Above:
Rick by Lights On Studio
-See More Below-
Thursday, September 5, 2024
Happy Birthday today September 6th
Frisky Frolic: Scholastic!
'In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn.'
Phil Collins
Although many headed back to class already, for most, this first week of September marks the start of the school year. Although many celebrate January 1st as the beginning of the year, I always felt my year started when school did. New clothes, new friends, new experiences and so many new things to experience and learn. JayBee from Frisky Frolic has always captured the scholastic experience with skill and erotic eagerness.
Over the years I've featured many of JayBee's school themed shoots from hot, naked teachers, to bad report cards through coaches getting stripped and thrown in the shower by their team. This September, I found an old shoot JayBee shared that I hadn't shared before. Check out a pledge week game of naked beer pong, and other back to school themed posts on the NEXT PAGE HERE:
Crickets...
'When the cricket’s song is the only sound you hear, how peaceful the whole earth seems.'
Marty Rubin
According to the calendar, the autumnal equinox officially arounds September 22nd. According to the meteorological calendar however, Autumn began on September 1st. I love the visual changes of season changes, especially the brilliant colors of October and November. Here in the North East however, the autumnal changes go beyond just what we see.
We also certainly feel the fall, with the coolness in the air. The chilly feel usually begins on August nights, but quickly seeps quietly, but noticeably into the evenings and then days. We also notice the smells, things seem fresher in the fall, and where I live, things also taste better in the late summer and early fall. There is nothing like the taste of fresh corn and crisp apples just off off the tree. No matter how many potatoes you may eat in a year, those new potatoes in the fall are the most delicious of all.
In the East, and especially in the country, the fall also arrives with sound. Those tractors are working overtime, attempting to get every crop up and out to bought at farm markets and grocery stores. Then planning, and preparing the fields for winter takes over. I know winter is on the way when I see the coverings go up, and many crops, especially grapes, are protected, as much as possible, for the ravages of winter.
The loudest sound however, starting in mid-August, is the chirp from the crickets. It seems as each day goes by, they let louder and louder. Like all insects, crickets need to prepare for winter, and part of that ritual is the changing of those cheerful chips, turning louder, and maybe even a wee more frantic.
It's not hard to understand why. Like most insects, birds and mammals, their sounds are all about reproduction. As winter gets closer, it makes sense that the mating call gets louder. Crickets know there's only a short amount of times to reproduce and lay their eggs before the ground freezes and the snow starts to fall.
We humans also like to snuggle in for the winter. Often that mean finding a mate, if not for life, just for the season. It helps to have someone to snuggle with, and someone to have hot sex with, when the temperature dips, and there are fewer activities to do outside. Although we may not get louder auditorily, we certainly feel the same pressure as the crickets, to get things settled and nailed down before the frost sets in. If not.. we might be chirping with ourselves until next spring.
Joshua Tree: Rick by Lights On Studio
'I was in a heavenly state of mind to be able to have the chance to photograph in such a spectacular location!'
Earlier this summer, I featured the work of photographer Tom Nakielski, (Lights On Studio) and his duo shoot with models Rick and Terry. (Pedestals and Penises) I'd been wanting to feature Tom's work with Rick for awhile. I not only loved Rick's look, I also wanted to feature more of Tom's location work, and he and Rick connected while Tom was on a working trip in California.
If you checked out the first piece, you know the duo shoot wasn't planned. Tom was originally planning to shoot Rick on his own. Circumstances however, and a willing houseguest of the owner of the home Tom was shooting at, meant a stunning statuesque shoot by the home's swimming pool. When they finished however, there was another location that Tom wanted to shoot Rick in, so they quickly headed off to ensure they didn't lose their window to utilize the natural light from the sun.
'After the session in my photographer friend's backyard/pool, we drove to Joshua Tree National Park about 40 minutes away. The park is in the desert and has huge rocks and boulders popular with rock climbers. It encompasses two deserts: The Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert. The San Bernardino Mountains transverse the southwest part of the park. Plenty of areas to explore ....slightly larger than the state of Rhode Island. '
Living on the East coast, I wasn't really that familiar with Joshua Tree, or the park until I was in my 20's. My main connection was listening to U2 in the 1990's when I was still a teenager. Although the members of U2 hail from Ireland, The Joshua Tree album was inspired by the American Experiences, politics, culture and literature.
The name 'Joshua Tree' is said to have be given by a group of Mormon settlers who were crossing the Mojave Desert in the mid-19th century. It's said that tree both inspired them with it's beauty, as well as helped guide them through the vast desert. They chose Joshua Tree as the name as it reminded them of the bible story in which Joshua keeps his hands reached out for extended periods of time to help enable the Israelites in the conquest of Canaan. The unique look of the branches reminded them of Joshua's outstretched arms.
Of course the Mormon's weren't the first discover the beauty of the Mojave Desert. The earliest known residents of the area were the Pinto Culture back in 8000BC. Their stone tools and spear points were discovered in the 1930's. Later residents included the Serrano, the Cahuilla, the Chemehuevi peoples and of course the Mojaves. Given the area's rich history, it made sense that the area was made a national monument in the 1930's and a national park in 1994.
I learned a bit more about the park about 10 years ago when featuring photographer Tom Silk's work with the beautiful Sean. (HERE:) It was then I really learned to symbolism of the tree, and that Joshua Tree's aren't actually trees. They're actually succulents, a plant many know that is able to store water. This fits with their reputation of being able to grow and thrive even areas of dysfunction and dryness.
Forgive me for the history, (and biology) lesson. One of my favorite parts of featuring location shoots, is learning about an area it's history. To me, this helps me link the location with the visuals, and increases the beauty and connection between the model, the nude male form, and their surrounding environment.
Tom's shoot with Rick may have been relatively recent, but the beauty, the rocks, sand and incredible landscapes, have been viewed, traveled through and lived on, by so many men and women over so many years. As beautiful as Rick looks naked posing in the area, I'm also sure, the arid desert created many challenges, with the Joshua Tree's, providing shade and refuge.
'Shooting on location at a place you haven't been to before can always be exciting. You hope you can find a place that is private. You don't know what to expect at the location. Is it accessible to the photographer and the model? Is there a good background? You hope that there is some good light. You pray you didn't leave some important equipment behind. Will the model feel comfortable doing nude shots where someone could happen upon the scene? The element of the unknown does add some excitement to such a session.'
'Rick wanted his girlfriend to accompany us to the session . I wasn't keen on that idea but I wasn't going to travel over 2,000 miles to risk him saying no to doing the shoot. So of course I agreed. It actually was a good thing. There was climbing through the rocks and she helped carry equipment plus helped with the reflector to modify the light. I would have struggled trying to get my gear up the boulders.
We did not encounter anyone at the site we chose. I don't know if we could be charged with indecent exposure if a park ranger came upon the scene. Hence the feeling of excitement of being caught. After I was through with Rick, I stayed later to get some sunset photos. I was in a heavenly state of mind to be able to have the chance to photograph in such a spectacular location!'
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