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Favorite Pic of the Day for November 30th


Above: Marco by Chris Teel.

Speaking of Chris Teel...

MODEL SEARCH 2011!
Just 4 days left to get your applications in for Model Search 2011! A photo session with Chris, other prizes and the face of FH for 2011!
Follow the link below and be careful about waiting til the last minute!!!
Official Model Search Site HERE:

Favorite Birthday Boys for today November 30th

Happy Birthday today November 30th to:



The great actor, Gael Garcia Bernal turns 32 today.






Actor Mandy Patinkin turns 58 today.


I am a bigger fan of Mandy the stage actor than Mandy the tv actor. I did however love him in 'Princess Bride' and his beautiful performance in 'Yentl' below:








Happy Birthday today November 30th to:

Also celebrating today November 30th

Cutie Dougie Poynter from the pop group McFly turns 23 today.







German swimmer Steffen Driesen turns 29 today.



Actor Fabrizio Filippo turns 37 today. (See previous post on Fabrizio).




Actor Justin Lazard turns 43 today. (See previous post on Justin).




Ben Stiller turns 45 today.




Billy Idol turns 55 today.

Brett Gleason by Thomas Evans



FH favorite, musician Brett Gleason who I have profiled in the past just shot with New York photographer Thomas Evans. Evans, who is dubbed the “Photographer Extraordinaire” due to his attention to detail is known for embracing the dark side, the extreme and the bizarre? His work with Brett is not extreme but it does masterfully encompass the power and drama of Brett's music especially his #1 hit 'I Am Not'.



Speaking of 'I Am Not', the song spent 20 weeks on Logo's the click list including hitting the #1 spot (thanks to all from FH who voted!). The song has now been nominated for the Top 10 of 2010 and you can vote up to this Friday at 5pm. It's the seventh video down on the right, 'I Am Not'. Voting is unlimited and you don't need to fill out the form! Head over to LOGO and help Brett make the list!!!!

Check out more of incredible work of Thomas Evans at his website HERE:
Check out more of Brett on FH HERE:



Favorite Pic of the Day for November 29th


Another Great shot of Michael by Scott Barnes.

R.I.P Leslie Nielsen



I know I am in the minority but I was not as much of a fan of Leslie Nielsen the comic as I was of Leslie Nielsen the dramatic actor. Although I love Airplane I think the first time I saw Nielsen on screen was watching 1987's Nuts on VHS. I love when I am watching some old show on tv or DVD and Nielsen pops up. Seems like he was on every cop show (Columbo, The Rookies, Cannon) from the 70's usually playing some creepy criminal. I still love to stick in my DVD of The Poseidon Adventure with Nielsen as the captain. Rest In Peace Dr. Rumack.

Below: On the Poseidon with Stella Stevens.

Favorite Pic of the Day for November 28th


Love this shot of Michael by Scott Barnes. Check out more of Scott's work below!

Birthdays!


This remains my favorite image of Alan Ritchson.
Alan turns 28 today. Check out previous birthday posts for November 28th featuring Alan, Ryan Kwanten, Landon Lueck & Sam Harris.

Also Happy Birthday to model and artist Steve Raider who turns 23 today. Check out my previous post on Steve HERE:

Gods In Spirit: Scott Barnes Photography



'Gods in Spirit' is a bit of a dramatic title I know, but... when I choose a photographer to profile it is important to me to find that theme, that essence which not only distinguishes their work, but also speaks to what drew me to the work in the first place.



Indianapolis based photographer Scott Barnes says that to him, a good photograph captures spirit and movement, whether it's of a person, a building, or a cornfield. 'It's more than a "picture of something," but a moment in life.'

Some of spirits that is woven into Scott's work are the spirits of Apollo, Eros and Poseidon. Thousands of years ago the Greeks were carving nude statues in honor their heroes. The Greeks did not identify heroes only as winners but many statues were also shown to depict defeat. In both cases however the men, usually in marble were shown as heroic with nakedness used to represent a state of purity and honesty.




'The Greeks could think of no higher tribute to their gods than to imitate them--to become as godlike as possible, both mentally and physically. It was the whole person that mattered: the well-developed mind in the well-developed body. Apollo, the god of athletics, was also the god of music. In fact, the athletes trained to music. The gymnasiums were where philosophers like Socrates hung about. Almost every major school of Greek philosophy was headquartered in a gymnasium.... As Greek religion declined and was replaced by philosophy, Socrates often advocated nudity as a form of honesty. It is clear from this that the ancient Greeks sought balance--their goal of The Golden Mean in individual accomplishments as well as in matters of state.'
Aileen Goodson
From her book: Therapy, Nudity & Joy





“Artists, like the Greek gods, are only revealed to one another.”
Oscar Wilde

Certainly nudity, male nudity especially is no longer honored in the same way. I have written before that in North American, the US in particular many would rather see a live decapitation, rape or murder on television rather than a breast or penis. The outcry over Janet Jackson at the Superbowl demonstrates this. It still shocks me that there is little to no outcry on the stream of violence that is shoved down the throats of people, children in particular, night after night on network television.

Thankfully artists like Scott Barnes, and many others, are trying to buck this trend by showing the male form in a beautiful, honest and non pornographic way. It is sad that many seem to continue to struggle to see that nudity does not equal pornography. It is this struggle, or a form of it, which is at the heart of so many of today's political debates. Don't Ask Don't Tell for example is about human rights but most who oppose it seem not to be able to see as anything beyond sex, same philosophy.




The spirit of Gods is certainly present in Scott's work with Mel, the model showcased in this post. Scott has a philosophy when working, 'If I'm photographing you, I think you're beautiful.' Sounds rather simple yet at the same time it was pretty powerful to me. If the person behinds the lens sees the beauty in front of them the results are bound to reflect that.

I chose Mel to showcase Scott's work because there is something about him, his stance, his body that Scott says is perfect for recreating classical statuary. It is hard to believe that this was Mel's first professional photo shoot. 'He was sent to me by another model, who knows him from the gym.' Even though it was his first time, even though a bit nervous Mel, though the lens of Scott Barnes, transforms into a God, even if just in spirit.

Check out more 'Gods' as well as a few mortals at Scott's official site HERE: or on MM HERE: