Saturday, December 30, 2017

Favorite Pic of the Day for December 31st

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Happy Birthday today December 31st


Happy 58th to actor Val Kilmer!

Check out more of today's Birthdays HERE: & HERE:

In the Midnight Hour


'I'm gonna wait 'till the midnight hour
When there' no one else around'


The New Year's celebrating began a little early for these two party goers. TR Pic's Tom remember this New Year's Eve shoot a crazy ride. Both frenetic, and a little strange with the champagne flowing even before he could even get his camera out. The focus was initially going to be on Jake, (above) the model Tom had arranged to shoot, and his sexy blonde roommate, (below) jumped in on the action.


Despite the chaos, or maybe because of it, intense energy between the two models came through like those fireworks that go off at midnight. Although it wasn't what he planned, Tom ended up loving the shots. He does't often work with masks, and images ended up being unique, and a little different that his usual visual style.




Notables: Nick Ayler by Hans Fahrmeyer


Notable: Worthy of attention or notice; remarkable


The end of a year is a time for reflection, even when it's forced. I try to resist this forced upon custom, but with a new year on the horizon, it is almost impossible to think about what's ahead, without a least a passing nod to what was behind. One behind worthy of many backward glances is that of model, actor and musician Nick Ayler, especially when so unforgettably captured by photographer Hans Fahrmeyer


I think every model and artist I feature on FH is worthy of attention, I wouldn't put time into featuring them if I didn't love and want to share their work. There are some artists, some models and some worth that have had an enduring impact and influence on my passion for images of the male form. Although Nick has been photographed by many talented photographers, I often tend to associate their work with the image, and the artist in the first image of them that caught my eye and held my attention.


Back in 2009, I saw Nick's images for the first time in a series featured on Oh La La Magazine. I immediately put together a piece (HERE:) for Sunday's With Hans, a regular FH feature which had just began a few months earlier. Nick's body was a work of art, and Hans perfectly captured his potent masculinity blended with the then 22 year old's boyish face and sexy blue yes.


Those eyes may have had a glint of boyish innocence, but there was nothing naive about Nick. I have had the opportunity to interview Nick and have featured his work in close to 25 pieces since that first appearance. The two words that always come to mind are passion and drive, especially when it came to his career. I remember the first time Nick contacted me, he was without an agent or manager, and was doing his own promotion. He goals were big, modeling, acting and his first love music. Nick was making the most of his recent success with modeling, to get his name out there and to use the opportunities to talk about to promote his music and acting work.


Nick's hard work clearly paid off with acting roles both on television and in movies, and a hugely successful career as a DJ, something Nick has been doing close to 15 years now. Nick is well known for his frequent appearances throughout California and Las Vegas and just came off a hugely successful night at Snowchella in Denver. I had been thinking for awhile about returning in 2018 to update FH readers about some of notable artists who I have featured over the last 10 years and I got a couple of signs that Nick's work with Hans would make the perfect first subject for the theme.


First off, if you check out my recent post spotlighting Hans' new book, The Cover-Up, you noticed that images of Nick, and his white jock strap, are featured prominently in the book. Then...after Hans posted the incredible shot of Nick (my POTD shot) on his Twitter, the decision was made. Thanks to Hans, for sending on some of my favorite shots. Undoubtedly, many are familiar to some of you, but hopefully there are one or two you haven't seen before.






12 Days: Eric Shea in The Poseidon Adventure


'Shove it. Shove it. Shove it!'
Robin Shelby


When it comes to New Year's Eve themed movies, the pickings are pretty slim. Most are romances, with New Year's occupying just a scene or two. There is one film however, a movie that made quite an impression on me, and may others, where most of the main action takes place just after the stroke of midnight. It was the mid-eighties, about 12 or 13 years after 1972's The Poseidon Adventure was released in theatres.


I was about 8 or 9 and the movie was playing on the late show on TV. On that first viewing, I only got to watch about a quarter of the film. I was sent to bed by my parents just after the SS Poseidon had it's run in with a 99-foot tsunami formed tidal wave.


There was something the film that fascinated me, and as I have learned, many others. The 70's disaster film has become a cult favorite, a campy flick full of memorable, and often laughable scenes and plot devices. From Shelley Winters famous underwater swim through Stella Stevens shirt dress, everything was a bit over the top. Speaking of over the top, even as a 9 year old (still not out) gay kid, Stella Stevens breasts, were immensely fascinating.



5,4,3,2,1  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!


One of the movie's 'hooks' was seeing which of the famous cast members were going to make it to safety at the bottom of the ship. One by one, celebrity after celebrity fell, drowned or, in the films most famous scene, crushed by a giant Christmas tree. One of the mystery's for me about the cast, is why after the success of this film, we didn't see more of actor Eric Shea.

On deck with The Captain (Leslie Nielsen) and crew

Shea played Robin Shelby, who was traveling with is sister Susan. (Pamela Sue Martin) Shea was great in the role it surprised he didn't go on to more success in the business. Shea has a strong early resume, movies along side Lucille Ball and James Garner and TV guest shots on some of the 70's most popular shows. Shea had a unique quality, earnest and likable, and worked steadily in his short time in the lime light.

