blue.blood.red

glance back

2012-01-09T13:16:00.000-05:00

i had to laugh.  here i am catching myself doing the whole reflecting on the past year thing, something i tend to scoff at others for doing.  you know, cause i'm a jerk.  but yes, 2011 was a lot of fun artistically.  photographically and beyond.  one of the things i played with, and you should try it too, was messing with disposable cameras.  

disposables make me think of life from eighth to eleventh grade.  i have a shoebox that's partially held together by duct tape filled with photos i've taken.  random parties, old theatre productions, terrible former crushes, the works.  weird to think that some of those were from half my life ago.  end of last summer, my nostalgia walked me right into the walgreens around the corner from my place.  i picked up a few cameras and took them home for experimentation.  and by experimentation, i mean abuse.  i wanted to recreate the fading memory feeling i had while looking in my shoebox, so i beat the crap out of those cameras.  melting and scratching the plastic lens helps get that hazy, dreamy look to it.  as does lip balm.  then you can throw it across the room, expose it to heat/radiation, freeze it, kick it, call it mean names, color the flash with markers.  if you hit it in the right way, without advancing the film, you can even get multiple exposures. 

as usual, more abuse can be found on my tumblr.  there will definitely be more to come.  get your own cameras and go play.

this one's me and red.  see?  she's even wearing a red coat.

blue.

i'm a creep/weirdo

2011-08-25T03:01:00.005-04:00

during my shows this summer, i spent a lot of time commuting.  like, a lot.  in order to not have my rush hour commute crush my spirit like it can to so many, i decided to occupy myself with what some could consider spy photography.

with my schedule, there wasn't time for any semblance of 'traditional' portrait stuff, no time for covering pretty friends in fruit juice and dirt.  one of the reasons i picked up an iphone was for the camera anyway.  so i became a one man secret agency and started shooting anyone who sat across/behind/near me.  sometimes i was discreet and hid my phone, at others i was bold and got whatever shot i could with an undetected quick draw.  eventually, i saw it as a nice way to have a mini-connection with a fellow commuter.  i found myself almost caring about these people a little.  i could even make up little stories about them based off each little hipstamatic* image.  then i thought about it.  was the monotony of my daily 1.5+ hour trip warping my mind?  and more importantly, was this... creepy?

ultimately, i decided that it wasn't (and if it somehow was, i didn't care enough to have that stop me.)  besides, the artist in me said, "we're in a public place.  we are sharing time, space, and breath.  we're all sharing this instance of being, i think it's cool, i'm going to photograph it."  but something like that can very quickly be seen as voyeurism (which in itself can be art, but that's a whole other blog post) or an overall robbery of privacy.  after all, i could've very easily asked permission to capture each person's immortal soul with my phone like a respectful street photographer.  instead i preferred to catch "honest" moments in a harmlessly sneaky manner.

oh well.  guess this attempt at a cure for boredom made me think hard than i intended.  interesting what the mbta can do to your brain.  or maybe just mine.

*for the curious -- lens: chunky, film: blanko noir, flash: off

blue.

low

2011-08-06T13:32:00.006-04:00

i had a quick shoot last month and i never posted.  shame on me.  i made a new friend from new york who just happened to be hanging out in beantown.  originally, i had a specific idea for our shoot but it didn't take very long for me to abandon it.  we just went with the flow and played around.  i feel like this happens with about half my shoots, not that i mind.

betsy is a big david bowie fan (and therefore has excellent taste.)  our soundtrack, and eventually the inspiration, for our playtime was "low."  if you're familiar with the album's cover art, you may be able to see how that could be.  if you don't really see it and think i'm crazy, that's okay too.

model: betsy

more can be found on my tumblr if you dare.  some are nsfw, so hide yo kids/wife.

blue.

Bearcats and Garden Parties

2011-06-02T00:50:00.004-04:00

"Kaa's Hunting" Swimwear

If you follow my twitter, you may or may not have seen my preview of these "bearcat" hair extensions. Here is the actual shoot they were used for. I love the Evigheden girls like no other, always so positive and we're oddly on similar wavelengths most of the time. It's nice having a strong design team that goes "Here is what we have, this is what we're going for... make something happen" and when you fire back your ridiculous idea they go "YES! EXACTLY!"

I modeled the ears after Pallas cat ears, I've grown a weird semi-obsession with them. They're such funny looking animals. Kind of adorable in that "What the hell IS that" kind of way. Also... fuzzy.

Photography: Quro Studios
Styling/Swimsuits: Evigheden Designs
Model: Ana Vivian
MUA: Wenya Chang
Hair: Numi Empire

By the way, Ombre hair is hot right now. I know this because I'm going to be in a NYTimes article about it. Who knew being too lazy to dye my roots turns into a fashion statement. Ana knew (subconsciously). I can dig it.

Garden Party Headpieces

This was actually a wig originally used for a runway that I roughed up and powdered lightly. It was perfect for that crazed-doll-left-in-the-attic look, complimented perfectly, as per usual by the makeup artistry of Wenya Chang. Both of these were shot by Quro Studios, the most adorable photo duo you'll ever meet. I want to keep them in my pocket.

Photography: Quro Studios
Styling/Headpieces: Evigheden Designs
Model: Allende Cītlalmītl
MUA: Wenya Chang
Hair: Numi Empire

I like our crazy little family.

{...}

back.

2011-05-24T02:26:00.011-04:00

forgive me photoblog for i have sinned.  it's been... a while since my last confession.  a fried thumbdrive and electronic magazine exclusivity have it out for me.  oh well, guess it's time rebuild a body of work.   why am i suddenly getting deja vu?

during a brief tirade in which i cursed the electronic devices that recently failed me, i played with an old analog nikon that i repaired and made some model friends.  yay friends.

models: jess, adrianna, cyn

what's that? one of the photos isn't linked to flickr?  well played detective.  i'll be adding new work to my shiny new tumblr.  that means blue.blood.red is gradually eating your internets.  in addition to our shared tweets, you can follow us separately (@ohthatnumi / @omarahsa) and you can even be our friends on instagram (@numiempire / @omarahsa).

and no, mommy and daddy are not getting a divorce.  we still love you and each other.  we're just preparing you for our galactus-esque consumption of all you hold dear via social networking.  whut whut.

blue.

Gilding Primal Instincts

2011-05-08T12:16:00.000-04:00

I consider myself extraordinarily lucky to be able to count some truly talented individuals as friends. Danielle (of Gilding Primal Instinct) and I have been plotting working together for a long time. We finally got a chance to join forces for her Jewelry Lookbook and the images came out amazing.

We're trying to get her set and ready for global domination, a simple task with the right marketing.

I was particularly stoked about this shoot, not only because I was working with people I love (including models Dori and Forest and makeup artist Wenya Chang) but because I had a chance to pull out some sleek looks I've been dying to do for awhile

Photographer: Lauren Powzyk
Models: Dorothy Johanna, Forest, Carmina Rodriguez
Hair: Numi Empire
Makeup: Wenya Chang
Designer: Gilding Primal Instinct

{...}

Tip of the Iceberg...

2011-05-07T11:06:00.003-04:00

I have to start this off by saying this was going to be a massive epic post (read: picture dump) but blue warned me against it. So you get this piecemeal.

But where to start... Magazines! Let's do that.

Harlow Magazine

Awhile back, Doe Deere of LimeCrime fame wanted to do a last shoot in NYC before she made the big move to LA. She pulled together a great team (big surprise) and we got to work on a winter/ice queen themed editorial. Harlow Magazine picked it up and released it in their Spring issue. A bit off season, but hey, it's still pretty cold here in NYC!

Photography: Steve Prue
Model: Doe Deere
Makeup: Ana Lucca using Lime Crime Makeup
Hair: Numi Empire
Styling: Leonid Gurevich
Assistant: Mark aka Grenouille

Buy your copy of Harlow Magazine 4 here

Retro Lovely

Finally got around to scanning in the image in Retro Lovely Magazine. Shot by RedRum Collaboration and featuring the adorable Minnie D'Moocha.

I like how Makeup and Hair gets shortened to MUAH. It's cute. I like cute.

Cute signing off!
{...}

Impromptu iPhone photoshoot for the soul.

2011-04-25T03:33:00.003-04:00

model: nidia

There is more, which may or may not surface. Our shoot quickly devolved when we settled on the Worst American Apparel Ad Ever theme. These are the more serious shots... oh who am I kidding.

{...}

Sharp Points Keep me Happy

2011-04-14T18:17:00.007-04:00

necklace to the left, made of zipperheads. I approve

Alex Alvarez is such a talented photographer, I always forget just how young he is. We got together to do a simple men's shoot, and I have to say I couldn't have been happier. I've grown a small obsession with men's fashion and editorials lately, I don't know what it is. I'm also pleased that I am getting to do more and more sleek looks.

What an amazing profile, I sure do love angular features.

Photo & Post-Production: Alex Alvarez
Model: Alec Foster @ Red NYC
Hair: Numi Empire
Makeup: KUMA
Stylist: Ruedi Smith

In other exciting news, Evigheden just opened up their Online Store. I suggest you check it out. You can catch glimpses of my custom wig in action in their Operaland collection.

{...}

Hot & Cold better then Cold & Cold

2011-03-16T22:16:00.003-04:00

Nothing like a clean, colorful beauty shoot to prepare us for spring. Yay spring!
Check out the vibrancy of that makeup done by the ever amazing Ana Lucca using Makeup Forever.

Photographer: Alex Alvarez
Makeup Artist: Ana Lucca
Hair: Numi Empire
Model: Carolina from Fenton Moon

{...}

No Words, Just Love

2011-02-06T23:15:00.003-05:00

Photographer: KMC Photo
Model: Melissa Chu
Makeup: Jennifer Nam
Hair: Numi Empire

The sweet simplicity of silence.

{...}

I Can See Myself in Your Viser

2011-01-28T11:51:00.009-05:00

Stuck an extra day during my Boston visit, we decided to do an impromptu quick and easy beauty-esque shoot.

Check out the awesome work blue did with (his new camera) Fujiko. They are a sexy, unstoppable combo.

I have a thing for sleek motorcycle helmets, I like them. They're just badass, and I've had a few ideas bouncing around involving them in fantastical images and characters. I got blue on board, and we now have a sexy new prop in our arsenal.

Photography: blue.
Everything Else: {red}

{...}

Remember When Central Park Had Leaves?

2011-01-26T01:14:00.003-05:00

I've been sitting on these images for awhile for no real good reason. I tend to do this. I work work work, let the images slowly trickle back to me and just sort of sit on them until I'm tired of doing so. Sometimes this leads to a mass updating of my various sites. blue's been much more prolific on this site then I have been lately and well, I felt guilty. So here you go, a small smattering of images that will hopefully remind you of fairer weather instead of this extreme cold.

Tatterdemalion Designs Runway Video

Speaking of "remember when"s... I just added a new corner to my main portfolio site, Numi Empire. Videos. Finally. I uploaded three which you may or may not have seen, including a video of the Tatterdemalion Runway Show (seen below as well!) Action Wigs! Ok, not really action wigs but, wigs in action? Eh, just watch it.

More (including music videos) can be found in the ingeniously titled Videos section on the Numi Empire

With Love (and Squalor),
{...}

"...and you can see daisies in her footsteps."

2011-01-25T03:20:00.003-05:00

it's been a while since our friend kate has graced our site with her lovely face. she's been busy happily teaching yoga in the boston area (and beyond) for the past year. you can find her class schedule on her site [www.kate-yoga.com ]. go stretch out and have a good time. seriously, look how much fun she's having.

the red one recently opened my eyes to the wonder that is lensbaby. and because of her i now own a double optic lens that i have to manually bend and squeeze on a digital camera. yeah, it's nuts. it's awesome. i haven't fully tested the new toy to see what craziness i can get myself into, but i did give it a quick try after kate and i finished our "serious" shots. i can dig it so far. the effects remind me of a dreamlike haze or that glassed over look you get after a fresh concussion (feel free to ask me how i know). perhaps red will get me to shoot a new video after all... but perhaps i've said too much.

also, kate is adorable.

blue.

back to formula

2011-01-14T15:45:00.005-05:00

i've hopped back onto the foundwaves train for some freelance rock shots. the year's first assignment was two really great bands. one local, the other from the second largest state (area and population) in the country (trivia). below is the taste, the full course can be enjoyed at the foundwaves home base.

eksi ekso

the sour notes

also, random shout out to mr. joshua jenkins who just happened to be at the show. i believe a co-worker was in another band that played that night. a pleasant coincidence.

blue.

"where's my moral parallel?"

2011-01-10T17:57:00.004-05:00

model/muah: aimee

blue.

doom looming

2011-01-07T13:59:00.004-05:00

2010 came to a pleasant end for your favorite photostyling tag team. before christmas, i boltbussed it to the newest of yorks and chilled with red for a few days. clearly much mischief was made. we were swept up in a whirlwind of burgers, cupcakes, classy beverages, amanda peet, not seeing tron, badass cat comics and korean pop stars. oh, and we shot too.

this was my first time photographing nidia in years, which is funny since she's probably our blog's mvp at the moment. but i'm glad we finally got to play again. highlights from this cold day definitely include nidia, thoroughly convinced that she was a ringwraith, singing to us in a demonic yet somewhat loving voice. truly a terrifying experience, i highly recommend it.

i have a new camera now. canon 60d. i call her fujiko. (if you know her namesake, i like you.) new toys mean you can expect more crazy fun times from us. guaranteed. what kind of crazy fun times, you wonder? you'll just have to come back and see.

model: nidia
styling: red

blue.

so there you have it...

2010-11-26T13:13:00.003-05:00

Winter Hare

Model: Nidia Medina (featuring Willow)
Photography/Hair/Makeup/Styling: Numi Empire
Jewelry by: Matthew Borgatti of GiantEye

Ava Adore Music Video

A video put together by Photographer/Director Zoe Hiigli, featuring Rachel Jean, makeup by MakeupSexxx, Hair by Numi Empire, and styling by Lizette Donovan.

{...}

"you can do it too it's as easy as it looks"

2010-11-26T01:31:00.003-05:00

"MOVEMENT OF ALICE'S ZIPPER located at the rear of Alice's dress running from the neckhole to the bumhole yes I know the first is an attribute of the dress and the second an attribute of the girl but I have located it for you in some rough way the zipper you could find it in the dark"
Alice by Donald Barthelme

{...}

Hurr

2010-11-10T22:55:00.004-05:00

Everyone wants long hair these days. It's sexy, playful, youthful, versatile. Hell, even I'm growing my hair out (and it is getting quite long if I do say so myself. Also, purple). The other day I shot with photographer Hortencia Caires and model Megan Black. You might remember Megan from an old auxiliary editorial I styled. She was wearing expensive panties and fancy shoes. This time, I gave her in-the-process-of-growing-out bob some extensions for sexy fun rooftop times. It was freezing, but she is a freaking champ.

