"the sound of a reel to reel machine on rewind"
It's time to touch base on the events of this year, as this one has been a doozie of a year for me!
( disclosure - Lots of wrist to head poses )seems to be a running phase this year.
January 09
Started of the new year with a good old fashioned head shaving. Laura Kicey and Tony Yang were there to document in pictures and video the emotional event.
Laura Kicey
Time elapsed video of the shave can be seen here
by Tony Yang
I maintained the shaved head for about 2 months, getting a close shave every 2-3 weeks, it was pretty liberating, and i couldn't stop touching my head.
2nd shoot with Sanders McNew, He was the 1st to formally shoot my shaved head
Which was a nice contrast to the year before when we first shot
Sanders McNew
Took my first trip to Columbus Ohio to shoot with Chip Willis,
Chip Willis
February 09,
I got to meet and work with Lori Mann, and execute some of the concepts I had been thinking about since the head shave, like painting my head like a Cupe Doll
Lori Mann
Emily Wong had shot some images of me for her Skate Deck project that she was working on the same day I shaved my head.
they look way more awesome in person!
Emily Wong
March 09,
March came rolling around and along with that came a few projects Like SexyPhotoTrip.com
video clip
A quick shoot with my friend Rob Szatmari for his Hi Key series
and a new project as well
Rob Szatmari
Had a 2nd shoot with Laura Kicey and Michael Alan Goldberg
Laura Kicey
Michael Alan Goldberg
A shoot with Jim Herrington in NY
Jim Herrington
He Then let me shoot him as well
the following day an awesome quick shoot with Alfred Laij AKA Alien Life.
I finally got to shoot with Hassan Kinley, Little did i know it would wind up being much more than one shoot, but that we would help inspire eachother the rest of the year. Our first shots went to be included into a www.karinandraoul.com feature story.
I got my very first car! A Mazda 3 09
I was also able to crank out some quick Self portraits In Columbus and NY, Las Vegas and LA to add to the collection that has grown since the early 80's which I presented tp a class at the Phila Art Institute in April.
Also in March we had another Flickr Brunch Bunch Sunday, Where a group of Flickr Friends have brunch then go on a photo walk, and model for each other as well, It's really awesome to see and compare all the diff styles/and interpretation from the same time frame/Subject in photos.
Bryce Gibson
Laura Kicey
Michael Alan Goldberg
Adrian Gibbs
Ralph Nardell
April 09,
Had an Awesome shoot with Dom Savini for Narragansett Beer campaign.
Another Flickr Brunch Bunch Day-
Adrian Gibbs
Bryce Gibson
Then back to Atlanta to do some awesome production work with WDR Photography/Tsubasa
He planned out a 7 sins shoot that was prop overload awesome!
then a few others including one of the most clean and creative Tsubasa concepts for shoes/dig piece we have done.
I had my first shoot with Aeric Meredith-Goujon, Erotic Photographer Extraordinaire, Probably one of the most pivotal shoots of the year.
It helped me deal with the fear of my own vagina, and I realized I wanted my modeling work to grow and lean towards a more erotic direction, while still maintaining my own self respect.
Our shoot was an unexpected therapy session without words,
Which is why I have been shooting so much content that includes the blatant view of my lady bits this year. I apologize if people are offended by my display of it's pinkness, but it's kinda my way of working through all the hang ups that I have acquired about myself like a callus through the years. Think of it as Vagina Therapy. It seems necessary for me to push my own boundaries for self growth as a model and my inner crusade. I hated the thought of myself wincing at the site of my own vagina, A well rounded woman should embrace what she is gifted with, not shy away in embarrassment, Yes I have seen the Vagina Monologues before, but it doesn't really hit home until you see and highlight your own from a distance. I just happened to chose the medium that is closest to my current lifestyle.
I'm sure it's just a phase that will tire soon.
Our shoot was an unexpected therapy session without words,
Which is why I have been shooting so much content that includes the blatant view of my lady bits this year. I apologize if people are offended by my display of it's pinkness, but it's kinda my way of working through all the hang ups that I have acquired about myself like a callus through the years. Think of it as Vagina Therapy. It seems necessary for me to push my own boundaries for self growth as a model and my inner crusade. I hated the thought of myself wincing at the site of my own vagina, A well rounded woman should embrace what she is gifted with, not shy away in embarrassment, Yes I have seen the Vagina Monologues before, but it doesn't really hit home until you see and highlight your own from a distance. I just happened to chose the medium that is closest to my current lifestyle.
I'm sure it's just a phase that will tire soon.
Aeric Meredith-Goujon
May 09,
May was pretty awesome, rain and spring was all about, new people and experiences to encounter as well as some old friends as well.
