REVISITED: Original Sin....

Original sin, also called ancestral sin, is the Christian doctrine of humanity's state of sin resulting from the fall of man, stemming from Adam's rebellion in Eden.

This condition has been characterized in many ways, ranging from something as insignificant as a slight deficiency, or a tendency toward sin yet without collective guilt, referred to as a "sin nature", to something as drastic as total depravity or automatic guilt of all humans through collective guilt.

I was pondering what that biblical reference to Orignal Sin must have looked or felt like to Adam.

Sure the scripture talks about Adam being alone in the garden and that Eve was later created from one of Adam's ribs to be Adam's companion; to be a helpmate. And I have to believe that Eve had whatever physical attributes that Adam found appealing since she was made specifically for him and from him.

Yet he was alone for all that time with the very temptations that he succumed to once Eve presented them to him. I just get the feeling there had to be more to the story..

Sure the serpent coached Eve, but Adam knew better; yet Eve had the power to convince him otherwise. I have to assume there were some extras thrown in to convince him to stray from what he knew.

Seduction is a powerful force, beyond the physical attributes and skill sets of the seducer.. Seduction is the process of deliberately enticing a person, to lead astray, as from duty, rectitude, or the like; to corrupt, to persuade or induce to engage in sexual behaviour.

That requires more than appealing physical attributes, that requires the seduced to convince themselves that the seducer is worth whatever corruption will occur. 

Thank you to the 8 brave souls that posed for EVE in this series. I know it was traumatizing for some but the payoff was beyond the final product.

MODELS: Various

REVISITED: Sensuality by any other name..

 

Perspective Matters: How we define things for ourselves determines the lense through which we view them.

 

What is Sensual to one may be sexual to another.. What is Artistic to one may be pornographic to another.

 

What we can't do is force others to view or define things through the same prism, good or bad. Or allow a select few to universally define things at the fringes of the spectrum for the majority..

 

Everything isnt for everyone.. Agree to disagree and move on..

Me, Myself, and I...

 

 

I am going to start an ALTER EGO series.. I think I am going to combine it with my Crime Scene series to make it a bit more challenging..

The plan is to have one person play every role in the image.. So these will be double and triple exposures that will be stitched together digitally in order to look like they are interacting with themselves... Hopefully I can work out the logistics to make everything line up correctly to feel like one image.. I am excited about the possibilities..

Kassy was my guinea pig today for some test shots.. As I found out in our 5 minute photoshoot, making things line up isnt as easy as I thought.. but you gotta luv her face..

Kassy is AMAZING and so much fun to be around.. She has a great laugh and a really inviting personality.. She has an expressive face that I really want to make the most of..

AND she claims to be the Queen of the Crockpot.. I will update that last attribute at a future date..

Side note: Red Bull is a dangerous thing in the wrong hands.. LOL

MODEL: KASSANOVA MARIE

SOME FACES....

Hello Kitty..

I am not inspired to shoot pretty pics often, but there is something about her face that inspires me.. The Hello Kitty glasses had me feeling a bit of Madonna Inspiration...

In a multicultural and mutli-ethnic world, people often don't know what her ethnicity is.. Those who are bold enough to ask "what are you" often start by having random assumptions and making random guesses and expecting her to validate them. For some this can be a sources of frustration.. I tend to think that being visually ambiguous is a good thing..

She likes to claim her Jamaican roots, though in the winter she looks Caucasian with a hint of Asian.

What others visually see has little to do with who or what you are, but what lense they view the world through. Some people are looking for a reason to bond, a kinship, or some commonality. Others may be looking for a reason to alienate. So the rationale for wanting to know "what" someone else is leaves a lot of room for questions with those who are being asked.

She looks forward to checking "OTHER" and writing in "Exotic".. 

The fact that she is smart, talented, creative, and just funny enough to keep me laughing at randomness doesn't hurt... So I always have fun shooting with her and we have some really interesting random conversations when we hang out.. and great snacks...

MODEL: Brandi B, 

SOME FACES...

After a Decade of not seeing each other, it was a pleasure to finally have some face time with Nitra.. Some things don't change..

While time is often something people don't look forward to passing, there are situations where time works to our benefit. It gives us opportunities to grow and learn from our experiences, good and bad.
 

Time itself is relative and teaches us nothing, but when we take the time we have and use it wisely there are no limits to what we can potentially learn about ourselves; and use that knowledge to navigate the world around us differently.
 

 

It is nice to see people grow into their own skin.. Become comfortable with who they truly are and not who they want the world to perceive them to be. That should be everyones goal with time, to become more of who you are.. To grow comfortable in your own skin.. 

 

 MODELS: NITRA W., 

WORDS HAVE POWER....



Words Have Power..

I often cringe when I hear people say that they "took the power" from a word. Is that even possible?? Words have a powerful and undeniably overwhelming influence on us. Words have meanings; that in and of itself has power that can't be taken away.. A word has the power to change your life.