Model's actual hair (also styled by me):

Photographer: Hortencia Caires
Model: Megan Black
Stylist: Chanelle Smith
Makeup Artist: Laura Amara
Hair: Numi Empire

{...}

glitterbombs and jetpacks

2010-11-01T20:59:00.009-04:00

a while ago i had the honor of doing some "business shots" of dear friend hannah hamilton. she also happens to be one of the best artists in new england, my bias aside. and being so, she's become a bit of an inspiration to me. so i did a half-assed interview via the interwebs in order to see what makes her tick. i'm always interested in the artistic processes of others and figured i'd share her answers to my nosy questions.

when did you first discover your creative talents/superpowers?

Three years old. It was my parents who discovered that I was going above and beyond the typical uses of play dough. I'm grateful to have been encouraged by my parents and mentored by many artists and creative friends. But my talents and superpowers are changing all the time, I definitely don't make the art I expected I would make when I was a younger artist. Its a good thing.

how would you describe your particular "style"?

I use different styles for different series of work, but I've been developing a single style for several years now. These current drawings and paintings are all line work with a spontaneous, airy feeling. The sculptures that I've been making alongside the paintings are more like three-dimensional drawings. A lot of flat shapes, flat color and simple, arcing lines. I work a lot with ornamental patterns, geometric shapes and structures, and grids but I interpret them with a loose, spontaneous hand. So these very exact, orderly patterns become loose, varied, and undeniably "human" like Japanese calligraphy or graffiti. I'm fascinated with the human pursuit of perfection, beauty, and preciousness. A lot of the colors I use are borrowed from "precious" objects of art history--royal blue, pure white, pink and gold. I'm influenced by a lot of different historical art from all over the world and I try to incorporate little glimpses of these styles in my own work.

you work very well with various types of media. do you have a favorite?

I can't say that I have a favorite media (I don't think I could ever commit to working in just one medium), but I'm currently working mostly in tempera paint and ink. I love paper for it's ability to go from two-dimensional to three-dimensional and I make a lot of models for sculptures out of cereal box cardboard! When I work on a series of work I usually come up with a group of multimedia pieces that go together--so I might include paintings, photographs, and sculptures in one series.

what inspires you to continue with this work? how do you stay motivated?

Motivation and inspiration are the least of my problems-finding time to work on the inspiration is the hard part. Making art takes a lot of time and resources--I've made the mistake of thinking I can manage a full-time, high stress job and still make art in the off hours. But putting art into the off-hours leads to unfinished projects. I'll be making changes in the next year so that I can spend larger blocks of time creating art and developing my art career.

if you were a professional wrestler, what would your finishing/signature move be?

I would knock out my opponent, tie them up and cover them in peanut butter. At that point a litter of labrador puppies would be released into the ring to descend upon my opponent like a pack of adorable vultures. Either that or Lady Gaga and I would just glitterbomb the whole place and fly away with jetpacks.

do you have any advice for the many aspiring artists out there?

Carry a sketchbook all the time and record your ideas as they come. You never know what passing thoughts or quick sketch might inspire you later on.

On a less whimsical note-being an artist means treating yourself as a small business. There are a lot of non-art aspects to being an artist--finance, legal, grants & funding--and you as the artist need to seek out this knowledge. Seek out the people in your community that can help you and always show your motivation.

a taste of hannah's work can be found on her website. you'll check it if you know what's good for you. support your local artists. they may save your life one day.*

blue.

*i have no evidence to support this, it is merely speculation. but anything's possible, right?

"...a dish fit for the gods."

2010-10-20T17:48:00.007-04:00

i'm currently being held hostage by zombie shakespeare. got a show coming up which means i haven't been shooting as much. but here's a taste of recent adventures with two sweet bands: phantogram and the pack a.d. foundwaves can be hit up if you desire to see more.

did you see the new empire ? red's been working hard, go see! go tweet and tell your friends! yay interwebs! anyway, off to rehearsal.

blue.

Cleaned up the Empire

2010-10-20T16:01:00.002-04:00

It's official, the new Numi Empire is go.

Photographer: Mark of Lime Crime
Makeup/Wardrobe: Doe Deere of Lime Crime
Model: Milla of The Green Children
Hair: Numi Empire

{...}

Falling Lights

2010-10-17T17:13:00.004-04:00

First order of business. Twitter. We're on it now. So you should follow us if BECAUSE you love us. You can follow us @bluebloodred OR just look to your right. No not that far right, just on the right side bar of this page, below "The Players". That's right, fancy new twitter feed right on the blog. Click on it and love it. Like you do us.

Photographer: Michael Morrison
Models: Fleur and Brittany
Styling: Theo Hackney
Makeup: Ashlee K.
Hair: Numi Empire

P.S. WHOA! A sleek look! CRAZY GO NUTS! THIS IS NOT THE NUMI EMPIRE! Yes it is. I need more severe looking stuff in my book.

{...}

Evigheden's OPERALAND

2010-10-12T02:23:00.003-04:00

Spring/Summer 2011 Lookbook for Evigheden

You can find more (much much more fabulousness) at their website

Photographer: Jeff Brown
Stylists: Marianna Barksdale and Ashley Stewart of Evigheden
Makeup Artist: Wenya Chang
Model: Suzy Mae
Wig by: Numi Empire

{...}

Emergency Exits

2010-10-04T23:58:00.003-04:00

Life has been stressful lately. The key to... something... the next step, the next hurdle, the next goal is always just past my outstretched fingertips. I can taste it, what I want, what I need. But there's always something holding me back. But that's life, right? Human experience is just a compilation of outstretched fingers and forward hurdles. Sam's Wife is transcending human experience in this set. Or making an Emergency Exit.

Don't ask me why the last diptych is so much smaller then the others. That's my bad.

Photographer: {...}
Model: Sam's Wife

{...} out

bandages, bandages, bandages

2010-09-17T15:49:00.004-04:00

hot hot heat

steve bays: vocals & keyboard / paul hawley: drums / luke paquin: guitar / louis hearn: bass

amazing. they are amazing. if you dig bands that know how to party onstage and manage to sound badass at the same time, see them live whenever you get a chance.

hot hot heat will always have a special place in my heart. freshman year of college, which feels like eons ago, my roommate opened my eyes to many wonderful things that i never knew existed. one of those things was moxie, which i thoroughly enjoy no matter how many people wretch when i simply utter that heavenly beverage's name. another was this band. while working, we'd usually have knock knock knock on, cycling through the same five songs over and over. good times. i'm pretty sure i still know all the words to le le low.

that night, the middle east hosted its photographic throwdown downstairs. at least, that's what i call it. since these canadian heroes have garnered quite a following over the years, there were a lot of photographers there to cover the show. the shooting space there is relatively tiny and i think i was one of six or seven. imagine sardines with cameras. however, it was a very fun challenge to see how many captures i can get without moving from my position*. as you can tell, i definitely lucked out. (i wasn't using a zoom lens, they were that close! oh snap!)

hmm. steve bays looks a lot like the unstoppable matt krueger, just with the greatest hair ever. no offense to mr. krueger's current hair style, which i'm sure is lovely.

and as before, this is just a taste. more fun times can be seen at foundwaves.

blue.

