New Laptop and the Current Vietnam Covid Situation

Art Model Elizabeth, Copyright 2006 Terrell Neasley

"The muse drags me down many different roads often at the same time." 

~ Colin Poole

My Gigabyte Aero 15x suddenly failed on me and it picked a most inopportune time to do it. I was traveling and extended my stay in a beachfront property down South for an additional week with the specific purpose of writing and editing photos. The next morning after that extension, I woke up and tried to get to work at breakfast only to have my laptop not turn on at all. It just wouldn't power up. Thinking that the power cord came loose, which it was wont to often do, I retrieved it only to find no different result. 

An IT guy from the hotel tried working on it, but to no avail. Therefore I went that whole week just chilling with no ability to work. When I arrived back in Hanoi, two different repair places gave me the same result. Busted chip and no way to get parts. I'd have to replace the motherboard and for whatever reason, nobody had any confidence to get Gigabyte parts. Despite the fact that Gigabyte laptops are made in Taiwan, they said it was a no-go.

Art Model Elizabeth, Copyright 2006 Terrell Neasley

I jumped back on with my Grab-bike driver... like a motorbike Uber, and headed to the computer store for a new laptop. I did not enjoy having to drop another $2K unexpectedly, but sheesh... I can't go without having a laptop.

Enter the MSi GS-66. They didn't have the top tier of this model, but I was able to pull my 32GB of  DDR4 out of the old laptop and install it in the new, which came with 16gigs. I would have much preferred the better graphics card, but the Nvidia RTX 2060 is nothing to sneeze at. I'm back in business and all seems to work fine. The thing does not have an overheating problem having THREE fans and unlike last year's version, the GS-65, the motherboard is easy to get to. It doesn't have the independent number key pad, but other than that, I'm adjusted to it well enough. 

Art Model Elizabeth, Copyright 2006 Terrell Neasley

Currently, I'm waiting on my next visa extension approval. That should be in in another week. On a more aggravating note, we were Covid-free for right at 100 days. Now, it's back! Three times as strong. They are still investigating how the outbreak began, but it coincides with illegal Chinese immigrants who were smuggled into the country in Da Nang. Da Nang is in Central Vietnam and is a hotspot for tourists due to the attraction of it's beautiful beaches. There was not really any international tourism, but domestic tourism has been promoted widely since April to encourage economic growth. It was working. 80,000 local tourists had to be evacuated out of the city, but more than 95,000 departed Da Nang to get out of the epicenter. 

That means the infection also came with it and Vietnam has experienced it's first deaths due to Covid-19 related issues. I believe 10, as of this date. As I mentioned, this strain is faster and more deadly. BUT, it looks like the Vietnamese government is on top of this one too. Quarantines have taken effect again. Masks have been mandated once more. Bars and local gathering spots are off limits as before. I can only trust that we acquire the same results as before and eradicate the Coronavirus again. Stay tuned. 

Art Model Elizabeth, Copyright 2006 Terrell Neasley

This model featured in this post is Art Model, Elizabeth. I've often called our collaboration my first great work. The shots we got were some of my first shots I ever did that I might actually call art, and not just photographs of a naked girl. Beyond that, I'd say she was one of my top 3 original models that taught me about photographing the nude. What she brought to the table to teach me was about model movement and being able to SEE my shot within each shot. I moved in closer and began doing bodyscapes. She would continually move and pose in a manner that helped me learn to direct a model. 

Of course she is a beautiful woman with a great body, but her gift to me was definitely in her movement. For never having done this before, she continued to give me unique looks and shapes. That's what I remember most. We shot twice, I think, against a white backdrop in a studio and later against a black one... all under continuous HOT LIGHTS! I was able to see how to light a subject in both cases. I call her my Godsend Number 1, due to the circumstances in which we first began shooting. A direct, and sudden answer to prayer. It was quite the unique experience. Not even sure she knows that. Anyway, these are negative scans, mainly unedited and Raw. But pure magic, nonetheless.

Art Model Elizabeth, Copyright 2006 Terrell Neasley

10 Tips on Photographer's Block Part III

Art Model, Elizabeth ©2007 Terrell Neasley 

"The thing that's important to know is that you never know. You're always sort of feeling your way." 

