Scott B Blog

New Blog

2011-09-12T11:47:00.003-04:00

From here on, I'll be updating my blog posts over here. See you there, please change your links/feed readers/and all that crap.

Jason, in Drifters + Wanderers

2011-09-09T12:32:00.001-04:00

Jason came by to pose for my Drifters series. The second photo, as always, is not safe for work, so don't scroll down if that's a problem.

As always, you can see both photos together on both of my websites, SBarnesPhotography and Vir Impudicus.

Love Is Love

2011-09-08T10:31:00.000-04:00

From their website:

The goal of the Purple Hat Project is to highlight the universality of love in all its incarnations, excluding the constraints of ethnicity, sexual orientation, or socio-economic standing, in an effort to provide an avenue to broaden minds and open hearts.

A few weeks ago, the organization hosted its second "Love is Love" photo shoot (I posted about it, here). Jay and I, and our roommate Jared, decided to go. We live in the same house — but more than that, we take care of each other — and yes we are a family.

Here's our photo.

Katie Moon was the photographer — who I adore and respect more than just about any other Indiana-based photographer you can name. And because I like the series, and her work, here are a couple more images from the day.

Here's the cute couple that posed just after us, with their pet rat.

And here is our good friend, Sara, with her son.

It was a fun afternoon.

All photos in this post copyright, Katie Moon for the Purple Hat Project.

Kevin

2011-09-07T22:30:00.000-04:00

As my friend Kevin and I were talking towards a new Mexican restaurant we wanted to try (Revolucion), we stopped at a small alcove in one of the buildings and I took his photograph.

This shouldn't be newsworthy, but it is — which is sad. For a photographer, you'd be surprised at how few photos I have of my own friends. I need to fix this, especially since we might move away from here one of these days.

Kevin is always hard on himself, which makes it mean even more to me that he likes this photo.

Side note: I found Revolucion to be particularly underwhelming.

Brant, Rhiannon, + Chase

2011-09-06T07:28:00.000-04:00

These are a handful of the photos from one of my recent shoots/photo series, which for now remains untitled. It might stay that way. Before you scroll down, note that one of the photos below is not safe for work.

These three work together at my favorite bar. It was a fun shoot. See my main website for the whole series.

Ellie

2011-09-05T09:27:00.001-04:00

Ellie has been staying with us for the weekend. She's adorable.She goes home tomorrow.

Trainer Boy

2011-09-04T10:32:00.000-04:00

I hope I haven't turned into "that creepy guy" with the cell phone, it's just that I have nothing better to post today than this camera phone snapshot of the cute butt of one of the trainers at my gym.

I do have a new "gym boyfriend" (unbeknownst to him). But I haven't been creepy enough to try to steal his photo yet. I'd love for him to pose for my American People series, I just don't know how to ask a stranger at the gym.

David, at First Friday

2011-09-03T01:47:00.000-04:00

David is one of my favorite photo subjects. Even if it's just a snapshot, I take his photo every time I see him.

Now There's a Look

2011-09-01T11:17:00.000-04:00

Yes, I've been reduced to taking poor-quality snapshots through the screen door or my living room. But when I saw one of my neighbors mowing her lawn in a long black dress, I couldn't help myself.

I want Jay to wear this getup the next time he mows.

The View

2011-08-31T15:16:00.000-04:00

I was downtown a couple of days ago, waiting to meet someone (actually, this person), when I couldn't help but notice this man's unusually attractive backside.

I'm afraid that's all I have today. I mean, yes — there is the lunch date with my prisoner/ex-model, but that's a story for another day. Maybe. That might be a story to keep for myself.

Empty

2011-08-30T12:56:00.004-04:00

This sight makes me sad.

This chain and her pillow were the last of her things that we put away.

Oscar

2011-08-29T10:36:00.000-04:00

Here are three extra shots of Oscar that I captured when he posed for my series, Drifters + Wanderers. They were too good not to use, so you can find them on Vir Impudicus, in the main/editorial photo gallery.

The Bulge

2011-08-26T16:20:00.000-04:00

This was my Facebook status at one point last week:

How am I supposed to concentrate on working out when there's a hot straight guy with a ginormous dick wearing sweat pants without underwear in the weight room?

I'm still like a 14 year old in some ways. I have a pretty long list of things guys have, wear, or do that turns me on:

Has a nice smile
Has hairy forearms
Rides a crotch rocket
Doesn't shave his happy trail
Wears white socks
Has a butch walk
Plays rugby
Plays soccer
Plays lacrosse
Plays baseball
Wears a baseball cap
Has a nice butt
Has hairy legs
Laughs a lot
Uses the word, "bro"
Drives a FedEx truck
Enlists in the military
Knows how to dance
Carries his own water bottle
Walks a dog
Wears flip flops and jeans
Lifts his t-shirt to reach an itch
Winks
Musses his hair
Etc.

But of all that, there is one thing that turns me on faster than anything. That's when a guy wears sweat pants or basketball shorts without underwear.

I especially like seeing guys like this in places like the grocery store or out to breakfast, when you can tell he just threw something on and walked out the door, and when he looks so casual that it's likely he doesn't even know that you can see the outline of his dick through his pants. This outfit, when combined with that aloof attitude, is just about the hottest thing a cute guy can do.

Hands down.

Photo in this post courtesy of Wicked Gay Blog.

Stay With Me

2011-08-25T13:15:00.000-04:00

Here are a few photos from one of my newest shoots, called, Stay With Me. You can see the whole series on both of my websites, but I'd recommend looking here, on Vir Impudicus. Or, you can see the whole set on one page, which makes it easier to follow the story, by looking at this link.

