Friday, March 30, 2012

Favorite Pic of the Day for March 30th


Above: At The Opera by Ian Horncastle
-See More Below-

Happy Birthday today March 30th to:


Mr France (2003), model and athlete Frederic Deltour turns 30 today.

Check out more of Frederic as well as fellow birthday boys Rupert Evans, Mark Consuelos, Ian Ziering & Warren Beatty HERE:

CSI Australia : Ian Horncastle



'I have had so much interest on that one image and it was just a simple basic shot.'
Ian Horncastle

Simple maybe, but the concept, composition, model holding his jacket, and walking towards his motorcycle in an incredibly strong and memorable image. This shot remained my desktop image for quite some time throughout this past winter and had me wanting to know more about the work of Sydney photographer Ian Horncastle.



Most great images tell a story, and Ian's model and motorcycle shot masterfully forces the viewer to question what occurred just before the image was captured. Wondering, even obsessing, on what circumstance led this guy to be walking back towards his bike, naked, seemingly calm is one of the reasons I love the image so much.



Unanswered questions are not new to Ian. It is always fascinating to discover the road artists travel before they make the decision to devote their lives to their passion for photography. For Ian, that road was filled with blood spatter, corpses and documenting what most of us spend out lives attempting to avoid. Ian began shooting not the incredible bodies of models along the Australian coasts and beaches, Ian began shooting working in forensics, photographing crime scenes for The New South Wales government.



I would imagine, shooting moments, mostly at night, and mostly moments most try to forget, one would have a greater appreciation for the beauty of life, the small details of one's surroundings that most of us have long forgotten to take time to see. It is no coincidence then that Ian Horncastle now spends his days, mostly outside, in the sun shooting bodies at the height of aliveness, lively, colorful and full of activity and energy.



Ian describes his work as Model Art, his mission to create images you have not seen before and ones that stand out from the rest. To accomplish this, the artist works with many Photo enhancers and designers around the world.



With his history working within law enforcement, as well as his own experience working through the suicide of a close friend, Ian also channels his work and his passion for beautiful images to support charities around the country that are close to heart. Ian's work has helped countless organization with a special focus on the fight to prevent suicide and depression. Through books, videos, calenders, post and greeting cards, Ian's images have helped raise awareness and money for the causes he believes in.



Check out more of Ian's work:
On ModelMayhem
Blueimage Photography
& his official site Photography Art






Below:
A couple of images and video from Ian's Men In Uniform, proceeds in support of WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY:

'Think of those who could not hold on to life'



Check out more of Ian's video's, including an Up Close and personal look at the photographer himself on his YOUTUBE Channel HERE:

One of Life's Great Mysteries: Michael Biehn



'It's one of life's great mysteries why Michael Biehn isn't a household name.'
Five Favorite Films with Michael Biehn, Rotton Tomatoes



My first post on actor Michael Biehn was back in 2007, the title was Favorite Actor who should be a Superstar. Since then, every year or two I resurrect the post and images as Michael is an actor who deserves the attention and one fans have let slip under the radar. Hollywood must understands his appeal, he has appeared in many of the top grossing movies over the past three decades, but somehow the public didn't catch up, or maybe on. Far more talented than many who got more attention (Cage & Cruise to name just two) and one of the hottest actors of all time. Great body (which he showed off often on film), great face and a killer grin. Although he was in the right movies, maybe he never hit just the right role to connect with a large audience.



Biehn is probably not that upset, maybe just the opposite. Constant work, great movies, all without the hassle of the pressure of being too too famous. My favorite Biehn movies include Aliens, Terminator, The Seventh Sign, and the oh so bad it's great, The Fan.



His list of movies also includes Grease (in an uncredited role), The Abyss, K2, Navy Seals, Tombstone and dozens and dozens of other movie and television appearances.



The Best of Michael Biehn on FH

The Fan (1981)


Deadfall (1993)



Terminator (1984)


Coach (1978)






Like many nude scenes, especially with male actors, edits were often done with later VHS and DVD versions of many films. This screen cap, from the old Campfire Site, shows a version of the scene from Coach, shown above, in an earlier release.

Destination DALLAS?



I have hazy memories of being ushered off to bed in the early 80's as the Dallas theme song began to play. As I got a little older, I was allowed to watch with my parents. Dallas was one of those shows that always drags me back to my childhood and my memories as it was really the only show I remember both of my parents sitting down to watch together. Besides the show itself, watching my parents watch the show is for some reason a comforting memory for me. I later caught up with the doings of the Ewings on TNN and on DVD and there remains an addictive quality to watching J.R, Sue Ellen, Lucy, Ellie et al around that dining room table.

TNT is promoting the new version which premiers this summer. I am not sure drawing on one of the shows biggest blunders (that dream season) is the wisest choice for promotion, but then I get the feeling the new version is not really being made for those who watched the original. Although there is part of me looking forward to seeing Linda Gray, Larry Hagman and some of the old guard sashaying around Southfork, I question the casting of of some of the 'throw away' Desperate Housewives cast members in lead roles (Metcalfe especially) but time will tell...

Photo editing does a Henderson torso good, but not sure 81 year old Hagman's hairy chest benefited quite so much...