What I did for Mother's Day

"Nude Under the Mountain"

Another successful Art Nude Photography Workshop for the records: Lessa was a gem. The day was beautiful. My location was grand. And I was amongst friends. What more could a facilitator ask. In the same general area as the last photo event, I chose a few areas that caught my eye from the last event that we skipped over. For a shoot on Mother's Day, I had a decent turn-out for this event. I didn't expect many, but as I have mentioned before, the smaller group tends to be more beneficial than the larger group. Despite being out of doors, some of the areas I chose were tight fits, closed in by either rocks, cacti, or trees.

Lessa turns out to be an excellent model who is very comfortable with her body. With her background in dance and theater, she's proved as creative as I might have expected from someone of her experience. The combination of her marvelous curves, her long hair, and her expressive charisma, allows for a broad range of ideas to explore. I am sooo looking forward to a few independent photo sessions to see what else I can come up with. Normally, I don't get to shoot much on my own events, but this time I was able to work in a few shots. I didn't get as many prime shots as I might have wished for, but my angles were still okay. Independent shoots with her will allow me to really explore my ideas with her collaboration.

The group that came out to shoot really bonded. You'd have thought we were all wearing Dr. Scholls Gellin' insoles. I know I was gellin'. Do you hear what I'm tellin'. Cuz I can start yellin' like a felon sellin' melon on a hot summer day if you don't understand me. This felt more like friends getting together and chillin' on a Sunday afternoon, which might have actually been the case had Felix brought some beer. In fact, to make up for it, we are planning a nude photo BBQ over at Felix's place next month. Several of them got to go out to eat Mexican after the shoot, but I didn't get to join as I got a call from the Security monitoring service that the alarm at my home was blasting. Thankfully, there was no cause for alarm. I think the dogs triggered the alarm somehow. We've got 3 large boxers weighing close to 70 pounds each running amuk in the house while no one's home.

And so with all this fun, its only fitting I leave you with this really funny video. If you can't see it below, just >click here<.

Eloquent Nude DVD - Got it!

There are several things I could cover tonight, but I need to limit it. "Shave or Not to Shave" will have to wait one more entry as I plan to cover some different things here tonight. I have also elected to bring back some of my landscape artwork for the next few posts as well.

Today was my first meeting of the Las Vegas Art Model's Group. I didn't have the turnout that was signed up, which was disappointing, but in a way, I was also relieved. The venue I selected could not have accommodated the seating arrangements had everyone who RSVP'd showed up. At the time I selected the venue, I only had 6 or 7 people in the entire group. Well, it ballooned to over 30 within the next week. This was more of a discussion meeting than a group session. So nobody brought easels, cameras, or paint. This was for brainstorming purposes in which case I utilized the opportunity to introduce myself, cover some basics about the group, and solicit suggestions and input from the members.

I plan to grow this group not only in size but also in influence. When you think of the art community in Vegas, you'll think of the Las Vegas Art Model's Group first. I want this to be the "IT" group if you move here and want to make an impact in the local art world. Several group members made outstanding suggestions and we have some valuable contacts to help us get started. I am thinking I may have to run a second blog as well. If this thing goes as I hope, it will not be serving to my current readers (especially overseas) to discuss the non-relevant happenings of the Art Model's Group when they have nothing to do with Vegas. By the first of the year, I will consider publishing a new blog for the LVAMG.

On another note, I just received in the mail the DVD of which I have been searching. Again, I want to give a special thanks to Peter J. Crowley for putting me in contact with Julie Gliniany of NW Documentary, the company which produced the DVD. I have not viewed it yet, but I plan to watch it tomorrow or the next day and then begin my review of it there after. For any new readers who may not have read these specific posts, this DVD is titled, "Eloquent Nude: The Love and Legacy of Edward Weston and Charis Wilson". I am particularly enthralled about this DVD for two reasons. First, I have been a big time fan of Edward Weston. I have not searched out why I identify with his style of photography, but I just know I relate to it. For some reason, I have a sincere appreciation for his methods and techniques. Maybe sometime I will do some self-imposed psychoanalytic inner reflection on why I like it, but its kind of like asking why I like cheesecake? Because it tastes like cheesecake, I guess.