Self Portrait

2011-08-24T13:14:00.000-04:00

I call this photo, I Wish I Had Remembered To Wear Pants.

Motivation and Perfection

2011-08-23T10:30:00.004-04:00

It appears that I'm going to Los Angeles/Southern California for a while at the end of September. For the past few weeks, I've been emailing with/talking to a guy out there (one of the hottest men I've ever seen, to be blunt) and he's told me that he'd spend a weekend posing for me, plus provide me with free room and board, if I'd find a way to California.

This is definitely out of my comfort zone, but my intuition (which is rarely wrong about these things) is telling me that it's an opportunity that I shouldn't pass up.

Plus, being in LA will give me the chance to meet Jeremy (who publishes the magazine that's printed my work in the first three editions), Nick (who created/published my calendar), Levi (who's a makeup artist to the stars), and to see Seth and Scott (two of my photography mentors and dear friends, who have both moved out there).

I made a joke yesterday on Facebook saying that in order to go to California I need to lose 60 pounds in about 40 days. Yes, this is a joke — I know that's unrealistic — but I do think a healthy month and a couple of cleansing fasts might be in order. I just need some new motivation to actually enjoy going to the gym again. Right now, I hate every minute that I spend working out, and just looking at my trainer (hot as he is, too!) makes my stomach turn.

Then I found this photo, on WickedGayBlog:

You know, I don't expect perfection. I know that I'm too old for that, anyway. I'm never going to have abs or an ideal BMI; and I like food too much NOT to have a belly of some sort. But if I could have THIS GUY's body, I'd be thrilled. Hell, I'd probably never wear a shirt again.

Is THAT too much to ask?

I need motivation. This photo is a good start.

Photo credit for this post: Unknown

How Things Appear

2011-08-22T10:42:00.000-04:00

It's ironic that the same event can have multiple perspectives. At the same time this storm was rolling into Indianapolis and killing seven people at the State Fair, Jay was driving us back home from a day trip. We followed the storm on its back side and I captured these photos from the passenger seat of a rainbow at sunset.

We had no idea that at the front of this storm, people were losing their lives.

Self Portrait at Cabin

2011-08-21T18:11:00.002-04:00

Jay and I went to a cabin owned by two friends on the Ohio River this weekend.

Actually, we determined last night at dinner the place was really a "chateau" rather than "cabin" — five bedrooms, three stories, elevator, boat house, two kitchens . . .

Here I am, in said chateau, this morning before breakfast. This was just out of the shower, no hair product on me or coffee in me.

It was a good weekend.

Dawn, in The American People

2011-08-19T10:27:00.002-04:00

What I'm Reading

2011-08-18T14:18:00.001-04:00

My friend Melody recommended a book to me a few months ago about overcoming the fear of death as an atheist. I think I'd refer to myself as a confirmed agnostic long before I'd use the term, atheist, but I thought the book sounded interesting; and in truth, I probably do have some death anxiety (less so about my own death than about what I'll leave behind. . . Did I accomplish enough? Did my being here make any real difference?).

The author is a psychiatrist, who uses a lot of examples from his own practice in his writings. More than anything, the first 50 pages of this book made me miss the days when I had my own psychoanalyst. Reading this makes me wish that I was still in therapy.

And although I'm not quite sure that I'm ready to agree with the author's assessment yet (that most of the troublesome thoughts people have stem from suppressed death anxiety), I am enjoying it.

That said, it was quickly determined by both Jay and me that reading a book about death in the weeks following the day we had Lucy put to sleep probably wasn't the best idea. I put it back on the shelf for a little bit.

Then the Monday after Lucy died, Jay was running errands at lunch and heard a review of the new novel, The Family Fang, and immediately decided this was, as he called it, "a Scott book."

Two days later, we were in a Barnes and Noble and Jay walked up to me with the novel in hand, pointing at its 20% off sticker, and reminding me, "That's 30% off with your Barnes and Noble member card."

One of the taglines, alone, from this book makes me love it already:

Mr. and Mrs. Fang called it art.
Their children called it mischief.

It's been a long time since I've really looked forward to reading a book; I'm 30 pages in, and I can already tell this is going to be one of them.

Frank, in Erotica

2011-08-17T15:02:00.000-04:00

Here are the final images I took of Frank, for now. He's going to come back sometime soon to pose for my Drifters series as well.

These photos are from the Erotica section of Vir Impudicus. The first is cropped; to see the uncensored version, go to the site. Obviously, as the gallery is called "Erotica," these are not safe for work.

Marko, in Drifters + Wanderers

2011-08-16T13:09:00.000-04:00

Here are the last of my shots of Marko, who was in my studio a couple of weeks ago.

You can see the Drifters set in it's entirety on both of my websites, here's a link to one (NSFW): http://www.virimpudicus.com/photographs/drifters/main.html

Gabe, in The American People

2011-08-15T12:09:00.000-04:00

I liked the shots I took of Gabe for my Drifters series so well that I decided to post a secondary photo of him, in my American People series.

"God Is Not a Christian . . . "

2011-08-14T13:15:00.001-04:00

I want to meet this priest.

My favorite quotes:

"People don't need to be 'born again,' they need to grow up."

"The function of the Christ is not to rescue the sinners, but to empower you and call you to be more fully human."

Marko, in Erotica

2011-08-12T11:28:00.000-04:00

You can see the uncropped version of this photo and one more on my second website, www.virimpudicus.com. The images are not safe for work. Here are direct links to the two images. Let me know what you think.