I started out with a 2 day Workshop that Lori Mann organized, there were 15 Photographers and 6 models. I met some very talented people as well as helped some of them sharpen their photo skills and develop an understanding of how to work with a model. Most of the models were fetish and alt models, lots of latex.
This was a good opportunity for me to showcase my styling abilities, I don't really fall into the latex model category, so I had to make it interesting, I wanted my wardrobe to be a combo of high fashion, couture, super hero and vamp.
PhotoVance
Brent Williamson/Teknari
It came time to finally make a move on getting more tattoo work added to my back. I orig just wanted some little detail of flowers added to the dragon so he wasn't free floaty... Tim Kern shot some images in Japan when he was last there working of the cherry blossom trees in bloom, and just free hand sketched them on me with markers. He showed me that to really make an impact i had to go much larger and wider than orig anticipated, I trusted his opinion and went for it. I had embarked on a 16 hour piece over 4 sessions. The work is absolutely phenomenal and the attention to detail can't be beat.
The outline
Kevin Loreaux
May 09,
Off To Vegas to shoot with Wolf 189 again!
As you can see It's a good thing i don't live in Vegas or Wolf would have no choice but to let me be his muse. I adore the process that Wolf lets me play out, i get to play dress up and pull out iconic fluent motions with someone who gives me full reign to enjoy being a woman and understands how i envision it being captured.
These were all shot on film in a matter of a couple of hours.
From Vegas I flew to LA to shoot with Renee Jacobs, it was a quick shoot about an hour long, Part of me wishes it was a bit longer, I had a cancellation and i was in LA longer than i needed to be.
June 09,
In June I met and had dinner with a Biological Brother for the 1st time that i had found a year prior, Story is here
Ya it's kinda a big deal, and very exciting at the same time.
Had another shoot with Kencredible and he was nice enough to include me in his 1st gallery show. He needed a few more images to add to his nude work, we later scheduled a shoot for a designer called Fabric Horse for the Fall.
\
Then Came George.........
George Pitts was referred to me by 2 friends, they said he was working on a book on the subj of older women/Nudes.
Contacts were made, dates were set, and out of the blue i met an artist whom I instantly took a liking to and made a very personable impression on me, almost like a grape juice stain ;)
We shot 3 times over the summer and still going. I think George has helped me find a comfort level and growth in my femininity that I am finding myself attached to. baby steps to eroticism with strength.
June was also the month my little Jelly was diagnosed with heart disease.
It was a horrible shock, out of my 3 dogs she seems to be the closest to me.
She's had an electrocardiogram
Shes on 3 diff meds for her heart and stabilized for now.
I had found a muse myself in June, a Co worker friend,and photography lover whom is also involved in the flickr brunch bunch photo walks had agreed to do a more formal gorilla shoot with me in Philadelphia at 7 am, we hit roughly 3 locations give or take a little more. Only armed with a little 35 MM Olympus point and shoot with min to no controls and my Bronica, came about an awesome discovery and collaboration.
After i had scouted out a few local locations and threw together wardrobe to suit the locations we whipped out some awesome images that made it clear that we were a good team. Bryce Gibson had mainly focused on street photography and architecture, Fashion was not really the direction he was moving in, but you never know what your capable of until you try.
July 09,
I met a photographer named Scott Nichol at an event, he specialized in Figure fine art nudes, and i agreed to take a short hike with him to the Delaware Water Gap for a quick shoot. We got a little eaten by the bugs, but the results were worth it.
photographer Mojokiss from FL had relocated to my area, and we got some lovely film shots in the Italian Market are, Yes where they filmed part of Rocky.
A little getaway for the Beans ( my dogs ) to Woodstock,NY.
My dogs are getting up there in age, and have a variety of health issues, they are also city dogs, which means they are apartment dogs, they go out occasionally but being off the leash is a luxury for them, I wanted to take them some place they could roam a little more and get in touch with nature and all the great smells that comes with it. I decided to rent a cottage for 5 days, and just hang out in the wilderness with them, This trip was pretty much for them. They are littler boxed trained, so going potty outside was awesome for them, I still picked up their poop, but none the less they loved the freedom.
August 09,
a little day trip kayaking, Ant took a little spill in the water with his iPhone in his pocket, and we soon learned that you are not supposed to turn it on if it has been immersed in water!
Another workshop at the same location as the last one, an old steel factory.
Jack Myers
Matt Addiego
Monkey went back to her Neurologist, she has had Encephalitis for about 3 years now, and the medication she has been on has really taxed her joints due to the steroid weight gain, They tested her blood and realized she also had a thyroid condition as well, Jelly Also has a thyroid condition, This was good news! this means that she would be put on more medication, and it would help with the weight gain, and she could be livelier, she's only 6, her fur has grown in fluffy and soft and unusually long for her breed since she has been on the new meds, we can't seem to keep our hands off her, It's like shes a love magnet. I don't mind her size as long as she is enjoying her life and isn't uncomfortable. You can see the size difference below.
