WINDOW SEAT - Erykah Badu

Here's the official music video for "Window Seat" by Erykah Badu. "New Amerykah Part II: Return Of The Ankh" hits stores March 30!

This video is amazing. It takes us to another level of thought. I wonder do you guys get it.... (hint - assassination of character and destroy anything different that they don't understand)
Erykah Badu explains the video HERE

Erykah badu was inspired by the video - LESSON LEARNED by Matt and Kim shot in Times Square
(below)

Directed by Taylor Cohen and Otto Arsenault. (www.FVMMO.com) Cinematography by Ben Wolf. VFX by Steve Ilous. Copyright FADER Label 2009

...A NEW LOOK - SEANDON @ Boss Models NYC

Actor/ model Seandon started the new year off with a new look - he shaved off ALL of his beautiful hair and asked me to photograph his new look. I have been working with Seandon since 2007 and each time its a challenge to capture him in a way that goes beyond shooting him "urban." Since he no longer had the hair, I wanted to really focus on his beauty and the artistry of his form.

 

Seandon has all the components to be an amazing model. He has a great personality with boyish charm, great features with the most perfect pouty mouth, and he has a great body. He effortlessly exude a sex appeal that comes to life in front of the camera. I enjoy working with Seandon because I like challenging myself and challenging his own boundaries of how he sees himself. He can do more than stand on the block looking like a urban model.

 

Seandon has recently expressed and interest in acting and has been studying and developing those talents - preparing for what he is going to do with his life when modeling is over. Check out his blog - WE SAW YOU

SEAN BILOSKI @ Major Model MGMT.

Sean Biloski is represented by Major Model Mgmt in the US and Premiere Model Mgmt in London. He captivated me with his blueish/ green eyes and his quirky charm. He knew how to be playful and serious at the drop of a dime. He is definitely one to watch in the coming months.

 

LALA MEANS LOVE - STEPH JONES

I wanna start photographing more recording artist, especially ones whom I enjoy listening to their music. Model/ recording artist Mr. Ordinary aka Steph Jones is definitely one of those I can't wait to get in front of my lens. I really like this particular song. It makes me feel ....happy!

you can check out more of his music here

inspiring moments: SLAVES OF NEW YORK

buy SLAVES OF NEW YORK dvd

Slaves of New York is a 1989 comedy-drama starred Bernadette Peters, Adam Coleman Howard, Chris Sarandon, Mary Beth Hurt, Mercedes Ruehl, Madeleine Potter, and Steve Buscemi.

Based on the stories Slaves of New York by Tama Janowitz, the film follows the lives of struggling artists in New York City during the mid-1980s.

The story follows Eleanor, an aspiring hat designer, and a group of artists and models in the "downtown" New York City art world. Eleanor lives with her younger boyfriend Stash, an unknown artist, who is unfaithful and treats Eleanor with careless indifference. Eleanor expresses her feelings for Stash when she tells him that she was once attracted to him because he was dangerous. She stays with him despite the crumbling relationship because she has no where else to live—she is, in effect, a "slave."

When a clothing designer, Wilfredo (Steve Buscemi), discovers her quirky hat designs (they look like something Lady GaGa would be wearing today) and offers to use them in a fashion show, Eleanor gains the self-respect—and money—to leave Stash. There is an elaborate fashion show sequence featuring the designs of one of my favorite designers Stephen Sprouse.

here is one of the most memorable scenes in the movie......

After seeing this film as a young kid, I was so inspired to leave Memphis and one day live the life of an successful underground artist in New York City. ....I AM LIVING MY DREAM (at least part of it...)

introducing: JARROD PIERCE @ red models nyc

...with classic "boy next door" looks and a dazzling personality, I am anxious to see his beautiful face and amazing body take this industry by storm.

UP IN THE AIR ....STAY THERE!

I CAIN'T WAIT TO BE HIT OFF WITH SOME MO' BADUISMS FOR 2010.
this is my jam of the week...

GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE... congrats: face of Calvin Klein - - artist/ model DAVID AGBODJI @ Re:QUEST MODEL MGMT.

David Rgbodji @ Re:quest model mgmt. photographed by Steven Klein

It is great to see another fashion door swing open and model/ artist David Agbodji @ Request Model Mgmt has kicked it off its hinges. Being the current face of Calvin Klein, David has definitely hit a milestone in his modeling career. Last fashion week he was the first black male model to open the Calvin Klein Spring 2010 show. This season David closed out the Fall 2010 show. ... a big break for any male model.

It is interesting to see the black male image being associated with the standards of American beauty.

The Calvin Klein images took me back to when I was a photography student at the University of Memphis. They reminded me of my own photographic works. Every semester I created images that I felt celebrated black beauty. This sparked many heated debates in my art classes. I was the only Black person in my photography classes and I fought for my classmates to acknowledge and recognize the beauty we as black people brought to this world. I wanted them to respect and appreciate our beauty instead of objectify us.

Just as Trace magazine's Black Girl's Rule issue gave power to Black female beauty, I hope my work gives power and validation to the Black male image and forced viewers to see us in an artistic way. I always hoped for change and wanted my work to contribute to the big picture. I was not surprised that validation of Black beauty would have to come from someone like  the  people at Calvin Klein and photographer Steven Klein. Truthfully, its no different than Steven Miesel's collaboration with Italian Vogue's "Black" issue celebrating black female models. We as black people have for so long spent most of our time trying to fit into a social standard of beauty that never included us. Instead of taking our own image and creating our own standard of beauty...we sit back and wait for society to hand us their version of beauty.

 images from my art projects during my college days at University of Memphis

Brandon Parker shot by Tarrice Love in 2006

When I first came to New York, my style and approach on male beauty weren't received with open arms. Agents, stylist, and others told me that my style was too artistic and no one was interested in seeing black male models photographed that way. I was told to focus on shooting the black guys in a more upscale "catalogy" way.  In the past, the Black male image was urban - street hoodlum.  The election of Obama has made a black man the spokeperson of this country which has reinforced the black male image as commercial, safe, and boring. (if you don't believe me, go look at the top agencies (with the exception of Red NYC) and check out the black guys books).

Pierre Woods@ New York Models 

GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE..... keep watching. I am excited to see where all of this is going.

OMG! RIP... my favorite designer dies - ALEXANDER McQUEEN

devon aoki photographed by nick knight

The brilliant and controversial British fashion designerAlexander McQueen was found dead in his London home Thursday after anguished Internet postings that revealed his deep sorrow at the death of his mother. He was 40 years old.

McQueen's sudden death has robbed the fashion scene of one of its most innovative and successful young designers.  His brilliance and imagination knew no bounds and will continue to be a lasting inspiration for me and many others in this industry. He will be sorely missed.

introducing: TYLER McPEAK @ Major Model mgmt.

 

tyler mcpeak @ Major Model mgmt.

THINGS THAT INSPIRE ME - Deee-lite

i was watching the Grammy awards the other night and the highlight was Lady Gaga and Elton John's performance. Watching it made me think of Lady Miss Kier of the group Deee-Lite. The wild costumes, the great soulful singing voice on a white girl, and the amazing body all took me back Deee-lite. google her and youtube her :)

Deee-Lite - Power of Love en Yahoo! Video

Deee-Lite Good Beat (Video Version)