Service 69 ad

Here is one of the group photos I did in Mexico City for my friend Rodrigo's agency Service 69 which has been used in a magazine advertisement.

u4men.com

Here's the kind of email I love to receive:

Just wanted to let you know that I think your stuff is great! I would love for you to consider being featured in our magazine and magsite. We reach about 9800 guys a week and it's really growing. Take a look and let me know what you think.... If you have any project ideas, would love to hear them as well . Looking forward to hearing back from you.

Best to you Mate!

I checked out their site and it is intelligent, professional, well designed and a wonderful opportunity for gay artists to showcase their work. Of course, I responded that I'd love to work with them so I'll post any further news when I hear back. In the meantime, check out their website u4men.com for yourself.

jackson photografix on tour

I am thrilled to announce that jackson photografix will have 3 photos touring the United States and Europe as part of the ARTundressed Exhibition Tour this year.

The show begins in Miami with the launch of "World's Greatest Erotic Art of Today" book which includes my photo "Tango d'Angelo" as one of only 200 images selected to be published.


I am also delighted that I have had two other pieces; "Busted" and "Wings of Desire" selected for the exhibition tour:
Miami May 2 - 25
Los Angeles June 6 - 8
New York July 3 - 27
Amsterdam Aug. 14 - Sept. 7
Berlin Sept. 12 - Oct. 5
London Oct. 16 - Nov. 24

I'll post more specific information (like the names of the galleries and their locations) as it becomes available.

Photo Shoot with Andre - Edmonton, 2008

As I very seldom find models in Edmonton that are willing to pose nude, it is hugely refreshing when I find a willing (and actually enthusiastic) individual like Andre who completely understands the nature of art and the creative process. For his first shoot, Andre was exceptionally comfortable and subsequently a wonderful subject. I can guarantee that I will be working with Andre again.

Fotos con Erick en D.F.

Fotos con Ismael en D.F.

The Men of Service 69 - Mexico City D.F.

Here is a group shot of the five men I photographed today. If you'd like to see more of them go to the Service 69 website.

Fotos con Pedro en DF

I was thrilled to be able to work with Pedro, who I initially approached online and later met to discuss the prospects of doing a shoot. Pedro is a professional model in Mexico City and has an impressive portfolio by some very gifted photographers. Although Pedro hadn't really done a nude/erotic photo shoot prior to this, he was very enthusiastic and his years of experience became very evident as he instinctively understood what I was looking for in each shot and worked hard to help me get it. The joys of working with a professional. I will definitely keep in contact with this very sweet, talented man and will hopefully work with him again the next time I'm in Mexico.

Fotos con Jorge en DF 2008

La Luna

I certainly don't have the equipment or the camera to be doing top-notch night photography, especially astronomy, but still I was very pleased with a couple of the shots I managed to get during the 2 hours of the lunar eclipse here in Mexico City.

I think the experience was all the more enriched having climbed numerous pyramids in this country where several thousand years ago the Mayans once looked to the same skies and charted all their intricate (and accurate) astronomical projections. It leaves one with a true sense of wonder and awe.

Fotos con Patricio en DF

Fotos con Alex en Mexico (DF)

Fotos con Carlos en Playa Destiladeras

Here is the follow-up shoot to the disasterous one yesterday.

Primero fotos con Carlos en Puerto Vallarta

I met Carlos (Charly) several years ago through my dj friend, Giaco. I would have loved to photographed Charly then, however I had met him on the day I was leaving Puerto Vallarta. We re-established contact this year and arranged to meet on the playa Los Muertos and do a preliminary shoot, with plans to do another shoot the next day at a much more secluded beach in Nayarit where we could actually shoot nudes. Unfortunately our shoot was cut short.

In doing this shoot, I learned a valuable lesson.
The recipe for disaster:
carrying a camera
not paying attention to where you're walking
cobblestone roads
and flip flops
DO NOT mix!

This was the result.

Truth to tell, my pride was far more hurt than the scuff I received to my head and knee, especially having to walk back across the beach and then asking to use the bathroom at Blue Chairs Hotel looking like such a klutz.

Fotos con Salvador en Puerto Vallarta

There are days when as an artist you are proud of your ability to create or are happy with your own technique and skills -- today was one of those! Salvador was the perfect model. Puerto Vallarta was the perfect location. And I was on top of my game. How could the images be anything but breathtaking.