I was Commissioned to shoot some portraits of a Friends Friend.
It was a little stressful, i was using the new Bronica again and my little point and shoot, and i had never really had expectations put on me as a job for my photography.
But I came through, the subject had no problem reminding me over and over how un photogenic he was, when the shoot was all done and images were delivered, He said Quote " I would Fuck Me" to his friend, that meant to me that i did him justice and he was happy in the way the images came out. People who are not use to seeing them self in more formal portraits judge their appearance very harshly, they seem scrutinize way more than they should, and i expected that.
September 09,
Another Shoot with Scott Nichol's and this time he had a friend with him, William Earle.
We ventured into an old coal breaking factory in the Pocono area, it was the most hazardous location i have ever shot in, in fact it was at your own risk, but god awful beautiful and a photographers wet dream of a location, the tone and natural light of this place left me in awe.
I wanted to go back to Cape Cod, something about the fall makes me miss New England, I'm orig from Boston, Ant said there isn't really anything to do in Cape Cod, lets go back to Boston, I jumped at the chance, Booked a lil B&B in the city, because i hate hotels if I don't have to be in one. We did a lot, Went to Kelley's to feed my Fried Wholebelly Clam craving down Revere Beach, went to the Wonderland, the old dog racing track, Ant's never been to one, so i thought it would be an interesting experience, then went to see my new brothers condo on the beach, We went Candle Pin Bowling, another thing Ant has never done, saw Inglorious Bastards, had Lobster rolls, Bloody Mary's it was an awesome time the entire time i am there, i keep thinking this is where i really belong, but it's too expensive now to live there.
Another Shoot and video with Hassan Kinley for Karin+Raoul , this time with an entire production crew in Quakertown, Pa in an old abandoned train car, I also shot a few images of the guys that day too.
Hassan and the boys
Coincidentally after i shot in the old coal breaking factory, Laura Kicey said she was just there as well, and we planned a quick afternoon Steam Punk Styled shoot, She told me what types of wardrobe she wanted, and i have to say i was really excited, Concepts and styling is where my heart is, It's pretty much the photos that help make the memories of awesome styling. I researched Newsies for wardrobe, and combined that with high fashion elements and makeup. Her Man Michael Alan Goldberg joined us as well. I love getting diff perspectives during the same shoot.
Laura Kicey
Michael Alan Goldberg
One Afternoon during my lunch break, I rushed over my friend and co workers home to shoot some quick baby/family portraits.
And then it begun...........
images got posted and offers of lifestyle shoots started to come in, and new equipment had to be purchased soon to keep up.
October 09,
Kencredible has a contact at Fabric Horse, a designer whom dreamt up some odd and cool hats, I got to pick the one i felt would suit me most, so i chose the Grapes, we shot this at a local Garden, by mere coincidence they were having a fruit celebration it being harvest time and all.
What another shoot with Corwin Prescott " The Prodigy" as i like to call him, Corwin was litterally like 4 days after graduating college when i first shot with him.
He was moving to Chicago and we squeezed in one more Philly shoot in like 2 hours.
He has this Taxidermy series going that started with a fox, that everyone wants to be a part of. I don't know what this boy's secret is but i don't care, I'm just pleased as punch to be a part of it.
I also got this Army Hat off of Ebay that i was dying to use, I really wanted to play up the whole androgyny theme this year, with lots of lipstick.
Holey Smokes Chip Willis is on the East Coast from Columbus!
not only that but he's inviting Aeric too!!! What no place to shoot, Coney Island? Fuck Yes!
Never been to Coney Island, all i know is what i saw from the movie Warriors in the 70's and the little print i have from the NYC Metro.
Chip likes to get me in the cold ;)
And i like public nudity!
Chip Willis
Aeric in Action
That's Chip
aeric meredith-goujon
A Photographer by the name of Simon Gentry from Houston was working in NYC, we have been trying to meet up for a shoot for a over a year now. FINALLY!!! another quick shoot with awesome and romantic results. I adore his work, and he is pretty cool, Ok the British accent makes even the worst insults sound great. I really hope i get a 2nd shoot with him before the wrinkles really set in.
November 09,
Double Weekend Shoot!
Co Workers and Friends Photo Shoots, I get to style and shoot some awesome people that will pretty much catapult my freelance gigs. I always said i intended to shoot babies and pets after i retired from my modeling phase, However i did not expect it to happen this fast or even right now, but i guess this is the way it's supposed to happen, People like my work and want to hire me, who am I to shut the door in the face of opportunity! I would be a fool to delay it, and I'm a wave rider, I just skim across life, whatever falls in my lap and try to be the best at what comes my way.