*a fellow photographer went to take a shot from another area and i totally stole her spot. i'm pretty sure she was not pleased with me at all. oh well.

rock recap

2010-09-02T16:34:00.006-04:00

august usually ends up being a very busy month for me. at least this time it was fun busy, which i hereby dub to be the best of the busies. a good portion of the month was spent in the middle east shooting some very cool bands. red even got to come and play one time. together, we watched our summer die an awesomely musical death.

ariel pink's haunted graffiti

birds and batteries

gina's picture show

fishing the sky

this is a sample of the work that was done. for more of my stuff and the shots of others and to see who's playing in the area, check out foundwaves. wait, was that a plug just now? ugh, how shameless...

blue.

Always crashing in the same car...

2010-07-28T02:40:00.003-04:00

...always waking from the same dream...

I have this thing that I do... that people love and ask for a surprising lot on set. This big teased out kinky do. I love it, and hell, it's damn easy to do not gonna lie. But my portfolio is going to be full of it.

A part of me wants to move on and really conquer harsh, sleek looks too. But everyone loves big hair. Dilemma.

Photography: Leriam Gonzalez
Hair: Numi Empire
Makeup: Mia Bauman
Model: Tara Smith

{...}

reunion

2010-07-22T16:20:00.006-04:00

i am suddenly having a flashback. before we were red and blue, before our powerful union was even a mere twinkle in our eyes, the two us worked on a little project. something of red's just for funsies. admittedly, my involvement in this venture was minuscule. all i did was provide weaponry and i may have held or moved a light or something. but the important part is that we were both working with celeste as our (her) model.

and here we go again.

model: celeste
mua/styling: red

blue.

with love and squalor

2010-07-19T23:37:00.002-04:00

recently, i joined up with foundwaves, an online collective that follows live music all around the boston area. my first assignment was a band i now enjoy because of red. she absolutely loves them and even demanded that i slap the lead guitar's butt so that she could vicariously get her hands on him. but alas, i was a terrible friend and did not fulfill her dirty wishes. i hope that she will eventually forgive me.

we are scientists

guitar: keith murray / bass: chris cain / drums: andy burrows

rock.

blue.

Well Loved

2010-07-10T17:32:00.004-04:00

Photographer: Aaron Kinney
Model/MUA: Ana Vivian
Wardrobe Stylist: Sally
Wig: by Numi Empire
Harness: Audra Jean

This wig is particularly popular for some reason, and having been pulled in and out of storage more times then I expected, it oft needs extra TLC. And yet, each time it somehow looks better... somehow. I think this series is my favorite capture of it. Much love and thanks to Sally for bringing it to her shoot and Ana and Aaron for rocking it beautifully. Also, fab styling, Sally dear. I see what you did there.

{...}

...and the living is easy.

2010-06-20T22:50:00.008-04:00

i had my first flake. had a shoot set up with a model, all was going to plan as swimmingly as possible. then bam. no call, no show, no love. that's just how it goes sometimes. but all things happen for a reason, it seems. unfortunate flakiness led me back to one of my favorite models. she'll be leaving boston to embark on fun adventures, so we decided to play one more time and have a summery, sweaty good time.

this concept was inspired by my love and disdain for this season. the varying degrees of light, heat, humidity, they all lead to one thing for me. sweaty sweat sweats. too much information? too bad. that aside, summer really does bring about a rollercoaster of emotions for me, pretty much exactly as leira presents.

a fun note: the sweat was simulated. no, i did not toture her by creating a painfully sweltering climate or force her to exercise to get 'best result.' those were actual methods posted online that i discovered while looking for suggestions. i just used a mixture of water and baby oil (squeezed from fresh babies). please be nice to your models. and amuse them from time to time with terrible jokes printed on popsicles. in this particular case:

q: what was a trick that the loaf of bread taught the dog?

a: heel.

model: leira waitt

happy summering.

blue.

Looking Up

2010-05-21T23:20:00.003-04:00

Before I go on I just have to say great job on the set below, blue. Full of win.

Unfortunately I can only follow with some scenery, a rarity for our site. But sometimes it's nice to look up...

large (1024 x 353)
gigantic (2897 x 1000)

Model: Phuket, Thailand

Love, {...}
or rather a very tan, a very dark {red}

let me be your favorite nightmare

2010-05-21T15:56:00.004-04:00

i have been having several headaches lately. not something unnatural for me, but i blame them for the unusual dreams i've been having. one in particular was a nightmare involving an army of dancing shadows. i think i watch too much ballet. after waking from said dream and freaking out a bit, i was inspired to shoot something. is this a form of self therapy? wouldn't be a bad idea. patent pending.

i made new friends yesterday. madison has recently discovered how much she loves modeling and now she's happily off doing her thing. and sarah (also known as makeupsexxx/mybighairday/queen badass of awesome) was a joy to work with. much love to them both. it was a lovely (and early) start to a busy day for each of us.

on a related note, i'm getting very good at making bread pudding.

model: madison
hair/makeup: sarah bortner

blue.

Day off? Never! [the sequel]

2010-04-10T23:16:00.003-04:00

there is a laundry list of things that warm red's heart.  high on said list are kittens, naps, video games and mutated citrus sinensis.  or 'blood oranges' to the not severely dorky.  before her new england return, she sent me a text about how excited she was because they were in season and how she wanted to throw them into a shoot.  i typically do not argue about such things, so... i didn't.

many thanks to our lovely model for allowing us to cover her in paint and juice.  it was a good time had by all.

model: leira waitt
hair/styling: red

blue.

Day off? Never!

2010-04-05T22:57:00.002-04:00

Last week I realized blue and I both had time off and of course, because we don't understand the meaning of the word rest, we crammed our weekend with geekery and shooting. Well, not really crammed. There were naps involved. And video games. But I packed my ArtLab ruffle bib and two of my new favorite tights and voila! Here is the first set of two. Click the images to see it in a bigger format.

Photographer: blue.
Model:Leira Waitt
Hair/Wardrobe/Photoediting: {...}

{...}

...Something to hold you over...

2010-03-31T12:32:00.003-04:00

Preview Image from Carbon Decay shoot

Photographer: Carbon Decay
Model: Amelia Arsenic
Hair: Numi

{...}

{insert clever title about runway shows}

2010-03-18T11:05:00.007-04:00

On Monday, Tatterdemalion Designs debuted its 2010 "Rough/Refine" collection at the Empire State Fashion Show . The girls looked awesome in the wigs I made, and the usual team of win was there if I do say so myself (yay for Designs by LJ with assistant Nicole on makeup!)

backstage, Sally of Tatterdemalion Designs dressing model Realize

The Runway

Models: Sherry, Evelyn, Dorothy, Realize, Forest, and Mandy Su
Many thanks to Carbon Decay and Distilled Minds Studios for the shots!

{...}

"with hey, ho, the wind and the rain..."

2010-03-17T03:08:00.003-04:00

it rained for days here. for the sake of being dramatic, the proportions were nearly biblical. because of it, i spent the smart portion of my weekend indoors. during that time, while messing with olga, i found even more old negatives. misadventures from 2007, which somehow seems so long ago. short story time!

the ghastly blizzard

escape means

caroline sees her future

more stories will be told later. now to reteach myself how to sleep properly. you'll get yours, daylight savings, and you'll get it good...

blue.

i have inside me blood of kings.

