Showing posts with label Brittany Sutton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brittany Sutton. Show all posts

24 August 2010

The Black Hole


“Black holes are where God divided by zero” 
- Stephen Wright

I've been on some meds lately that have made me tired, lethargic, and basically wanting to just sit on my ass. I try not to do much driving and will relegate my endeavors to quick runs within a few miles of the house. It seems like I can be wide awake one sec and then feel a powerful urge to lay my butt down the next. If I know I have to drive some distance to make an appointment of something, I'll quit the meds that day and handle my business. One thing its given me an opportunity to do is catch up on some movies. I might make it through a show or I might not, but I can always restart it where I last remember a scene. Some of these include watching trilogies, like The Matrix trilogies. However, the ones I appreciate the most are the ones I remember loving when I was a kid. I was watching a space documentary...I love documentaries, especially on space... and one of them about relative size of celestial objects used the theme song from the 1979 hit, "The Black Hole". Many kids can attribute their love for space research and exploration to Star Trek or Star Wars. For me, it was The Black Hole.

"Dark Profile" Model Brittany Sutton


I am a big follower of both Star Trek and Star Wars. In fact, I might add that to my list...to watch the double Star Wars Trilogies. Nonetheless, both these movies still felt like fictional Sci-Fi. I don't believe there is an actual "Force", at least not as portrayed by Star Wars. Star Trek could actually be a reality someday. In fact, there's a documentary called, "How William Shatner Changed the World". Still, I don't see that as my reality. The Black Hole, on the other hand, is. My curiosity was piqued to a level off the charts for a little kid. The problem was, that I didn't have Wikipedia, Goggle, or the Internet. We had a library, but information was still limited and much that we knew about Black Holes was still trickling down from the big brains, which meant they were speaking way over my head. Einstein kicked off the idea in the early 1900's but several more scientists, including Hawking, would have to work clear into the 70's before we could really skim the surface of understanding them. Its only been recently, since we've actually been able to see the visual effects of one, since we can't truly see them.

"Is this Seduction", Model Brittany Sutton


I love studying the physics of stars and one can't help but to wonder what happens inside a super massive black hole with time and space being twisted and warped as it is. Normal laws no longer apply, but you'd think there's gotta be something that governs these things. They are the most destructive forces in the universe. Something has to explain them as more than just God's trash cans. Then again, could it really be just that simple? In the movie, the space researchers were able to come out the other side of the Oblivion after some really freaky special affects. Speaking of which, those kinds of effects could never fly today. That was one of my premier thoughts while watching the film. Back in the day, there were state of the art movie effects.  Kids today laugh at such ancient movie antics. I still enjoyed it, though and am trying to think about other shows I could enjoy again. Not everything will work again. I know I loved the Benji series, but I ain't watching any more Benji, now. Some things are simply good when you're a kid.

"Forward to Make Peace", Model Brittany Sutton


I recently posted a shot of Brittany Sutton and these images are a few more. She's not longer in Vegas, which sucks for me, but is evidently good for her. I've also included this short clip that I mentioned earlier that uses the theme song from The Black Hole. You should definitely check it out. The Earth is like an atom to some of these stars. Talk about HUGE! You can also watch a complete documentary on Black Holes with this link: How the Universe Works: Black Holes. For now, click on the clip below. If you can't see it, try this YouTube link.

26 July 2010

1969 Film, "Age of Consent"

"Wrath of God"

"I think we're going to the moon because it's in the nature of the human being to face challenges. It's by the nature of his deep inner soul... we're required to do these things just as salmon swim upstream."
~ Neil Armstrong

Taking a break from the nudes for a spell. Thought I'd post some other work I got to play with the other night. Friends, Joanie, Darryl, and I went out for a night shoot, back out to the dry lake bed. I really didn't feel like going but since Joanie and Darryl had to pass by my place to get there, she decided to just pick me up. I hadn't been out of the house in a while or away from editing photos for quite some time, so I figured, oh well. Joanie had her son with her and the two of them had been shooting for the better part of the day already. As it turns out, the kid's got some skills slingin' lenses around and he learns quick. The two of them were doing their own thing while I played around with a couple of Darryl's lenses to play with the moon.

We were deep into a dry lake bed, but you could still see a steady stream of traffic along the highway. I decided to play with the wide-angle and get some hand-held long exposures. I knew I'd get light trails from the traffic, but since the moon was low enough, I moved the lens around a bit and these are the shots I ended up with. As my first one came out fairly interesting, I decided to play some more and came up with some interesting designs and light play. This is painting with light from the moon.