Oscar, in Drifters + Wanderers

2011-08-11T11:29:00.000-04:00

You can see the set as it's meant to be, side by side, on either of my websites, sbarnesphotography.com or virimpudicus.com, in the Drifters + Wanderers gallery.

Marko, in The New Gods

2011-08-10T12:20:00.000-04:00

These photos can be seen, and purchased, on both of my websites.

Gabe, in Drifters and Wanderers

2011-08-09T10:45:00.002-04:00

The Rest of My Favorite Photos of Lucy

2011-08-08T10:09:00.007-04:00

I spent some time in the last week moving all the photos I have of Lucy into one album. In addition to those I posted on Saturday, here are the rest of my favorites. One of the photos from these last two posts will get printed and framed to go with her collar on my bookshelf.

Some of these photos I'm sure I've shared previously, but some I hadn't even really noticed before. I'm also sure I didn't take all of these photographs, especially the ones from Jay's birthday party.

If anyone has any other photos of Lucy, I'd be happy to have copies.

I also added captions to the photos from Saturday's post, if you're interested in going back.

At the end of a shoot with this model, he refused to leave the studio until I shot a photo of him with Lucy. This is from March, 2007.

This was a rare moment. Jay and I had just gotten up on a weekend, and soon we found all four pets on the bed, being tolerant of each other. From top down: Oliver, Figbash, Violet, and Lucy; shot on March 15, 2009.

This is Lucy at Jay's 40th birthday party, begging for Brian's cake. Shot April 4, 2009.

Lucy, sleeping with Mike, in my photo studio, April 5, 2009.

Lucy with Jodi, on April 4, 2009. Jodi loved Lucy like her own.

Lucy coming to the kitchen after being called, April 4, 2009.

Jay giving Lucy a treat at his party, April 4, 2009.

Toby spent the night with us, and after he left, Lucy made herself comfortable on his couch, and under his blanket. Shot June 12, 2011.

It was a hideously cold morning, and Lucy needed to wear her coat. Any resemblance to an Ewok is unintentional. Shot February 2, 2011.

Here's Lucy, going for her first ride in the Cube, on July 16, 2009.

Lucy and Oliver, taking a nap on July 17, 2011.

Lucy loved her yard, and she loved sunning herself. This was October 3rd, 2008. We always refer to the backyard of the house as "Lucy's yard." We might call it that until we move away.

This was the first time I photographed Lucy, in front of our apartment near Broad Ripple. It was taken on October 3, 2006, just two days after we found her.

This was the last time I photographed Lucy, and the last time she hung out in her yard. It was Tuesday of last week, August 2, 2011.

This is Lucy in Jay's parents' driveway, on an especially warm but windy autumn afternoon not long after we found her. It was taken on October 30, 2006.

Lucy getting a bath, on October 8, 2008.

Lucy begging for my breakfast. March 23, 2008.

Lucy, posing for me as she so often did. This was on Nov 14, 2010.

Lucy

2011-08-06T15:54:00.014-04:00

She was the best dog in the world.

Lucy on the patio on an afternoon in May 2007, waiting to come inside.

When we decided to bring Lucy home, she was so sick, broken-down and mistreated that we didn't know if she'd live for a month. Instead, we got 4 years, 10 months, and 6 days with her.

When she was diagnosed with renal failure in January 2010, I told one of the attending vets that I just wanted to get her though another summer. The vet suggested that I not count on it. But we not only got her through that summer, we almost got her through this one, too.

Lucy with Jay, in our living room on a late Sunday afternoon in November 2008.

Lucy in my studio. I was finishing up with a model and she walked in and started posing. This was January 2007, and it was one of the first "great" photos I captured of her.

Everybody loved Lucy. I told her that often. Lucy has her own fan page on Facebook. And it's true: even people who aren't "dog people" loved Lucy. There was just something very special about her that warmed hearts.

She was a cuddler. She literally never hurt a fly. And she tried so hard to always be a good dog, even when she was being stubborn.

Lucy in the backyard of our apartment near Broad Ripple in May 2007. It was her first spring with us, and it quickly became clear that Lucy loved to be outside, sniffing at the air and sunning herself.

Lucy on her bed, which was a gift made by Courtney MacIntyre. Lucy loved this bed and probably spent more time here than anywhere else, until her very last day. I even remember the day Courtney brought it over, Lucy immediately jumped into it. This photo was August, 2008.

Lucy will remain one of my life's success stories. After we brought her home, for the first few weeks we would come home from work and let her out of her crate, and Lucy would crawl on her belly, crying. She was that used to being hit as soon her people came home. After a few months with us, she was totally different; she would leap out of her crate and eagerly jump up to greet us. It took a while, but we managed to teach Lucy that no one would ever hit her again.

This will always make me happy.

Lucy and me, sleeping in on a Saturday morning in February 2009. Jay had gotten up, let her out of her crate and outside to go potty, and she ran inside and jumped straight into the bed. Figbash is behind me.

Lucy at my brother Doug's July 4th cookout, 2009. If I had to pick one day, this would be my guess for Lucy's favorite day with us.

Today was the right day for us to say good-bye. Our last evening with her was exactly as it should have been. We know she was ready, and we know that she'd lived her life but was not yet miserably sick. That would have come in a day or two.

When we took her to the vet this morning for the procedure, even the vet tech had misty eyes. "This is going to be tough on us, too," she said. "We've all grown very attached to Lucy."

Lucy sitting on her bed, looking at a new toy on a Saturday afternoon in February 2008.

