Photo Shoot with Rodrigo - D.F. Mexico

Photo Shoot with Carlos, Mexico City

Woke up in a panic as my alarm didn't go off and it was 10am, the time I had arranged to meet Carlos at Los Bisquets. Thankfully he had a cell phone and I was able to reach him and tell him to wait. We had a quick breakfast (with my two cups of cafe con leche, of course) and headed to his apartment in Condesa. It proved to be a perfect location to do photos - decent light, nice furnishings and a very competent, discipled model. I was delighted with the images we got, especially the series with the glass vase, which I'm sure will make an exquisite exhibition print. Carlos had a beautiful physique combined with his willingness to try whatever I suggested, made for a delightful shoot. I hope to photograph him again upon my return to DF mid February.

After winding up the shoot, I headed off in the wrong direction on the Metro bus. Fortunately, you can get off and switch directions across the platform once you realize your error. Once I dropped my equipment off at the hotel, I headed over to where John is staying (Hotel Gillow) to see if he was in - he wasn't. But now I'm very curious to see one of the rooms (it has an amazingly visual lobby compared to Hotel Ambar) which may make for a nice change to shoot some models since in many ways I feel like I've exhausted what I can do at Hotel Ambar. I'll make the trek over again later in the day.

Worth noting that I got my first mosquito bite today, not sure where or when but sitting here at my laptop it's itching like mad.

Day 1 in Mexico

I arrived in Mexico City at midnight exhausted from what seemed like endless ridiculous travel. Why Air Canada now flies from Toronto to Mexico City instead of Vancouver, I'll never know. So upon waking up on my first day of travelling since June, I didn't have a clue what time it was. My alarm clock, my cell phone, and my computer all had different times. But then again, what did it matter. I had a very cold shower and headed to Zona Rosa for breakfast at one of my favorite restaurants, Los Bisquets where my favorite waitress Claudia works. As usual I wasn't disappointed, the Heuvos a la Veracruzana (eggs a la Veracruzana, if you click on the link it's the plate with the 4 green chili) was exactly what I wanted, along with two cups of their amazing cafe con leche. I wondered around the area but found I wasn't really in the mood for shopping or sightseeing, in fact, I was still very tired.

Humorous anecdote: I wandered by Starbucks in the very upscale Plaza Angel only to find it had been closed due to some sort of violations, I presume health. Whatever it was, they closed it immediately as there was still pastries in the case. God knows for how long. The mall security guard wouldn't let me get a photo of the door plastered with closed notices so I had to go out on the street to get the shot.

In the afternoon I was visited by my favorite Mexican model, Rodrigo, who sporting a new blond hairdo, was as handsome as ever. We made plans to do a shoot on Sunday, hopefully in his new apartment (which he assured me has wonderful light) providing his landlord will give him the keys.

In the evening I was supposed to meet a new friend and go to the 3rd Anniversary of Boy Bar but unceremoniously got stood up - a not so subtle reminder that people here are quickly becoming more like Americans and Canadians than I care for. Undaunted, I decided to go to one of my failsafe haunts El Taller, it was quieter than usual for a Friday night, but it was raining quite hard which may have affected it. As always, I was quite obviously the stranger, and received countless furtive glances. A few brave souls managed to muster up the courage to come over and talk to me (followed by very overt propositions) but I was content to have a couple Sol and make my way back to Hotel Ambar. Plus, I had to be up early, if I can figure out what time it really is, for a photo shoot with Carlos.

Seattle Erotic Arts Festival 2007

Thrilled that I have been selected for the third consecutive year to exhibit two of my photographs in this year's Seattle Erotic Arts Festival.

We are delighted to inform you that you have been selected to show art in the 2007 Seattle Erotic Art Festival (SEAF). Your work was selected from 932 submissions we received from 397 artists in 33 states and 18 countries. Congratulations.

The 2007 jury consisted of:
Barbara Shaiman, Director, Seattle Art Museum Gallery
Jim McDonald, Jim McDonald Fine Arts Services
Patricia Ridenour, Faculty, Photographic Center Northwest

Here are the two pieces that were selected: