El Beso

El Beso

The longing
in your gaze
the intensity
of your lips
whisper of tendernesses
kept secret
from the darkness.
Does that smile
speak
to the blessing or the curse
of dreaming
with your eyes open?

Sunday, March 27 - Easter

Eva, extended a very nice invitation for me to join her and her extended family for Easter dinner at her Aunt Diana's in New Jersey. They lived just one stop past Asbury Park, a great location to do some shoots, especially on the boardwalk along the ocean which was one a very posh resort and is not totally in ruins. Dinner was great, it's so nice to have a home cooked meal on the holidays. (And we even got leftovers to take home -- now that's a score!)

Mike Parks, Fire Island, NY jacksonphotografix.com © 2004 

Mike Parks, Fire Island, NY jacksonphotografix.com © 2004 

Mike Parks, Fire Island, NY jacksonphotografix.com © 2004 

Saturday, March 26

One of my favourite models, Mike Parks, (if you want to see or know more of Mike, click here) was in town and I met him and his friend, Chris at the Wolcott Hotel (great lobby, *** must remember for possible location) then we travelled down to Chelsea for dinner at The Dish. It was great seeing Mike again, not only is he as handsome as ever, but he is one of the nicest, sweetest guys I've ever met, and someone I am thrilled to now have as a friend. I'm posting a couple photos from our shoot last summer on Fire Island.

Friday, March 25 - A Good Friday and Photo Shoot with Manuel

Went with my roommate, Eva, and her friend and fellow photographer, Corky, to the current exhibit at Art@Large. I expected the show to be much larger, however there were a couple of interesting photos, one that had a very Diane Arbus feel and the other by LA photographer Rick Castro. I took time to introduce myself to the curator and owner, Pet Silvia, who was either very engrossed in something on his computer or very disinterested in meeting artists. Whatever the case, I walked away from the show and the gallery with a bad feeling.

In the afternoon I photographed Manuel who covers the gamut of ethnic backgrounds (German, Spanish, Filipino and Japanese). He's modelled professionally in the past and it shows in his focus/concentration in the studio as well as the final product.

That evening I went out to Queens to help celebrate my pal and former model, Dominic San Juan's birthday. He told me to call him from the subway platform, needless to say in typical New York Murphy's law, he didn't answer. So believing in my intuition, I just struck out on my own with only an address to guide. Without taking one wrong turn, I ended up right at his apartment door, which is even more amazing as he didn't give me an apt. number. LOL. I'm sure glad I found it though, the food was amazing and the men there were even tastier. One in particular, CJ, I definitely want to model for me.

All in all, it was a very good Friday.

Manuel #235, Harlem studio, NYC jacksonphotografix.com © 2005 

Manuel - tattoo, Harlem, NYC jacksonphotografix.com © 2005 

Manuel, Harlem NYC, 2005 

Thursday, March 24 - Photo Shoot with Nate

Saw Nate's photos online initially and thought he had some of the most unique tattoos that I had seen, perhaps ever. He truly is a walking canvas. Which I came to realize is even more rare considering that he is only in his early 20s. His ink (which there is a fair amount of) reflects a sense of humor, pop icons, and emotional depth. I enjoyed working with him immensely and even upon finishing the shoot with him, I felt I hadn't completely captured all the multi-facets of his personality or the images he has chosen to adorn himself with. I'm pretty sure another shoot will be in order.

Nate (double exposure) Harlem, 2005 

Nate, Harlem 2005 

Nate, Harlem 2005 

Nate, Harlem 2005 

Elephant Walk 

Elephants are fast! 

Day of the Elephants

Ranking way up there in the "only in NYC" list of cool things to do, I spent the day with elephants -- both figuratively and literally.

Earlier in the day, I attended the Ashes & Snow exhibit at Pier 54. Housed in a mobile museum, constructed entirely out of freight containers (you know the type you see rolling down the railway) is the work of Canadian photographer, Gregory Colbert. Created over 13 years and 33 expeditions, his 10ftX4ft photos are immaculate. At times it's hard to believe they are real. The images are cinematic and epic and yet personal and profound. Virtually all the 200 prints contained some interaction of humans with animals in their own environment. Some of the strongest images had to be the shots with elephants, especially those with the elephants swimming. Other shots that are permanently burnt into my brain are the birds of prey at Cairo (I think) in Egypt and the free dive photos with the sperm whales. All I can say is look at the site. His work is exquisite. Colbert made me proud to be a Canadian and jealous as hell at all the same time. Not only because of his sheer expertise and craftmanship with the photos but because of the incredible locations he's been able to shoot at as well.