At my Dad's house in April 2011, this is Lucy begging for Jay's breakfast.

It's a strange coincidence that Lucy left this earth on what would have been Lucille Ball's 100th birthday. Lucy was named, in part, after Ms. Ball.

As Jay said when it was over, "Heaven has a sweet little beagle this morning. Sweet dreams, Lucy. You're the best dog ever."

Lucy didn't particularly like cold weather. Here she is, getting ready to take a nap on my stomach on a cold, rainy weekend afternoon in November 2007.

I hope the sweetest, most lovable dog I'll ever know rests in peace.

New Model: Jaden

2011-08-05T11:26:00.000-04:00

There are a few more photos of him on my site, www.sbarnesphotography.com in the section Models: Men.

Before . . .

2011-08-03T15:31:00.000-04:00

Before I met Jay I didn't know that I liked coconut.

Or Julia Child.

Or cats.

Or bloody marys, advent calendars, the color red, Captain America, cloudy days, Asian design and movies, Harry Potter, the Olympics, 1950s cocktail music, Trader Joe's, The Golden Girls, poppers, rugby players, or Latino college wrestlers.

I did know before I met Jay that I hated Gwyneth Paltrow.

He does, too.

This Is Your One Chance . . .

2011-08-01T21:28:00.001-04:00

I've uploaded a new series to both of my sites, called, This Is Your One Chance . . . featuring one of my favorite new models, Jessie Colter, and a new guy named Rayhan. This series is on both of my sites but I think it's best viewed on Vir Impudicus, in a new gallery called Dreams, because here it's presented as a true editorial series.

The series and the photos below both contain full nudity, consider yourself warned and proceed on your own accord.

Nikki and Rich

2011-07-31T22:38:00.001-04:00

Here's a new photo I saw on Facebook of one of my favored new groups, Nikki and Rich.

I think of my friend Toby every time I hear this band, he introduced me to them.

This is still my favorite video:

Nikki was, according to Toby, Carrie Underwood's first backup singer — right before my niece got the job.

Strange

2011-07-27T10:35:00.000-04:00

I walked into the living room this morning and the cable and Internet immediately went out. Jay said they came back as soon as I left the house to take the dog to the vet.
Facebook won't allow me to upload my "hot boy of the day" photo.
At work, I'm suddenly being denied access to systems I use all the time, and have for years.

Is it just me, or is your technology all messed up today? Maybe my ions are off.

Frank, Black Chair

2011-07-25T12:55:00.000-04:00

Alan, for The Habits of Male Primates

2011-07-21T12:21:00.001-04:00

It's been a very long time since I shot many photos for this series. Maybe it's time to come back.

Purple Hats

2011-07-20T14:42:00.007-04:00

All photography is this post by Katie Moon.

The Purple Hat Project came into existence just a few weeks ago, after the Winter 2011 session of the Indiana House of Representatives approved an Arizona-style anti-immigration bill, and passed a second bill to amend the state constitution prohibiting gay marriage and gay adoption.

In March, an article by Mickey Maurer appeared in the Indiana Business Journal suggesting, "Let’s enact legislation requiring immigrants and homosexuals to wear purple hats. If we are going to treat them differently, we have to know who they are—on sight."

My friend Josh decided to take the Business Journal's satire and run with it, thus encouraging all people who support equal rights to wear purple. His goal with the Purple Hat Project is to show how many Hoosiers, gay and straight, do not support discrimination in any form.

There is an open photo shoot on Saturday, in which all people (gay and straight; singles, couples, families, and pets) who believe in equality for all are encouraged to come, have fun, and pose. Since Saturday is Jay's and my 11th anniversary, I can't think of a better time for us to do it, or a better way to commemorate the day. If you come, wear your purple!

For me, being in front of the camera is about as pleasurable as having dental surgery, but Katie Moon is doing the photography and I can't think of another local photographer that I'd rather sit for. She's amazing, as evidenced by the shots in this post.

Here is the Facebook invite if you'd like more information. Here is the current site for the Purple Hat Project.

LisaMarie and Justin

2011-07-19T13:47:00.000-04:00

More images from this shoot can be seen on www.sbarnesphotography.com in the gallery, Groups.

Matthew, in Drifters and Wanderers

2011-07-18T13:02:00.002-04:00

Tim, in The American People

2011-07-17T21:38:00.000-04:00

Jessie, in Shower

2011-07-15T11:37:00.000-04:00

These two shots are from two triptychs I just added to my second site, www.virimpudicus.com.

You can see the triptychs if you look here, and here.

Satan, and A Friend

2011-07-13T19:26:00.000-04:00

In the bar (ultra lounge?) that my friend Kevin and I found ourselves in a few days ago, there was a human-size sculpture of Satan sitting on the corner, enticing the customers.

It was very cool.

I also took a portrait of Kevin. I have realized that despite the fact that I'm a photographer, I have very few photos of my best friends.

Julia, in The American People

2011-07-12T16:15:00.001-04:00

This one is special to me, as she's one of my best friends from my 20s, who I only get to see about once a year.

Alan, in The American People

2011-07-11T10:37:00.000-04:00

Bea's Birthday

2011-07-09T12:35:00.002-04:00

We went to Chicago last weekend and spent a couple days with Courtney, Charlie and Bea, to celebrate Bea's birthday. Here are a few shots from the weekend.

This is Courtney with her cousin, who's just 18. Courtney's been telling me that he should be a model. I haven't seen him since he was probably 15, but now that I have, I agree.

