MasculineCurves

A few blog announcements

Show off your MasculineCurves!

I've always thought it'd be fun to meet the readers of this blog. Visually speaking, that is. After three years of producing original imagery for the gay blogosphere, perhaps it's time to see you. Send me a self-pic holding a sign with "MasculineCurves" written on it, and I'll consider it for my new "readers showcase" feature. I'll even include a link back to your website or blog if you so wish. Additionally, anyone who sends me his "MasculineCurves" will receive a free life-time membership to the members' only section of this blog. Email your pic to aaron(at)masculinecurves.com.

Okay, now the legal stuff:

1) Please be of legal age (18/21 depending on jurisdiction) - be sure to state your age in your email.

2) Please only send pics of yourself.

3) Show as much or as little as you like. Keep in mind this is a semi-Safe For Work blog, so full-frontals will get the "black block" censor (I'll keep the uncensored versions for my own private use -- LOL).

4) Send your pic to aaron(at)masculinecurves.com. Be sure your holding a hand-written sign with the words MasculineCurves so that I know it's you and not some random pic you found on the web. haha...

Guest photographers wanted!

Are you a photographer with a zest for capturing the essence of the male form? I'm always glad to feature guest photographers here on the blog. For consideration, send at least five pics, a brief statement or description of your work, and a link to your website or blog to aaron(at)masculinecurves.com. Your pics should be in jpg format and at least 470 pixels wide. Provocative imagery and semi-nudes are welcomed and encouraged. However, I am unable to post full-frontals (penis shots) as my advertisers tend to frown on that : - (  And you know much dough I make from selling ad space here on the blog... NOT. lol.

Y'all know I ain't too proud to beg.

You may have noticed that I haven't featured any new MasculineCurves physique models lately. Well, funds are tight as you might imagine, so I haven't been in a position to conduct a nude photo shoot in some time. So, if you enjoy my work, please consider making a donation (see donation button in upper right column). Donations are securely processed by PayPal and most major credit cards. I make very little money as a photo artist and your donation will go to help keep this blog up and beautiful men of all colors in front of my camera. Any amount big or small helps. For those who contribute $10 or more I will email him (or her) a password to access the member's only section of this blog, Portfolio2. Click here for info.

Happy Belated Anniversary MasculineCurves

I can't believe I nearly let the month of May get away without acknowledging the fact that this month marks the blog's three-year anniversary. Yep, it's been three years and the blog has evolved quite a bit over time. Though I'm constantly adding new quirks and features, I've worked hard to be certain this space hasn't lost it's original intent as a showcase for my photographic endeavors. I'd like to take a moment to thank all the loyal readers, many of whom have been following and commenting on the blog since its inception. And a very special thanks to those who have supported my work by making a monetary donation. Your generosity has gone a long way in keeping my site online over the past three years.

Although I plan to continue to evolve the blog in scope (guest photographer features, reader submitted self-pics, and more frequent 'elsewhere' posts coming soon), I don't imagine I'll ever stop using this as a space to share my own experiments behind the lens. It's been a fun three years, and I'm looking forward to the years to come. 

As always if you enjoy my photography I appreciate your support. Click here to see how to make a $10 donation and gain access to the members' only section. You can also show your support by clicking an affiliate link for all your novelty, entertainment, and media purchases. 

Affiliate links:

A special thanks to my generous supporters!

I once read a statistic that claimed most blogs make it about two years before the blogger is ready to hang up his or her hat and move on to something else. Well, I'm pleased to say this blog hit the two-year mark last June and is rapidly coming up on three years! And, believe it or not, I'm not quite ready to hang up my hat just yet. Maintaining this blog hasn't made me rich, nor famous, and it's certainly not gotten me on the "A" list to any weblebrity events. But over the years, it's been such an expressive outlet. At times I get to share the uneventful drama in my life, but mostly I've found a place to explore, experiment, and grow as a photographer. Albeit amateur, it's still been a joy using this blog as a space to share my work.

Like I said, blogging hasn't made me rich. As you can see I don't pedal porn site affiliations, nor clutter this site with banner advertising (although both of these ventures have crossed my mind). Therefore, I'd be remiss not to take a moment every now and then to say "thank you" to all of you readers who've helped to support this blog through your donations. There's even been a handful of you who donate on a frequent basis, which I am very grateful! So Thank You! If there's anything I can do to make your experience here (or on the "member's only" section) more enjoyable please feel free to drop me a line at aaron(at)masculinecurves.com.

Part-time Blogger

I would be guilty of irresponsible blogging if I didn’t explain my extended absence from the blogosphere lately. A while back I read somewhere that the typical blogger starts a blog, builds a following, and immerses himself in it for an average of about two years before he is ready to move on to something else. Well, as many of you know, I’ve been doing this blog thing for a little over two years now. And while I’m not quite ready to shut it down, I am ready to begin focusing my attention on other projects.

One of those projects is getting the American Boy Tour website up and running. You all know I’ve been talking about the American Boy Tour since April, and what originally started as a simple street photography project has evolved in scope (with much thanks to my collaborator Keelyn). Earlier this month we took our first trip to magnificent city of Chicago and came back with so much video footage, imagery, and stories that we felt the American Boy Tour could stand on its own in the form of a blog-zine. So for the next few months I’ll be preparing for the January 2010 launch of the American Boy Tour (working title) blog.

Also on my list of to dos is upgrading the member’s only section of the MasculineCurves website. I’ve already begun working on some new features that I hope will enhance members’ experience. The galleries will be easier to access, new models are scheduled to be featured, and exclusive member only content is currently under development. Look for these enhancements to debut in November.

On a personal note, the objective of joining a gym is on my list. You all know I need to shred these extra pounds I’ve been complaining about for the last year. Of course, building a workout routine into my already jam-packed schedule will be a challenge, but it’s important to me. I think it will be worth the 3-5 hour investment per week.

So, as you can see, just because I’m keeping quiet here on the blog that doesn’t mean I’m not a busy blogger. For the remainder of the year I’ll be on intermittent hiatus, and will only be posting once a week or every other week (with a picture thrown in here and there for good measure). I’ve certainly got my work cut out for me, so please bear with me as reduce my time spent here. Also be sure to check in every so often for an update on my projects, and if you just can’t get enough of ‘the days and nights of a desperate artist’ hit me up on Twitter, where I’m experimenting with tweeting my days and nights in the third person. You can certainly count on that to be interestingly uneventful (or not?).

mini-break

Hey fellas... thanks for stopping by. Sorry I haven't posted in a few days. Things are bit hectic in my 9 to 5 life. Posting will resume early next week!

Rejection...

If you're a blogger, then perhaps you understand this feeling, if you're not a blogger then this post will probably come across narcissistic and self-absorbed. I just noticed that one of my blogging colleagues, in which we had exchanged links on each other's blogs a while back, has removed the link to my blog on his page. I can't help but feel rejected. Did I say something wrong? Am I not articulate enough? Am I not creative enough? Is this an oversight? Why did my little space on the web fall off his influential list of notable blogs? Now I will obsess about this... for a few moments, then move on...

The Cleveland Street Photographer

Today is the perfect day for good ‘ole pavement pounding street photography in the CLE. Skies are overcast (see my “photography tip” at the end of this post for why this is important), and the weather is a cool 68 degrees with no humidity.

Yesterday I experimented a bit with the car driving street photography technique, but today is all about immersing myself in the environment. Despite being my hometown, Cleveland is quite the challenging city for the street photographer. Unlike a larger city, such as a Chicago or San Francisco, foot traffic here is light, making it difficult to go unnoticed. And in contrast to larger cities where people carry cameras on them all the time, people in Cleveland are suspect when they see the black box strapped to my neck. It’s like they see me coming and run the other way. I think they must think I’m some sort of law enforcement officer or a private eye attempting to catch them in the act of being up to no good…LOL… but really my objectives are quite innocent. Simply capture life in the environment of the street. Now, you may be thinking this is somewhat voyeuristic. And perhaps it does teeter between the lines of voyeurism and journalism. That’s why there are some common rules that most street photographers adhere to when they’re out there. It’s about balancing morals and the right to use reality to tell a story. I’ll be covering these rules in an upcoming post, so be sure to check back for that.

