This blog is 89% good (and only 11% evil)

Once again, thanx to my deeply obtuse friend, Kathy Mene, I'm am now able to rest assured that my blog is suitable for the whole family (and Christians too) because it is scientifically proven to be 89% good. See for yourself.



However ... on a happier note for my photography website, jacksonphotografix.com


(which tells me I must be doing something right with my artwork)

Nicholas & Nathan's Wedding - Edmonton

Although I don't really like shooting weddings, I pretty much always say yes to friends! Here's what I thought was the definitive photo for the day -- taken in the parking garage on the way back to their hotel room after doing the traditional wedding photos at the Legislature grounds.

Photo Shoot with Cameron

After first discovering Cameron's photo from a cover of Outlooks Magazine, followed by a couple years of talking online, Cameron and I finally managed to be in the same city at the same time and thus were able to do a long-awaited photo shoot. We had talked about doing a shoot while Cameron was living in Calgary but I never was able to coordinate it. Now he lives in Vancouver, but fortunately was in Edmonton for work and had a couple of hours to spare. The shoot went phenomenally well - he has continued to sculpt his body in what can only be described as a physique photographer's dream. To make a long story short, Cameron was well worth the wait. I hope to do more with him again -- next time in Vancouver.

Photo Shoot with David

I met this handsome father of two through a mutual friend here in Edmonton a couple weeks back. Happily, after mentioning that I would like to use him as one my models, David agreed to do his very first shoot. He proved to be a natural and we got some very provocative images.

This shot happened quite by accident but I loved its simplicity and its testament to the beauty of the masculine form.

Kind words

It's always nice to receive feedback about your work. Here was a sweet email message that was sent to me this week:

"Your work is more than just incredible, Jackson. You have a wonderful eye for composition and the human form. Kudos to you, and thank you for your kindness in allowing me to see your portfolio."

Chip from Orlando, Florida

Gone ... but not forgotten

I have to confess that being remembered does bring me a certain amount of joy. For instance, this year even after having moved away from NYC for three years now, I was still mentioned in both Mark Nelson'sweekly gay entertainment and culture newsletter and also in the House of Aviance newsletter by the Mother of the House, Juan. Further south, my pal DJ Giaco who was spinning for the BearMex party in Mexico City as part of the gay pride celebrations, dedicated two of my favourite songs; Belo Horizonti and Magalenha, as part of his playlist on Saturday, June 28th (my actual birthday)!

Camp - Symon's Valley Ranch, Calgary 2008

After spending four days celebrating my birthday at the ARGRA Rodeo, I came home dirty, sunburnt, mosquito-bitten, hungover and very happy. Special thanx to Dougie & Vince for the birthday dinner and fruitcake, a sexy new friend named Luke, and the Heathers (Daryn & Ed) who kept me laughing the entire time. And although this photo isn't exactly everyone's version of "camp" it certainly was mine.



Camp 2008
Symon's Valley Ranch, Calgary
model: Daryn Grassick
special thanx to Shiwana Millionaire

Latitude 53 Rooftop Patio

As one of the members of the Steering Committee of this year's Exposure Festival, I attended the Latitude 53 Rooftop Patio tonight to host this week's installment of this fun and successful Thursday after-work series of parties. Although the weather threatened to rain at any moment, I want to thank those of my friends who attended, helped support Exposure 2008, and take in the art, refreshments, and music.

I shot the event so that we could post these photos to the Exposure Festival blog, which I encourage you to check out.

Vue Magazine

One of my new friends, Ted Kerr, has written an article for Vue Magazine on Edmonton's Pride 2008 and the news editor, Scott Harris, has selected one of my photos from Pride 2007 to accompany the editorial. This marks the first time (officially, last year one of my photos ran in the Pride insert) that my work will appear in this local weekly.

Cleis Press Book Covers

Once again, I am very pleased that Cleis Press, out of San Francisco, has selected another three of my photos to be used as book covers for upcoming titles; Bears, Best Gay Bondage Erotica, and Leathermen.

The Workers' Art Show 2008

Here are the four pieces I exhibited at The Workers' Art Show at The Artery. The show was produced by the May Week Labour Arts Festival from April 27 until today. Special thanx to Thomas Gale, the curator, who included me in this year group show as there are a finite number of opportunities to exhibit my photography here in Edmonton.

Photo shoot with Stray

Expect more from this model ... this shoot left us both wanting to do more photos together in the future.

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