Bea loves to color. She's very intent.

Early the next morning, I needed to go to the lake. Here's the view from the Edgewater neighborhood.

Then we went to Hollywood Beach. It was still early so the gays weren't out yet, but I felt compelled to get into the water. I waded for a few minutes, knee deep. Lake Michigan is still cold, but more clear than I remember it being when I was growing up on it. I like that, it makes it easier to see the dead fish.

Here's Bea, at lunch, before we came home.

More photos after the jump.

Safety

2011-07-08T13:35:00.001-04:00

Do you remember Najib, the soldier who was stationed in Afghanistan who I began communicating with a few months ago about photography?

He's home now.

Here is one of the last photos he posted from Afghanistan, just before departure.

I know you can all count, but I have to say something about the fact that there are 10 men in this photo, and three names on their banner. If that's a true percentage of casualties, it's not a very good track record for a war that's supposedly ending. I'm glad Najib is safe.

And I think one of the guys from his unit (or whatever they're called), who's in this photo, is going to come to my studio and pose for me later this month.

Isn't that great?

I'll leave it to you to guess which one. But his body is amazing under that camouflage.

Matt, from My Collection, The New Gods

2011-07-07T15:11:00.001-04:00

This is definitely one of my favorite models to work with. I just wish he lived closer to me.

Alice, in The American People

2011-07-06T15:59:00.002-04:00

Josh, in American People

2011-07-05T13:22:00.001-04:00

Ryan, in The American People

2011-07-04T21:14:00.002-04:00

Two Videos for One

2011-07-01T17:27:00.001-04:00

Yelle has quickly become one of my favorite groups, even though I can't understand a single fucking thing she's singing about. Check out this video, which is actually two music videos, for not only great music but great photography (talk about high concept!).

YELLE - Safari Disco Club / Que veux-tu (exclusive full length edit) from Yelle on Vimeo.

Look between the songs and you'll see the band strike the pose from their album cover, Safari Disco Club. I love it.

Side note: I think Yelle's drummer, who's on the left in the photo above, is cute. He's also featured in both videos. And the vocalist; she's adorable, too.

Caleb, in The American People

2011-06-30T11:33:00.001-04:00

Ben, in Drifters and Wanderers

2011-06-29T16:30:00.003-04:00

Laura, in My "American People" Collection

2011-06-28T09:53:00.002-04:00

Jessie, in Leather

2011-06-27T10:04:00.000-04:00

There are more photos from this shoot, and this particular series, on both of my websites, www.sbarnesphotography.com (under Models: Men) and www.virimpudicus.com (under Editorial).

The View from My Office

2011-06-24T10:43:00.000-04:00

This isn't a site I get to see everyday from my office window. He was about three feet from me... so near and yet so far.

By the way, I'm not afraid of heights, but I wouldn't want this job.

Brent and Matt

2011-06-23T11:09:00.000-04:00

Remember Matt, the boy I met in Michigan while on a rendezvous with some friends?

A couple of weeks ago, he drove down for a second shoot with me. He brought a friend this time. This was Brent's first photo shoot, ever.

Cody, Hunk

2011-06-22T13:32:00.000-04:00

I'm not really a fan of the term, "hunk." It just seems so suburban. But the publishing company is telling me that 2012 Hunk of the Month selling well enough already that they'd like to talk about continuing this title with me.

Therefore, I'm starting to look for "hunky," All-American, guys-next-door to use as possible calendar models for the next year. I'm going to have quick photo sessions with each of them to capture potential Hunk of the Month photos.

I started with Cody, one of my new models, who's about as All-American as they come.

Jay's Doctor

2011-06-21T10:13:00.001-04:00

This is not a good photo, as it was taken on my camera phone. But one of Jay's doctors looks like a soap opera doctor. And again, the photo doesn't do it justice, but he has an unbelievable can.

This presents a problem when Jay — who's pretty loose-lipped even at his most guarded — is coming out of twilight anesthesia, and therefore not in his right mind and apt to say whatever he's thinking ... over and over and over again. To say that we embarrassed ourselves might be an understatement.

Josh, a Cub

2011-06-19T08:54:00.000-04:00

You can see this set and purchase prints on my secondary website, www.virimpudicus.com.

Carl, in The American People

2011-06-17T12:30:00.001-04:00

Jeff, in The New Gods

2011-06-16T11:03:00.002-04:00

Jessie, Drinking Milk

2011-06-15T15:12:00.000-04:00

Jessie, on a Dance Floor

2011-06-14T14:03:00.000-04:00

There's plenty more to come of this model, so stay tuned.

In a Nutshell, Indy Pride

2011-06-13T10:35:00.004-04:00

Here are a few photos of my favorite things from the Indy Pride parade.

This is the float that Jay was in charge of, for FortyFive Degrees.

There seemed to be a little competition between Jay and the Absolut float, over which one was going to get the hottest crew. My normally non-competitive partner looked at me and said, "I'll be damned if they're going to have hotter guys." (And personally, I think Jay's float won that race by a landslide.)

I'm terrible at taking snapshots of my friends, even when I'm walking around with my camera. But here are a few that we ran into at the festival.

Seeing this freaked me out a little. I was accidentally standing next to it for a minute and when Jay told me to turn around and I saw it, I kind of screamed.

And finally, here are a few photos from the calendar release party/underwear show at FortyFive Degrees.

Our friend Toby surprised us and showed up from Nashville, TN, which might have been the best part of the whole day.

Jay's Facebook status said it best yesterday: Lots of cities have bigger Prides, few cities have better Prides. It was a great Saturday.

