French PHOTO Grand Concours

I've entered the French PHOTO Magazine's annual competition for the last few years, and had a number of images that seemed to be selected as "finalists" but they didn't make it into the print edition. Well, I'm happy to say that this year, I have an image in the magazine. I have a visual confirmation from my European emissary and everything, even though I've not seen an actual copy. The shot above is the one that's printed, and a total of seven were chosen as finalists.

This has been one of my goals for a long time, as I've been a fan of the magazine for years, even before I seriously returned to photography. They bill it as the world's largest photo contest, with over 50,000 entries, which they narrow down to a couple hundred in the magazine.

I'd like to thank the models: Katla, Kelsey, Kat, Artistic Physique, and Poses, as well as Kiera, Rebecca and Jessamyne.

Since I've not seen a copy yet, not sure if anyone else I know is represented in the issue, but I'll try to remember to post an update once a copy is in my hands. Let me know if you see one in the wild anywhere! Salut!

Favor please...

Have entered a portfolio in another contest, and it allows for online voting, so please stop by and have a look and hopefully you'll vote me up for the chance to win cash, fabulous prizes, and opportunities... unlikely, but what the hell? Please check it out!

ON EDIT: Voting has closed, but you can still go see the selection of work. Thanks to all of you who took the time to vote, even those who voted less than 5 stars. :)

Old news...

Someone a few weeks ago asked me about the archive blog, the entries from 2006-2007. I took them offline a while ago for various reasons, but they're back, at least for the time being. There is some good stuff on there, and some stuff I'd do differently now, and a few things I probably wouldn't do at all now, but it's all a process, and looking back and seeing progress is a good source of encouragement as one continues to move forward, right?

I also heard from Teddie here about going up to Chicago once the snow melts and doing some more photos with her. Hard to believe it's been 4 years since our last shoot. But that prompted me to go through some of the old blog entries and I figured why not bring them back? Interesting to see just how much I used to expound on various topics and photos, and how regularly I used to do entries.

There are probably loads of dead links in there, and maybe some missing photos, and a few outdated model names. If you have any updates to share (or prefer that pictures be removed) just leave me a comment on this entry and I'll take care of it. I may go in and tidy up a bit, throw a few things into the memory hole, but then again, I have a lot of other pressing matters at hand, so I may not get around to that.

Happy Holidays

Just a quick note to wish those of you who are still reading this blog all the best for the holiday season, however you choose to observe it.

I've been having a form of "browser wars" on my machine lately, which has led to a lack of posting via Blogger... attempts to upload an image to Blogger would not only crash the browser, but it would cause the computer to go offline, and the only way I could figure out to re-establish my internet connection is to re-boot. So, hopefully you can understand my reticence to update. If nothing seems to be happening here, you can check out my activity on Tumblr, or Flickr, Model Mayhem, or even to a certain extent on Facebook. Those sites all seem to play nicely with my machine.

The year has flown by, as they tend to do... a new studio, a little slower shooting pace, a few exhibitions, a few publications, some more stuff in the works. Wow, I'm just a fountain of information, eh? There have been a few developments that have dampened my enthusiasm as well, sorry to say, but hoping the new year will help me put those things behind me.

In the throes of the exhibition submission season, with fingers crossed. Going to expand the reach a little this year, see how it goes. Narrowing down still doesn't get any easier, but I guess the upside to it is that at least it feels like there are way too many strong candidates.

Made some new friends and contacts this year, and look forward to pursuing new opportunities. Did very little traveling outside of Ohio and Michigan this year... feeling a definite pull to somewhere warm and new.

So, again, thanks for your support throughout the year -- I encourage you to add me of Facebook, Tumblr, or wherever, and hopefully there will be an uptick in activity in the new year.

For now, I leave you with Brianne, looking back on the year just past...

Welcome new visitors

Seems I'm getting an uptick in traffic that I'd attribute to the new book showing up in people's mailboxes around the country... so I'd like to welcome everyone who found me through there. Please take a minute to comment and let me know who you are, where you're from, and whatever else you care to share.

Sorry the place is in a bit of a mess. Haven't been as faithful to my blog as I'd like to be, but I'll be updating more frequently now that some of the smoke is clearing. You can also see stuff posted over on my Tumblr page where I encourage you to follow me. Those are generally just photos with a few words, but the blog is usually more in-depth and insightful commentary. Don't judge it by this entry though.

This is the intrepid Kelsey Dylan from her visit over the summer... she may pay a visit to her family not far from here over the holidays, so perhaps another shoot will happen.

"The New Erotic Photography" arrives...

Received my copy of "The Mammoth Book of the New Erotic Photography" today, and it's really a beautiful collection of work. I'm very pleased and proud to be included, and would like to thank my models who appear in the book: Danaid, Sweet Romance, Iris, Mosh, Zinn Star (above), and Sativa. I would also like to thank editor Maxim Jakubowski for inviting me to participate, and for doing such a fine job putting everything together and making sure the finished product looked great. Congratulations to all the other photographers and models who are included as well, especially Chas Ray Krider for his cover shot of Trishii.

