Abandonment.

Sometimes when I'm driving into the west, it just looks so dilapidated and sad. Dried cattails cover marshes. And metal spires rise out of the mushy and sporadically frozen earth. Kind of like Mordor or Midgard. I'm growing tired of the colorless backdrops in life. I want to see greens again.

From these feelings my newest set was inspired. I suppose its what I consider to be a sense of abandonment. People come and go, just as color does in our hemisphere. I think I was spoiled when I went to Hawaii. I'm not used to having a burst of heat and such lush landscapes...it caused my seasonal clock to go into shock.

My backyard was part of this shoot. It has long been abandoned. My landlord will probably never do anything to improve it. The flower bins are empty year round and a piece of plexi-glass is part of my fence. I look forward to the warm weather. The moss and ivy are beautiful. I plan on planting something red back there this spring.

I also shot some pictures at an old train station in Liberty State Park. Its interesting to me that people enjoy visiting hollowed places. I suppose everything has its beauty in some way or another. Just sort of reminds me of visiting a tomb.

Until next time.

Ship.

Happy belated Valentine's Day! Jon and I stayed in and had a lazy fun day. We cooked, played with Nubbin's, and watched movies. Couldn't ask for anything better.
I gave Jon some framed prints he said he enjoyed and I got a lot of very nice books...including a Dummies Guide to the origins of everything in Lord of the Rings, and a lot of elizabethan historical fiction--you know anything with a bodice, a crown, and repression and I love it!

I also made a V-day playlist, check it out. AND, I got one from a magazine called Complex, but it was totally sex driven. I guess I should have known with songs like Sticky Face and Bed.

My playlist:

Complex playlist: 

Which do you like better? I like them both honestly, but the Complex one is just kinda hardcore.

Alright...enough cheese.

For awhile now, I've espied this giant boat on the edge of Philly. While out on errands Jon was my accomplice in getting to the ship and trespassing around it. Unfortunately, I couldn't actually get near the boat. Its gated up with a metal fence AND barbed wire. I like my skin, and I don't really think its that big of a deal. So, instead, I found myself wishing I were a giant so I could take pictures without having to look through fence holes.

Here are my shots:

While at home, I googled "old giant cruise ship philadelphia"; and I came up with the SS United States. Its pretty old, I mean, in my opinion it sort of reminds me of the Titanic. Its just so much bigger than the cruise ships I've seen in recent times.

Peace.

Fashion Show Music Obession

My mom took me to my first fashion show when I was much younger. It was the Ebony Fashion Fair--the closet thing to fashion week Morganton, NC will probably ever see. I loved how the models sashayed to the music--I wasn't too keen on the clothing, it was loud and colorful, but this was also the mid 90s.

During my internship in London, I had the amazing experience of attending a Fendi fashion show. It was everything I had hoped for! The music was loud and pulsating with the models walking in near perfect syncopation. It was just too short...one show is usually one song long.

It was something like this, just not nearly as long. 

And just, for fun, this is one of my favorite shows ever! Each piece is inspired by a work of art.

Since then and between each of these experiences, I have had a grand obsession with the music chosen for these events. These sounds change the course of what the show and the models will present--whether they are stomping fiercely with unwavering stares or walking calmly with a slight smile. The two examples above are exactly what I'm talking about. The only thing equally forceful for a fashion show is the makeup. It sets the tone well, and if done in harmony with the music is a powerful emotional force. Even if the two combat each other, the product can still be imaginative and interesting. What I think doesn't matter is the piece of clothing being worn. You could wear a potato sack, and if your hair, makeup, and the music is right...what else matters?

*Cue life soundtrack*

DISCLAIMER: I was unable to find all the songs via the Playlist thing, so a couple of the songs will be displayed in a raggamuffin style underneath with a description. Apologies.

The first song I'm Waiting, by Cicada, is quiet but driving. I'd a imagine a strong but, slow hippy gait. Makeup be would very bronze and simple. 

Move for Me was a single that really put Kaskade on the map in the dance music realm. Suite 117, came up with their one and only song Smaller, and then disappeared. I have found no info on them at all. The walk would be the same for both songs, although a little more "wind in the hair" action would be nice. Face-paint would be considerably darker...espresso and some shimmer and pastel pink cheeks--and a sheer lip. That concludes our trip into the land of Ibiza trance.

On to electronica!

Now, unless you've been in a pit for the last 10 or so years, you've heard about Britney Spears. Now, as a gay man, you're supposed to worship pop goddesses. I don't know why. This is one I'd rather not be caught up with. However, I have to admit the lyrics to Circus, make perfect sense to the feelings I'm imaging--having all eyes on you, putting on a show, spotlights, adrenaline. Plus its a great remix by Mysto and Pizzi; they're the guys who did that song for the money with eyes commercials for Geico. (Somebody's Watching Me) Circus, is obviously based on some sort of sexual fantasy; therefore, let the super stomp and tight hair out! Deep makeup would be perfect for this song. Big lashes, raccoon eyes, red lips, and (totally unrelated) mile high pumps.