On another note, I got to watch a movie that I wasn't all that sure about, but sounded interesting and it had Helen  Mirren in it. I know...'nuff said! "Age of Consent", 1969 which also starred, James Mason. I don't know him from too many movies, but there was something I recalled him from. I looked him up and it was from the 1977 hit, "Jesus of Nazareth" that I recognized him.

This is the Wikipedia plot summary:

"Bradley Morahan (James Mason) is an Australian artist who feels he has become jaded by success and life in New York City. He decides that he needs to regain the edge he had as a young artist and returns to Australia. He sets up in a shack on the shore of a small, sparsely-inhabited island on the Great Barrier Reef. There he meets young Cora Ryan (Helen Mirren), who has grown up wild, with her only relative, her difficult, gin-guzzling grandmother 'Ma' (Neva Carr-Glynn). To earn money, Cora sells Bradley fish that she has caught in the sea. She later sells him a chicken which she has stolen from his spinster neighbor Isabel Marley (Andonia Katsaros). When Bradley is suspected of being the thief, he pays Isabel and gets Cora to promise not to steal anymore. To help her save enough money to fulfill her dream of becoming a hairdresser in Brisbane, he pays her to be his model. She reinvigorates him, becoming his artistic muse."

"Hands of God"

There were lots of things I liked about this movie. Let me just wrap up the first three,
1. Helen Mirren, 
2. Helen Mirren nude, 
3. Helen Mirren nude often. 

Beyond that, I'd say I totally relate to the movie's theme of artist and muse. I won't go as far as to say OLD artist, teen-age muse; just artist and muse. The movie was shot on Australia's Great Barrier Reef and the artist goes there and makes a home out of a raggedy old shanty of a cabin. Its perfect. He doesn't have much in terms of comfort, just the minimal sustenances in supplies and has canvas, paint, and other art materials shipped to himself. He also has the company of his dog, Godfrey. I couldn't help but to continuously imagine myself in the same situation with my long gone Doberman, Keenan. This was a beautiful setting with so many places to shoot and just be at peace with no one around except your muse.

The only part I was having a difficult time trying to wrap my brain around is the title, Age of Consent. This is usually connotated with a legal determination of whether or not consensual sex involves a minor or not, but a young person, nonetheless, which may be different from one jurisdiction to the next. Sex wasn't the theme of this story. At one point the artist is accused of the girl's grandmother of paying her granddaughter to have sex. And a few times the point is made that the girl is under-aged. So then the issue isn't one of sexual nature, but rather the moral ethics of using a minor as a nude model. This, in and of itself is not technically illegal, (but I don't want to get into that), so there really isn't a Age of Consent issue in that regard. Its not until the very end of the movie that Helen gets pissed that he is only interested in her as a model. To which she runs into the ocean and he chases after her pledging that its not true. They embrace after the artist confesses how much she means to him for giving him back his passion. That is the only time the issue of Age of Consent pops up in my mind because you're instantly reminded of the grandmother's haggling voice yelling that she's under-aged. You are led to believe that they get together, even though in  his repentant rant, he never says, I love you or pledges a commitment.

"Binary"

Good movie. I am fairly certain, I've posted this 10 minute short film here before, but I came across it again and well, here it is for your enjoyment one mo' gin, "The Perils in Nude Modeling"




Okay, I'll throw in one nude...Brittany Sutton, folks.

16 March 2009

All About the Fun


Maybe things will be settling back to normal pretty soon. I'm very hopeful, at any rate. My friend and roommate, Jeff is back home from about 11 weeks in the hospital. It'd be inappropriate for me to go into details, but the dude is back at home, trying to recover and gain his strength back. So welcome home, Jeff.

Photo work has been sort of sketchy as of late. I've still been shooting and editing, but I've not been posting much of my work on my online profiles or website. Part of that is cuz of Chris St. James' fault. Because of his mentorship, I've got this thing with titles now. Since I haven't been able to sit down title my shots and post them, they have been sitting on my hard drive waiting to receive a name. This goes way back to maybe a year ago when Chris first discovered me and took an interest in my work. He began to encourage me, mentor me, and be a friend. Well, one of the things he'd knock me on the head for was the lack of titles in my work. Since then, I think I've really grown from his help and I've cherished the relationship we've had over the course of, wait...I think its been closer to two years now.

I haven't even kept up with many of the blogs that I normally follow daily. I still track Univers d'Artistes regularly. Unbearable Lightness has done a wonderful job at helping Chris. These are two people that I've cultivated relationships with, but have yet to actually meet. I consider both to be mentors and will be glad when I am totally back on track following my friends' blogs and back to posting my own at my usual rate of twice a week. I haven't even talked to my good friend, Dave Rudin in a while. I'm really out of touch. I don't know what's been going on with Iris Dassault, who's like the model queen of this country. And I need to get back in touch with the happenings across the waters with my friends at Fluffytek.