First The Greskiewicz's, Got Married in Vegas the previous year, and wanted images that were a little more formal, and yes fun and creative. I loved that they trusted me to style and photograph them to my liking. This is a couple that is not use to dressing up, wearing lots of makeup, hairspray, being in front of a camera. most people like this would be highly insecure of someone else taking control. The results make me very happy and have sent a flood of request for shoots through my email box.
When i set this particular shot up i was thinking of the poster from the Darjeeling Limited movie.
I would also like to mention i shot it with my little point and shoot.
I was thinking 1940's for the rest of the shoot, and i also used the Bronica
The very next day i shot the Cardullo Sisters, they wanted pictures to give their parents for the holiday's I did not style the wardrobe only instructed the details and colors. We shot in several locations, One being where their father went to school. The results of the gift i am told was a very emotional one on Christmas, that makes me extremely happy. though these girls are so bubbly and cute, it's hard not to get a good shot out of them.
Thanks To Bryce Gibson for Assisting on both of these shoots.
My Friend Kevin Loreaux was moving his studio a floor up, and wanted to wrap up an erotic Shower Series with one last shoot including me.
At that first Workshop, The first photographer I worked with gave me such awesome images, I agreed to drive up to Binghamton, NY 3 hours away from me, I have never driven that far by myself. So this was a great adventure.
I can't attach the actual piece/ HD video here, but i can link the URL
We shot a pretty awesome video, took us about 4/5 hours to get a nice 12 min piece.
Brent Williamson/Teknari Video
I always loved that Duran Duran Video The Chauffeur, and this reminds me of that in some ways, but mostly badass in Style!
Thanksgiving Weekend, I booked a freelance shoot in NJ, I was to shoot 3 little boys, Ages 8, 4 and 18 months.
This would be the first time i used a DLSR in place of my little Fuji Point and shoot, In conjunction with the Bronica.
When i arrived i got a tour of the home and back yard, which had a Jungle Gym tire and swing set, a trampoline as well as a Basketball Hoop in the rather large driveway.
Good thing i had a fast camera, these kids were all over the place, and pretty much wore me out by the end of 2 1/2 hours.
The 4 Year old was especially Hamtastic.
December 09,
So i have made it a tradition to model on my birthday for the past few years, It makes me feel youthful as I am clearly dodging acting my age, This year i turned 39 and booked a shoot with my friend Steve Prue in NYC, We were building a theme around the tattoo since it's completion in October. We have shot many of times since 2004, partly for Suicide Girls and partly for our portfolios. He understands my vision, and collaborates well with any concept and style i come up with, his signature style screams clarity and juiced up color. The series is called Dirty Sushi, styled for Japanese Erotica and high fashion.
I don't have a lot of images yet from this series, i am still in the editing stages. The styling was really exciting for me, Kimono from Japan, Obi belt from Australia, and wall painted custom for me by Steve. The makeup was my biggest concern. I do 99% of my own makeup and styling, and i tend to get in a rut and look the same when it comes to makeup, unless it's a concept based on the face.
I was inspired by another MUA and designer, and put my own spin on it with a few items i picked up at the drug store and some grease paint.
Back on the train in the nastiest weather possible, finding refuge in the NYC subway to Penn Station and never to come up on street level until Ant picked me up and whisked me off to a lovely Birthday dinner.
the very next day after a night of snow I had another Freelance shoot with a co worker and her new little family.
They were the cutest couple, as if they were sprung from an indie pumpkin patch. Her little girl was the most delightful baby ever, I think she spoiled me, i know not all babies will be this easy and pleasant.
Often we take off for Christmas, Like take a road trip to the Carolinas, and rent a luxury cabin for two, and just hide out in seclusion and celebrate christmas quietly, this happens every other year. We don't have children and it really combats the stress that the holiday's can bring to adults. Ant offered to take a trip as a birthday/Christmas gift, I rather travel than get gifts any day. It seemed to be out of our budget to go to the Mexico during the week of Christmas, so we opted to go the week before and then just have a lo key christmas when we returned. It was my first time being in the tropics in the winter, I think i just got addicted, It's fricking December, 30 degrees where i live, and I'm applying sunblock! it's a total mind fuck.
Cancun Mexico /Excellence Riviera Maya Resort
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I was also fortunate enough to make it into a number of book projects and a few photo publications and online zines this year.
I haven't made any New Year resolutions, Usually i pick something small and realistic, Like drink more fluids and pee more.
I think i may join a gym with the rest of the world, I have not worked out this year, but i wasn't really sitting on my ass a whole lot either. I just feel rusty and soft like old fruit.
As far as my hair issues go, I have day to day battles, so far i havn't needed to start fresh again.
I anticipate this year to blossom with freelance photo jobs, travel, and prob a few more shoots before i hit the big 40.
Thanks to everyone who made it great, I appreciate your friendship and creativity.