The second reason I was thrilled to find out about this DVD is for the relationship between he and his muse, Charis Wilson. I have had the most affinity for the work of photographers who photograph their own wives. Edward traveled the country side shooting Charis everywhere and anywhere. I recently posted an entry on The Artist's Wife which outlined a NY Times article titled "The Artist's Wife: The Muse Who Never Said No", referencing Eleanor Callahan, the wife of the late photographer Harry Callahan. One thing that made this article so rich to me was the focal point on Eleanor who is 91 at the point of this interview. She was married to Harry for 63 years.

Trisha...

I am still receiving requests for more images of this model. Well, then let me introduce Trisha. In all actuality, I am in much the same boat as you. I am an admirer of her's as well and would also like to see more images of her. Unfortunately, Trisha is pursuing her education and has endeavors that aren't allowing for more modeling at the moment. Trust me, we have discussed it. She is a fan of my work and has indeed expressed an interest to continue modeling for me, but for now, the time and circumstances simply don't allow for it. Maybe at some point in the NEAR future that could change, but until then, you'll have to just keep checking back as I post more images of her from my current stockpile. We did alot of shots...

We still talk often and I have relayed to her the fact that I receive several requests for her image as well as the fact that she normally occupies the all top 12 spots of most viewed images on my website. Normally, the count for her will range anywhere from 8 to 12 images in my top 12, but its been quite some time since she was below 6 images. I would appreciate some comments on what exaclty you all like about her. She has been quite surprised by this and has asked me, but I can only guesstimate as to the minds of my visitors.

Most of the comments mention liking her images, tell me I captured her well, I have an excellent composition or speak to the technical aspects of my images of her, but I cannot recollect any specific comment as to why you all like her images so much. So please feel free to either comment here or on my site so I can relay this info to Trisha.

In any case she really appreciates your positive feedbacks and wants to Thank you all. I'll occasionally post more pics of her. So from both myself and Trisha...

Thanks!

Update: July 2010 Pics of this model have been removed.

Dark Matter...

I figure I must be doing something good. I really appreciate all the traffic, comments, and questions about my site and blog. I've received exposure from Art Nudes, Univers d'Artistes, Iris Dassault, and now afuckaday. Yeah, afuckaday...don't trip. There's no sex on this site, its just more quality work by someone who appreciates promoting other photographers, models and note-worthy blogs. This site belongs to rob, whom I contacted about showcasing my work. From my recent success, I have been looking to do the same with more sites like his. I try to collaborate with other blogs and sites of interest that I feel is consistent with what I do and presents a quality standard that I can appreciate and respect. Its been a great way to let more people see my artwork and I in turn also will let my readers and viewers know about their work. I am always happy to return a favor.

I also plan on addressing some questions that have been asked of me in my next few entries. I have noticed some photogs do a FAQ page on their sites such as this excellent one by Looknsee's FAQ. That may be a best practice that I try to emulate later on, but for now, I think I will just take on repetitive individual questions and see how it goes. Mainly I have been getting questions referring to how I get my models, what kind of model I prefer and other photography works I identify with. Some questions about commissions and model experience, I can answer easily enough, but I mainly refer them to my website which already has those answers. Rest assured, I will post a blog entry to address the modeling questions soon.

In the meantime, you can also get some good information from my list of links and resources. Visit my site and check back on my blog for updates. I appreciate everyone's interest in my work and I thank you for the comments. As always, feel free to contact me about questions you may have regarding my work, about me, or to debate whether or not Dark Matter truly exists. I saw that on the Discovery Channel the other day. It was really interesting.... really, it was!

Univers d'Artistes

Its taken me an extra day to get this blog entry done, but I want to direct your attention to this blog: Univers d'Artistes, run by Chris out of France, who noticed my work when my site was featured on Art Nudes Blog by Michael Barnes about a month ago on July 25th. Chris made a nice comment about my work on his site. I contacted him and through this exchange he also featured my site on his blog along with a full interveiw. If you view his blog, you'll see a collection of work that you will indeed want to take an interest in. So let me take a moment to thank Chris for this site feature AND for selecting such incredible work to highlight and promote. That's by no means a boast on my part. I speak directly to the other aritstic photowork that is sure to grab your attention and make you spend some time in observation. In addition to that you can spend a moment coursing through the margins and checking out the plethora of link resources that he has added for your benefit. The man deserves our applause!