Photo shoot with George in Puerto Vallarta

I had the distinct pleasure of meeting and hanging out with George at several of the Beefdip events in Puerto Vallarta this year -- he was here assisting the promoter in organizing the week-long series of parties. Hailing from Toronto, where he is a bartender at Woody's, George is one of the funniest guys I've met in a long, long time. And in addition to be drawn to his effervescent personality, I am not the first professional photographer that was attracted to George's handsome good looks and sexy physique. He was photographed several years back when he was living in Australia by the well known photographer Paul Freeman and it was a shot of George that was used as the cover of the first book, Bondi Classic.

Fotos con Hector en Puerto Vallarta

I was thrilled that this very sweet and sexy man from Monterrey, Mexico, agreed to pose for me. Although he was incredibly nervous to do this, his first shoot, he came through with beautifully strong images -- in addition to having a truly handsome face when he turned on that beaming smile of his the room literally lit up. In reviewing my favourite shots, I find Hector had an intriguing mix of sensuality and vulnerability and when combined with that muscular body of his made for a wonderful juxtaposition.

Photos with Peter - Puerto Vallarta 2008

Julia Richards ...................................... North American Hairstylist Association Competition

I have been working with Julia Richards, who was a student at Marvel College and is now at Aveda, who has been putting together her entry for the 19th Student competition of the North American Hairstylists Association

Julia decided on a concept of "The Dead Queens" -- she did all the styling, cuts and colors, a makeup artist did their faces, and I then photographed the three models at my studio. The final stage was a graphic artist did retouching and effects on the images with photoshop for an end result that you see here. I absolutely love the final product and think Julia has a good chance of making it as a finalist, if not the winner, of this year's competition. She's a very talented stylist and I'm hopeful we will work on more projects together in the future.

Marie Antoinette Cleopatra
Elizabeth I

David Camisa

I was happy to help out my friend and former Starbucks co-worker, David Camisa this afternoon. I did copy shots of several pieces of his artwork so that he can explore doing some limited edition prints. David is a naturally talented visual artist who is trying to find a way of making his passion for painting his way of making a living. I remember going through the same process with my photography; wondering how I could take my hobby and develop it into a career. I wish David every success and truly hopes he is as blessed as I have been. To that end, check out David's webpage at www.davidcamisa.com

In addition to doing work with David, I also had the distinct pleasure of hanging out and going for brunch with him and his sweet boyfriend, Christopher. They are so much fun and an absolute delight to be around -- it's a guarantee with David and Chris there will be laughter.

Photo Shoot with Val Brandt

I had the lovely undertaking of photographing my old pal, writer Val Brandt (formerly Val Jenkins) for her to use in the upcoming programme for an opera that she wrote the libretto for. Val joked that she was also going to use some of the shots on Lavalife -- needless to say Val looked damn good, judge for yourself. For a person who said she would rather have a root canal than do a photo shoot, I actually think I won Val over today despite a mix up with the makeup artist which meant Val had to do some extra driving to visit Mac cosmetics.

Here was Val's reply several days later:

Well, I finally settled on one of the 'from above' shots that I told you to stop taking! You were right, you ol' professional you! It's a little more dramatic than the others -- I think it looks like it belongs in an opera program.

THANKS FOR MAKIN' ME LOOK GOOD POOPSIE!

Looks like 2008 is starting off to be a good year ...

So I signed on to the Erotic Signature last night to see when artists who had submitted work would be notified. When I opened the page, the headline read that the winners had been announced. I was hugely disappointed because I didn't receive an email that I had be selected. So I starting scrolling through the list of artists that had been chosen and to my surprise I was listed there and one of my photos -- Tango d'Angelo, NYC 2003 -- will be published in the second volume of "The World's Greatest Erotic Art". I am ecstatic, and also very encouraged because the competition was international and only 200 images were selected from all the entries. I hope this heralds a really successful year for me professionally.

And a few days later the following arrived in my inbox:

CONGRATULATIONS!
2008 ES Art Competition Winner

Dear Artist,

EROTIC SIGNATURE is proud to announce that you have been selected as a winner of "The World's Greatest Erotic Art of Today" 2007-08 Competition. Your winning artwork has guaranteed you a place in the Erotic Signature book titled “The World’s Greatest Erotic Art of Today, Volume 2”, which is expected to be released on May 3rd, 2008 during the 'ARTundressed' Erotic Art Festival Weekend in Miami, Florida, USA. All of the winners have been posted on the Erotic Signature website. We will include all of the winning artist's websites adjacent to their names in the next couple of days.

Thank you very much for your participation and support of the 2007-08 ES Art Competition, and we wish you and your talents much success in the future.

Best Wishes,
The Erotic Signature Staff.