Josh, in Drifters and Wanderers

2011-06-10T22:08:00.001-04:00

See the second photo from the set (not safe for work) after the jump, or see the whole collection at either of my websites. Here's the Vir Impudicus link.

Trinity and Kris, in The American People

2011-06-09T10:39:00.001-04:00

Makes a Morning Better

2011-06-07T11:03:00.000-04:00

I like it when there are cute boys on "The Price is Right."

Eric, in The American People

2011-06-06T14:38:00.001-04:00

Cody

2011-06-04T08:50:00.003-04:00

Cody had been to my studio once before, but he recently came back, and I have to confess we did much better work together the second time. I'm going to see him again tomorrow afternoon, for something out of the studio.

Gucci Turns 90

2011-06-02T10:20:00.004-04:00

Photography in this post by Serge Leblon. Styling by Karen Langley.

Gucci, Italy's best-known luxury brand through the 1960s and 70s, was almost bankrupt when Tom Ford took over as creative director in 1994. Ford increased Gucci sales by 90% in just two years and thanks to his success, the brand turns 90 years old this year. They're celebrating with the release of a "luxe vision of early Seventies rock-n-roll bohemian-chic," as quoted from an interview in Dazed Digital.

Personally, I don't own any Gucci. (I did buy a Gucci watch during the "rough years" — both of its arms fell off.) But I do like these photos — I hope that getting to Chicago allows me to do some high fashion photography — and I would adore just about any woman in purple faux fur and a wide-brimmed hat.

If you're interested, you can read the Dazed Digital article here:

Gucci Turns 90!

Maureen and Kaya

2011-06-01T10:03:00.001-04:00

Looking through what I've been posting, you can tell that I've been focusing on my American People series lately in lieu of the hot, naked men. There's a few reasons for this. For one thing, I'm a little bored with studio work, "modeling shots," and spending two hours in a stark room watching a guy change in and out of clothes while I try to make him look and feel comfortable and natural.

Not only am I bored by it, I think I'm mentally preparing myself to lose my studio — if and when we ever sell this house and move it certainly isn't going to be something I can regain in Chicago too quickly — and I'm okay with that. I'm starting to think more on my toes and more about location-based photography or using other spaces. It could be that my studio days, or at least the days of shooting against a blank wall or backdrop, are behind me. At least for now.

I have to admit that I'm also enjoying The American People collection because these are quick, spontaneous shots. I don't have to set aside a whole afternoon to get the model comfortable, help him pick out his clothes, wait while he gets dressed and does his hair, move him into position, get the lighting right, apply the makeup and oil, fluff, etc., etc. With these portraits, I can complete a shoot in five to 15 minutes and them move on with my day, and I am enjoying that.

And on top of it all, I am still in Indiana — the pool of guys who *look* like models and who are also willing to pose for me, nude or not, is not that large. To be honest, when I started doing this I never would have guessed it would be this big. But I think I've reached a point where I've worked with just about all of the guys that I want to, who are willing to get naked or nearly so for me. Organically, it was time to move on. At least until we're in a bigger city with new opportunities.

And in the meantime, I'm enjoying The American People.

Haley

2011-05-31T16:10:00.000-04:00

There are more on my website, in the none-too-updated gallery called, Models: Women.

Guy, in The American People

2011-05-30T12:25:00.000-04:00

This is now one of my favorite of these portraits.

Courtney and Bea, In Front of Their Old House

2011-05-28T09:50:00.000-04:00

This is my latest portrait for my American People collection.

If you really know me, you'll also know this is one of Jay's and my best friends, Courtney, with her daughter and our goddaughter, Beatrice.

By the end of this weekend, Courtney, her husband Charlie, and Bea will be Chicago residents. We've talked about moving up there "together" for about a year, and they get to be the first. It's a little weird to think about, mostly from the standpoint that they won't be here anymore, but I think their being in Chicago will only keep our determination to get up there strong.

And once we're there, I'm sure we'll be living closer to them than we have in Indianapolis. It's a good thing.

I hope today and tomorrow goes well for them!

Last Sunday Funday

2011-05-26T13:21:00.001-04:00

It recently occurred to me that, while I might be a "photographer," I have very few photos of my own friends. I just don't take snapshots.

I'm going to change this, especially since we might move away sometime here soon. I have to start photographing my friends. I started on Sunday, at Metro after the Hoosier 250 Tricycle Race.

Jay took the first shot, which is kind of obvious since I'm in the photo. He took it with his new phone which, based on this photo, might be the best camera-in-a-phone that I've seen yet.

Three Things

2011-05-25T15:04:00.000-04:00

Jay asked me the other night to name three things about our house that I'll miss, whenever we do sell it or move out.

I'll miss my studio.
I'll miss the ridiculously large kitchen that's perfect for parties.
I'll miss standing outside with the dog, late at night, and seeing stars and hearing bullfrogs.

Jay said he would miss

The fireplace.
His studio.
Working in the flower beds.

See? There are some good things.

AJ, Second Shoot

2011-05-24T10:46:00.000-04:00

AJ is one of my favorite models that I've found this year. We captured the shots here both above and below my good friend Kevin's condo on Mass Ave, in downtown Indianapolis.

AJ will be one of the models at my calendar release party on June 11th, if you're in Indianapolis and you can attend.

Richard, Firefighter

2011-05-23T11:30:00.000-04:00

This is another in my new collection, The American People.