But for now, I am heading off to the transit station to buy my day pass. I’ll be bussing, walking and training it all over Cleveland today all in the name of the art of street photography. Follow me on twitter as I’ll be tweeting any interesting events that occur along the way.

PHOTOGRAPHY TIP: Most people think that outdoor photography is best on a bright sunny day. More sun, more light. Seems to make sense, right? Actually, overcast weather works much better especially when you are photographing people. Direct sunlight is harsh and can cause challenges by casting unflattering shadows on your subject’s face (particularly under the eyes). Overcast skies create an effect similar to a soft box studio light by casting an evenly diffused light.

I heard it through the grapevine...

It's no secret that the gay blogosphere can be fickle and clique-ish, but I try not to get caught up in all this he-said/he-said stuff. However, recently it's been brought to my attention that another gay blogger has been out there trying to claim ownership of some of my photos, and may quite possibly be posting them to his blog as his own work. When I first heard this I was sorta flattered and found it hilarious that someone would actually try to emulate my amateurish artistic expression. But in the same token I was irked that some lame blogger would have the audacity to visit my blog, right click an image, post it elsewhere and attempt to lay claim to it. Especially since I pour my blood, sweat, and tears into producing my own original vision of the male physique. Not to mention shelling out my hard earned dollars to pay the guys who pose for me. Just lame, I say. And I have a message for this blogger. I know who you are and I'm keeping an eye on your blog. Let me take this opportunity to remind you that copyright infringement is a Federal offense and easy to prove.

Now don't get me wrong, I love it when blogger's use my images for editorial (non-commercial) use on their blogs. It's very flattering and encourages me to continue doing what I do. If you have a blog and would like to use an image you see here for editorial content, I kindly ask that you follow these simple guidelines:

1) Non-commercial use only - This means you may use the image for editorial content, but not as an advertisement or endorsement for a product or service. An example of commercial usage would be using one of my images in a banner to promote and/or brand your blog. (Note: for commercial use you'll need express written consent from me.)

2) Please do not alter the image in any manner. Resizing to fit your blog's specs is okay. But please do not crop, colorize, or use any other technique to alter the feel and tone of the image. As the photographer and post-production artist, the end result is how I intended the image to be seen.

3) If you'd be so courteous as to provide a photo credit and a link back to this blog in your post I'd be oh-so-appreciative.

You know, it's occur ed to me that there are so many bloggers out there who are really good at what they do as far as entertaining and thought leadership on their blogs. But when it comes to image usage there is a lot, and I mean a lot of copyright infringement all over the place. When is it okay to use an image you found on the net? And when could it cost you a lawsuit?  What is the difference between editorial use and commercial use? It can get confusing. As a marketing professional (day job) with a mass-communications background I feel somewhat qualified to cover this topic. So check back soon for a follow-up post on this matter.

The netbook

Recently, it's occurred to me that I'd like to do a lot more personal story telling on this blog. You know, sharing a little more about "the days and nights of a desperate artist" with you all. But given the fact that my home pc is a traditional desktop tower, I don't necessarily have the flexibility to blog whenever the mood strikes me. Of course, as a photographer, I need the power of a desktop pc in order to manage my photos and operate my editing software. So it was the computer purchase that made the most sense at the time. But from a writing standpoint I'm the kind of person who needs to be able to pick up and go sit in a coffee shop or park somewhere and just let my thoughts flow.  Being a man of the digital generation a notepad and pen don't seem to work so well for me either. My thoughts tend to flow faster than I can scribble them down. I just need to be able to sit down at a keyboard and pound them out. 

