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Monday, November 10, 2014
Happy Birthday today November 11th
Happy 54th to the great Stanley Tucci!
Check out more of today's birthday boys HERE:
Remembered
November 11th is Veterans Day in the US and also Remembrance Day in Canada & The UK. A time to remember all who served, especially those who lost their lives, lost limbs and most of all lost hope. Many young men and women returned home to little or no support and any served silently, not asking, not telling, having to hide who they are. Hiding in secret as ironically they risked, and often lost, their lives for countries not able to accept or deal with who feelings beyond their control.
Maybe it's because I am getting older. Maybe it is too many old movies, or episodes of Downton Abbey. This year I think not about those who others remember. Not grandfathers, whose images still appear on mantels or great grandfathers in photo albums. This year I remember all those who never got the chance to live long enough to be remembered. Those who never had a chance to marry, have children or leave behind a generation of people to miss or morn for them. The orphans, the lonely and sthose who went to war as kids, and never had the chance to become adults. The faceless and forgotten, remembered today.
Fluidity & Grace: Drew Bacchae by lionart609
'I had this id'ea, very top of mind when I began shooting Drew. When I captured him in this Lotus variation I was seated in Lotus position myself directly in front of him. It was a beautiful moment for me.'
Below: Drew & Ken Scott
There are many photographers skilled at shooting the male form as an object of sexual desire. This focus on the physical body can create beautifully erotic images but with boundaries that remain fixed within the four borders which surround it. There are other artists, who view the human body is more expansive, reaching out beyond the limits of the images borders. It is as though the the image is the core of something, something that reaches out beyond the framing through movement and lines.
Below: Drew with models Strobed and Elijiah
Symmetry and lines are themes I have explored many times on FH. Not all photographers or models are able to create moments of movements, but when done right have a depth that resonates. This is often especially evident in shoots which involve dancers, acrobats and models who have a connection not just with their physical body, but their spiritual self as well. This connection is most present in the work of Jeff Linn (lionart609) whose goal is to work with models able to help express his passion for the beauty of the human form and the yogic mind. Merging the two in the visual expression of the spirit is Jeff's goal.
'When working with multiple models there are many more details to pay attention to; the eyes, the hands, the feet position, expression, etc. all multiplied and all in varying degrees of control. Its almost a feeling, poised with camera ready waiting for that… Now, release the shutter moment. As you can guess its compounded further with a prop like powder. Multiple models moving quickly into an action that explodes powder into the air. Their action however is fast and the powder is slower so again its trying to capture that moment, waiting… just that second later when the dust starts to settle.'
The images featured here are the result of 3 different shoots between Jeff and model Drew Bacchae. Although there are different locations, themes and some include other models, Jeff says that the basic premise of what he look for carries through each time, although it can get a little more difficult to find that moment he is looking for when additional variables are added to the set. Jeff's formal training comes from studying at the California College of Art. After graduation Jeff worked as an illustrator for a national clothing company. His job evolved over the years from drawing, design and then on to video. Throughout the changes however, the one art form that was constant was photography. 'I am continually exploring my expression of the body through many mediums I paint, write, sculpt and shoot this subject however I've never really felt the need to show much of my work until recently, so much of my work has just been for me scratch that creative itch.'
'I first met Drew at a photo workshop in San Francisco, in which he was one of four models for the day. I was immediately drawn to him and 90 percent of the shots I took that day included him. I saw classic beauty in him and when given the opportunity I dedicated my studio time to capturing him in situations that I felt combined my aesthetic with his beauty. I know that its not common practice to refer to athletic strong males as beautiful but that is the way I view the body and certainly what I attempt to convey in my images.'
'I look to show great strength and power in calmness and in fluidity and grace, the subtle can say a great deal more than the obvious. For instance where is he looking, the eyes are the greatest tool a photographer can use to infuse meaning or connection with the viewer. Details matter, tension in the muscles without strain, fluidity rather rigidity, many models can achieve certain poses but is there grace in doing so... not always, but that is what I felt I found in Drew.'
'I have spent several years practicing yoga and working to enter that very space. Pushing the body into a strong tense position yet maintaining a calm, relaxed state. I suppose this is the feeling that I want to capture in images. I would say the same holds true in the leather series. I wanted to bring that tough fetish message that you typically see in dark moody settings and give it light and air and openness. For the powder series I looked for moments of power that were surrounded in soft light, moments of tension with delicacy. I guess you could say its trying to achieve balance; the light the dark, the strong the soft, tension and grace all occupying the same space. I am very lucky to be able to work with Drew I feel he brings that balance into my images and its my job to refine the details and capture that moment.'
Guy In Van
'Being born during a lunar eclipse can have it drawbacks, one of them is creating three little monster kids who are psychopaths. Killing at random and with great delight!'
TCM continues to surprise. In addition to showcasing Hollywood greats, the channel has also introduced me to some cult classics I have never would have seen, nor heard of, if not for the network. Saturday nights in particular have unveiled some gems with TCM's Underground. This is where you can find some great 70's and 80's cult, and camp classics.
This past weekend I had the pleasure of catching 1981's Bloody Birthday. Odd and mildly disturbing account of three every evil and murderess children who have no limits, nor any empathy or regrets of any kind. Watching these three 10 years wreak such havoc was a creepy blast. The film's cast included Susan Strasberg, Jose Ferrer, small roles for Michael Dudikoff and Joe Penny and Billy Jacoby as the leader of the three evil spawn children.
Like many cult classics, this flick had it's share of gratuitous nudity. Most of the nudity was of course female with breasts flying freely, oddly mostly in scenes involving the children. A peep hole provides the action for many scenes in the flick, both for some nudity and tons of violence. About three quarters in though we this little scene, heavy on the gratuity, this time though with both a girl and a guy.
The guy, who is actually only credited as guy in van, is played by the adorable and sexy John Avery. John had a brief career on screen in the early 80's with appearances in Ark II, Wacko and a guest shot on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. John is so 70's hot with that great face of his, framed by his sexy shaggy hair. Director Ed Hunt thankfully did not shy away from showing John's beautiful behind in it's full glory.
Sadly, John and his partner, girl in van, had not been around enough to learn the cardinal rule about sex in a horror film. In fact, their brief, and last, encounter in the van has a very bloody ending thanks to Jacoby's character Curtis.
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