My Erotic Signature

I submitted two of my works; kissed by an angel and Tango d'Angelo in the Erotic Signature's 2007 contest. The top 200 images will be published in a prestigious coffee table book entitled "The World's Greatest Erotic Art of Today - Volume 2". There are also cash prizes that will be awarded on December 29th but I'd be happy just being chosen for the book.

Since both my images have been selected by jury in other competitions, I'm hoping they will do equally as well this time. Here's the link to my page on the Erotic Signature's website:
jackson photografix

as your last breath begins contently take it in

Did a photoshoot with my friend, Steven, who recently got this impressive tattoo down his spine. The characters translated are "As Your Last Breath Begins Contently Take It In" which I thought was as beautiful as the ink itself.

Photo Shoot with Britton #2

This one green-eyed, one blue-eyed beauty is equally comfortable in front of a crowd or in front of the lens and in return, the camera loves him. This was our second session -- this time in the shower -- and like his first shoot, realized countless stunning images such as these. Britton, who confessed he was a child model for Sears and The Bay, has an intuitive sense of what a photographer wants and delivers it repeatedly. I hope to do many more shoots with this very handsome and personable young man.

The Exposure Festival Exhibit . . . . November 23 & 24, 2007

The following slide show consists of the 15 pieces I showed at the TransAlta Arts Barn as part of the inaugural Exposure Festival. The reaction to my work was overwhelmingly positive and I was very touched by my friends who made it out to see my photography and show their support. I'd also like to thank Keith Andony who first brought the festival to my attention, and Heather Zwicker, who chaired the organizing committee of the festival and made it possible for me to be included. Also a big thanx to Anthony Easton for curating and hanging my show.

All photos are available for sale.
Framed or unframed, open edition, signed.
If you are interested in purchasing a print,
please contact me:
jackson@jacksonphotografix.com

The Starbucks 2007 Show

This is a collection of images that I will be showing and selling at Starbucks cafe on Jasper Avenue and 109 Street throughout November and December. For more information on other exhibitions, click here. If you are interested in purchasing a print, please feel free to contact me: jackson@jacksonphotografix.com

Exhibits in Edmonton

For all my friends in Edmonton, just wanted to invite you all to view and possibly purchase some of my work over the next few weeks.

I will be exhibiting several photos in the group show XXXposed Erotic Art XXXhibit at the Taboo Sex Show this weekend (November 16 -18) at the Agricom.

Then next weekend I will be doing a solo exhibit of my work as part of the Exposure Festival. You can view 15 of my male nudes in the lobby of the TransAlta Arts Barn (10330 84 Avenue) during the Loud & Queer Cabaret (Friday, November 23 and Saturday, November 24). Doors open at 7:30pm, admission is free for the exhibit.

And finally, starting next week (November 19 until mid-December) I will be showing a selection of my non-erotic work (read: no naked people) at Starbucks cafe (Jasper Avenue & 109 Street).

Quo - Mexico

Happy to report, that my model and good friend, Rodrigo was successful in getting payment from Quo Magazine in Mexico City, that ran the above photo without my permission.

The magazine came into having my photo from when Rodrigo gave them a CD of images I had shot of and for him and his company Service 69 to interest the publication in making doing an article on him. Several months later he picked up the magazine to see one of the photos printed in the magazine.

We approached the publisher to come up with some sort of payment or we would be forced to pursue legal channels - which obviously the magazine did not want.

After a fair bit of dragging their heels Quo Magazine finally paid both Rodrigo and myself for using the photo -- a happy ending.

I think next time I'm in Mexico City, I will make an appointment to go in and see the Art Director at the magazine to see if there is any possible opportunities to have more of my images published since I already know they must like my work. (insert sound effect of light chuckling here)

Are you left or right?

Loved this test, which indicates which side of your brain you think on.

Click on the image and then watch which direction the dancer turns; clockwise or counterclockwise.

If clockwise, then you use more of the right side of the brain and vice versa.

Most of us would see the dancer turning anti-clockwise though you can try to focus and change the direction; see if you can do it.

LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses logic
detail oriented
facts rule
words and language
present and past
math and science
can comprehend
knowing
acknowledges
order/pattern perception
knows object name
reality based
forms strategies
practical
safe

RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses feeling
"big picture" oriented
imagination rules
symbols and images
present and future
philosophy & religion
can "get it" (i.e. meaning)
believes
appreciates
spatial perception
knows object function
fantasy based
presents possibilities
impetuous
risk taking

When I first looked at the dancer I thought she was turning counterclockwise but then when I looked at the image again it was most definitely turning clockwise and no matter how hard I tried to get her to reverse direction, it just wouldn't happen. So I am decidely right brain functioning - which seems pretty in keeping with how I view myself.