Of course, I do have the option of using my work laptop, but I'm sure I'd lost my job if I'm caught using company resources to write for my homo- (slightly) erotic blog (and yes, I'm convinced my employer has little spy bots in those things that monitor everything we do). So I've been giving a lot of consideration to the purchase of one of those miniature netbooks. A full-size laptop isn't really in the budget right now, plus I like the miniature size and weight of the netbook. It seems as though it's the perfect investment for a weary blogger such as myself. Today I'm off to the Best Buys, CompUSAs, and other gadget stores in search of the best deal. And yes, I am in the wheeling and dealing mood.  I hate to be that way, but money is tight, the economy is down, and stores are desperate for sales. (I'm inspired ever since my cousin told me how when she was in the market for a new tv a few months ago, she went to Best Buy picked out a tv and told the sales clerk that she'd walk out if they didn't knock $200 off the price. And they did!)  Will I get a deal? We'll see. At the very least I'm hoping to get a wireless router thrown in.

$10 gets you "member only" access FOR LIFE!

Hey fellas... I hope you don't mind, but I'm gonna be promoting the "member only" section of this website a bit more often around here. If you recall, just a couple days ago I posted a rant about how my corporate job is really getting to me, and I can't see myself working in the 9 to 5 world much longer. I'd much rather be making a living traveling the world photographing real-life men of color and sharing my musings with you here on the blog. Problem is, this whole photo-blogging thing isn't keeping a roof over my head. Not to mention this hobby has quite a hefty overhead. Did you really think all the guys you see here allowed me to take naked pics of them and post them all over the web for free? So if you enjoy my work, please consider supporting it by becoming a member. A one-time contribution of $10 gets you access to the uncensored galleries for the life of the MasculineCurves website. Plus, you get to see the images that are perhaps a bit too risqué to post on the blog!

For details on becoming a member click here.

P.S. a very special, sincere, thanks goes out to all those who have purchased a MasculineCurves membership. Your support has gone a long way in helping me to explore my artistic expression of men of color through my lens.

Invisible Life... Thank you E. Lynn!

I remember reading Invisible Life. I believe it was sometime around the spring of 1998. I was a junior in college, and there was a mega-Border's Books and Music store near campus. I used to stop in and peruse what seamed like stacks upon stacks of, well, books and music. I was amazed by the fact I could find a book on just about any topic there. Though, there was one section I shied away from, "gay studies."  I was always curious about what reading materials I might find in that narrow corner near the back of the store. But I was paranoid that if I went over there someone I knew would see me and discover my little secret. I wasn't a good enough liar to pull off the "this is for research" line.So I only allowed myself to get close enough to "those" books to make pandering glances that never really satisfied my curiosity.  

However, on one particular day I somehow got up the courage to go over to the forbidden corner and dive into the titles. It was then that Invisible Life jumped out at me. Of course, the book cover's artwork was very intriguing (which is a main strategy behind selling a book). But it struck me because, unlike all the other gay literature on the shelf, the it featured people of color. And I didn't really know what being a black gay man was about, nor at that time did I identify much with black men period (given my upbringing). But I knew this book was a must read. It was the first gay-themed novel I ever purchased, but certainly not the last.

I read the book in like two days. That's how captivated I was with the story and the the main character Raymond. I wanted so much for him to be honest with himself, just as I wanted to be myself. He wasn't a sissy, or weird, or sick, or anything that I had previously understood "gay" to mean. He was a normal well-adjusted guy just like me. 

The day I finished the book I was sitting in the student center grabbing a bite to eat in between classes. When I got to the very last sentence I was blown away by what I had read. This story had helped me in a way I never thought possible. 1998 was the year I started coming out to friends (family was later). It was a slow, cautious process, but this book encouraged me to be the best me that I can be. It taught me that being gay was not synonymous with being effeminate or second class. I could be attracted to other men, and still be a man. Until then the only depiction of black gay men I had ever seen was the outrageously flamboyant duo Blaine and Antoine from the In Living Color t v skit "Men on Film." E. Lynn's words painted a very different picture for me.

When I finished the book that day, I knew I had read something powerful. I set it down on the table and walked away. I left it sitting there in the student center in the hopes that it would be a gift for some other gay student who was afraid to peruse the LGBT section of the bookstore. It was something I wanted to pass along.... To this day I wonder who happened across my abandoned copy of Invisible Life... did it end up helping anyone else?