Secondly, while I am dispensing praise, I also want to appreciate someone who works on the opposite end of the lens, and that's model Iris Dassault. You can check out her website with the previous link, but here is her blog as well. Iris recently added me to her list of reputable blogs links, which was a pleasant surprise. I have never worked with Iris, nor have I met her. We had a brief exchange of emails at one point and that was it. The reason I have her as a link on my blog is because of the insight she gives from the model's perspective. She has done work with several great photographers such as Dave Rudin and Jim Young . She is beautiful from the inside and out. I can say that even though I have never met her because her words qualify that beauty from within. Check out her blog and you will see the facts that I am referencing. I like what she has to say and can fully respect and admire her choice to model less often with only a select few photographers even though she could easily choose to make more money from the demand for her services. You have to respect that. You've just got to. This is why I now refer potential models to her blog and website so they might have a good idea from an experienced model's perspective on how this is done and what is truly important. If you have not visited her site...stop what you are doing right now and click the links! So thanks again, Iris.

I have included a couple of images done this past May with a lovely model in the woods of Land Between the Lakes and surrounding areas of Kentucky. You will be seeing more of her on my next few posts. Enjoy!

Scouting trips

I am still getting aquainted with the sites of Las Vegas. For the most part, I know the place well, in terms of getting where I need to go, but not for locations to shoot. Thats still a trying task for me. I'd prefer someplace nearby for right now since I like to scout out my locations before I actually do a shoot there. From what I am hearing from several people is that I need to get out of the city to get what I am looking for. I have been out to Valley of Fire several times now and truthfully, I can't get enough of it. That place is just gorgeous. Its crossed my mind to do several sessions out there with different models. I can just shoot in different locations within the park. After a while I know it starts to look the same, but I believe working with different models can still give it a twist of uniqueness.

It was also suggested yesterday to check out Zion National Park. Now I have been to Zion, but my trip wasnt all that long and I didn't get to do the hiking trails I wanted. I have been told to hike the Narrows, which is supposed to be really nice. I understand that a portion of it is through water thats anywhere from 2 to 4 foot deep. Don't know if that's true or if it depends on the seasons but its certainly worth checking out. My issue is that I have to drive out almost 3 hours to see it before I shoot it. I may just go out to hike it and come back with a model. I'd like to go with a fresh face, but a first time model may not want to go that far out with someone they just met which means camping out is also out of the question. Decisions...decisions...

Well, I will get it done at some point. My thoughts are to hike it, come back, shoot a new model at Valley of Fire, and then depending on how it goes, discuss a trip out to Zion. I have heard Spring Valley Ranch should be nice as well. I'd appreciate some suggestions if you got'em. I have included 3 pics of a Colorado adventure in this post. This girl freaked me out when she climbed out over a cliff that had a drop of at least 300 feet. There was a 3 foot long triangular shaped flat rock that extended from the cliff about 10 feet down. I made her come back up and then climbed down there myself to test it out before I agreed to shoot her there. The LAST thing this black guy needed was a naked white girl at the bottom of a cliff in a area where I got to see only one other black person the who week I stayed there. We were all over the Black Canyon near Gunnison, CO. I only planned on stopping overnight. I ended up staying there a week and shooting 4 different models. Loved it. Isn't that an intersting tree?

Getting to know Vegas

I've posted a collection of my nudes, my portraits, so now I am adding a few of my landscape images. They were taken up in the mountains of Colorado, (the meandering stream and the skyscape), as well as at the Garden of the Gods in Shawnee National Park, IL (the B&Ws).

I am still searching for more area in and around Las Vegas to shoot. I am thinking of planning a trip further up north in Nevada as well as Utah. I have visited Zion National Park in Utah already, so I may start there. I'd like to find more rocks to shoot on, but I want to incorporate water.

I am also searching for indoor areas to shoot. An interesting apartment, house, furniture store, it doesn't matter. I want something uncommon, different...something that will draw you in and make you want to see more. Getting to know Las Vegas and Southern Nevada are my primary missions right now. I am getting to network all the time and am constantly meeting new people with ideas and suggestions. I come across people I'd like to shoot often times as well and many people I talk to have been very open to the idea of modeling for me, which is always a good thing. Come on LAS VEGAS...TALK TO ME!