Author Michele Hale |
A few of the models that I missed the previous week all showed up this week, and then some.
I forgot to mention that last Sunday I photographed Michele J. Hale, a local Austin author. She's got two books published- Skin and 11.
She had a recent write-up in the latest issue of Curve- “The best selling lesbian magazine”. This issue had a fabulous photo of Tammy Lynn Michaels on the cover. You know Tammy Lynn - bitch with a heart on Popular, and newly wedded to rocker Melissa Etheridge.
Ok, so back to Michele. She's a big fan of the band Matson Belle, and after she saw the photos I took of the band and realizing that she was going to need images for press and for her own website, she asked if I might consider not photographing hunky guys for a change.
She came over on Sunday at 2pm and we shot for a couple hours. We didn't do any location stuff, just studio, as I thought (stupidly) that one model might show up at 4pm.
That was the third stand up by that particular potential model, and despite being absolutely gorgeous…bye bye.
 
Michele was a joy to work with. She was a little self-conscious at the beginning, but she relaxed quickly and hopefully she got some shots she can use on her site and for further press coverage.
 
Instead of getting paid for these gigs, I have been telling everyone to keep in mind what they would have spent, and come January and February, I'm going to hit them up for big donations for the bike ride…sneaky huh?! Plannin' ahead!
Models show up!
I had three photo shoots over this week.
Monday night I had a shoot with Ryan, one of Robert's models. He wasn't one that I had missed last week.
I know I keep saying this, but wow..what a nice guy. I keep hearing horror stories of models and photographers not hitting it off right, but I seem to be pretty lucky. This guy is really super nice.
I plan on working with Ryan several more times. Likely do a video. I did some shots of him with fruit and my little drapey sheet thing I have been doing.
These evening shoots kind of wear me out. As soon as I get off work I head to the gym and often I also get a 20 mile ride in before the shoot. I can juuust do it, but it's a rush to do it all by 7pm.
The sun has been setting about 8ish so I have been having models come by at 7pm to do some outdoor stuff with good light. This means I get done with a shot by 9:30-10ish, and by then I am pretty tired, and I haven't had enough energy to sit down a do a couple more hours worth of work..which I REALLY need to. But I do it anyway and end up working till midnight or 1am. I have had so many projects to get done that I never felt like I got one thing done. Just chipped away at things.
And mail. Omigawd. I am so behind on mail.
Tuesday another model that I had been trying to work with also arrived. We tried last week, but he got so hopelessly lost that he just gave up in embarrassment.
Jeff is a natural body builder and has worked with several Florida photographers. Since moving here, he has been hunting up Austin photographers to work with.
Very glad he called me. Big giant muscles may not be everyone's thing, but since he is a natural body builder, I really wanted to add his “physique style” to the site. He was real eager to get some good shots, but I don't think I was at my best. We also did some more fruit shots as well as the drapey cape thing. Need to work with him when I am in a more creative space.
On Wednesday night, I had the night “off” but had all kinds of errands to run, and Bill and I cashed in a gift certificate he got for Trudy's restaurant so we had nice time dining and discussing business opportunities.
I need new business cards. I finally ran out. These are cards that are biz card sized, rather than my portfolio cards that are way too oversized to slip easily into someone's pocket.
We spent the evening going over which images that I should put on my cards. What a tough call this is. The guys have to show their bods, but not be too nakie so as not shock someone, yet I have to convey that, well, I need nakies!
I still like the idea of having four or five different cards with a model on each of them. Kind of a mini-portfolio. Collect all four!
My assistant at work just had some cards printed at this site called Overnightprints.com. The varnish on the cards is amazing, so I am hoping that the photos will look great on them.
Bill did the layout of the cards throughout the week. Since both sides are full color, we snuck another model on the opposite side.
I'm gonna order four different cards so that means I will have eight models to show off. Just to be safe, I think I will start off by only ordering two sets and verigy they are good quality.
If you're looking for new cards, I will let ya know if this is a cool place to order from.
More Videos
Thursday night I had a shoot with Mark. He was on the site on May 1st of this year. After our first shoot I had sent him off to Sean Cody's site to do a video and forgot that now that I am doing video that I should hit him up to do a video too. Mark has got lots of energy and I enjoy talking with him.
Once again, I finished up at about 10pm, and I worked a couple more hours.
I still don't have an ETA on the videos. It's all up in the air.
I really should stop shooting because I have a spent a fortune on this project, and if its gonna be a bust, I should just cut my losses. I am still hopeful it is doable, but it is coming down to the wire.
Aliens Director's Cut
Friday night I called it quits. I still worked for a couple hours but by 8pm I was ready to just kick back and watch a movie.
After the debacle of Alien vs. Predator, I realized I hadn't seen the Director's Cut of Aliens with almost 20 minutes of extra footage. Aliens is without a doubt one of my all time favorite scary movies.