2010-03-05T01:56:00.005-05:00

at the start of this decade i did something i don't usually do. i made a new year's resolution. two actually. and my progress on these goals is lacking. firstly, i had resolved to shoot more (than i did last year) and that ain't happening. excuses, weather, work, all of it's blocking the path of me not being a liar. it took a while, but i eventually realized another source of blockage. i think too much.

i'm one of those artists. the majority of my work goes through drafts and censors, usually metaphorically. i tend to be afraid of mistakes. i don't try as much as i should because i often take too much time in my own head. but i'm going to experiment with spontaneity a bit. start shooting from the hip, maybe even the heart. just not as much from the head. just to see what happens. getting older has caused me to be more concerned with the technical, which is indeed very important. but in doing so i sometimes forget to have as much fun as i should. that will change.

it's time for a different shade of blue.

model: olivia

my other resolution is to finally finish watching highlander: the series. and it's true, there can be only one. here's to continuing to have fun.

blue.

choose your own asana

2010-01-09T03:12:00.003-05:00

i will never cease to be amazed by the amount of mental and physical strength that comes with practicing yoga. kate is into the last half of her two hundred hour long teacher training program with yogaworks. the amount of progress she made is phenomenal. i remember her telling me how nervous she was about even attempting basic asanas in the classes she took half a year ago. now she can hold a twenty minute conversation while holding urdhva dhanurasana. personally, my spine would snap in half simply thinking about that pose. lovely image, i know.

she found something she really cared about, embraced it, is on her way to mastering it, and plans to share it with the world. i think that's the best part of it all. just do what you love. life's just short to sweat everything else.

follow kate's journey here.

namaste.

blue.

New Year, New Site, New Post

2010-01-06T12:17:00.003-05:00

Lately, I've been moving away from doing makeup and focusing on hairstyling. It's an interesting crossover, switching my frame of mind from painter to sculptor but I feel comfortable doing it. I think it's a better fit - a mixture of my hands being closer to the medium, a very tactile sense of manipulation, and being forced to think 3 dimensionally. Not to mention I know and have worked with brilliant makeup artists, and the market does not need me diluting it. That isn't to say that I will not do makeup, I'm a general gun for hire after all. For instance in the shots below, I've been wanting to work with Redrum Collaboration for some time now so when Ludella (seen in the last two shots and our previous post) called and asked if I would do makeup and hair I said 'of course!' and stuffed my kit tight. I'm actually really happy this time with how the makeup came out, but then... pinup is relatively easy.

Pinned
some nsfw

Makeup and Hair: {Numi}
Photographer: Redrum Collaboration
Models: Minnie DiMoocha and Ludella Hahn

{...}

shine from within

2009-12-14T15:54:00.005-05:00

model: ludella hahn
hair/makeup/styling: red

near the end of september i was talking to red about bioluminescence (emission of light by a living organism) because i am a gigantic dork. i've always been fascinated by this ability in animals. i would always try to play with fireflies as a kid. and i was once completely freaked out by seeing large patches of water illuminated by agitated jellyfish. our discussion, by no surprise, led to us coming up with a concept for a shoot. we sadly had to postpone our plans until this past weekend (entirely because of me), but the wait was well worth it.

many thank yous to the lovely ludella hahn who came all the way from maine to help us out. easily one of the coolest models i've ever worked with. thanks as well to garbage dress for supplying our shoulder wings. and also to the mighty red one herself. she made our cage bustle/panniers out of her own brawn and blood. and by blood i mean... materials?

stay warm.

blue.

tree in a tree

2009-12-07T21:54:00.002-05:00

after a long shakespeare filled hiatus, i have returned. i scraped off the rust from my trigger finger and have hopped back into action. this time playing with dear friend haley roth, who was been developing her yoga superpowers masterfully. but for ill or weal? only time will tell, i suppose.

haley has planned to put together a site for her yoga services and graciously allowed me to do some shots for it. these are a few samples from our cold and windy first day. there will be more to come when we meet up and new york to shoot some more.

namaste.

blue.

That's my Lil Guy

2009-11-30T19:41:00.002-05:00

He's handsome.

{...} mewver and mew

The Grand Shipwreck Ball

2009-11-22T12:49:00.004-05:00

Dances of Vice is always a fun event to bring a camera to, it collects such a fascinating group of people. The Grand Shipwreck Ball was this weekend and my camera and I snagged a few photos, not to mention a spiffy mini tricorn hat (from the auctions that night. No one was bidding on it! Perfectly good hat for $20! A veritable steal!)

Also, several more shots came in from the James Hoff shoot that I loved so I'm sharing for sharings sake. That will be at the end of the post.

Grand Shipwreck Ball

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Savage Queen Deux

Photos: H. James Hoff
Hair: Numi Empire
Makeup: Designs by LJ
Clothes: Tatterdemalion Designs
Model: Dorothy Johanna and Miss Esmeray

{...}

My Girl is the Queen of the Savages...

2009-11-12T11:12:00.003-05:00

Hair: Numi Empire
Makeup: Designs by LJ
Clothes: Tatterdemalion Designs
Photographer: H James Hoff
Models: Dorothy Johanna and Miss Esmeray

{...}

Heh-lo

2009-11-06T02:15:00.004-05:00

Why Hehllo, Blahg. Long time no post.

I have indeed been busy as per usual, but I made two pieces tonight for a grand shoot on Sunday with my gal Tatterdemalion Designs and I had to share them. It's been awhile since I actually crafted like so and it was nice.

Bone Bone Bone

Materials: Raccoon skull, chains, feathers, porcupine needles, and duckbill clip. Hot glue gun to taste.

I popped it onto my sister's head while she was playing Bejeweled on her computer.

Materials: raccoon jaw, chains

I bet you I could make a chunk of change on etsy with this stuff. hrm. Also, using a power drill is kind of fun.

{edited to add: My camera phone is not bad. Look at that. Hrm. Fascinating.}

You know the drill, {...} over and out

vaulting ambition

2009-10-12T22:34:00.004-04:00

model: michael hopwood
makeup: margherita tisato
hair and fashion styling: red
photography: blue

the fruits of last month's labor have publicized. hooray for our first team editorial. and red's sixth(?) in general. also, thank you very very much to michael and margherita for coming out and helping us while in the midst of the craziness that was fashion week.

download your copy of auxiliary magazine here. do it. now!

go team (venture).

blue.

dot dot dot

2009-10-07T21:24:00.002-04:00

Just uncovered an old test shoot photo. Hiding long hair is fun.

Photographer and Makeup Artist: Manuel Rego
Model: Jing
Hairstyling: Numi

{...}

This Business Carbonation....

2009-09-26T01:23:00.004-04:00

... Less Pop More Fizz ...

Sorry, I have Enon stuck in my head for reasons unknown to me. Especially considering I just finished watching Amadeus... AND listened to the special soundtrack that accompanied the DVD.

ANYHOW... there are photos coming in this post, I swear. BUT AN IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE! Blue and I are terrible parents. This blog turned 1 on Thursday, both of us were too busy to commemorate. Bad us. However we DID give it an early bday gift via the fancy new domain name! That's right. we're slowly becoming something akin to official as www.bluebloodred.com is now registered and linked properly. Hurray. We love you too, Blahg

And now for what you really want... I've been holding these images for awhile (too lazy to scan in, tsk tsk). They are scans from Swoon Magazine in which I did the hair for two editorials. One of which using wigs I custom made. Credits below.

