A Print Ad Put In The Classifieds.  Only Lonely Men Called.

I’ll start things off with Tessa at her home in London. She had the most incredible wardrobe full of latex, roleplay outfits, cabinets of medical devices, and original art from her admirers. Censored for 17/12/2018.

“[Beauty as a form of power] is always conceived in relation to men; it is not the power to do but the power to attract. It is a power that negates itself. For this power is not one that can be chosen freely—at least, not by women—or renounced without social censure.”

- Susan Sontag, A Woman’s Beauty: Put-Down or Power Source?

Every day there is additional proof that the very qualities we have historically been forced to deny - strength, power, and endurance - are inherent in women to the same extent as in men.  The truth is, we have a greater tolerance for pain than men; we have far greater endurance than men.  There is evidence that pound for pound we are stronger than men.

Lisa Lyon, “Body Magic”

I found Violetta online and she really was the beginning. She arrived in sweats, had a Philly accent, only ate pizza, and had no patience for making photos. That said, she was still my favorite. She reminded me of Patti Smith, was both feminine and masculine, had wild natural proportions, and made incredible images.

“Then He created a woman for Adam, from the earth as He had created Adam, and called her Lilith. Adam and Lilith immediately began to fight. She said “I will not lie below you.. for we are equal to each other inasmuch as we were born created from the same earth”. They would not listen to each other. When Lilith saw this, she pronounced the ineffable name and flew away into the air” - from an anonymous medieval Hebrew text The Alphabet of Ben Sirach.

The closest I ever came to Marilyn.

Homecoming.

Madia in Milan. She opened her door nude, and had another photographer in the room packing up his gear. She ripped a bong while I loaded Polaroid. Her flesh pulling her in the opposite direction as she moved. Cutting through all that smoke was her beautiful face.

Censored for Tumblr 17/12/2018

I found her on tumblr where she was posting the most incredible self portraits.  I asked to take her picture and this is the first frame we took… such a beauty.

Thinking of Alberto Vargas today.

Censored for Tumblr 17/12/2018.