MasculineCurves

Where have all the cowboys gone?

Member's Only access for $10!

Hey fellas... just thought it was time to put a shameless plug out there for the "member's only"section of this website. As you know, this blog is free to all to view, but there's also a member's only section featuring my uncensored photo shoots with the MasculineCurves models (yep, members get to see a little more than what I can share here on the blog - tastefully, of course). In light of the current state of the economy I've lowered the price of Lifetime MasculineCurves Membership from $40 to just $10. Yep, that's right, for a one-time fee of $10 you'll receive uncensored access to the MasculineCurves Galleries for as long as this website and blog exists.

And speaking of "existence" you might be interested to know that all the original photography you see here on the blog is made possible by the support of those who have purchased MasculineCurves memberships. Each show of support goes a long way in keeping gorgeous, real-life men of color in front of this Desperate Artist's camera.

Click here for more details.

Finally Morion!

 

Way back in April, shortly after I shot Morion, I promised to post his session to the member’s only section of this website. So for all of you who have been waiting to see more of him I appreciate your patience and your thoughtful nudges. It took me a while to get these posted because we shot over 600 frames that day, which means a lot of frames for the creative process to digest. Also, his shoot was somewhat experimental as I was attempting to try out some alternative lighting and backdrop techniques in the studio. These shots  accounted for about 400 frames and looking back, I realized I wasn’t necessarily happy with how my experiment turned out (to no fault of Morion’s). Hey, you never know unless you try, right?

Fortunately, just as we were wrapping our studio session, I noticed a flow of beautiful mid-afternoon sunlight peering through my living room windows. Timing is everything, and not wanting to waste the opportunity of having an abundance of natural light and an excellent model at the same time and place, I asked Morion if he could stick around a while longer. We hurriedly moved the furniture out of the living room and this was our make-shift studio the rest of the afternoon. These were the shots I found most compelling from this session and ended up using for Morion’s gallery. As you can see I kept post-production to a minimum as to not distract from the natural ambience of the light, and I felt black & white was the way to go in featuring Morion’s svelte physique.

 

As a side note, you might be interested to know that in light of the current state of the economy I've lowered the price of MasculineCurves Lifetime Memberships to a one time fee of just $10. That's right, for just $10 you'll receive access to the member's only portion of this website and your support will go a long way in keeping this blog up and running. For more information click here.

The man in the mirror...

 

As a photographer who despises taking self-portraits, I seem to be doing it more and more these days. It’s alright though, because the more aware of self I am, the more grounded in reality I become.  The shackles of a fantastical distortion are released and I am free to focus on the areas that need attention, and appreciate the areas that are just fine the way they are.

Independence Day

Faces of Men: Will

The above image is probably one of my most favorite portraits I've ever shot. So much so that I'm considering having it framed for my personal collection. These shots were taken a couple years ago when a young man by the name of Will contacted me online to inquire about shooting with me. He was a friend of one of my other models and as such was somewhat familiar with my work.

After a few brief email exchanges I invited Will over to my strudio to discuss the possibilities of a shoot. Though he wasn't prepared to shoot that day, I was so compelled by his incredibly beautiful face that I couldn't resist asking him for a few head shots. I remember him being a little hesitant at first, because he felt he needed a shave and his cornrows weren't fresh and tight. However, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and in this case I was the beholder. When I'm moved to behold beauty, I don't get too caught up in tiny details.

After our initial meeting Will and I emailed back and forth several times attempting to set up an official shoot, but our schedules didn't pan out. I remember him telling me that he was getting ready to leave town in one of those emails, and I soon lost touch with him after that.  Will if you're out there, I'd love to have you in front of my camera again.

Terence

Chardonnay

It’s almost nine p.m. and I finished my second glass of wine about an hour ago. I’d really love another, but the bottle is empty. The neighborhood grocer closes in just a few minutes, but it’s pouring rain and I don’t think I can make it in time.  Thus, I am cut off from the chardonnay. I guess it’s alright. I have to work tomorrow anyways…

The TV’s on in the background, but it’s just noise. I think about shutting it off, but the silence would annoy me too. I check my facebook account and I’m bombarded with a gazillion notes from high school classmates  all excited about our 15-year reunion next month. I haven’t seen most of these guys since 1994, but I know I won’t go. I don’t want people to see me like this. It’s shallow, but self-consciousness is a prison in which I serve a life sentence.

I send a text to my flirtatious escort buddy, but no response. I guess he’s not up for sexting tonight, or perhaps he’s off on some exotic trip with a 60-year old white dude. There are emails sitting in my inbox begging for a response, week-old voicemails waiting to be heard, and calls I know I need to make. The perception is that I’m stand-offish, but the truth is I’m just lonely and insecure.

Tyro called the other day… His questions seemed to indicate a peculiar interest in my personal life these days. And though that is all water under the bridge, I can’t help but to wonder if I will love again…

emcee

HIStory

  

It only makes sense that you outlive your childhood icons, right? But just like losing a parent it’s an event in which one is never prepared. I am in utter shock over the news of Michael Jackson’s passing. This is huge. He is perhaps the largest icon in the history of popular culture. And to have been a child of the 80s, living in a time space in which this icon defined not only himself, but MY generation is an incredible piece of history to have witnessed. It’s not difficult to hear his influence in the industry today. Just listen to  a cut from the latest Britney, Justin, or Rhianna album and you know you’ve heard that sound before. What’s most powerful about Michael Jackson’s legacy is its staying power. His contributions will undoubtedly influence many generations to come.

Love him, hate him, the sentiment of my opinion today is not one of judgement. This is a person who lived his entire life immersed in a shroud of controversy. That is a part of his HIStory. Today’s sentiment is about recognizing how this loss impacts my world. All you children of the 80s know what I’m talking about when we’re out at the club and the DJ spins his “old-school” mix and  the base line from “Billie Jean” or “Rock with You” comes pumping through the speakers. That feeling we get is indescribable. Hearing this music today and having it take you back to a time and place in which it’s like you’re hearing it for the very first time all over again… yes, that’s the feeling I’m talking about. And isn’t it amazing that it still makes you feel that way? Just amazing. Yes, Michael Jackson is a part of my history, a contributor to the soundtrack of my life, and today it will never sound the same.