Award Season

The nominees and winners for the "Black and White Spider Awards" were announced yesterday, and my shot of Katy was chosen as a nominee in the nude/amateur category. Thanks Katy, and congratulations to the other nominees and winners.

I entered the French PHOTO magazine "Concours" again this year... they posted the results of the first and second "cut" of the judging. I presume the first two cuts cull out the "not even close" stuff and determine what the actual judges choose from. Two of my images of Mina made the second cut, but the magazine was just published, and reports from Europe indicate that neither of those were printed in the issue. Well, maybe next year. If you're interested in seeing all my entries, go to the contest page and do a search for "Mitchell." This shot, and the one entitled "Menaced" made the second cut. I should see a copy of the magazine in a week or two to see what images actually made it in, but congratulations to those who were published, and of course, thanks to Mina.

I'm preparing three pieces to hang at this year's Dirty Show 11 in Detroit next month, and more images to be available in the "museum store." The show opens February 12-14, then is open again February 19-20, so if you're in the area, be sure to come join the party.

For those wondering about the lack of blog posts recently, I've been occupied with various other matters. Hopefully, I'll be back to posting at least somewhat more regularly soon. Thanks to those of you who have kept checking in and encouraging me to post more.

Carrie Leigh at last

Finally saw a printed copy of the Spring 2009 Carrie Leigh Nude magazine with my feature in it, and it's a nice feeling indeed. They used four shots (one a 2-page spread) and wrote up a little profile paragraph. Congrats to the models in the issue, Jessica, Xaina and Katy T, for being chosen, and thanks to all the models from the past 3+ years for helping me progress and grow as a photographer.

Online sale of individual copies has ended, so to get the current issue by mail you can subscribe, or you can visit your local Borders, Barnes & Noble, Hastings, or other big box newsstand to see if they have copies for sale. I'll probably do that later myself...

Congratulations to my friends and acquaintances featured in the issue: Tia, Tom Lane, |ris/Becky, Chip Willis, Carlotta Champagne, David LeBeck, Betcee May, Antoine de Villiers, and Lloyd Rosen, as well as the other models and photographers.

P.S. Just found a number of copies at my local Barnes & Noble, so B&N and Borders would probably be the first places to look if you wanna copy.

A new year...

...and I still can't seem to complete a blog entry.

Happy New Year everyone!

Paul Newman passes

Paul Newman was a class act, starring in some of the best movies of the past 50 years or so. Deservedly, Cool Hand Luke is one of his best known roles. I also thought he was amazing in The Hudsucker Proxy, along with so many of his other films. Check 'em out.

Here's one brief scene from Cool Hand Luke that I always found to be pretty powerful.

The Big O

Hi,

I just took the next step towards owning a piece of the political process; I made another donation to Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

But it's going to take more than just me and the others who've acted so far -- it's going to take a movement.

It's going to take millions of people working together to compete against John McCain and the RNC in all 50 states. They are raising more money than ever -- collecting huge checks from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs who will do everything in their power to maintain their influence in Washington with a third term of George Bush's disastrous policies.

We're not going to play that game.

Barack Obama is not taking any contributions from Washington lobbyists or political action committees.

We're transforming the political process by bringing together millions of ordinary Americans in a campaign that's owned by no one but the people.

At this crucial moment in history, will you join us by making a donation?

https://donate.barackobama.com/donateinvite

Thanks,
Gary

(That's Katy T posing with the Big O)


P.S. I just spilled a rant in response to a photographer's blog -- she basically was complaining that the campaign was too much like some sports rivalry, and that there wasn't much difference between Democrats and Republicans. I couldn't just let it slide, of course...

Yes, the election is an aggravating and tedious process (The Canadians just started their Prime Minister campaign which will END before our election day), but to say who wins doesn't matter is just being lazy. If Al Gore hadn't had the election stolen from him in 2000, it's possible 9/11 could have been prevented, the Afghanistan and Iraq wars could have been avoided, and instead of spending trillions on war, we could be well on our way to alternative energy solutions, improved health care, reduced poverty, and an economy that works for everyone, not just those most fortunate.

You should feel physically safe in this country... your risk of being harmed by a terrorist or through an act of war have been miniscule. You're far more likely to die of malpractice or a car wreck. Those in power over the past 7 years have been working to create fear and make you afraid so you'll continue to support those who claim to be able to protect us. (They did a helluva good job on 9/11, didn't they?) When we live in fear, the terrorists have won. When we give up rights and privacy and liberty, ostensibly for security, the terrorists have won.

Simply put, McCain believes war and greed are the answers. Obama realizes war and greed are the problems.

This ain't just OSU vs. Michigan here. This IS the future. And you can have a small voice, or remain petulant and be silent.

Oh yeah, the art nude thing...

Keep forgetting... actually, it just doesn't seem fitting sometimes to stick a nude in the middle of a political rant.

Here's Katy T (top) and Aveda Marie from some recently edited stuff. Check the Flickr photostream to see more, and request a free membership to see the best stuff.

"A fellow of infinite jest..."

Lost amid midwest power blackouts, hurricanes, financial collapse, and political cosmetic debacles is the suicide of writer David Foster Wallace at age 46. Probably best known for his epic mindscramble of a novel Infinite Jest, its title now gets an added twist of irony. Taken from the soliloquy by Hamlet that begins "Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy. He hath bore me on his back a thousand times, and now how abhorr'd in my imagination it is!" which proceeds into musings on the ultimate fate of both kings and jesters... and award winning novelists.

As the worst-read English major to ever graduate with a BA, I've not managed more than make a couple futile attempts at "Infinite Jest" myself. As much as I appreciate the intricacies of craftsmanship that writers like Wallace and Thomas Pynchon weave into their work, I simply don't have the attention span to tackle their writings anymore. But I guess I'm enough of an English major to recognize a Hamlet reference now and again.

But you gotta wonder, when an artist of such talent, acclaim and success decides to pack it in, what keeps the rest of us going?