Snack, Anyone?

Well, when your brother is a skilled photographer and asks you to hop on a posestand, thats what you do.

Yesterday JJ got inspired while watching me trying out a new hair from Vango I had found at the Men's Only Monthly. (I'm not going to be wearing it much outside of a photo shoot, because without the magic of Photoshop it's really not blond but has a ghastly yellowish hue.)

"Bock home alone" by JJ Goodman (click name to visit Flickr page)

“A portrait is not made in the camera but on either side of it.”,  said Edward Steichen, and this time it was definitely made on the photographers side.

Thank you, bro, the portrait is really beautiful. Awesome work!

He's My SecondLife

I was modeling for my hubby Tomais today, and has become my habit I take snapshots and play with Windlight settings while he photographs us and touches them up with Photoshop.

"He's my SecondLife_1" by BMcM

"He's my SecondLife_2" by BMcM

These two turned out rather nicely I think.

#weareALLclean

It seems that we are living in a time for social media challenges, the successful #ALSicebucket campaign has a lot to answer for.

From news.com.au: #weareALLclean fights AIDS stigma with photos of hot, naked men:

"The sudden spate of shower selfies is the brainchild of activist Jack Mackenroth, who wants to raise money to fight HIV and AIDS while ending the stigma around the condition.

Men are being urged to take photos of themselves in the buff and post them to social media with the hashtag #weareALLclean, while linking to a donation page to find a cure for AIDS.

“I was inspired by the use of the word ‘clean’, especially common in gay culture, to describe oneself as STI/STD free”, Mackenroth says.

“This implies that HIV-positive people are somehow ‘dirty’. I thought a PG shower selfie or video would be a fun way that everyone could easily show their support on social media for finding a cure by using the hashtag #weareALLclean when they post their photo with the link. Then they donate what they can and nominate 3 or more other people to participate.”

The campaign is taking off online but is far from $1,000,000 goal in donations "

I have been challenged by my friend Rusty Redfield (Playing with the Big Boys: 084: #weareALLclean (yes, a naked picture challenge!).

I threw off my clothes and proceeded to schlep my beautiful husband Tomais, after first getting him naked, into a shower with me and then asked him to make another of his beautiful picture of the two of us. 

"Shower selfie" by Tomais Ashdene

As always the most interesting part of the modelling experience was to observe my own special artist at work with the photo he had taken. It is amazing what funky details his astute and discerning eyes find to correct in Photoshop before he is satisfied with the picture.

This time he even took the time to make it safe for F*c*book, please not the careful and ingenious placement of his signature. It is in that exact spot to cover up my amazing butt crack from the picture-nazis on that site.

I challenge the following of my family and friends:  +JJ Goodman, +Wayne NZ  and sirhc DeSantis. And, after due consideration, I am adding +Petr Hastings-Vanbeeck, just because I want to see him in the shower too...

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Take a selfie or short video of yourself in the shower or bath.**NO EXPLICIT NUDITY**
2. Post your photo now on Moovz and all social media platforms with the caption "Take HIV Shower Selfie Challenge raise $ for AIDS cure bit.ly/CUREAIDS #weareALLclean"
3. Nominate 3 or more other people to participate!
4. DONATE! Please donate if you are able. Every dollar counts! bit.ly/CUREAIDS
5. On World AIDS Day (or before): Monday, December 1st, please change all your social media profile pix to your shower selfie photo and spread the word!!!

#feelingnuts

I was challenged by my friend +Kahvy Sands to take part in the #feelingnuts campaign. So this is my response to his challenge.

The challenge gave me the opportunity to learn how to make poses and a bit more about simple photography (no Photoshop involved, thank you very much). My teacher was my amazingly talented, wonderful, patient (mostly), lovely, beautiful, handsome, sweet and ever so charming husband Tomais.

I am passing the buck on and am now challenging +Tomais Ashdene  and my co-bloggers Apmel Goosson (+Lennart Nilsson)  and +Eddi Haskell.

Join our movement, share #feelingnuts on Twitter and get everyone checking their love grenades

Read more about this campaign here CheckingOneTwo.

Don’t let testicular cancer take your crown jewels. Check yours today, tell us how you do it and share that you're #feelingnuts!

Photo Safari

My Tomais and I went on a photographic expedition yesterday to Kaelyn Alecto's "It all starts with a smile..."-sim, because there is an ongoing photography contest on Flickr which Tomais is taking part in. (It all starts with a smile... - Photography Contest).

"Lazing together at the dock..." Photography by Tomais Ashdene

Tomais found a nice spot and started playing with his Windlight-settings (He actually has more than the 20,000+ than I have in my viewer, apparently it is possible to download a a shitload of other settings from somewhere.) While Tomais was doing that and taking pictures I was chatting away at him on Skype to his muttering responses.

I eagerly followed Tomais work process in Photoshop with his picture. It is always fascinating to see how he detects and corrects glitches and how he can enhance his pictures seemingly without effort. The effortlessness of course comes through skill and practice. Although many people often tell me that I am the most patient man in SecondLife, I do not hesitate to admit that I would never have the patience - or talent - to learn how to do it.

Anyway, after awhile I started to take a few pictures myself and I submit to my version of the same scene.

"Bock's version" by Bock McMillan

As you may have noticed, I am now using it as my blog header.

If you wish to see more of Tomais awesome photography you can visit his Flickr Photostream or PhotoMonkey SL (NSFW).

I also posted my picture to my own Flickr Photostream - it's the only one there so far - and joined the Flickr group "It all starts with a smile..." - Photo Contest to submit it to the contest.

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Furthermore, I consider that Dejerrity Mycron must be partnered soon. The wonderful man's single status is an utter mystery to me and he certainly needs other things to occupy his mind. Interested parties should contact me a.s.a.p. for additional information.

SCOOP: Spanki In Clothes

I am aware that I will be accused of photoshopping when I choose to publish this extremely rare expose showing hottie Spanki Moulliez actually wearing clothes.

Let me assure you, I do not have Photoshop installed and I was as surprised as ya'll are by this sight that met me at Butch Diavolo's set at Q-Lounge today.

New Header April 2012

I am celebrating the arrival of spring in my part of the world with this new header for the blog and a new profil picture.

Who needs Photoshop when you have the amazing Microsoft PowerPoint 2010, huh? Well, it is an easy way out for us amateurs that have less talent than the professional graphic designers.

What do you think? Is there anything I should change? Kandinsky, how do my eyes look?

Line Up

This is just a cool advertisement I saw at copyranter a while ago.

I find it very amusing, and cannot help thinking about the trials the poor photographer had to go through to get this great shot. (I don´t think it is done in Photoshop, but others may know better.)
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On another note I owe you all an update on how my mother is doing. She remains in the hospital and will most likely stay their at least another week.

Mother is still on antibiotics and oxygen, but last night she was also given two bags of blood because they found that her hemoglobin count was very low (85, normal is around 120). Apparently mother has been bleeding somewhere internally but they do not seem to know from where yet. Due to dehydration she will also be getting a drip overnight.

However mothers erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) which was at 285 when she was admitted to hospital is now down to 55 (normal value for women in mothers age group is <20), which means the antibiotics are helping.

The doctors are still hopeful and so are my family. I am getting a bit despondent as the additional troubles set in as I recognize the situation, but I am also trying to keep my hopes up, mainly for my parents sake.

I am too tired for SecondLife tonight so I am staying away.