Sara, in My Series, The American People

2011-05-21T14:06:00.002-04:00

The Ladies of Legends

2011-05-19T09:35:00.001-04:00

Here are the three finalists from a promo shoot I had on Saturday for Talbott Street/The Ladies of Legends Show Lounge. You can click on all three to see larger versions.

I like the first one best, personally. I want to love the third one, but I'm afraid the queens are too obstructed, I should have pulled the boys out more. Jay likes it though.

Special thanks to Neil Bagadiong, and of course Asia, Vicki, and Vivian for helping me pull this together!

Kyle and Pamela, in The American People

2011-05-18T14:52:00.002-04:00

Brenda, in The American People

2011-05-17T13:18:00.002-04:00

New Model: Jake P.

2011-05-16T13:15:00.001-04:00

You can see more of Jake's photos on my website, under Models: Men.

Cory, in My Series, The American People

2011-05-15T10:21:00.000-04:00

Self Port, May 2011

2011-05-13T13:57:00.000-04:00

I took this photo last night in the bathroom after coming home from half-price martinis at FortyFive Degrees.

This week, for the first time in my life, when I look at myself in the bathroom mirror, I see someone looking back who looks old. And tired. I don't like it.

Actually, what I really see looking back is my older brother, which isn't much better.

I want to lose more weight. And I need to get build up walking legs for Chicago. But I'm afraid that the fat on my face is filling in some wrinkles, so I might look worse.

Eeesh.

Daniel, in Models: Men

2011-05-12T16:08:00.000-04:00

There are more to be found on my website.

Violet

2011-05-11T09:34:00.002-04:00

Sometimes, there's just nothing better to post than a cat sitting in the kitchen sink.

Savage Beauty

2011-05-10T13:26:00.003-04:00

"Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" opened on May 4 at the Costume Institute in New York, making him only the second designer in history — after Gianni Versace — to be honored so quickly after his death. Here are two photos from the show. (Click either photo for a larger version.)

Maybe they always do it this way, but if not it's a work of art: I think the headless mannequins are fitting, given McQueen's life, personality, and suicide.

You can see more photos and read a brief interview with the curator of the exhibit, here:

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty

Amy, in My Collection, The American People

2011-05-09T11:27:00.000-04:00

I met this woman at 45 Degrees on Saturday evening and I knew right away that I wanted to photograph her. Just before going to the bar, I had been on a photo shoot with one of my guys, so it was a rare instance that I was actually carrying my camera with me.

Amy and I each ordered another drink and when the thunderstorm cleared, we stepped outside for a shot.

Fortune

2011-05-06T19:21:00.000-04:00

Once, on a previous blog I used to keep, I told a story about sitting in a Chinese restaurant. I opened a fortune cookie and for a brief second I felt certain that my fortune would read, "Sky rockets in flight, afternoon delight."

A couple of weeks after that, on my 40th birthday, my sly and fabulous friends Courtney and Charlie gave me 40 fortune cookies, each of which were just like this. . .

Today, Jay and I save our fortune cookies for Lucy. (Before you scold me, I know that fortune cookies probably have more sugar than the average dog treat, but Lucy is in end-stage kidney failure and they make her very happy, and at this point in her life I think the latter is priority.)

So, once every couple of days, we takes a fortune cookie out of the pantry. Lucy can identify them by the sound that the cellophane makes; she gets out of her bed and runs to the kitchen. We unwrap the cookie, snap it in half, and read Lucy her fortune. She jumps up and down. Then she eats.

The other day, Lucy's fortune said this . . .

She's been a very lucky dog.

It Must Be a Week for "Scotts"

2011-05-04T14:21:00.001-04:00

First, there was the cute Scott that I wanted to make out with on Saturday night; the one that got away. Then today, I went to lunch with a Scott who I went to high school with — and who I hadn't seen in . . . 28 years?

We didn't know each other in high school, but I do remember him. A few weeks ago I got a Facebook message and friend request from him. He told me that we have a few things in common — we went to the same high school, we're both gay, we both live here and work on the north side.

Scott turned out to be a super pleasant guy, and I wish we'd have run into each other years ago. I felt that personality-wise, we have more than a few things in common. And, thanks to these conversations, I've learned that one of my classmates is a former gay porn star, and another is in a pretty cool San Francisco-based band.

And dare I say that Scott has aged well? He's cuter now than I remember him being when we were teenagers.

Nate, in My Series, Drifters and Wanderers

2011-05-03T11:31:00.000-04:00

My original intention was to shoot this entire series after the sun went down. But happenstance has led to my being persuaded to shoot some during daylight hours. And I've decided that it works.

Besides, people have sex during the day, too.

Weekend at "Home" (Just not Home)

2011-05-02T14:14:00.002-04:00

We made an unexpected trip to Chicago this weekend, which means we've been there three out of the last four weekends. We had to be out of our house, anyway, on Sunday so our realtor could host an open house, and when our friend Marc offered us his condo in Chicago, we decided there was no reason to say no.

We arrived early on Saturday and learned that another Indy guy would be sharing the condo with us, so the three of us went to lunch. Our friend Tom joined us, and then Jay, Tom and I walked our asses off (by Indiana standards, at least), venturing into new neighborhoods to see if any of them struck us as future places to live. We liked Southport Corridor, even if it was a little yuppie, but found Roscoe Village to be too quiet and too "downtown Indy-like" for what we're looking for.

We ended our walk around Belmont and Broadway, which remains my favorite part of the Lakeview neighborhood. I think if we can find an affordable apartment, this is the neighborhood we want. It's dense and edgier, and Jay and I both agree that we want to live in a pretty urban neighborhood at least at first — we want to enjoy "the city" before we move to a quieter pocket like Andersonville or Roscoe Village.