I sat on the couch and chilled and watched the extra footage. I wasn't too impressed.
It's funny how the extra footage in the Lord of The Rings really pulled a lot of things together that really needed explaining. That didn't seem to be the case with the Director's Cut of Aliens.
James Cameron added scenes where you see the colony before the aliens attack. You also get to see Newt with her brother, mom and dad as they discover the alien eggs.
This is one time that the Editors really called it right. Having Newt's very first scene be when the marine's discover her added to the dramatic element of the story. Much more effective never seeing the town active too. Spookier showing up to an empty “ghost town.”
The only added scenes I did like were the scenes with the automated rifle defense. It made sense that the marines would have some major fire power and could take on a larger number of enemies.
There have always been some nagging flaws with this story. The first being that on this GIANT HUGE space marine ship there are only 12 marines, and everyone goes down to the planet?! I liked all the authentic military elements in the movie, but this just didn't ring true. Base of operations would have stayed up in space, and the landing party would not have included everyone…and that big ship would have tons of people on it.
Also, when the marines landed they “dusted off” -- Land for a second, drive a tank out of the transport ship, and then, supposedly the pilot takes to the air, avoiding any contamination.
Later they show the transport ship landed with the doors wide open. Why bother with the dust off?! Ok, so they needed that so the aliens could get on board and then have the dramatic crash, but it reaaaaaaaallly bugs me. Why not just land and wait for the tank to come back.
Ok, so I am nitpicking, but overall, it was great fun to go back and really enjoy an Aliens film. It's been a long while since that has happened.
Bradley Turns 25
Saturday I got up and got a bike ride in and went to the gym. After the gym I headed over to Fred's house for Bradley's 25th birthday party.
Fred (and his boyfriend Matt) were just providing the location, while Bradley's best friend Jonathan made all the arrangements. Jonathan posed for me for one of my fashion things a while back. Jonathan is looking gooooooooood, and he actually asked me to do some more photos. I doubt they will be nakie, but he is one good looking guy.
You might remember Bradley from the show Playing It Straight. He is such a doll. This crowd of friends seem to be very good looking and very well built. I always feel out of place, but always enjoy myself immensely.
I don't seem to be into the things they are all in to, but it is a slice of life I always like to be included in. I pull out my Jane Goodall notebook.
Fred is great also. He always makes good introductions and helps me find models. There were actually two identical twin brothers there that might want to be photographed (non nude of course..damn!) So I will try to follow up on that good lead.
Home Work
On Sunday, Bill and I used another one of his restaurant gift certificates. We went for breakfast at Magnolia Café. Yum!
After breakfast I was looking forward to settling in to getting some galleries done, but I had been putting off some “home work” that needed to get done.
Bill bought a shower door for the upstairs bathroom, and since I had done the install several times, I figured I should give it a go. Bill had actually contacted someone to come out and see about doing the install since we have both been so busy. Buuuuuuuut…I figured we could punch it out in no time and save some money.
The only hard part is cutting the top and bottom tracks. I had always done it with a hacksaw, but never got the cut straight, and boy is it a lot of work for just a simple job.
We took the tracks down to Homo Depot and we cut them there, scarring the top track pretty badly when it was wedged in the vice. Poop!
We came back and did the install with nary a problem. I think I have even mastered caulking! ~wink~
Since we were on a roll, we tackled another nagging problem.
If it has been raining outside or the ground is really wet, Kitty! will refuse to go outside on her own and will eventuall sneak upstairs and pee on the carpet. I had installed a gate at the top of the stairs to keep her from going upstairs, but since Bill is up there all day, she been allowed back up there. She enjoys sleeping at his feet.
Well, on Friday, she went into Bill's bedroom, and GNAWED through the wall!?!? I don't get it. This dog won't chew bones, won't play with dog toys, she just sits and cleans her feet all day. I can't figure out why she would suddenly dig through a wall?!
Her life is not in upheaval, I spend tons of time with her. Bill snuggles with her constantly now. If anything she seems more happy to have someone around all day. Strange. Maybe there is dead rat in the wall! Ewwwwwww!
So I had to re-hang the gate, this time with some toggle bolts that would really hold it in place. It went pretty well, except when I tapped into the electrical line...bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
Just kidding. See safe and smiling. With this mission accomplished, I worked on the journal for a bit, got some photos ready for Michele, and then decided it was time to take Bill for a bike ride to explore Austin.
We rode our bikes down to Town Lake and then had lunch at Schlotsky's. The ride down into the city is pretty much down hill, but the ride back up to the house can be strenuous. Bill slowly but surely made the whole trip, and fortunately I didn't kill him. Phew!
Well..that's about it. Time to put this one to bed..and me too.
CYAIN7
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