I See Dead People

Tonight I saw 26 dead people. I thought I would be totally disturbed but to my surprise it was oddly fascinating and I learned a lot about myself.

Photo Shoot with Reavis

A Memorable Memorial Day

Had a jam-packed day, photographing my pal Ryan from Toronto then hustling him down to Port Authority to catch a bus to Newark airport, followed by meeting with my client Steve Salehman to deliver his prints from the very provocative shoot I did of him in 2003, and then I spent the rest of the day reconnecting with my very dear old friend, Shelly - oh yeah, almost forgot I also ran down to Chelsea to do photos for NEXT of the 2nd Annual Tattoo Contest at WOOF, how apropos considering how many tattoos I've been shooting in my studio this past week. I met the very handsome and sexy Australian,Ian Jopson, who I one day hope to get up to my studio to do a shoot, as you can see for yourself he has great ink.



Photos of Steve Salehman, 2003

Only in NYC

So I'm dragging my sorry ass home at 4:30 in the morning in Harlem, an area that most people would be terrified to walk through even in the daylight hours, and I pass by some tiny little woman, who is drawing deeply on a cigarette she's just mooched off another passerby and she says, "If somebody is messin' with you, I'll fuck them up, so c'mon put a smile on yer face. Say cheese!" At which point, I couldn't do anything but turn back and smile. She hollars at me "That's better." Then I cross the street and two black men are on the sidewalk talking to one another, and one stops his conversation as I pass by and says "How's it going brother." And finally, as I turn the corner up to my street, a crack head, who can barely walk, staggers past me and greets me with "Good morning" to which I reply the same. Hardly what you'd expect from the more dangerous elements of society, but that's the New York City I know and have come to love.

Photo Shoot with singer Michael Todd

"Flight of the Phoenix"

Had the distinct pleasure of meeting singer/composer/makeup artist/renaissance man Michael Todd today and documenting some of his bright and colorful tattoos as part of my on-going project. Not only is he an extraordinary artist but he's an incredibly personable individual too, if felt like I had known him for years. In fact, we are almost certain that we crossed paths back in the day when I was a club promoter and he was one of NY's legendary club kids. Hell we even have some friends in common, like a certain gorgeous lesbian bus driver.

Check out his website and listen to some of his music, I'm sure you'll be as impressed as I was. He gave me a complimentary CD (insert big smile here), I'll let you borrow it if you're real nice. On second thought, buy your own copy -- he deserves the support!


It was definitely a photo shoot about the birds and the bees
and the flowers and the trees ...

Photo Shoot with Derek Agile Jones

After a frenetic morning of running all over Manhattan -- dealing with the landlord to pay rent, get an extra key cut (costs $25 and takes 5 days), and to get the leaky bathtub faucet fixed, dropping my photos from the Harmonica Sunbeam Benefit off at NEXT magazine, and finally to buy bulbs for my new lighting fixture -- I did a wonderful shoot with Derek, a talented and delightful man with incredible definition and the remarkable ability/discipline to hold very difficult yoga positions.

Photo Shoot with Freddy (Modern Roman series)

Had the opportunity tonight to shoot my pal and fellow artist (an amazingly talented illustrator), Freddy. What started out as a possible leather shoot rapidly evolved into a whole other thing when Freddy told me he had a leather gladiator kilt. After pulling out a few pieces I had in my wardrobe/costume storage, a new series was born; Modern Romans. As Freddy said, "Now you can build yourself your own army."
In exchange for getting Freiddy to pose for me I agreed I would do a sitting for him. After seeing his book, with incredibly vibrant erotic images, I am totally excited at the prospect.

I want me a Freddy Pena original!

Photo Shoot with Giancarlo

I had the pleasure of doing a photoshoot with a very sweet man, Giancarlo. Although he's originally from Panama, he lived a number of years in Mexico City, which is where I first saw photos of him. He moved to NYC a couple years back which made doing a shoot with him possible. When he arrived at the door I was transfixed with the beautiful color of his eyes and the clarity of his face - of course it was these features that predominated the images I captured.

Photo Shoot with Chris

I'm proud to call this beautiful man one of my friends. I met Chris a couple of years a go and from the first moment that I saw the cross on his back I wanted to photograph it. After much convincing, and the addition of an equally impressive serpent and the forbidden fruit tattoo on his arm, he finally consented. We didn't have much time as Chris was packing to leave for Puerto Rico the next day, but I think he was pleased enough with the end result that we will do another shoot some day soon. Or at least I'm hoping.

Photo Shoot with Josh

New York with Curry

..................... The New York Erotic Art Fair .........................

I attended the Tom of Finland New York Erotic Art Fair today with my pal and very talented artist, Curry Mendes, who I met last year at the fair when he was exhibiting his provocative and stunning artwork (click the link on his name to see his illustrations). Although somewhat disappointed by the Fair -- both the attendance and the number of exhibitors (it looked like a very slow year)-- I enjoyed my time with Curry immensely. How can you not like a guy who likes Starbucks as much as I do! After checking out the show and chatting with several acquaintances, we headed over to B&H Photo so Curry could look into buying a lighting kit. He decided not to purchase one in lieu of going to the Dugout for the Sunday afternoon beer blast. After a couple of beers and a lot of beef, we strolled down Christopher Street to Rafaella's for dinner where talked art, models, men and retail therapy.

The Three Bears; Papa bear, Mama bear and Curry.