On Broadway, we ran into a couple friends and then we ran into someone I went to high school with, who I hadn't seen since 1992, and who lives his life as Robert half the time and Samantha the other half. By coincidence, Robert lives half a block from the condo where we were staying, so he walked with us. Somehow, this serendipitous meeting moved me. It was good to see him, and good to see that he's happy and doing well in the city.

We had a fantastic late dinner at a Chinese place called Pingpong then went to Sidetrack, where we saw two Indy guys who've posed for me. We stopped in to see our friend Benji at Firefly. After that, it was about 12:30am, and we went to Berlin. This has become one of Jay's favorite places, and it was crazy in there on Saturday.

There was this guy dressed in . . . drag? . . . with gold Renaissance-era clothes (tights/pointy shoes and all), a beard, a BIG blond wig, ram horns, and tons of black makeup. He was fabulous, and I told him I wanted to photograph him sometime. He winked and told me he would, but only if I posed for him, first. Then we met a nice couple, Scott and Daniel, who reminded Jay of us, except that Scott was younger and much cuter (he favored a version of Richard Renaldi, my photographer crush, minus about 10 years and plus about 15 pounds).

As we were talking, Scott looked at me pulled me a little closer to him, then whispered, "You're cute. You're my type." I had just enough drinks in me to think that it would be fun to make out with him, but Jay was about 10 feet away, talking to Scott's boyfriend and some other guy, so I couldn't ask if it would be okay. And then this belligerent drag queen started throwing cocktails at everybody and she and Scott got into it. This led to us losing both Scott and his boyfriend — the last we saw them, security had them and the drag queen outside, trying to figure out what went on. I hope they find us on Facebook or something.

Would you believe I didn't take one photo all weekend long?

I guess we need to stay home for a couple of weekends to let our checkbooks recover and get in a few promised photo shoots. It's going to suck; I'd rather be poor and in Chicago then saving money and here. I also need May to be healthy. I've been drinking too much alcohol and eating at truck stops. I feel dirty on the inside.

Anatomy of a Murder, by Steven Klein

2011-04-28T15:55:00.005-04:00

Jay was in a bookstore a few weeks ago and picked up a magazine for me to look at called, Arena Homme. Maybe I've been living under a rock but I'd never heard of it before. And I devoured this magazine — cover to cover. The photography surpassed any men's fashion/lifestyle magazine I'd ever seen previously and the articles were captivating.

I guess it only comes out twice a year, and the spring/summer edition is available now (in major cities [and hopefully soon, for the rest of us]). One of the features in the new edition that's getting some press is a photo spread called, Anatomy of a Murder, by Steven Klein.

I have to admit that the story that's unfolding via this series is a little unclear to me. But the images are amazing — even if provocative and more than a little disturbing — and compelling. I first saw this series about 10 days ago (via my friend Trevor's blog) and I still keep coming back, trying to figure out its message.

You can see more photos from the spread by clicking here. And if you find a copy of Arena Homme magazine, I highly recommend that you buy it. It's truly stunning.

All images in this post copyright, Steven Klein for Arena Homme.

Daniel, in New Gods

2011-04-27T10:41:00.000-04:00

Here's my newest God. I hope you like.

There's one more new photo of him on my website(s), in the New Gods gallery.

Scott Recommends: Sandra Rice and Noodle

2011-04-26T13:05:00.000-04:00

To be direct, aside from a few great friends, there just aren't a lot of things in Indianapolis that I'm going to miss, or won't be able to replace in Chicago. But here's one, and although I've blogged about it before, I just can't speak highly enough of Sandra Rice and Noodle.

For now, forget about the facts that the food is delicious, healthy, and unbelievably cheap. A few weeks ago I woke up feeling just wretched. I was dizzy, queasy, and in hindsight it may just have been a panic attack but if you asked me to describe what I was feeling, I'd have said it felt somewhere between an intense hangover and a stroke. I tried to think of what to do to pull myself out of it, and the only thing that sounded good was meeting Jay at Sandra Rice and Noodles for lunch.

We sat at the table and I looked at Ha, the sister of the brother-sister co-owners. She was waiting to take my order.

"I don't feel well," I said. "What do you think I should eat to get better?"

Ha put down her pen and looked at me. "You don't feel good?" She ran around to my side of the table and hugged me. "Have some pho, it helps."

When my lunch arrived, Ha placed it in front of me with a plate of raw bean sprouts and fresh cilantro leaves and a large jar of chili hot sauce. "Put all the cilantro in your pho, eat half of it and then add a lot of the hot sauce, as much as you can stand, and eat the rest." After this, she hugged me again.

I did what she said, then went home and took a nap. When I woke up, I felt fine.

Yes, I will miss the delicious, healthy, and unbelievably cheap food they server here. I will also miss walking in the door and having both Ha and her brother Sang look up from what they are doing and saying, "Hi Scott." And I will miss being invited to special events and private dinners. I will really miss deciding that I don't want to open the menu and instead telling them to make me something that they know I'll like. I'm sure there are places in Chicago, but . . .

"Photoshop Your Memories"

2011-04-22T12:04:00.000-04:00

I love this. Happy Friday!

Benji, in The American People

2011-04-21T12:59:00.001-04:00

Here's my new friend Benji, the third of my subjects for a new portrait series, The American People.

It's time to branch out — three photographs; three attractive men between 25 and 35. If you know anyone interesting that should be part of this and does NOT fit this mold, send me their details.