I’ve moved!  I’m all set up now, here, in sunny California!  I have to admit I didn’t see myself winding up here.  What  I can say is that I absolutely love it!  Just being around the ocean has really brightened my mood lately.  This state is stunning and I’m always surprised at the varieties of fabulous landscapes that this area of the country offers.  As a photographer that mainly shoots in outdoor environments, I really appreciate the fact that in just one day, and in just a few hours drive time, I can shoot on both a sandy beach and a mountainside plunge!  This is a place of exciting rebirth and possibility, or at least that’s what I’m hoping for.  Once again, I’d really like to thank all of you for your support throughout the past few years.  It’s meant a lot to me.  Thank you.  You really don’t know how much it means.

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If you’d be interested in booking here in the Los Angeles area, please use the contact form on this website or call 859-628-0032 between the time of 9 am and 6 pm.

I’ve known AiTenshiMisha (Stacey) for several years now and she never ceases to impress me with her professionalism and dedication towards her craft.  She’s a 5’10″ bombshell who could melt the heart of any man with those piercing green eyes and mile-long legs.  Not to mention she has a great head on her shoulders and is a kind, supportive friend when times get rough.  Stacey is the total package!

When I found out I was moving to Los Angeles, CA, I knew that I’d miss Stacey tremendously.  She and I have had a lot of great times together.  I remember the first time she ever shot in her ballet boots and I had to help her hobble and crawl towards the shoot setup.  She must have been in pain trying to maneuver around in those fetish heels but she kept her mind on the goal and she powered through like a champion!  I have a lot of respect for Stacey.  She isn’t a diva at all.

I’d recommend Stacey to any photographer, clothing designer, and artist.  She’s never afraid to give a shoot her all and she’ll never hesitate to think outside of the box.  I am proud to not only call myself one of Stacey’s photographers but also her friend.

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Check Out More of AiTenshiMisha’s Modeling:

Deviant Art

Model Mayhem

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Featured: February 2012

Featured Last Month: Sharon TK

“Bend for Me” was a collaboration between myself and model Lauren Flannery.  Honestly, the entire shoot only took place because I found an old bottle of liquid latex stored away under my bathroom sink.  I almost threw it out, but like many artists, decided that trash was really just a new project in disguise.

We didn’t have a location at first. We only had an idea. However, I’m a bit of an adventurer and an ominous, thorny entryway into a forest right dead smack in the middle of suburbia isn’t going to deter me. After finding the best place to plant my boots against the downward slope of slick grass and moist dirt, I was in a long forgotten thicket across the street from a friend’s home.

It was a broken down, dilapidated club house of sorts. I suppose it was for neighborhood children at some point. That was long before the vines had climbed the splintering wood and stretched their arms towards the light streaming through the thick canopy of green, though. There was so much life amongst the destruction, and It felt right.

Lauren hadn’t ever done a shoot like this. Well, I honestly hadn’t either. We didn’t really know where to begin. The entire day was an experiment of sorts. When I mixed the latex and black cream makeup up in an old washed out butter bowel, we didn’t know where to begin. I just reached for a paintbrush and decided to wing it.

And splatter it. And toss it.

It turns out liquid latex is pretty fun to work it. You can splatter it against the skin like a muddy, fluid firework or you can spread it on like hummus on a pita chip. You can see the texture of the brush if you paint it or you can watch the latex ooze like a thick, glossy honey if you pour it gently from the bowel. It really is fun to work with, and after 30 minutes or so, Lauren was ready to descend into the Utopian forest I had found hidden away in the chaos of the city.

I had an assistant working with me that day, and thank goodness he’s a strong guy. Bryant Lott had to help me climb all over that aged, wooden structure. At one point, I wanted a certain shot and the only way to obtain it was to perch myself in one of the tall trees surrounding the small clubhouse. Bryant, being a gentleman, helped me hoist myself onto a branch and even stood close, holding a hand against my leg to make sure I didn’t fall to the earth. A photographer with a broken leg is a photographer with a huge problem.

Overall, the shoot took about 30 minutes, most of that time was spent by me trying to spontaneously learn how to be a perfectly balanced acrobat. (I’m not very good at it.) Once it was all over, Lauren told me that she had been sitting in a mosquito nest for part of the shoot. She was covered in bites everywhere except for where I had painted the latex on her skin. One thing Lauren isn’t is a diva. She doesn’t complain even when it’s a perfectly understandable situation. She cares about the art and I have a lot of respect for her.

Pulling the latex off was a bit painful. Bryant and Lauren started pulling off big chunks and everything was fine until they started peeling pieces off of Lauren’s arms. Although she was laughing, it did sting a little having a few hairs plucked right out of the skin. Once again, Lauren is amazing.

Looking back, I’m not sure why I haven’t worked on more shoots like this one. It really was a fun day and it was exciting to incorporate the latex into such a natural setting. In the future, I really hope I get to try something like that again, and I hope, without a doubt, that Lauren Flannery will join me in Gas Oven Land at least one more time. You don’t find models like her very often. She truly is one of the most talented (and one of the sweetest) women I’ve ever worked with.

Want to try out liquid latex in one of your shoots? Buy yourself some by clicking here.

Wow!  A lot has happened in the past 3 and a half years!  I’ve traveled, worked in a lot of different locations, had amazing experiences with wonderfully talented artists, and I’ve really begun to understand myself as an artist.  I’ve also come to understand the direction I’d like to take my art and what other genres I’m now interested in exploring.  In a way, I feel like this is a new chapter in my life.  I’ve grown a lot, made several mistakes, and now, after quite a bit of thought and reflection, I think I’m ready to move onto the next big adventure.  This time, at least, I’ll have a better grasp on what I need to do and who I want to become.  I’m ready to explore my own possibilities and hopefully challenge myself to new heights.

I’m also ready for a change in scenery.  This week, I’m moving to Los Angeles, CA.  I’m pretty excited about it!  I’ve never been that far west so I’m not too sure what to expect.  What I do know, however, is that I’m ready to give this new city everything I’ve got!  Bookings begin as early as March 5, 2012.  If you’d like to set something up, please use the contact form here on my website.  I can’t wait to meet great, new people and shoot at awesome, new locations!

See you in LA!

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Image Credits:

Model: Lauren Flannery

Model: Allison Mindy Roth

Fashion Designer: Madness Designs

Makeup Artist: MyGlamFace Artistry

Hair: Conception 451