Thank you E. Lynn....

M.A.L.E. It's about us...

Wassup fellas. Today I thought I'd point you all in the direction of a truly hot blog in which I believe is becoming a leading voice in the black gay community, MALE. I'm not giving props to MALE only because I've been asked to contribute to the blog (and I designed the blog's headers), but props are well-deserved to its creater, my blogging buddy, Ian (of Chocolate&Salsa and Weilding the Axe fame). Ian has done a remarkable job pulling together some of the most creative, compelling, and insightful bloggers in the black LGBT blogosphere to collaborate on MALE. So if you're looking for a fresh new voice to add to your "daily reads" MALEis your source. Check it out! Perhaps, once in a while, I'll post my two cents there as well...

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.

Apartment #5

It was only the third unit I had seen on my apartment search last month. But from the moment I stepped in the front door I knew it was the one. My only requirements were that my new home have hardwood floors and high ceilings, and Apartment #5 more than made the cut for me. As a matter of fact, I think it was love at first sight. An old tutor style mansion built in 1928, I absolutely adored the character in this space.

Although the lease doesn't officially start until Monday, my new landlord gave me the keys this past Thursday so that I could have a few extra days to manage the move. Needless to say, these past few days I've been spending quite a bit of time at Apartment #5 exploring all of its nooks and crannys. And with each moment it fall deeper and deeper in love with it. I love how the floors creak with each and every footstep. I love how light shines through the glass doorknobs...tiny remnants of the building's rich history. I love the awkward shaped kitchen, indicating it was an afterthought during the mansion's conversion. I love how the stucco texture of the walls hold true to its architectural intent.

There's something intriguing about Apartment #5 in which I'm incredibly drawn. It's whimsical, light and airy. I think it will give me the lift my spirit has been seeking. And speaking of spirits, something very interesting has already happened in this space. Last night I took a few boxes over and I made a point to leave the light on in the kitchen before I left (I have something about leaving a light on when I leave my home). When I returned this morning the light had been shut off. Could a spirit already be occupying this space? If so, I have feeling we'll get along just fine. I'm a likable person, aren't I?

 

 

Apartment 611

 

As I remove framed pictures from these walls and stuff my meager belongings into small brown boxes mixed emotions come into play when I think about the pivotal role apartment 611 has played in shaping the direction of my photographic expression over these past few years. I originally chose this space because of its inner-city location and the fact that it had an extra room, a den, that I would convert into a photo studio. Its walls, buried under a plethora of cloths and sheets, have acted as a backdrop emphasizing the male physique in its most isolated form. And if these walls could talk, they would tell you the tales of nearly 50 men from all walks of life who have stepped into this 12'x20' room and revealed their souls to my camera. 

Apartment 611, a high-rise located in the grittiest part of downtown, had allowed me to get close to my subjects. Sometimes too close, and I let their experiences to transcend to my emotions. I let this environment get to me. To me, leaving here signifies the end of this particular mode of expression which I've been exploring. Yes, as my "city of night" phase comes to a close, I look forward to finding a refreshed sense of inspiration in my new surroundings.  

Hedo Turkoglu

Yep, I know, it's a crappy cell phone pic, but yes that is Orlando Magic's Hedo Turkoglu (on the right) whom Jess and I spotted sitting next to us at the bar at La Strada last night as we sat and we sipped cocktails. To be completely honest I would have had no idea who he was had Jess not flipped out over him. And yes, he really is 6'10"! And yes, he is very good looking in real life. Jess told me I was acting tasteless when I attempted to take this cell phone pic (notice I turned off the flash to avoid detection). I told her she was tasteless when she walked up to him asked for an autograph (below) LOL.

The Magic go up against the Cavs again tonight. Go Cavs!!!

Blogger's Block!

Just a little blocked lately... Don't worry, regular posting will resume soon.

Tweet... Tweet... Tweetly Tweet!