The Dress Becomes Her

Cirque Indian

Credits for both stories:

Photographer - Ella Manor
Makeup Artist - Jason Bennet
Wardrobe Stylist - Newhart Ohanian
Hair - Numi

{...}

light and dark

2009-09-19T13:33:00.003-04:00

no rest for the wicked. or slightly masochistic. as soon as i got back from shooting in new york last week i shot some more.

model: olivia
makeup: olivia
art direction: kate

a special thanks to red for the past weekend's fun. and for the jewelry i stole from her.

blue.

save the date

2009-09-19T02:34:00.002-04:00

chelsea and adam are getting married.

two beautiful people who will be stuck with each other for the rest of their lives. and probably even after that.

it makes me happy.

blue.

They Don't Love You Like I Love You...

2009-09-07T03:59:00.005-04:00

It's true, Camera...

No one loves you like I love you

Thar be stars on me face. Also, Blue should clean his bathroom mirror.

Sweet weekend. I think this was the first time I witnessed a wedding proposal in person.

SICKY! and Sicky's best friend.

This is what happens when you don't pay attention to what I'm doing.

I'm on there. You'll never find me. It's like I'm a ninja. It makes me laugh.

Guess I Could Be In Love With YOU Too,
{...}

a future's past

2009-09-04T20:52:00.007-04:00

she comes here, i go there, we both go elsewhere. we have been quite busy. our planning and plotting and scheming (oh my) have been paying off. the completion of the summer's projects has been leading to more fun opportunities. one of which is a shoot for the alternatively awesome auxiliary magazine, of which red has already been a contributor. (*shameless plug* go look at her stuff if you haven't already! *shameless plug*)

and speaking of contributions, red gave me her old negative scanner. how nice of her. as soon as it came home with me, i had to give it a spin.

model: erato

i went through some of my old film class stuff and laughed. one of my favorite projects i did was actually forced upon me. my professor told me that i shot women well and i had to do a david levinthal style shoot for my final. i had no idea who that photographer was, so i looked him up and discovered that he loves polaroids, soft focus, and nudity, all in one all-you-can-eat buffet. the final product turned out really well. but no one will ever know since the negatives and prints were eaten by the abyss of downtown boston years ago. at least i have my scratched up, blurry test shots and my amusing memories.

and now...

the short lived adventures of henry sword

and lastly, an obligatory kate appearance.

adieu.

blue.

On Unsettling Settings and Pricey Panties...

2009-08-20T15:44:00.003-04:00

I've been lax in posting, as per usual. So to compensate I shall unload two sets of images on you. The first being some shots I took at night in Times Sq. the second is from the August issue of Auxiliary Magazine.

I'm also testing out using Picasa to hold my images as opposed to Flickr. Let's see how their embedding goes.

Ichi Ni San Shi GO

From NY 8/7/09 3:09 AM

This is what Times Sq. feels like to me. Disorienting and intrusive. I'll take a shady chinatown backalley any day over Times Sq.

I like how I spent all night shooting in a manner that would take me two seconds in photoshop to recreate (throw a bunch of filters and shit on that, yeaaaah). But I tell you it's always nice to know how to trick the camera with just the camera.

Her Panties Cost Me $280

From Bare Accessories

I gave you the whole story this time, cause... why not. Do pick up/download the rest of the issue. It's rad. Also you can see better quality/larger versions of the above images in case you need to lust over some shoes and handbags. You can pick the issue up at {Auxiliary Magazine} Special thanks to Photographer Ella Manor, Model Megan Black, Hairstylist Tetsuya, Makeup Artist/Manicurist Nadja And everyone else...

[...] signing out

laughing with a mouth of blood

2009-08-03T23:40:00.003-04:00

i'm amused by how sunday usually seems to be the day to shoot. nice way to start (end?) every week. while cleaning up my room, i discovered that we still had some fake blood left over from red's last visit. naturally, i couldn't just let it sit there.

during my short time at the museum school, i was given an assignment to come up with a video project under two minutes in length. the short i came up with was called 'pretty killer'. long story short, a super cutesy girl starts a killing spree. dark comedy. if you know me, the subject matter would be no surprise. sadly, the video was never completed. the idea randomly crept back into my mind last week so we did our shoot with the title character in mind.

model: kate
makeup: kate/blue

a little blood, a lot of fun. yet another good weekend.

blue.

fighting the good fight without actually fighting.

2009-07-28T22:55:00.003-04:00

this weekend's mission was to team up and document the new york portion of melanie's peace promoting excursion around the world.  the other side.  we had the honor of being a part of the cinematic interpretation of her performance piece.  highlights included sporadic bouts of heavy downpour, bubbles, red bean tea, burgers and cupcakes, enchanted passers by and reuniting with old friends.  and spreading the word of love and peace of course.

melanie has been the reigning queen of good vibes for quite some time and we wish her well on her adventures.  she can also form rainbows in the sky at will.  an impressive feat indeed.

when the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.
-- jimi hendrix

blue.

sunbeams and good vibes.

2009-07-20T03:03:00.002-04:00

model: kate

it's finally summer. now that it's nearly august, it's stopped raining daily, the sun comes out, it's above eighty degrees and i wish that was not the case, it's summer. i celebrated by sleeping in, shooting, and making kate biscuits and gravy as modeling payment.

blue.

Remember-member

2009-07-11T00:43:00.002-04:00

First a mini story:

I found my old negative scanner, and so felt compelled to whip out some old negatives. I clearly need to clean them as well. I liked the shots I did with this doll, he was the perfect subject. I should attempt a whole series with him.

Below are two random images I also am fond of. The first reminds me of a snuff film of sorts. There's movement and tension. The second... well who can turn that down. Actually the main reason I put these up was because they represent something a little bit sinister, this idea of being haunted by past body image. It's a personal reference but who reads this.

Models: Numi and Adem

Past perfect body. Future perfect body. Present imperfection. There's nothing wrong with us now. In fact, I think we're pretty smexy together. There. I said it. I am very tired.

[...] out.

How to relieve stress - Add more work!

2009-07-08T23:21:00.004-04:00

Running myself ragged producing another editorial for Auxiliary. And yet, I still accept TFP for hairstyling. But mostly because Jing (the model below) is a nice girl and knows how to ask me. But you know, two looks isn't such heavy work for a Sunday afternoon, so all was well.

Model: Jing
Makeup: Leanne Harpin
Hair: Yours Truly
Photography: Belin Photography

Aaaaand back I go to exploding

[...]

single light source dream

2009-07-06T21:30:00.003-04:00

first order of business: happy belated birthday to america and one of her greatest defenders, michael howard.

now for a taste of my subconscious.  i had another crazy dream after a night of reading up on too much greek and norse mythology.  you know, like normal people do over the weekend.  in said dream, there was a gigantic tree, not unlike the yggdrasil or the tree of knowledge.  for some reason, if you sat on the tree's roots you were either granted some sort of mental powers or you went crazy.  i'm pretty sure i decided to stand.  i also remember the lighting being unnatural because i was underground and i could've sworn there was some max richter playing in the background (look him up).

model: lizette
make-up: lizette
set design: kate

so anyway, long story short(ened), the shoot was very loosely based off the dream and lizette just happened to be in it. many thank yous to kate for her assistance. and to lizette for cookies. and modeling. the three of us celebrated the completion of the day's work with sorbet. a weekend well spent indeed.

blue.

from russia with love

2009-06-28T22:42:00.005-04:00

model: kate*

i don't remember taking this. and it seems like neither one of us expected it. red made a funny comment about being caught in headlights when i described this photo to her and suggested that i post it. so here's to my two artsy ladies. and speaking of ladies, a new weapon has been added to my arsenal. my smena 8m finally arrived in the mail yesterday morning. i named her olga. and as soon as i'm finished typing this i'll be ordering tons of film so i can experiment. go team venture.

