Category Archives: Photography
Adam Bouska and Jeff Parshley – NOH8 Campaign – LGBT Activism Needs to be a Part of Your Daily Life!
Photographer ADAM BOUSKA
became a LGBT activist quite by accident. He calls it “accidental activism“. Gosh, he has come a long way in the 6 years we have known him!
We met Adam in 2003. He was living here in the suburbs of Chicago and had just graduated college where he studied Computer Science. Being a photographer myself, I was always on the lookout for fresh new young talent. I met Adam and asked him to pose for me. During the shoot, he confided that Computer Science was not really his passion. And though he was dabbling with modeling, it was the art of photography that really intrigued him.
Shortly afterwords, Adam moved to Southern Californina. We stayed in touch now and then through MySpace and watched as his young budding career began to blossom.
It didn’t take long and his name was sprouting up everywhere!
In November 2008, Proposition 8 in California happened. California wanted to put a stop to the idea of gay marriage. The defeat of Prop 8 provoked a groundswell of activism within the LGBTQ community and many new political and protest organizations were formed in response to the defeat. It was like Stonewall was happening again!
Adam was in Chicago this weekend speaking at LGBT CHANGE UNITE + FIGHT, EAA Midwest Conference at Columbia College. The conference ran 3 days and was a series of workshops and speakers geared towards activism in the hopes to fire up the Midwest LGBTQ communities.
Adam, his partner Jeff Parshley and some friends attended the Prop 8 rallies in Los Angeles. Afterwords, they got so emotionally stirred they knew they wanted to do something, to make some kind of statement. He and a dozen friends went to the store and bought some paints and duct tape, went back to his apartment and shot photos. Using photography as his voice, Adam placed tape over their mouths and painted the now famous NOH8 on their cheeks, and the next day posted their images to MySpace and Facebook, to demonstrate their silent protest.
Before he knew it, a dozen more friends wanted to do the same thing . Adam shot more photos and those friends also posted them online. The next month 30 of their friends wanted the same photos! It started to grow exponentially. In the 6 months that followed it exploded and nearly 500 people had been photographed and pictures were flooding the Internet.
Soon celebrities want to join in and show their support. To date, 3,000+ faces have been shot by Adam and his team for the NOH8 Campaign. The campaign began with portraits of everyday Californians from all walks of life and soon rose to include politicians, military personnel, newlyweds, law enforcement, artists, celebrities, and many more.
Cindy McCain, wife of former Presidential candidate Senator John McCain, was even photographed by Adam, speaking out on behalf of gay marriage rights as part of a popular ongoing photo campaign. “Cindy McCain wanted to participate in the campaign to show people that party doesn’t matter – marriage equality isn’t a Republican issue any more than it is a Democratic issue. It’s about human rights, and everybody being treated equally in the eyes of the law that runs and protects this country.”
The NOH8 Campaign has received overwhelming support from around the world, appearing on various local and national news programs and publications. The images are currently being used on various social networking sites to spread the message of equality, predominantly Facebook and Twitter. Eventually the images are expected to be compiled for a large-scale media campaign. The group just shot their 3rd PSA. There has been talks of billboards, possible calendar, coffee table books and even a documentary.
Just last month the team shot 500 people in 5 hours in New York City. Adam hopes to tour major cities soon, doing more open shoots and spreading the message across the country. “This is much bigger than just about Prop 8. And when we win this, when Prop 8 is overturned, and it will be, we’re not stopping. It’s about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell….it’s about gay civil rights….it’s about equal rights…it’s about making our silence heard….it’s about the big picture now! And we have only just begun!” Groups as far away as Germany and Australia have even started similar campaigns.
Remember when Gay Pride and National Coming Out day was just once a year? Thanks to the power of Social Media and the interconnectedness of the Internet these days, we can make a statement about who we are and show the world our messages. “Activism needs to be a part of your DAILY LIFE and your lifestyle. Not just once a year.”
THE NOH8 store online has t-shirts, bumper stickers, tattoos and my favorite, THE BRACELET!
Funds raised by the NOH8 Campaign will be used to continue promoting and raising awareness for Marriage Equality and anti-discrimination on a global level through an educational and interactive media campaign.
Adam will hopefully get back to Chicago later this year for an Open Call NOH8 shoot here. We’ll keep you posted!
Adam Bouska
Adam Bouska MySpace
Adam Bouska FaceBook
http://twitter.com/bouska
NOH8 CAMPAIGN
NOH8 NEWS BLOG
Michael Snell and Derrick Sorles BEST GAY CHICAGO / BEST GAY NEWS
Mike Ruiz – Celebrity Photographer
New York-based photographer (and major hottie!) Mike Ruiz is best known for his high-impact, surreal brand of celebrity and fashion photography.
He has worked with everyone from Betty White,Ru Paul, Dolly Parton and Dennis Hopper to Lindsay Lohan, The Jonas Brothers and Zac Efron. He did some great shots this month of Lance Bass and Carmen Electra, both shown here.
The Canadian-born artist Ruiz is also featured this month in XEX Magazine and some of his works have become available for purchase at Prints995.
Still on hold – Mike Ruiz developed a scripted television show based on a group of elitist gay men living in Los Angeles called‚ “The 10 10’s.”
It’s a story that is loosely based on the eccentricities of me and the posse of super hot guys I ran around with in the early 90’s. It was brilliantly written by the super-talented Benjamin Morgan. We’ve only begun pitching it and the response has been very positive. It’s early on in the process so all I can say about it is that it is freaking HILARIOUS in a dark and super-sexy way.
Ruiz’s entrepreneurial skills led him to co-found Miauhaus Studios, a Los Angeles photography complex featuring four full-service photo studios.
KEEP UP TO DATE WITH MIKE RUIZ ON FACEBOOK!