Later that night, I got to see elephants up close and personal. Every year Ringling Bros. Circus brings their elephants in through Manhattan from the Midtown Tunnel, down 34 Street to Madison Square Gardens, where they will perform for the next 2 weeks. It's an annual event and takes place around midnight so as to disturb the least amount of traffic. The ritualy was based in practicality as at one time it was the only way they could get the animals into the Gardens -- now I think they do it as tradition and an easy publicity event/photo op. Regardless, the end result is that you can in effect run with the elephants over the course of their 7 or 8 block route. There were thousands of people out along 34 Street but seeing as it is NYC, this is a small turnout. However, I can't see that this will go on forever -- either because of Animal Rights Activists, some type of accident with a bystander who gets too close (and there were lots of us who pushed the limits to get as close as we could, even with the handlers and police asking everyone to return to the sidewalk) or the growing number of spectators making it impossible to control. I feel kind of lucky to have been able to be a part of it. Here's what I learned: 1) for great big lumbering animals, those damn elephants are fast (here's some useless trivia in just 12 minutes they had travelled from Park Avenue to their final destination at the Gardens -- that makes them faster than most NY taxis); 2) the closer you get to them, the less you can ignore their particular and fragrant odor; 3) and that I'm probably wise to stick to my fine art photography because this action stuff of shooting and running at the same time didn't get me a lot of really memorable (or even usable, for that matter) images. Oh well, there's always next year.

Thoughts on a holiday...

Contrary to popular belief, I don't think anyone really gets holidays. The work that you would have done during the time period you are away is just rearranged. You end up doing all your work either before you go and/or after you get back. So a holiday is just a redistribution of your work, NOT actual time off.

Smile 

Mark 

Mark y Mark 

Mark y Mark 

Mark y Mark 

Mark y Mark 

Mark y Mark 

Saturday, March 19 Mark y Mark photo shoot

So I did a photo shoot with two models using the reflective effect I've been experimenting with. I purposely found two guys that had substantially similar looks, so that the mirroring effect was already inherent. Mark and Mark (I know what were the chances of that) worked really well together and gave me some steamy shots.

T-Boy is psycho 

T-Boy is very glamourous 

Thursday, March 17 - St. Patrick's Day with T-Boy

Busy day, did two photo shoots today: one with the shockingly innovative drag/artist/performer T-Boy, which was great fun as he's the perfect candidate to explore and experiment with; and the other with Mark, a hot latin man that serves incredible face. Needless to say, I got some beautiful shots from both shoots.

A few weeks ago I went to a Leigh Bowery exhibit at a gallery in Chelsea. It was a show of beautiful, striking portraits and almost life-size fashionesque (a la freak show) color photographs. I loved the creativity of the now deceased artist and it made me think of T-Boy, who is also a very artistic, provocative performer with a completely unique look.

Mark stopped by in the early evening to do a test shoot, that went very well. He's going to pose for me again this Saturday with another model, Mark so I can try two subjects with the reflection effect I've been developing (see the shot of Jerry posted earlier). They both have physical similarities, especially in the face, so the images should prove to be very hot. And I like the idea of them almost mirroring one another before we even begin with their reflections.

Just a thought

I can see how fish might believe in heaven, because when they die they float upwards, but people ... c'mon please. When's the last time you saw some dead guy ascending into the clouds?

However, on a positive note: just think we're already living in heaven. And I hope you never find yourself sleepin' with the fishes!

My Dream - Go figure?

I woke up Sunday morning from a dream where I had been checking out art at some sort of exhibit but it was actually more like a Church Bazaar. I can't remember who I was with but it was a friend. Anyhow, he and I left the room where the art was, walked out the door and we were in the Church proper. We went and sat down in the pews, and a mass was going on. All of a sudden while we were talking -- oblivious to the fact that there was a service in progress, I felt a searing/stabbing pain right dead centre in the top of my skull. I felt and nothing seemed to be wrong. Scene change: Later on, like several hours later, while I was talking to this or another friend, I felt my head again and this time there was a small amount of blood, and then in trying to find the source, I found a tiny, little, round, plastic ball in my hair (which is very odd, because I've been shaving my head for the last 10 years -- it's a dream, right?). I started to pull on it and realized it was the head of a very long straight pin and that had been what caused the pain earlier. As I tried to remove it, I began to bleed quite profusely (this part of the dream was very reminiscent of a trepanation documentary I once saw in a subway station, at a booze can/bar called Siberia), and it was decided that it was probably in my best interest that I go to the hospital. Scene change: After looking at an x-ray it would appear that the pin had penetrated my brain by it's sheer length (aproximately 2 or 3 inches) and yet nothing was wrong. How had it punctureded the bone? And foremost, how did it get there in the first place? The medical staff were all in amazement. I was thinking to myself, no one's gonna believe this.

I have no idea what this dream means - someone said it was god punishing me for stepping foot in a church. I jokingly responded; that it just goes to show I must have prick on the brain. Anyone else care to venture a guess?

America -- The Not So Beautiful

I received this email today, which just further reinforces my comments yesterday about the US becoming a horrible, puritanical, intolerant country. My condolences to the artist, Albert Crudo, whom I've never met but enjoy his work immensely.