I need to go on some interesting outings. I haven't done that in a while. I think that was one of the attractors for a good part of my readership which was to hear about my adventures in the wild. Yeah, I need to get out more. The weather is starting to warm up and ice is melting off the mountains which means water falls and full streams again. This is what I do. I gotta get back out there. Whatever I do, I think I'd like to take some models out with me on a road trip or something. And speaking of which, I want to make sure I encourage you to utilize the services of the models I present on this blog and my website. If you're planning to be in Vegas and feel like shooting, feel free to contact these girl's links or even myself and plan something. Brittani from New Jersey is coming to reside in Vegas permanently next month. (Damn, I've still got to send her a disk! Sorry B.) I'm happy about that. I mentioned her in my last post along with several others. I've still yet to shoot with Marley. She's waiting on a tattoo to heal up a little first. But you've also seen some of my mainstays like Faerie and Trixie who I shoot quite often and of course there are several more. I shoot with Lieara this weekend. Lorelei has taken off like a space shuttle. The Brittany II maintains her role as one of the most prolific models in Vegas. And then there is Sarah Jane...come on! Really, do I need to say more. All these different body types and looks. I've got like the Wal-Mart of models, here. And wait til you see my next posts of Melissa!

Gabriella is one of the models I've been shooting with who is very up and coming. This girl can be on the cover of any magazine by tomorrow. She's different than the normal style of model I've been shooting because she's very suitable for glamor work that you might find in Maxxim or even Playboy. I've always been doing the girl next door type to produce my artistic style of nudes, but with Gabriella, I've been exploring the more sensual, sexy, and even erotic style of the art nude. She's hella fun to work with and is an instant boost to anybody's port. I think I'm going to start highlighting models I work with on my posts. I don't promote these girls enough and one of my initial objectives to starting my Las Vegas Art Models Group was to support art models. All of these girls are fabulous with great attitudes. For me, attitude is more important than they way they look. Gabriella is super sexy, but she comes with a willingness to work and gives you what you want and then some. You're sure to walk away from her shoot with more than you bargained for. I like the girl. Gonna work with her some more. You will too, so give this artist of her trade a hollar. Isn't she sweet? Tell her I sent 'cha. We'll both get cheese points!

02 March 2009

Is This an Addiction?


NOT photographing the nude has NOT been successful. At all. I'm still shooting nudes despite the fact that I was going to suspend my nude work and only work on projects that were already in play. In some respects, this is a good problem to have. I mean, what photog can really complain, "Woe is me. All these ladies want to take their clothes off for me." That will never be a complaint of mine. However, I did have a desire to shoot more things, subjects, and explore my artwork in new directions. I know some of this has to do with the all the things occurring in January, namely my daughter getting married and then becoming ill for so long soon after my return. I know I got behind on edits and am still behind. I'm about 4 models deep on edits right now. Catching up amid outside circumstances can be a pain. But still, I am certain I could have controlled all of these elements much better, had I really wanted to. The fact is that its an easy thing to just say no. No more nudes for a while. The reality is that so far that hasn't been possible.

I can't really keep deluding myself with one excuse after another. A model just left my house. We interviewed for a bit and got familiar with each other. I am so excited about this girl. Marley is an art model who is simply exciting to shoot. I can't wait. There is much anticipation involved in this one, that I have to be careful not to spoil it. She'll be a great addition to my portfolio and I simply think we can serve each other's interests well. I don't have many black women in my arsenal of imagery. Oh she's gonna do well. I wish I could go into all the coincidences and little subtleties on how we actually hooked up. Suffice to say its been very extraordinary.

Over the weekend, I met another model, Gabriella, who had contacted me about my workshops. This girl is the drop dead gorgeous type that you'll find on Sports Illustrated at some point real soon. Again, the circumstances on our meeting were peculiar to say the least. So much so that I had to play this one through just to see how it would unfold. The thing turned out AB-sol-UTE-ly GREAT! Talk about a fascinating young lady! We are going to continue our endeavors again tomorrow evening, I believe. It was so much fun and I've got so many new ideas I want to try with her. She likes what I do and has given me liberties to explore to my hearts content. Which is quite an extensive concept, let me just tell you.