It's really a beautiful book, and even if I wasn't involved, I'd urge anyone with an appreciation for provocative photos of women (men are almost entirely absent from the images) to pick up a copy either from Amazon, or it should be on the shelves of major bookstores very soon now.

Repost... for female visual artists!

"The Other 95%"
Calling all female visual artists! According to the Social Issues Research Centre, a supermodel weighs 23% less than an average woman, and less than 5% of the female population have figures like her. This show is designed to feature the other 95%... The Society for Women in Erotic Art Today (S.W.E.A.T.) is putting together an exhibition proposal for a respected gallery, and ...we want Rubenesque, full figured, BBW, plus size, fat... Whatever you call women of the larger persuasion, we want to see them! From powerful earth mother imagery to pin-up sex kittens, we want to explore the many ways in which this often invisible part of womanhood live and love.

"Echo: The Art of Self-Portraiture"
Calling all female visual artists! The Society for Women in Erotic Art Today (S.W.E.A.T.) is putting together an exhibition proposal for a respected gallery, and we want (to see) YOU! All interpretations of "self" are welcome, from the abstract to the literal, from sculptures to photographs. You are encouraged to include reflections on your sexuality, your identity, your role in your society and culture, the impact... of your outward self on your inward self, and how the perceptions of others effects your perception of yourself.

If you want more information on S.W.E.A.T., please feel free to visit our boards. We describe the group as one that brings together female visual and performing artists to provide an information network and a network of opportunities to promote women in erotic art. S.W.E.A.T. is a network for photographers, fine artists, models, make up artists, wardobe designers and performance artists in the erotic / boudoir / burlesque field.

More information at the S.W.E.A.T. Website or visit their Facebook Group Page

"Hey Boo Boo..."

Kelsey, originally uploaded by Gary M Photo.

Here's Kelsey Dylan from a few weeks ago, at the mouth of what passes for a cave in southwest Ohio. Of course, we didn't go inside... could be Yogi Bear's apartment just beyond the darkness.

Posting from Flickr as a bit of an experiment...

Four in Hand

Here's Kelsey from her recent visit to the studio...

Urban Nights - Dayton - September 10

Just a last-minute update/addition, I'll have a few pieces on display at Jimmy Modern, 605 E Fifth St. (across from the Trolley Stop in the Oregon District) as part of his 3rd Annual Erotic Art Exhibion during the downtown Dayton Urban Nights event this Friday, September 10.

As overused as the word 'eclectic' has become, that seems the best description of Jimmy's combination gallery space and retro furniture showcase. My friends Kidtee Hello and Todd Champlin will have work on display along with a variety of other artists of various mediums (media?). Jimmy will also be collecting donations for the AIDS Resource Center Ohio. The show starts at 5:00 and continues into the evening, and the art will remain on display for a while if you can't make it down Friday.

For more information on the other galleries, entertainment, and fun stuff, visit the Urban Nights webpage.

...and it don't rain in Indianapolis in the summertime...

Talk about last minute... have neglected to mention I'll have seven pieces on display starting August 6 at the Art Bank at 811 Mass Ave in Indianapolis, as part of their "First Friday" event. I'll be at the meet and greet event from 6 to 9 on Friday, and the art will hang around through the month of August.

Many thanks to my "host" for the event, Travis Little of Hommage Studio, who will be displaying some of his remarkable paintings at the show. There will be numerous other artists and activities happening, so stop by and say hello if you can, or check out the art at your convenience this month.

Spark

Sorry this blog's been getting ignored lately... there's been a pretty steady stream of images going onto myTumblr because it's so simple to use, but then again, it's tough to comment on them there. It's always something. Anyway, if you're a Tumblr-umba person, why not go follow me there as well?

Been good, been busy, been trying to catch up on editing. August seems to be less crowded, although I always say that and *poof* it books right up. Hoping to do more experimenting in the weeks ahead... maybe you'll see some of the results here, for better or worse.

Dreamland

Nina D

Strange Days

A Tuesday that feels like a Monday, after a holiday that also felt like a Monday.

A few odd things seem to have cropped up over the weekend as well... not in the mood to sort them out, but sort I must, if only to put them into the "eventually" stack or the circular file.

Here's another of Erin O from a few weeks ago... would be good to bring her back.

Looking at very light studio scheduling in July and August due to the record heat... but sometimes there's a break.

Carrie Leigh Nude on newsstands now

Well, the Spring issue of Carrie Leigh's NUDE Magazine finally turned up at my local Barnes & Noble store, although mail order copies have not yet arrived. For what it's worth, I've discussed the availability problems with the good folks at CLN, and while they've been fighting against complications from earthquakes and the BP Oil Disaster, they're keenly aware of the distribution problems and are taking steps to prevent the problem from occurring with the next issue.


Thanks to models Spilt Sugar, Ana Tevka, and Xaina whose photos the editors chose to include in the feature. Also, thanks to Beebs, whose shots were not chosen, but who was every bit as intrepid facing Detroit decay and freezing temperatures.

You can still order online for $13.95 postpaid and I'm assured you'll get yours soon. It's generally available at Barnes & Noble stores, either with the art, photography or gentlemen's magazines, and while it's out here, it may not be everywhere just yet.