Today I visited Calgary, Montreal and New York City

Left Edmonton this morning and flew to Calgary then Montreal and finally NYC. I arrived to all the commotion and chaos you'd expect from NYC on a Saturday night. I didn't go out anywhere I just stayed around the apartment and caught up with my roommate and dear friend, Eva.


No, it's not snow. It's the clouds over Calgary


Artwork by Eric Wesselow in Trudeau airport, Montreal


NYC skyline as the plane landed on the runway at LaGuardia airport


My roommate Eva (aka Evil) - whee, whee, whee

Doesn't it make you crazy when ....

It makes me crazy when you ask someone "What time is it?"
and they reply with "right now?"
No dimwit what time is it about half an hour from now.
Geesh.

And those that want to be comedians make me crazy too.
Q: "Do you know what time it is?"
A: "Yes."
And thinking about it, maybe I'll up the comedy ante from now on with:
"So do I, it's time for you to find a new joke, that one's tired."
Smirk.

Nation of Assholes

If this song doesn't just sum it all up, I don't know what does!
In honour of my return to the US of A this weekend, I give you;
NATION OF ASSHOLES

Words to live by

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.”
Anais Nin

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember this anecdote.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. Once again, they agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar! The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things -- your family, your children, your health, your friends and your passions -- and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand represents everything else -- the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you. "Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Take someone you love out to dinner. Play with the children. Make time for a medical check-up. Sit down and listen to your favourite song. Stop and smell the roses. There will always be time to clean the house or take out the garbage. Take care of the things that really matter. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee."

It's Official

Well it's a done deal now; Dustin and I signed the lease on our new one-bedroom apartment at the El Mirador this afternoon. We take possession on Thursday, June 1st, so to all my dear friends out there in the big ol' world, you have a place to stay whenever you visit the booming metropolis of Edmonton. Ha ha ha.

Home Again - Home Again

photo of Manhattan skyline by jacksonphotografix.com 2002 

Booked my flight today back to NYC today. Will arrive there Saturday, May 20 at 9pm. Now I'll start emailing roommates, friends and clients to let everyone know. Unfortunately, I will only be there until Thursday, June 1st as I need to be back in Edmonton as Dustin and I are making it official and moving in together that day. We have leased an apartment in the El Mirador (I know how ironic a spanish named building - meaning "The Window" which refers to the view) where I used to live many, many sleeps ago in two different apartments over the years. In addition, I have been booked to shoot a private event on Saturday, June 3rd which is encouraging as it suggests work will finally start to materialize here in Edmonton. If anyone is looking at having photos done while I'm in NYC, please contact me as soon as possible as my time will be extremely limited.

How do you say S C A M

Althought I have received countless versions of this same type of internet fraud, this one gets points for creativity -- exotic destinations, murder, intrique and of course, a honorable, vulnerable tragic hero. And this made-for-TV-movie, can be yours by merely sending all your bank information to the link provided so that the sender can empty out your account and move on to his next online victim. Sounds reasonable enough, right?

Anywho, I post this for your reading enjoyment (come on, Oliver even called me "Dearest One" - gosh) and because I can't possibly believe there is anyone stooopid enough left out there in internetland that would fall for something this ridiculous.

THOUGHT: maybe everyone should send an email to Mr. Buntu with all kinds of requests for donations for charities and personal home projects -- hell he's a millionaire, why not?

DEAREST ONE

I AM OLIVER BUNTU, THE ONLY SON OF LATE MR AND MRS.SAMUEL BUNTU. MY FATHER WAS A VERY WEALTHY COCOA MERCHANT BASED IN ABIDJAN, THE ECONOMIC CAPITAL OF IVORY COAST BEFORE HE WAS POISONED TO DEATH BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES ON ONE OF THEIR OUTING TO DISCUSS ON A BUSINESS. WHEN MY MOTHER DIED ON THE 21ST OCTOBER 1986, MY FATHER TOOK ME SO SPECIAL BECAUSE I WAS MOTHERLESS

BEFORE THE DEATH OF MY FATHER ON 29TH JUNE 2003 IN A PRIVATE HOSPITAL HERE IN ABIDJAN. HE SECRETLY CALLED ME ON HIS BEDSIDE AND TOLD ME THAT HE HAS A SUM OF US$5,500,000 (FIVE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND, UNITED STATES DOLLARS) LEFT IN A SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN ABIDJAN, HE ALSO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THIS WEALTH THAT HE WAS POISONED BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES. THAT I SHOULD SEEK FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER IN A COUNTRY OF MY CHOICE WHERE I WILL TRANSFER THIS MONEY,AFTER THE BOX IS RELEASE FROM SECURITY COMPANY AND USE IT FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE FOR MY FUTURE SIR, I AM HONOURABLY SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS. 1)TO SERVE AS THE FOREING PARTNER OF MY FATHER SINCE I AM A BOY OF 20 YEARS AND INEXPRENCE FOR INVESTMENT 2)TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT OF MY TRAVEL DOCUMENTS FOR ME TO COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY AFTER THE CONSINGMENT HAVE BEEN CLEARED FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY SIR, I AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU 15% OF THE TOTAL SUM AS COMPENSATION FOR YOUR EFFORT/INPUT AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL PROCESS ANTICAIPTING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON. PLEASE EMAIL ME WITH THIS (oliver_buntu202@yahoo.fr) TO SHOW YOUR KIND INTEREST TO HELP ME

THANKS AND GOD BLESS
OLIVER BUNTU