that things had not gone that well with his first photo-shoot and photographer.
'Although I love the vibrant and expressive richness of color , I chose to begin this series with black/white and sepia because I felt that when you strip away color the eyes are first more attracted and compelled to the detail that might otherwise be overlooked, I felt it would be a fresh look for Sean and showcase his amazing smile, eyes, gorgeous lips, curly hair and body to a much better degree.'
William describes Sean as classically beautiful and a pleasure to work. Through his website DAVISICON, William spends time on Skype working with aspiring models offering advice and recommendations on modeling, body issues, attitude, and portfolios. He spent several hours speaking with Sean and felt it was a tremendous help with the shoot which Sean was appreciative for. Within hours of posting the photographs from their work together, positive comments flooded in from other models and photographers.
'It was instantly evident that I had "discovered" someone very special!, in less than a matter of days Sean began receiving information on modeling opportunities from others from all over!'
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Witchy Women
The big news out of AHS Coven this week was that Stevie Nicks will be making an appearance, joining her doppelganger Misty Day (Lily Rabe) in an upcoming episode. Even better news to me, was that favorites Rabe and Evan Peters actually had some scenes this week! Evan being naked was sweet icing on the cake.
Images below from Superherofan.net
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Naked News!
Man Stripped By 7-Eleven Clerks While Allegedly Stealing Candy Bar Sues For Distress!
A YouTube video shows store clerks restraining David Golson who had allegedly stolen a Snickers bar. They eventually strip him to his boxers!
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Happy Birthday November 16th
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Favorite Pic of the Day for November 16th
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Proponent: Rico by Daniel Allen Studio Art
Whenever I contact an artist about being featured on FH, part of the process is often introducing them to the blog and how I go about putting together a profile or story. Pretty much every photographer and model who has used the Internet as a form of promotion has ended up at one time, or many times, seeing their images splattered on blogs, tumblrs, dating and adult sites, most not bothering to give credit, let alone a comment about the image or the artists behind it.
Last month, I had an especially nasty photographer decide to go on the attack. It was particularly disheartening because of how vile he got, especially since I have never actually featured his work on the blog. I debated whether to respond on the blog as he seemed the type to feed off of it. I am glad that I did however as the resulting positive occurance was being introduced to the work of Daniel Allen. I had recognized Daniel's name as he has been a frequent source of support with the positive comments he leaves on the blog. I have whined about the meager amounts of comments left before, especially because I know how important it is to not just me, but the artists and models, and every comment Daniel and others have left helped motivate me to continue the blog for another day.
When I contacted Daniel to thank him for the support and suggest a piece on the blog he gave me several additional positive comments about the blog from a photographers perspective which is always great to hear. My purpose for including this piece is not to pat myself on the back (well not just...) but it was yet another lesson I needed to hear yet again how not to let life's negative experiences to bring me down and most times, if you wait just a little, a positive will follow. Daniel's images of Rico are definitely a positive.
Daniel's images are incredibly sexy, maybe even more so because of what is left to the imagination. Part of the story within the images also resonated with me as beautifully melancholy. As I head through my thirties, I find the end of a workday, let alone the end of a work week a time to do what I can to get home, kick off my shoes and work clothes and just relax. Not so long ago however, the end of any day meant the beginning of an evening and night. Nights, all of them, especially in my twenties were always filled with going out, playing pool, eating and drinking, pubs and movies, anything to mean that a day was more than just work and sleep, that somewhere in the middle was an actual life.
I am not sure if it is just my age, or if people actually go out less but it seems that with almost every age group, entertainment has become far more home based. Daniel's images of Rico out on the town remind me how there was a time when during the evening, I would rather have been anywhere than at home.
When going through Daniel's images, my first choice for a piece was Rico and it only made it better when Daniel shared that Rico was the first erotic shoot, prior to that, he had shot mostly family, friends and landscapes. To find a model to begin, Daniel headed online when he came upon Rico, quickly connected with him about posing to get started on building his portfolio. Daniel's timing was just about perfect as Rico was just a few days from being deployed and an erotic shoot sounded a great way to deal with the stress and a fun way of passing the time until then.
I can't think of a better model to begin with than Rico. Incredibly hot, able to look at times like the boy next door with his handsome face and grin, at the same time he is able to display a bit of an edge and together the mix is incredibly smouldering and sexy.
Daniel's shoot with Rico more than tells a story, it sort of became one. Daniel had originally planned on having the shoot outdoors by the waterfront on the bay, but it began raining an hour before he was supposed to meet up with Rico. He was then forced to come up with another concept on the spot but thankfully had earlier already approached Randy, the manager of a great nearby bar. The first part of the shoot was there as Randy had agreed to section off half the bar for part of the evening to let him shoot.
'I had two of those metal half-dome fixtures you see mechanics using to fix cars (which, in truth, was what I originally used them for as well) with 1000 watt incandescent bulbs in them. I referred to them as my "hot lights", because that just sounded more professional, but I joked with Rico during the shoot about my ghetto-fabulous lighting.'
'Rico was probably one of the best subjects I could hope for in my first erotic shoot! Handsome face, beautiful, naturally-toned physique, and extremely patient, open to direction, and willing to try just about anything. (I surprised him a few months later with a shot I'd taken of him at my apartment door in full uniform, smiling and holding up a fistful of daisies pulled from the front yard--roots, dirt and all. I told him that picture wasn't for me, it was for him to send his boyfriend while he was deployed overseas to remind him of him while he was away. He loved it and thought it was a really thoughtful gesture.) Rico may not be a professional model, but his beautiful masculine features, friendly demeanor, and confidence would, I think, translate very well in this industry. I'd love to do another shoot with Rico in the future!'
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Come Dine With Me Christopher!
'Tonight Christopher is getting cocky in the kitchen as he prepares for his high fashion themed night which comes complete with custom made placemats. Starting things off first is his appetizer, glitterati gnocchi. Up next on the runway of food dishes is the main, luxurious lamb meatballs served with a side of eggplant parmesan. The tensions start rising and things get a little awkward but that doesn’t stop Christopher from serving his dessert, blissful orange cheesecake.'
Earlier this year I shared my love of the reality show Come Dine With Me, (Eating In). I cannot figure out why the show hasn't yet made it to the States but there are hilarious versions I have been able to watch from Australia, Canada and The UK.
On a recent edition of the Canadian edition, Toronto showed a better side than the recent news stories of Mayor Rob Ford with an episode featuring one of my newest crushes, well known Canadian fashion designer and artist Christopher Bates. Christopher had it all, great looks, intelligence and a great sense of humour. His succulent meat balls only sealed the deal.
The producers wisely got the fashion designer out of his shirt for several great shots, sadly I have yet to master capping off of a DVR recording, but I shall save it until I master the skill.
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Just Because:
Just Because Kellan brings in the big bucks for hawking Calvin Klein, I still think, (misguided bangs aside...) I prefer him in Hanes!
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Happy Birthday today November 17th
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Favorite Pic of the Day for November 17th
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