CRUDO'S ART VANDALIZED ON THE UPPER WEST SIDE
Police seek information pertaining to the slashing of two controversial $10,000 paintings

New York, NY- March 10, 2005- This past weekend New York artist Albert Crudo had two ofhis paintings vandalized at an Upper West Side cafe, La Fenice 2012 Broadway, NYC 10023. The painting, entitled "The Nature of the Beast: Parts I, II, III" (To view the pieces visit the "Forces of Nature" gallery) has been causing quite a stir among patrons since it's installation in early December. The artwork is a monochromatic red triptych depicting three dog-men doing what dog-men do best- begging, sniffing and urinating on fire hydrants. Apparently, these common occurrences that New Yorkers see, and ignore, every day are acceptable to view on the streets of the city but not so while sipping a latte.

"It's a sorry state of affairs when people take it upon themselves to judge what should and shouldn't be shown, in a private space no less, and then to damage the work when they could easily just walk away. Utterly childish!" expresses Crudo "They're no better then the common juvenile delinquent that graffiti a subway train or keys a car."

Crudo is best known for his outrageous portraits of celebrities from his "Pop Icons" series. One of his latest, The Fondald: "My tower is bigger than your tower!" which has a buff and beautiful (and nude) Donald Trump making unapologetic eye-contact with the viewer as he holds a well-positioned rendering of his CPW hotel, caused a very vocal outcry from the public when it was unveiled in Brooklyn late last year.

The local community board was up-in-arms trying to get it taken down, but even with the intensity of that incident, it did not end in with the work being harmed in any way. The current exhibition at La Fenice has now been up for several months and according to the owner Marco Mastrangelo, a few customers have been shocked by the work, but he never received any indication that anyone was so offended as to harm the work in any way. And he stands by his decision to keep the work hanging- "This is a private establishment. I LOVE Crudo's work. And if you don't approve there are many other places for you to go."

The 20th precinct is currently investigating the crime with Detective Jose Rodriguez in charge of the case. Mr. Crudo and Mr. Mastrangelo are jointly offering a $1000 reward for any tip leading to the arrest and conviction of the vandal.

Crudo has received condolences from many artists including world famous artist Chuck Close who was horrified to hear of the slashing.

"If you find this piece offensive, there is something terribly wrong with you" assures Crudo. "This piece is created with such irony, such a obvious a sense of humor, that unless you are the most uptight, closeted individual, guarding deep-rooted secrets of the most depraved nature, you could never be offended by this work. The thing that bothers me most is it was done so sneakily, so underhanded, while nobody was looking - what a yellow-rat bastard way of doing it. I mean, if you're going to slash a painting- be proud, stand up, slash the painting while screaming maniacally- Get arrested and make your statement - if you feel that strongly about it. Don't be such a pussy!"

PLEASE CONTACT DETECTIVE JOSE RODRIGUEZ WITH ANY INFORMATION

20th PRECINCT, 120 W 82nd Street, NYC 10024

Tel: 212.580.6414 Fax:212.579.1741

Erwin #137, NYC 2005 © jacksonphotografix 

New to blogger.com

Was previously running my blog on MSN, but they pissed me off today, so I think I'll move here. Here's the reason why:

Received an email from MSN that some of the Erwin photos were in violation of the "code of conduct" -- it scares me how puritanical America is getting. There was absolutely nothing (as in the naughty bits, can't say the actual words because that's in violation of the code of conduct too) that you could see in those shots. I guess just knowing that he was naked, is enough to shock some people. The US has to be the most hypocritical nation in the world, it is by far the most violent nation in the world (see: War in Iraq) with hourly TV shows showing people being shot, stabbed, killed in a variety of manners but when it comes to nudity or sex, people are jumping up and down trying to beat each other to be the first to complain. What is the problem people? If you don't like my photos, DON'T LOOK AT THEM. Go to another blog! The shots are meant to be viewed as "art", that's what I do. I create fine art photography. You realize that if Michaelangelo or Rodin were alive today they couldn't show some of their work on these very blogs because it would be a violation of the "code of conduct"! That's right, works of art that are regarded around the world as masterpieces such as the statues of "The Thinker" or "David", and the fresco "Creation" (which is in a church, I may add) contain nudity. Yikes, huh? Anyway enough of this rant, I removed the 3 offending photos.

Hopefully I won't have the same problems here. I'd be interested to hear from anyone that has had problems with the images they've posted. I'm not talking XXX rated, I'm talking fine art nudes.

Anyway, continuing on -- shot my pal, Jerry (who was a great model) yesterday afternoon and tried a new effect. The photo here is the result. This was entirely created in the camera, not photoshop. I did adapt the color from black and white to what you see. I love the effect, I'll be trying more of this again, maybe with two people.

Jerry, Harlem, NY 2005 © jacksonphotografix