Okay, so now I must go on a bit of a rant about Twitter. Well, not so much about the application itself, but moreso about how some people abuse Twitter. For the most part, the majority of users seem to know how to use the application effectively without going insanely overboard on the updates. For example, an appropriate use would be to announce that you're planning a happy hour gathering at the neighborhood pub after work and all are invited. Or, let's say you're an author with a new book out, then you could post an announcement stating that you'll be signing books at such-n-such bookstore in such-n-such town at such-n-such time. What a great way to draw support from the local community. These are appropriate uses for Twitter.

But then we have those folks who don't seem to have anything better to do than give a minute-by-minute narrative of their life. This seems to be some sort of weird personality disorder that I can't seem to comprehend. I mean, I really don't care that you ate your Wheaties this morning. So, what? Back in the day of regular email communication I didn't send out a message to my entire yahoo address book announcing what time I planned to eat my CoCo Puffs. Also, I don't need to know that you're upset because tonight's episode of Smallville was lame. Your opinion is not that influential anyways. And I'm sorry that you're feeling "sad" today, and that you only have 140 characters to describe your woe. What? Am I supposed to tweet you a toll-free number to a self-help hotline? Sometimes I am literally appalled at some of the ridiculousness I'm seeing posted to twitter. Things like:

{so-n-so} is taking a shower

{so-n-so} says 'everything went fine in the shower. I washed behind my ears, and didn't slip or fall.'

{so-n-so} is drying off right now, and is happy that his towel smells snuggle fresh.

Seriously? Who is this person? I am utterly convinced that people who tweet at this frequency and level of detail must have some sort of social disorder. I mean,  who has time to run to the nearest laptop, PDA, or iPhone everytime he sneezes? And I'm surprised at who's doing it too. One of my coworkers can hardly put her phone down because she is addicted to journaling every event, thought, and feeling into Facebook and Twitter. Is this really a good use of company time? A few months ago I decided to "follow" a somewhat popular blogger. What a big mistake (great blogger/poor tweeter). Today I finally "removed" him from my list because everytime I log into Twitter his 60 tweets an hour are overloading the page and burying the tweets of others who actually post relevant information.

I don't know. Maybe it's just me, but does anyone else feel that we're living in a time where there is no such thing as TMI (too much information)? In my opinion, if you tweet more than two, maybe three times a day, then there must be something socially inept going on inside your head. And it scares me.

All that said, if you'd like to follow me on Twitter my url is http://twitter.com/desperateartist. I promise, I rarely update more than once a day (if that). And if we become followers of each other and I later decide to remove you from my list, please don't be offended. My life is mundane as it is, and I really can't handle any more monotony in my day.

 

Desperately seeking friends...

Hey everyone, just a little reminder that I recently set up my Facebook page and I'm desperately seeking friendship. To add me as a friend click here. I promise I won't bite, oh, and I promise not to spend every waking moment of the day posting minute-by-minute updates to your wall. I mean, do you really want to know when my socks don't match? Is that really something I should be announcing to the world? I also tweet on twitter too. (say that three times real fast.)

Who is this desperate artist anyway?

As I've mentioned many times before, I tend to be my worst subject and critic when it comes to photographing myself. So much, in fact, I rarely put myself in front of the camera. Taking self-pics is hard. First, I have to set up the tripod, which I absolutely HATE shooting off a tripod. Then I have to dig out the teeny-tiny remote for my Nikon D80 (which is usually burried under a pile of paperwork on my desk). And once I get everything set up I can never seem to focus the camera (even when I use an object such as a light stand as a stand-in). So the pictures always turn out grainy, out of focus, and dark and dreary. Not a good depiction of self, right? Not to mention, I tend to cock my head ever-so-slightly because I think it's going to turn out sexy...but it never does.

Since I haven't taken any decent pics in more than a year I figured it was time. I was pretty happy with how these turned out. Especially because not much effort was put into them (it was just me messing around in my studio for about 15 minutes or so). I really needed these for my Facebook account which I opened in February and it has pretty much been laying dormant until now. I'm sorta starving for attention, so please "friend" me on Facebook, and you'll get to put a face with the desperate artist behind the blog.