**

blue.

*pretty new top provided by poor little rich girl in davis square
**the agent's super secret identity must remain super secret.

I've been doing stuff. I swear.

2009-06-11T22:33:00.002-04:00

First, I'd like to take a moment to allow anyone reading this to adjust from the combined awesomeness that is Blue and my collaboration in the previous post....

mmm...Yes?

Ok, moving on. So I've been... waiting for stuff... mainly magazines and images to be released. On my list of things released so far are two editorials, one in Fused Magazine the other in Auxiliary magazine (which you will see shortly). On the upcoming side there will be two stories (I am anxiously waiting on) to be released in the July issue of Swoon magazine, and my own appearance in V mag.

Excitinks. Anyway time for an image dump. The first is an old shoot done with Kat Bret Photography for Tatterdemalion Designs (I loves me some Sally/TD Designs)

Photography: Kat Bret
Styling: Tatterdemalion Designs
Hair and Makeup: [...]
Model: Lo

Secondly! Some shots from Auxiliary Magazine. Please check the June issue out. You can get your hands on a physical copy or just download the free pdf at www.auxiliarymagazine.com

Photography: Kat Bret
Styling/Production: [...]
Hair: Kristin Jackson
Makeup: BJ
Models: Dori Bot, Scarlett Dancer, and a really awesome snake.

Red, over and out

[...]

the veiled lady

2009-06-08T16:50:00.003-04:00

model: kate
make-up/hair/direction: red
photography: blue

sadly our time was very brief, but this has been the first official collaboration of the forces known as red and blue! at least since we've started referring to ourselves as forces. either way, it's been a while since the last time. and there will be more to come. but is the world ready?

coming soon... film!

blue.

a rainy sunday

2009-06-02T00:36:00.003-04:00

model: kate

the attire was based off a character dreamt up by red and myself. the mighty mistress of middle management: office chan. one day, she'll rise like a mythic beast and save all good employees by laying waste to the daily grind. also she's immune to papercut and can type 500 words per minute.

we are obviously quite silly.

blue.

feed me.

2009-04-28T02:09:00.004-04:00

it's been a rough week. i was ill pretty much the whole time, still am. seems that one of my home remedies was to commandeer kate's iphone and attempt to take photos in five minute intervals for an hour. i'm sure there's some sort of deep meaning of sense of exploration in this but i'm not aware of it. sometimes it's nice to shoot just to shoot.

blue.

As if I were legitimate... possibly...

2009-04-23T14:36:00.002-04:00

Finally got my butt in gear and got a website: Numi Empire
Still a few kinks to work out, but hey, it's a start! I would really like to go more in the Art Direction vein, so I can't wait to flesh that part of the galleries out.

I've got images back from the shoot with Ella (Behind the Scenes photos were posted earlier)

Full story to be published in Fused Magazine (www.fusedmagazine.com)

Photographer: Ella Manor
Makeup: Emma Bazan
Styling: Rika Watanabe
Hair: Me

[...]

Dances of Vice

2009-04-19T21:02:00.003-04:00

Sometimes I stop being a hermit and go to fabulous events with equally fabulous people. I like these times.

All photography by me (with the exception of the image taken OF me and Sally...)
more at my flickr

[...]

naturally lit day off

2009-04-16T00:12:00.006-04:00

i blame work for my flagrant lack of photography. i vow to fight and not allow my trigger finger to be weakened any further. that being said...

model: kate

blue.

.Blue.Blood.Red.

2009-03-27T01:17:00.002-04:00

Respectfully Yours,
[...]

YAY SPRINGTIME!

2009-03-23T00:21:00.002-04:00

Model: Nidia
Everything Else: [...]

photomashoots

2009-03-10T20:03:00.003-04:00

Photography: Distilled Minds Studios
Hair and Makeup: [Numi]

[...]

alive. I think. hrm.

2009-03-03T00:27:00.003-05:00

I know I know, I owe you some photos. I need to get them off my (old) phone. To make up for it, up above is a photo taken with a silly little application I downloaded onto my new phone. I am indeed abnormally fond of this iPhone

Also, some previews of a shoot done with Ella Manor. I worked as hairstylist:

Photographer on Set: Ella Manor [Ella Manor Photography]
Candid Shots taken by Sam Chadwick [Sam Chadwick Photography]
Models: Kara and William, [Basic Model Management]

mew. I am le tired.

[...]

red tape

2009-01-11T23:47:00.010-05:00

hmm, i need something to do. now that i've beaten tactics.
make me something.
like what?
i dunno. anything.
hmm. this will take some thinking.
yees. you do that.
do you want it today?
yes.

the ichat conversation between red and myself had ended at 23:15, not giving me much time to act. how do you make a present for someone you care about in not much time? you figure it out, that's how. this is the first time i've made anything under a severe time restraint. no time for pretty setup, good lighting. point, shoot, go!

model: jack bauer

red, this is your impromptu gift. i couldn't help myself since the 24 premiere was today. enjoy.

blue.

2009-01-11T04:49:00.007-05:00

i've been sick somehow every day this year. it's starting to poison my brain because i woke up from another one of my apocalyptic crack dreams. instead of trying to get back to sleep, i've spent the past three hours documenting it.

do not be fooled by the pretty colors. this dream was absolutely terrible. but now that the nightmare has been banished to the interwebs and is free from my brain, i can finally rest. and maybe i won't be sick anymore!

blue.

How has January been treating you so far?