~ Diane Arbus

I broke this series up into three parts for a reason. I wanted to use my first post to drive home the fact that those 4 realization points were imperative before any benefits from any tips could come to fruition. The next post dealt mainly with elements that involved a more direct focus on photography. However, this last post of the series has a bit more focus on the issue of mental health, itself. When you look at creative blocks, its your mental ability to cognitively contribute that's impeded. So, let me dive on into this.

Art Model, Elizabeth ©2007 Terrell Neasley 

Tip #6 on Dealing with Photographer's Block: Get a medical check up (and some rest)

If its been a while since you've had your last doctor's visit, maybe it's a good time to make an appointment. Getting a clean bill of health can be mentally comforting all on its own. At the least, you can get a doctor's recommendation to help you deal with stress, know what vitamin/mineral deficiencies you might be suffering from, or find out in advance if there is something more serious which can be caught in early stages. 

Art Model, Elizabeth ©2007 Terrell Neasley 

If you can't do that, then at the very least, get some rest. Spend a day or weekend doing absolutely nothing. And when I say nothing...I'm talking about getting up to eat, bathe, or go to the bathroom and that's it. Take a chill weekend. Prep for it. Prior to your do nothing day, get errands done, pay bills, and arrange for a baby-sitter if necessary. Me and my girl did a staycation at the Artisan earlier this year just to get away for a bit. I let her go on her own for a few days and then joined her for another 2 days after upgrading our room to a huge suite. Netflix and chill.

Tip #7 on Dealing with Photographer's Block: Spend some time with family/friends

Art Model, Elizabeth ©2007 Terrell Neasley 

Sometimes hiding away or going solo is not the better option. It can be just as important to remember why certain people are important to you and then treat them as such. Call them up and arrange some hang out time. Do the phone only if there are miles and miles of separation that makes eye to eye a bit challenging. Invite a friend (some friends) over and get some pizza and beer. Hang out on the back patio and just talk. Its not necessary to have to spend a bunch of money or make a big to-do about the matter. Relax

"All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tip #8 on Dealing with Photographer's Block: Take a day trip 150 miles away

Now this one is more of a task or assignment, but it definitely belongs here. Look at a map from where you live and plot out a sight, place, city, or landmark that is 150 miles away from you or the closest to it. Pick a date within the next week and go. You don't have to even bring your camera but at least have your charged cell phone. Nothing at 150 miles...do 200 miles. But now you've got 3 hours one-way to kill and beyond that gets into more than a trip you can make in a day. Here out West in Southern Nevada, I'm grateful that I can travel in any direction and see wondrous landscape of all kinds. I can head up further into Nevada, head south into Arizona, southwest into California, or Northeast into Utah. Any direction I go I can find a major State AND National park to visit. 

Art Model, Elizabeth ©2007 Terrell Neasley 

Tip #9 on Dealing with Photographer's Block: Have sex (or at least exercise)

I wouldn't think it necessary to go into details on the benefits sex has on your life, but you'd be surprised. And I'm not talking about meaningless sex for the sake of simply having sex. For the purposes of this post, lets assume intimate relationship sex. But regardless, who's going to argue with me on this one? The health benefits are too staggering to ignore. You want to freshen your mind with a splash of creativity? Get with your partner and become awash in the dopamine and endorphins that will rest your body and heal your mental incontinence. Its relieves stress, helps you sleep better, helps reduce depression, and more. At least, that's some of the stuff I read in this recent Medical News Today article. But do you really need an article to tell you this...

Art Model, Elizabeth ©2007 Terrell Neasley 

Tip #10 on Dealing with Photographer's Block: Grab your camera and go shoot something

And finally, when it comes down to it, do the things that you can do. You don't have control over everything. You DO have control over somethings, though. And when you can't do the things you want to do, do the things you can. You may be blocked, but you CAN still pick up your camera and press the shutter release. You CAN get in your car and drive 150 miles to a location and explore it. You can tell your mother you love her and go pay her a visit. You CAN actually do a lot of things. Go. Volunteer. And if its taskings you need or assignments, I have that too and I'd love to share them when requested of me.