The Best Gay News
iNaked iPhone App – Too Good To Be True
Seriously??
An application by processing infrared light through a specific light filter….
If it sounds too good to be true….
it usually is!
New Book from Greg Gorman – In Their Youth
A celebration of male beauty
fleeting moments captured in early youth…
“In their youth,” is a collection of approximately two hundred black and white portraits of young men, especially actors (many of whom now occupy an important place in the Hollywood star system) that Gorman has photographed the beginning of their careers, but also musicians famous and beautiful strangers.
The parade of famous faces, and bodies, ranging from the seventies to 2009, opens with an intense series dedicated to Leonardo Di Caprio. It recognizes, among others, Ben Affleck, Johnny Depp, Matt Damon, Jude Law, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Atkins, Mickey Rourke, Mick Jagger, Alex Pettyfer, Matt Dillon and Rupert Everett (his portrait chosen for the cover of volume).
For the most part these are extreme close-ups of faces, but there are shots where the study of the eyes and facial expression adds a search on the figure and body language, emphasized the turning of the images in diptychs and neutral backgrounds.
“The eyes tell you if you’re getting through to the heart of the individual, or if there’s something they’re not sharing with you….” says Greg.
The volume also includes a conversation between Gorman and his friend and filmmaker Audrey Wells and a critical essay by Peter Weiermair.
All I Want For Christmas is … Scott Herman and Michael Tammoro
You know by now, we just can’t get enough of Scott Herman!
he was recently photographed by Michael Tammaro –
STUNNING SHOTS!
How would you like to unwrap THAT for Christmas?!
Scott Herman FitnessScott Herman – MySpace
Scott Herman – YouTube Fitness
Scott Herman on Facebook
Adonis Mag – The First Male Photography Magazine iPhone App
Now here’s an interesting concept; Images of hot men as an app. That’s it. Nothing more.
Nothing less. Just lots of hot eye candy at your finger tips. Not on paper. Not on the Internet.
Only in the palm of your hand!
Each issue of ADONIS will only feature exclusive images by world-famous
photographers bringing you their own vision of the male form and
exploring beyond fashion, by venturing into the art of the body.
The first issue of ADONIS is done by world renowned photographer
Fred Goudon from France (Dieux du Stade, Aqua, Virility, Bedtime Stories, …)
84 never before seen images included – $1.99 for issue # 1
CHECK IT!
Sexy Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo will replace David Beckham at Emporio Armani
Cristiano Ronaldo is the buff 24-year-old soccer star who plays for Spanish club Real Madrid and the Portuguese national team.The Portuguese star will model ARMANI’S spring and summer collection in 2010 after being named as the face and body of the company.
Becoming the ‘new official ambassador’ for the company, the world’s most expensive football player will don jeans and underwear in advertising campaigns.
Hottie David Beckham was affiliated with Armani from 2007, but has relinquished the role after moving on to create his own range of underwear. The pants and underwear he modeled for Armani soared in sales! So he figures why not cash in on the success?!
No worries though. Can’t get enough Beckham? Read his blog, buy his calendar and get into his underwear!
The Best Gay News Magazine – Gay News That Doesn’t Suck!
Francois Nars Celebrates 15 Years of Make Up with THE BOOK
Marc Jacobs, Amanda lepore, Olivier Theyskens, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Naomi Campbell… Many celebrities were eager to be a muse forFrançois Nars, to celebrate the brand’s 15th anniversary. Nars is a fan of each celeb he’s featured, each of whom is wearing an iconic brand product or colour.
In mid-November a commemorative book is to go on sale, where famous friends of the well-known make-up artist will be his muses.
Each person was photographed wearing an iconic product or colour that has influenced Nars’s career. 15th anniversary. Book is 15″ x 15″. And their are 15 photos are of Marc Jacobs, Isabella Rossellini, Dayle Haddon, Amber Valletta, Amanda Lepore, François Vicentelli, Naomi Campbell, Daphne Guiness, Lisa Marie Smith, Ntasha Poly, Carla Gugino, Tyson Ballou, Oliver Theyskens, Shalom Harlow and Jennifer Jason Leigh.
Nars says, ““Basically, I wanted people who reflected my taste, friends and people I admired for their look and talent,” said Nars. “I love the way Marc looks, but also what he is and does. I tried to pick people not just for looks, but for talent.”
As you can see, everyone from top designers and models to actresses and celebs wanted to pose with Nars’s emblematic products. Each model reflects Nars’s essence, and each is a professional that Nars greatly admires.
The book will ONLY be available at 15 x 15 Project.com
Best Gay News
Francois Rousseau Men In Motion – The Art and Passion of the Male Dancer
You will remember FRANCOIS ROUSSEAU from his book that
made the Rugby team in France, famous!
Locker Room Nudes / Dieux du Stade: The French National Rugby Team.
He is back this year with Men in Motion: The Art and Passion of the Male Dancer.
François Rousseau affords us private and exclusive access to more than 60 dancers from across the world, and the world of dance. Members of classical dance companies, including Opera de Paris and the New York City Ballet, and contemporary dance troupes, such as Alvin Ailey and Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane, as well as dancers from disciplines as diverse as Broadway, hip hop, acrobatic, and folk are spotlighted both on and offstage. Rousseau captures the innate eroticism of these artists as they pose, prepare, and perform. These men, whether seen in their most personal times of self-reflection or public moments under the spotlight, are proof that the body is truly a thing of beauty. Whether solo or en masse, their energy and virility leaps from the stage, and the page.
François Rousseau began his photography career in 1995, after spending ten years as a painter. A highly sought-after commercial photographer, his work has been featured in magazines across the world. His photographs are showcased in Locker Room Nudes, as well as in several other books and galleries around the world.
150 pages, hardbound, retail price $55