Gene Hackman sporting an 'off the shoulder' look for New Years

Shea had family in the business, both of his brothers were actors, his brother Christopher voiced the role of Linus in A Charlie Brown Christmas.' Shea tells HollywoodChicago.com that when his older brother got an agent, they signed all three brother up, and all began to get regular work. At 18 however, Shea decided that show business, was not where he wanted to be.

The Castaway Cowboy (1974)

In Disney's 1974 flick, The Castaway Cowboy, Shea played 'Little Mac' who rescues Texas Cowboy James Garner out the Pacific ocean when he washes ashore in Hawaii.


HollywoodChicago.com: You abruptly left the business in 1978, right as you were transitioning into adulthood. What was behind that decision, had you just had enough?

Shea: It was a little bit of that, but also I just didn’t make the transition. At the same time, I was losing interest. I moved to St. Louis and learned the electrical trade, and I’ve been doing that ever since.

Little House on the Prairie (1976)


Reunited with movie sister Pamela Sue Martin

The Cast of The Poseidon Adventure

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Favorite Pic of the Day for December 28th

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Happy Birthday today December 28th


Happy 41st to actor Joe Manganiello!

Check out more of Joe and more of today's Birthdays,


Polar Express


'That Feeling When Europe on top of the world.'

Gilloolied


Gilloolied: 

-to kneecap someone
-anything that is incredibly ill conceived
-mismanaged, incompetently handled or poorly executed.


Never thought I would ever be crushing over mustached douchebag Jeff Gillooly, but when played by Sebastian Stan, I found myself doing just that. In I, Tonya, Stan skillfully plays the abusive idiot to perfection, and although I hated the character, no amount of facial hair and make-up could hide the sexy side of Sebastian. The entire cast of I, Tonya was superb, starting with the brilliant performance by Margot Robbie as Tonya Harding. I love me some Allison Janney, but I sometimes thought she played it a bit broad, but then again, the woman she played was 'over the top'.

Political Animals with Sigourney Weaver and James Wolk

I haved loved Sebastian Stan since his turn on Political Animals, and still mourn the show's cancellation. The Romanian born actor has been working steadily on stage, TV and film since Political Animals left the air, most notably as Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier in The Captain America films, but I, Tonya really gave him a great platform to showcase his considerable acting skills. It also gave us a brief, very brief (I mean very) shot of the top of his well toned butt while Harding humping.

Harding and Gillooly

I, Tonya gives a fascinating peek at Tonya's life during her time in the lime light, and spotlight, while skating professionally. Although the film doesn't necessarily strive to have us like her, it does succeed in having us understand, and totally relate to the strong, but hardened woman we saw on the ice. I never found Nancy Kerrigan a particularly likable or compelling figure, and I, Tonya wisely has Kerrigan as a relatively minor piece of the drama, and of Tonya's life.


At His Most: Elo by Anthony Timiraos


'Every one of the models I used is unique and beautiful, but capturing the best of each while disclosing their personalities and channeling them through the lens was my challenge.'


For me, the essence of photography is about capturing a moment. Whether it be a professional photographer, or your camera wielding cousin Allen at the family Christmas party. For Allen, the goal is to coral the whole family together, many of whom last saw each other at the same event a year ago, for a group photo. That image, symbolizes a family, a party, that in many ways... doesn't really exist.


That group of family members, second cousins and great aunts, are not really ever together that often, except for Christmas parties, weddings and funerals. The photo is more a representation of a family, not how they usually are, but an extended family at their most unified moment of togetherness


Professional photographers have a goal to capture 'the most', very similar to Allen's. For photographers of the male form it's to capture their subjects at their most. At their most attractive, at their peak of physical fitness, and at their most erotically attractive and desirable. If a photographer doesn't capture a model at 'his most', they really haven't done their job, or accomplished their goal. 'At his most' is the theme of Anthony Timiraos' work, and the motivation for visually bringing together close to 40 models for his book expose.


Elo is certainly 'at his most', in this series of images from his two shoots with Anthony. Statuesque and powerful, physically breathtaking, flawless. Elo is also in control, another theme that I love about Anthony's work. To be at your most, means being both physically and mentally strong, and this strength, confidence and comfortability with self, is also something Anthony so beautifully captures in his imagery.


'As soon as he arrived at the studio, I knew Elo was special. A handsome man from western Georgia, full of energy and excitement. I can’t recall a photo shoot where I laughed as much as I did with a model. We connected the minute we met and in between our laughs, he posed like a professional. Minimal direction needed for Elo to understand my objectives.'


Models can act confident, and a skilled photographer can help create it, even when it's not in abundance. Comfortability with self is harder to manufacture visually, unless it already exists. Unlike confidence, which although internal, can be physically expressed, comfortability with self is can't really be created through a pose, muscle flex or intense stare at the camera. Although more difficult to see, it is plainly obvious when missing. Anthony's approach however, means it's not really something you have to worry about looking for. It goes hand in hand when a model is, or is seen to be... through the the eyes of an artist, to be at his most.


'I gave him a gold satin cloth and he instinctively worked the cloth into his poses with an artistic flare. When I told him I wanted to photograph a series of shots standing up, he new exactly how to work with the camera and lights to highlight his toned, well defined body. The three hour Sunday morning photo shoot flew by too fast. Hope to have the same opportunity with Elo again. He is a new friend.'