Nue Overdue

After shooting with her numerous times over the past two years, last month was the first chance Heather and I had to shoot actual nudes (if you don't count the heels that is). Thanks to the usual group shoot scheduling snafu, it was just a brief session (about 20 minutes of shooting). Still, I'm very pleased with the number of good shots we got. I think she is, too. Her comment? "Damn....that's me? My god those are amazing!" (*Blush*) I'm looking forward to the chance to go again and explore a wider variety of settings and ideas with her. Thanks Heather!

SiCKO Update

If SiCKO is playing in your local theatre, I do encourage you to support the film by attending a screening. As with most matters in the US, the more MONEY the film makes, the more attention the media might pay to the issues it presents.

However, if it's not playing in your area, or you simply can't afford to pay $8 or $9 right now to see it, the full movie is available online for free, with the permission and encouragement of the producers, at this site. Very generous of them, I'd say.

The folks at Blue Cross are certainly taking note, as a leaked memo shows, complete with talking points meant to distance Blue Cross from "the bad guys." I like how Moore isn't afraid to show the entire memo, which contains a lot of criticism for the film, and points out some of Moore's narrative manipulation and omissions, which I believe Moore freely admits to using to make his point. The Blue Cross memo also suggests "blaming the victims" by saying the reason health care costs are so high is because Americans are getting fatter and lazier... while that may be true, lack of health care prevents people from seeking treatment for problems that keep them from exercising, or keeps them from receiving preventive care or even getting diagnosed for minor problems until they flare up and result in a trip to the ER at ten times the cost. I think the insurers know that they're selling an inferior product at an inflated price, but most of us have no choice but to buy it. I'm glad Michael Moore is calling them on it, and hopefully his voice is loud enough that it will be heard by the people who can make a difference, because left or right, everyone needs medical care from time to time, and Moore is speaking out to help all of us.

The image is Mas69ter, demonstrating her feeings for the medical system...

Blogrolling...the models

As a part two for the earlier blogrolling entry, here's a quick introduction to the models whose sites I have linked, scientifically sequenced using top secret criteria... obviously, I'd suggest paying their sites a visit for all the latest scoop from them. Tell them I sent ya...
The list starts with Candy (above) and her excellent blog Feminism Without Clothes. I've talked about Candy here a number of times, so I won't rehash it. Suffice to say that she's a wonderful young lady richly deserving of all the attention she's been getting lately. The shot above is from our recent shoot, from which many more treasures wait to be unearthed.

Iris Dassault has been exceptionally supportive of my work, and I really enjoy shooting with her and love the results we've managed so far. I say so far, because I hope to work with her more as the warm weather approaches. Her blog has been praised far and wide both for its images and its thoughtful insights, and rightly so. Check it out! (Or read more Iris entries from this blog.)

Rose and I go back a ways to when I was first getting serious about the model photography thing. While I don't like to play favorites, she's one of the models I always enjoy working with, even though we often seem to catch one another on an off day. Have her on my card for the next group shoot, and I'm looking forward to being on top of my game that day and doing even more memorable new work with her before she graduates and moves even further away. She pops up in this blog pretty regularly if you'd care to see more of our work and read more about her. (on edit: she's since taken down her blog)

...angel del polvo... (Angel of the Dust) is the blog of the magnificent AngelD. Just about as energetic, sweet and funny as a person gets, she can switch into a real zone of intensity in front of the camera and achieves some incredible things with that wrought-iron physique of hers. Of course, she does great with the softer side, and frequently likes to inject her weird sense humor into the proceedings, too. Plus, she appears to be fearless... snakes, rooftops, odd guys wielding nipple rings... she'll work with it and look great doing it. Word is she's moving away soon, too. I miss her already. :( See more AngelD fun elsewhere on my blog.

Beauty is All In The Mind is Crystallynn's blog reflecting her attitude that there are many ways to add beauty to the world. In addition to modeling, she also does work as a stylist/make-up artist (MUA!) among a variety of other talents. Coming off something of a tempestuous year, it looks like she's really going to be directing a lot more of her time into her modeling during the months ahead... which is good news for me! More Crystallynn entries...

Go Back to Sleep is the well-intended, but infrequently updated blog of Sleep to Dream, aka Charity. A sweetheart who always has plenty of ideas, she has a lot more range than she usually explores. Always a pleasure to shoot with her, I'm looking forward to working with her many more times. Read about some of our other adventures

Strangling is the blog of the woman with many names: Mas69ter, Edward, but most simply, Heather. Shoots with Heather always have an accidental quality about them for some reason. Moreso in the planning of the shoots, rather than the results, although I'll admit to things being a bit hit-or-miss with her. My earliest recollection of her is wandering around the Southfield shoot with Andi, topless under a fuzzy white coat with her striking red hair... as she and Andi were walking by, I had Heather stop for a couple impromptu shots with Barbie, so I guess even our first shoot was more or less accidental. She's really only shown up in the blog once or twice before, but maybe more will be forthcoming before long.

Last but not least is The Original Jada, a Chicago model I hope to work with at some point... she was kind enough to give me a link early, and she runs a very lively and entertaining blog, so be sure to check it out. Thanks Jada!

Thanks to all these fine models for their hard work and efforts, and for placing their confidence in me, especially those who worked with me when I was just getting started with the model photography rock-n-roll thing. It's been great so far, and I look forward to a big year ahead.

Of course, I have lots of nice things to say about models NOT listed here, but to my knowledge, they don't have blogs that they're maintianing. Models, if you feel I've left you off my links list, just let me know. Cheers all!