Art Model, Elizabeth ©2007 Terrell Neasley 

* BONUS Tip on Dealing with Photographer's Block: Pray

And sometimes you have absolutely no control what so ever. Sometimes any and everything you can think of crashes down like a house of cards set aflame. I had a school project due in a photographic final presentation. I was to photograph a couple in their mid-50's and it was to be a great project. For whatever reason, they bailed on me for our shoot. I could come up with nothing else and time was running out. At the end of my rope, I prayed about my predicament and honestly didn't really expect much. On my way back to my dorm room, I ran into Elizabeth sitting on a bench, whom you see featured in this blog post. I hadn't seen her in a year and even before that I didn't really know her. We had mutual friends, only. 

We talked briefly and said our cordial, "Hello...long time no see" to each other. As despondent as I was, I just wanted to get back to my dorm... Until she asked about my photography and did I have any need for any models. She turned out to be one of the best I have had the privilege to ever work with. Answer to prayer? Yes. Directly, so. The girl was a God-send, because I had no control, no power, and no idea how I was going to get any of it done. So yeah...Prayer.

New Beginnings

Last "Calvin and Hobbes" Comic Strip by Bill Watterson

Eleven days...

That's how long its been since my last post. I've been handling a few life changes lately that have been exhaustive to say the least. My works schedule has recently changed to a night shift and its definitely taking some getting used to. Rest doesn't come easy while trying to sleep in the mornings. However the most significant change has to deal with my recent relocation. Oh, I still reside in Vegas and actually not too far from my former residence. I won't go into details but suffice to say, a move was necessary. I was invited to stay with art model groupie, Jeff who has attended quite a few of my workshops and we've done a few excursions and scout trips together. Its still taking somewhat of an adjustment to get used to all this. I have yet to really call any place a home since selling my house and leaving Tennessee. Since then, I've lived out of boxes. The two years I was in Murray, KY while attending grad school, I moved twice. Even here in Vegas, I never really unpacked with the exception of essentials. I miss having a home. Where will I next call home, I wonder...

I've been experiencing certain freedoms, most notably with Felix. I plan to expand that notion even more. I had a birthday on 08-08-08 which my Mom says means "New Beginnings, as she wrote in my birthday card. The above Calvin and Hobbes comic strip was one of the first things I saw hanging up in Jeff's living room. There were other confirmation signs that seemed to pop up with the same theme. Its time for a new beginning then.

Needless to say, I'm no spring chicken, although I still kick ass hanging with kids half my age. I need to get into better shape if for no better reason than to continue rehabbing my knee injured on a military training accident. Still, in terms of strength, speed, and stamina, I've been surprised to find that I can still hold my own with these youngsters. Just ask my son! But I digress, I want to set a goal of camping at least once a month for a year. Can I do it?...Is it practical?...Don't know. The point of the matter is that I'm interested in experiencing life. I'm done with drama. I'm done with wasting time. I'm done with killing myself for a job, creditors, and people who don't contribute back. I want to lead a healthier life with a different lifestyle that suits me better than what I've been doing and I plan to surround myself with like-minded people. Travel is on the agenda. Exploration is the whole reason I've come out West.

Felix and Summer are like that. In fact, I've recommended that Summer start blogging along with Felix's photography much in the same fashion that Lin Bang does over there on Fluffytek with hubby Richard. He's the shooter. She's the writer, (as well as his muse). It was kind of interesting because when I brought up the idea to Felix, he and Summer had just been discussing the idea of doing just that. So henceforth has come The Monkey Chronicles, authored by Summer detailing their excursions and adventures in the pursuit of life documented in photographs. You get the mind of Felix from his images. Summer's are illustrated in her words. Isn't that a great complimentary combination. As a matter of fact, the last discovery of this magnitude was back in 1928 when Harry Burnett Reese first combined chocolate and peanut butter. Who knew?

Switch gears...