Swollen is a song that has been in my life for a very long time. The group Bent did this song..imagine Air with more of a pulse. Experimentalists M83, are very similar. (Featured above.) I chose their song Don't Save Us from the Flames. You will probably remember it from the first video. Both songs need a more airy walk and very clean make up. It would be nice to have each song paired with flowing evening gowns made of some sheer light material.

Justice is one my new obsessions of late. I can't get enough of French house/dance/electronica. DVNO is a very masculine sounding piece. I imagine men doing their odd, wide gaits in a fashion show this song. Eyeliner and foundation...tight clothes, bags, and sunglasses.

R&B/Hip-Hop are two genres of music I find that are often left out of the arena of fashion show music. I don't really understand this. Sex sells nearly everything in our society. The two musical genres exude just that! Plus the rhythms and beats are so spot on for a catwalk. Take the two pieces I've chosen for example: Kanye West's Flashing Lights. Now before you lash out and say duh to this choice, hear me out. The song is talking about being caught in a photo with another lover. After a couple listens to this song, the syncopation is made for a classic hand on the hip sashay. Now RJD2's piece Another Lover, (found above.) is a little harder to explain. Just listen to the rhythm, there are points in nearly every other measure for a stop-&-pose. The beat is slower, but this could be used to the advantage if the clothing is long or cumbersome.

Who knew the reemergence of 80s sound effect pop would be so useful and catchy a second time around? Cut Copy with, Hearts on Fire and Dangerous Muse with, The Rejection, and Dave Gahan, Depeche Mode frontman with, Kingdom all make me think of masculine images. So, its back to the weird wide gait and thick eyeliner.  

Portishead's All Mine, is a song that demands gold. Gold lights, gold dresses, makeup, shoes, everything! Its such an overly dramatic song. The walk would be overtly sexual...maybe both hands on the hips? Too much? What do you think?

Not many people could imagine folk-pop being on a runway, but if it can sell an ipod, why not? Feist really out did herself by making dirty references in her song My Moon, My Man. The song's lyrics really have nothing to do with my choice on this one. I just enjoy the banging bass line and the piano. Something of a quick and fresh walk would be nice for this. It be interesting to see this done with a heavier makeup...something dark and earthy. Green!

I had to include Handsome Boy Modeling School. The groups albums are all based on a fake reform school for men that doubles as a modeling school. I chose a relatively odd song called, The Runway Song. (Featured above.) This would be really cool if you could get couples to walk to this song. Imagine lady in evening gown (one hand on hip the other arm wrapped around her escort) with gentlemen is some interesting form of tuxedo. (Certainly nothing garish...like leopard print.)

Antena, is apparently some Spanish chanteuse. She sings this song above called, Camino del Sol. This song is calm, but still commands respect with its brilliant and driving bass. I think a dark base very a very pale overlay would be nice for a makeup pallets for this song.  A slow, but slightly fierce walk would be on spot for this song.

Muscle Reform Reprise is a song I played all through my senior year of college. Mylo, a dance powerhouse from the U.K. is responsible for this feel good song. Men and cars are needed for this. I mean listen to the song...its a no brainer. Eyeliner and weird walks are in order!

Hope you enjoyed your foray into my crazy. Later.

Almost Brooklyn

On the way home from Philly, I decided I would like to do an experiment. I wanted to see if I could deal with taking pictures while in a high traffic area. So what better place than the Brooklyn Bridge? Its one of the the most visited places in NYC, so why not?

I left around 11:30, and rode the PATH in from Jersey City. Little did I know that Brooklyn Bridge was a straight shot from the World Trade Center. I took the low-functioning route. (See picture below.) But, as we know, everything happens for a reason. I found a lot of places I'd never been to before. I had no idea there were so many little parks and places to skate right around the area.

As I was walking, the winds were wild--they were about 45 mph. At one point I was clutching everything I had to stay grounded. People were laughing about the fact they couldn't walk forward. It was as if the whole city stopped to laugh about this silly situation.

Here are my results from the day:

On the way home, I was unfortunately the victim of sexual harassment. On the train home, I noticed a construction worker making eyes at me. As I got off the train, he approached me and asked me if I'd like to go home with him. I declined. He told me his name and I said I needed to go. So, I got on the escalator, where he proceeded to touch my backside and other unmentionables. I couldn't do anything about it, because this guy was enormous. When we got to the street, I lied and said I couldn't find my ticket, and I waited behind a column until the next train came.

Life is always interesting.

Artistic Scavengers

This weekend has been more than interesting. My best friend, Molly, flew down to Philly to be with me and my boy, Jon. We had decided awhile back we would do a mystery murder scavenger hunt in the art museum in the city. The hunt was kinda bobo and so Molly and I sulked around like losers and  looked at pretty things instead. Its always fantastic to be the slacker outcast bitch when you're with a good friend! Also, the hunt was pretty easy--only one clue tripped me up.

After the hunt there was a nice dinner party where all the familiar hunters gathered and went on and on about their jobs. Molly and I acted uninterested and talked amongst ourselves.

The next day we had a fantastic photo hunt in the Old City district of Philadelphia. Here are some of the results:

The pictures I chose are some of my favorites. These photographs are rich in texture and probably some of the ones I've had the most fun in creating.

Till next time.