2009-01-04T22:03:00.003-05:00

January 1

January 2

January 3

January 4

~~~~

This whole camera phone project is exciting in its immediacy. There's no setup, no conceptual planning or anything of the sort, it's kind of nice. Its been opening up the questions of what, how, and why to shoot something for me. Am I doing this to merely document, how mindful of composition should I be? The quality of the actual image is crap so how do I make up for that? Subject? Form? Or just let go and take a snapshot of a moment? It almost makes it more interesting...

[...]

It's true, I love WHAM!

2008-12-31T15:48:00.002-05:00

Last Christmas

"...I gave you my heart, and the very next day, you gave it away..."

Fabric marker on tshirt. Its soul was taken by my camera phone.
I have become more intrigued and less adverse to camera phone shots. If you think about it, it's really the Polaroid of our time. *ponders* I think for the month of January i will take one shot a day using my camera phone.
.
.
.
.
.
On a side note, I don't very much care for New Years...

[...]

cast me off discourteously

2008-12-31T15:15:00.007-05:00

model: kate
hair: kate
make-up: blue

get ready for some obscurity. technically, my song is what child is this? (1865), a christmas hymn by william chatterton dix. but this song is simply a rip-off of a well known romanesca, greensleeves (1580). the exact same tune, two sets of lyrics.

there are a handful interpretations of the lyrics of greensleeves. the majority of which claim the song is a about a potentially promiscuous woman who may have rejected henry viii's constant attempts to woo her and was given her nickname (lady greensleeves) due to being covered in grass stains from getting it on outside. however, in dante gabriel rossetti's depiction of her, i didn't really get a sense of any of that. somehow, all this information and the last minute collection of a few materials lead to my very brief shoot. it was definitely a fun time. i even made my own light tent, ghetto though it may be.

i might add a few more shots later. for now, here is kate trying to crush your soul with her mind. challenge complete. happy new year.

blue.

'tis the season for pain.

2008-12-13T16:52:00.015-05:00

the glove is off and thrown down onto the freezing pavement. feel the cold sting of my first official challenge.

obscure christmas song reference

requirements:
- photograph must be in reference to any christmas song
- the colors red and green must somehow be featured
- deadline: 12.31.08 -- 23:59:59

what say you to that, red one? let's see if you can come up with something before the year ends. (and let's see if i can do the same...) i was bored at work and realized that i haven't been free from christmas music since black friday. so i felt pained and inspired. unfortunately, it has not given me a head start on my own challenge curses. but enough talk. have at you.

model: olivia

**photo is meant to set mood -- not a challenge submission

blue.

guerrillero heroico pincer attack

2008-11-30T20:48:00.006-05:00

that's correct. from both sides. the above was inspired by the first half of this month. while leading up to history making results of the election, i found myself with this elated sense of patriotism. much like tons of others, obviously. around that time, i think i saw a group of kids in harvard square sporting che guevara t-shirts and it made me laugh. young kids. probably too young to even know what marxism is, or even know who che is for that matter. but i guess it doesn't matter since alberto korda made him look like a badass. hooray counterculturalism. combine that with me playing a disgusting amount of metal gear solid and voila: my own personal propaganda. i clearly had obey giant's obama portrait in mind, just with my own little twist.

below was a fun bonus. as is tradition, i spent thanksgiving weekend with none other than the self-proclaimed great one himself. every saturday after bird day is tuba christmas. a bunch of low brass players gather at quincy market to play christmas songs. always a good time. i like how this one came out since it's really three different images.

so here's to our president elect, big boss, and the beginning of winter. challenge complete.

blue.

triforced

2008-11-22T23:06:00.006-05:00

lately, i've been inspired by three panel soul, a cool webcomic that michael brought to my attention a while ago. the title alone had me thinking. there's something about the idea of attempting to fit something precious and intangible into three tiny windows that intrigues me.

i think i'll make an attempt to make this a concentration. three parts to create the whole. the discoveries i'll encounter while trying to complete said whole could be limitless.

in vietnam, it is said that taking a photo with three people in it is bad luck.

blue.

Too many X's....

2008-10-20T13:55:00.003-04:00

Blue. We have too many sexy ladies on this blog, not that that's necessarily a bad thing but we should even the playing field a little. I'm starting to feel a chauvinist...

I PROPOSE A CHALLENGE *throws down dainty lady glove... of STEEL*!

Photographs with a subject of the XY chromosome persuasion.

Requirements:
- Must be a new photo.
- Human

... I think that's it.

Deadline: erm. Fairly open.

To kick it off and get us in the mood (though not my official entry...):

Model: Peter

[...]

half awake

2008-10-20T01:29:00.006-04:00

this weekend has been quite pleasant. scratch that, the month's just been great so far. probably still riding the high of how it all started, i suppose. speaking of weekends, the upcoming one may present an interesting opportunity. josh and i plan on going to the middle east to see a show. a local band that's in rock band 2. go fig. while i'm there, maybe i'll man up and ask someone at that place about the logistics of doing some photography there. i wonder how much red tape there'd be. shooting a show could be a fun experience, i'd like to try it. there could even be some payment involved. slim chance, but any chance is a chance indeed. music has always had it's hand in pretty much every project of any kind that i've ever done. at least anything i've done in the past decade. why not incorporate it into something in a new way? no harm in asking.

more projects are on the horizon, but here's something from a moon or two ago for now.

blue.

model: kate
hair/make-up: olivia
everything else: blue

I do not apologize for partial nudity

2008-10-19T22:59:00.003-04:00

My setup is exceptionally ghetto. This is because I am an imaginary photographer.

Also I am poor.

Luckily for you, I am resourceful and eccentric.

[...]

Model: Nidia
Everything Else: Numi [...]
Light-holder/Assistant: Robert C.

based on a true story

2008-10-17T12:22:00.011-04:00

a man painfully shuffles down an alley. one arm braces against damp, cold brick for leverage. the other wraps around freshly cracked ribs. he realizes another step is out of the question as he falls to knees and coughs up a surprising amount of blood.

through the pain, a smile slowly spreads across his face as the scent of fresh mint fills the air around him. a woman quietly appears behind the man. her small frame entirely wrapped in a peculiar shroud. a dark tattered material with small withered green leaves seemingly stitched into it.

seems like it's about that time, he manages to say. she nods and runs her hands through his salt and peppered hair. he didn't expect to feel so much comfort. he didn't deserve it. especially after what he had done.

in a forced whisper, he asks her to protect his family while he's gone. she nods again. her hands end their almost ritualistic massage and grip the base of his skull. his eyes shut, his body falls limp. no more pain.

------

that, red, is my response. for some reason the photo reminded me of the greek myth of menthe, not this is how it goes. at all. i had actually hope to turn a story idea that i have that involves that myth into... something. video or photo, we'll see.

i feel the need to avoid having a naked post. take a small sample from a shoot we did in july. more old stuff, go!

blue.

ya think she likes photoshop?

2008-10-13T23:18:00.003-04:00

Self portrait. To be fair it DID start out as a photograph... a very lackluster poorly taken shot. But then what is photoshop for if not overcompensation.

~~

Write me a story about this girl, I think she is nothing but contradictions

[...]

redder red

2008-10-12T23:27:00.004-04:00

I'm entering a life crisis, a chance to step back and rethink my possibilities. Blue urges me to create and I am appreciative of him for it. I have great plans.

But in the meanwhile... I feel like I need something to show.

Below you'll find a sampling, a mere smattering if you will of photos I've taken. The deciding factor of these being what I have in my flickr account (there's a self portrait in there. find it.)

[...]

twenty five rock points

2008-10-07T22:46:00.009-04:00

this past friday will be forever stamped into my memory as the best day i've had in a very long time. the best of my friends and i celebrated the 25th anniversary of my birth at the monastery. pizza, cake, alcohol. rock band. five hours of hardcore rocking. i was reminded of what true love really is. i didn't have a voice that next morning.

in the spirit of rock, i was reminded of a recent shoot i did with kate. while introducing her to the absolute splendor that is rock band, i created an avatar for her. kate lovingly named her stark, paying homage to her favorite superhero. a week later, we found ourselves in harvard square thinking about how hilarious/cool it would be if kate actually dressed like her rock obsessed counterpart. the rest is history.

blue.

equinox

2008-09-23T00:28:00.004-04:00

i was surprised to walk out my door and hear the sound of leaves being crushed beneath me. guess it's my favorite time of year again -- when our part of the world gets a little prettier while everything around us starts to die.

death was celebrated in a tiny house by joe's pond in vermont. michael, kate and myself freed each other from our job plated shackles and escaped to crisp air, calm water and chilled silence. i hadn't had that kind of peace in quite some time.

my red counterpart, may the empowering chill find you well.

blue.