Words cannot change reality, but they can change how people perceive reality. Words change our relationships, our demeanor, our entire system of beliefs. Words create filters through which people view the world around them. Words change the perception of everything!

A single word can make the difference between liking a person and disliking that person. If a friend describes the person you are about to meet for the first time as untrustworthy, you will be predisposed to view that person as untrustworthy, regardless of the person's actual level of trustworthiness. The single word "untrustworthy" creates a filter, or "primacy effect", that predisposes you to view the person you are about to meet as untrustworthy. Thereafter, you will tend to view everything that person says or does as untrustworthy. Overcoming negative primacy is difficult but not impossible.

Conversely, if before meeting a person for the first time, a friend tells you that the person you are about to meet is friendly, then you will likely view that person as friendly, regardless of the person's degree of friendliness. If you meet the "friendly" person several times and do not experience friendliness, then you will tend to excuse away the unfriendly behavior.

An unfriendly person initially described as friendly gains an advantage from positive primacy because people tend to allow the unfriendly person multiple opportunities to demonstrate friendliness despite numerous displays of unfriendly behavior; where you are less likely to meet an untrustworthy person a second time because you perceive that person as untrustworthy, thereby reducing the probability of overcoming negative primacy.

Words have power. Choose them wisely.



MODELS: ELASHA C.
MUA: Dana Marie Garcia

SOME FACES...

Some people are meant to be Photographed..

MODEL: Brandi B

REVISITED... I can still smell the fix..

RARELY do I go back and look at any of my older work that I didnt make prints of to hang on my walls.. Once I have shot it and gone through it to process it, I put it in the archives and never look at it again..

These were the last FILM images I shot before I decided to buy a Digital Camera.. I found them in an old folder as I was cleaning off my old computer..

I remember scanning the negatives and thinking this digital thing was way too much work.. I would much rather be in a Darkroom with chemicals than sitting in front of a computer screen.

I remember when the lab I was using to process my Non-Artsy color stuff called me to say they were going with digital processors and would be scanning my negatives and making second generation prints, I knew it was time to face the digital demon and make the switch..

I still have not fully embraced it.. Still carry my Light Meter and still use a frame count when I shoot.. I guess some habits I will never break..
MODELS: Juana, Elizabeth MUA: ME

CRIME SCENE: Discovery in the Trunk..

 

Did my first shoot in well over a year.. Really needed to do something creative to knock the rust off.. Luckily I met a new model, Lexii, who was looking to be adventurous and explore her edgier creative side.. and was patient enough to let me work out those couch potato kinks..

Had the opportunity to shoot in a buddy's garage in the trunk of one of his classic cars.. I forgot how big those things used to be.. a 1972 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight can comfortably hold a 6' model AND a spare tire with room for tools and luggage..

Took a minute to get my bearings and remember how to set the manual settings on my camera, only to realize all the batteries in my flashes were dead.. Luckily I had some of those little LED flashlights in my truck.. So with a little maneuvering, some well placed magnets to mount them to the trunk lid, and a slow shutter speed, we were able to shoot without incident..

Thanks to Gary for not freaking out when I told him I wanted to line the trunk of his car with 6 mil plastic sheeting and photograph a dead body in it..

And thank you to Lexii for stepping outside of her glamour comfort zone and taking her first steps towards the Artsy Fartsy Dark Side..

MODEL/MUA: LEXII

CRIME SCENE: Video Compilation

I recently got a camcorder and video editing software and have no clue how to use either.. so this was my attempt at practice .. I just happened to be listening to Kanye at the time, so he is the soundtrack for this.. will have to look for creepier music next time..

This is a compilation video of my Crime Scene Series..  I plan to do more compilation videos to go along with some of my future photography projects...

CRIME SCENE VIDEO COMPILATION

Thanks to all the brave models who sufferend through my randomness and choice of remote locations.. I hope the snacks were worth the tree roots and random critters we came in contact with..

GHOST HUNTERS..

Went to Washington Courthouse to shoot in an abandoned State Children's Home.

Walking through the house and seeing all the craftsmanship that was still in tact 100 years later was impressive.. Knowing why the house was there made me question the innocent lives that passed through those doors.

Sometimes I think we take for granted when someone really loves us or cares enough for our well being to take care of us; when they could have made other choices. 

Thanks to Ron and Rachel for coming to play..


MODELS: RACHEL P

KORI DANIELLE

My friend DJ was shooting Kori Danielle today and I snuck over and snapped these with my little point and shoot camera..

She is such a lovely person.. Has a great laugh and a really inviting disposition.. She looks like one of those romance novel women.. Like the wind should be blowing wherever she is.. I almost expected her to have a horse nearby..

I am glad that I got the chance to meet her..  and make her laugh..


MODELS: KORI DANIELLE