It was interesting that my website has recently doubled in traffic this month. I haven't really explored why that is or from where the traffic stems. I can see the rankings of my images and statistical information. I've had a few people inquire as to top images, top models, and such. So I give you the top 5. I've mentioned before that the top model continues to be Trisha whom I'd like an opportunity to do again. She's obviously a bit more "open" than most of my models and can tend to push the boundaries of comfort zones for some people who might suggest she had other motives. She had desire to see herself the way men are perceived to look at and desire her. This is, in a way, her method of stepping out of herself and then looking back on herself in the same fashion that a guy might view her. It was an interesting project and I admire her boldness to do it, her brilliance for the concept, and I appreciate her willingness to let me share our work. Her eagerness to shoot again is another reason I need to travel more. And understand, I was hesitant to put these particular images up. They are not part of the original series I posted. She was still the rankingest model on my site even before this more explicit series went up. She's got two images in the top 5 and then 3 more for the top 10.

Next is the lovely Lessa, who posed in my LVAMG a few months back. Her images haven't been up long enough to rank higher over the last year, but for this month, her's is the next in hits. She also has the highest view images for purchase considerations. There's also Elizabeth, whom I did an excellent series on. She comes in as number 4. (Another one of Trisha's images was 3). And rounding out the top 5 is Laura who was the first model I shot after moving here last year. She's also got the number one image for the year in terms of hits. However her images have a full 6 month head start on the newer set of Trisha's images. The one spread-eagle shot is gaining ground very quickly. And that was expected. Va-JayJay shots are always going to get the most views and its remained a topic of discussion since forever. Some models have a stipulation of "No Pink" showing or no spread leg shots. I continue to respect a model's personal boundaries as well as working with those who are open to more latitude. I'd like to think that these images are getting hits for their artistic aesthetics, but I don't kid myself. I just keep shooting whats exposed to my lens.

Re-Defining It All

Its already been eight months since I started this blog last August. I know my primary goal was to supplement my website with more content and information as to my photographic activities and endeavors. In the last few months, I've wondered if I need to amend my purpose here a little and become more specific in terms of how I envision what I want this blog to become. In some of my previous experiences, I've had to develop a mission statement, vision statement, and project scopes. I think I may take some time to do the same here, but rather than posting it, I might just keep it personal as a guide just for me. I know I want this to be more than a diary that I post my pics on, so I'll be providing more content on things of interest I find relevant to the issues and business of photography, artistic nudes, art nude models, and the art community. I'm looking at incorporating podcasts, vlogs, and other media means available to me. Well organized and reader-serving content is my goal. Did I just inadvertently write out a mission statement?

This photoblog will still complement my web site. I'd like to encourage my readers and viewers to leave comments on the site for those models who's galleries you visit. These girls love the feedback they see when they revisit my site to see who's said what about their collaborations with me. The more comments you give, the more they want to model with me! So give it up. I've re-organized my galleries a bit. I've worked with a lot of models and while my web host allows unlimited gallery space, I don't want to post a million pics on it. I've relegated myself to seven galleries and I am still thinking that may be too many. I've taken some galleries out, replaced some and added new ones. I need to go through and really clean it up to make it more succinct and add keywords.

Trisha is still my most popular gallery viewed. I've recently posted fresh pics of her that are by far more explicit than anything I've posted before. With respect to what I usually do, they may deviate from the mean slightly, but Trisha is sort of the kind to do that. She's a rarity that can carry the innocent look so well, but at the same time has a totally different side that surprises you. One viewer commented that while she can look like a 4th grade English teacher, she's still the type you want to come home to. She doesn't mind showing it all and holds no secrets, but you shouldn't make any presumptions about her character either. You'd be dead wrong. As an artist herself, she simply sees no issue with her poses. As far as she's concerned, if you're going to be nude then be nude, and being exposed is sort of the defining aspect of being an art model. She's very comfortable with herself and her self-expression. My job was to capture it. Not everyone can pull it off the way she does and not everyone should. I still hope to be able to shoot her again. We talk regularly even though she's 1800 miles away.

But for now, I leave you with images of Elizabeth, who is another defining model in my photography and art work. I was afforded the opportunity to do some great studio work with her during my last year in grad school while taking photo classes. I did some of my best work with her. On a final note, I want to bring your attention to the left where you'll notice the new Donations section. This is not an easy gig and for anyone who likes my work and wants to support my artistic endeavors, by all means click the Amazon Honor System link. Everyone knows Amazon.com to be a completely reliable and safe site. All your info is secure and none of it comes to me. So to anyone who'd like to contribute, I'd be more than appreciative for your support.