Before this, I got to work with a few other new models that assisted with my workshop. Three in particular, and they were all great. Two Brittany's (one spelled with an "i"), and Lieara. BrittanY and Lieara were in my workshop. BrittanI didn't make it because she was from out of town and my workshop was postponed for a few weeks. I still shot her on my own anyway and she was a real trooper. It got cold and she never once complained. The girl just worked with me to help me get the shot. It was I who called it off once the temp continued to drop. She was willing to keep going, but I don't want to jeopardize a model's health. I've been in some risky and even compromising positions, but there was no benefit to keeping her out there. I've had a model in frigid waters, hanging off a cliff, and other things but her being cold at that time didn't lend itself to the project. Now had the project been nudes in the snow, now that would be different.

Lieara, was just as fascinating. She's a fiery spitball. I had a problem in stopping shooting her. When she came over for some preliminary work, accompanied by her boyfriend/fiance', I had to actually push my camera away in order to stop. I noticed the fact that he was tired and was asleep on the floor. I told them it wouldn't take even an hour to get the shots to promote the workshop. Three hours later, I am still shooting this girl. Now in my defense, I mentioned a few times that I had to put the onus on her to stop me. The girl kept assuming new poses! What was I to do? She and BrittanY did my workshop. Brittany worked under strobes all afternoon. With such a voluptuous figure, she garnered alot of attention. I hate bringing it up in one sense, but she's got one of the most perfect ...ah never mind. Somebody's gonna think I'm sexist. Well, you see the photo. That was part of a preliminary series. As for the workshop, I never got to even take out my camera! This just in: As I write this, I got a text from Brittany. [Freaky, huh?] We are now planning a new body of work since I didn't get to shoot her in the workshop. Am I sick or what?

But even before those 3, I got back with Melissa to do some more work. Oh...it was so good. I took over the wide-angle lens and repeated some of the bodyscape images I did with her before. Talk about amazing. We got some amazing light that kept changing at a moments notice. It took several attempts to capture these lines that contour her body because of the clouds. The light would be there for a sec and as soon as you get a focus, it was gone. Melissa is so great to work with.

But I guess all this begs me to question whether or not I have the ability to stop working with nude models, because if I don't then its a compulsion and an addiction. Am I addicted to shooting the nude? I don't know, but I don't think so. However so says the smoker who can't seem to quite when he wants to. Its a good question. I wish I had a good answer. I think I am justifying it because of all the great models I've met just in the month of February. I don't want to call this an addiction. I'd just like to think that I'm having fun doing something I love. At any rate, I'll have all these images edited soon and will post more on each of them. Comments?

16 February 2009

Taking the Good with the Bad


I think I am getting close to catching things up now. Well, I at least have a plan to do so, which is actually to take one day at a time. When I talked about how crazy things have been in the last post I made, I touched on the two big things: my daughter's surprise marriage and then becoming ill upon my return home. In fact, I thought I was fairly well when I made that last post but honestly I've had been truly drained after that ordeal. I would guess for the next week all I wanted to do was sleep. Its been the only time in several years that I really had no interest in editing or taking photos. So if nothing else, that should give you some indication just how out of it I was. But even through those two events, I've only slightly touched on the full extent of all the challenges I've contended with so far. That said, I think I'll just leave it at that. This blog was never intended to be my venting venue.

But one intriguing element I will sort of touch on is the obligation slash guilt I felt while I was not posting. Is that common for any more of you bloggers who post regularly? In the mist of my fevers and coughing fits, I had to force myself to prioritize a little better than what I was doing. I can tell you that I found myself sitting at my computer with a blank stare with the intent of making a posting until I actually sat down in the chair. Then there were moments when I was well, or better at least, when I'd sit down...log in...stare at the screen for a bit, and then retreat to my fortress of blankets and pillows. I know for fact that I am not the only blogger with challenges, so what is it you do when you can't make a post? Are you overwhelmed with guilt? And even when there are no challenges that hinder your entries, do you still feel a profound need to fulfill and obligation to your faithful readership and subscribers?

Switch gears...how about something a little less melodramatic.

While I was in back home, I stopped by some of my old stomping grounds. I got to work with one of my former models (with a friend). I've also been able to conduct a few more shoots with relation to my workshop coming up this coming Sunday. We'll be shooting the magnificent Brittany Sutton (top photo) in the marvelous studios of Bobby Deal, owner of Vegas Vision Studios. I've been contacted recently asking about studios to shoot in. I think I've said it before: You will get a great deal and all that you need at Vegas Vision Studios. Bobby will take care of you. Just give the man a call if you are a visiting photog and wish to rent some studio time with a model. I recently shot with Brittani Brooks. Talk about fabulous! I shoot tomorrow with Melissa again. So I will have plenty to work on as I am now in the mood to get back to my edits. So stay tuned. All drama aside, you gotta take the good with the bad. Also, thanks UL for your wonderfulness!

Talk to you soon.