Review:

Yeah I know reviews don't mean much, and I also know that the site that reviewed FH gives high praise to almost every site they review. But...I get so few so it was still nice to read kind words about something I put a lot of time and care into. Thanks to GayDemon for the kind words, especially needed as 2010 comes to an end!

"Favorite Hunks & Other Things is a very stylish, hip, urbane and whatever other modern terms apply to a blog which is personal, photographically-rich and model-centered. It pretty much has it all, in other words. Its lush dark background enhances the exceptional photography in bas relief as our eyes are driven ever downwards into the next great batch of photos featuring the world's most gorgeous men. This blog is rather mind-blowing, actually. TyeBriggs brings the professionalism to fashion an exceptional work of magazine/blog art out of his available tools, leaving much of his competition behind. Accessible, rambling and non-conforming, this blog senses our interest then grabs us by the eyeballs. I am utterly taken by the art employed here especially the stunning photography. Then of course, the subjects themselves all call for serious cravings from an adoring audience. Any model featured in this particular blog can feel like he is represented as well as one can even imagine. Man, what a terrific blog, TyeBriggs. This one honestly rocks the socks off the blogging world. And maybe more. This reader is impressed."

Being Travolted!

Being Travolted in the kiss of death to actors and especially to actress's. What exactly is being Travolted? Well, not just working with Travolta, many great actors have lived to talk about sharing the screen with him but... Being his leading lady or leading man means your career is about to hit a wall.

Travolta's career can be broken down into three sections. First the beginning (pre Pulp Fiction). This section includes Welcome Back Kotter and the years of Travolta trying his best to be a romantic lead. Countless women, many immensely talented took turns as his leading lady. Almost all found the experience not really helpful to building a resume.

The second part of Travolta's career I will call The Men Years, this time covers the time just before and just after Pulp Fiction. Pulp Fiction served a number of purposes for Travolta, not just reinventing his career but it was the time he seemed to see that being the romantic lead (dance with Uma aside) was not working and he was better off with his leading lady being a man (in this case Samuel L. Jackson). For the next several years Travolta's co-stars were usually men and he left his romantic roles behind for action films.

The third, and hopefully last version of Travolta's career is post Battlefield Earth. About this time Travolta seems to realize that not only is he ruining the careers of almost every leading man or leading woman he worked with most of his work since 1980 was shit. Since then Travolta has for the most part abandoned having any leading lady or man and is sticking to mostly ensemble pieces where can no not be solely blamed for ruining the career of another actor or the success of failure of the film. I think this is a safe choice for Travolta. He has not made a decent movie since, yet at the same time has not added to his previous list of high profile flops.

Of course with any rule there are exceptions but I stand by my theory that 'Being Travolted' is the Acting Kiss of Death.

Take a look....

The Men:
The Sweathogs:
Except for Robert Hegyes and his time on Cagney & Lacey, none of the gang from Buchanan High really maintained their fame after the show went off the air. Ron Palillo mostly disappeared, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs has worked steadily, mostly on tv but without IMDB I dare you to compile any sort of list of his credits.



Nicolas Cage
Pre being Travolated: Must see actor in Peggy Sue Got Married, Moonstruck, Birdy, The Cotton Club, Rumble Fish, Raising Arizona, Leaving Las Vegas.
Travolted in Face/Off (1997)
After Being Travolted: Hollywood joke still making big boring blockbusters no body really wants to see.


Christian Slater
Pre being Travolted: Hot edgy leading man in films like Name of the Rose (below), Heathers, Pump Up The Volume, Untamed Heart, True Romance.
Travolted in Broken Arrow (1996).
After Being Travolted: Movie Career fizzles out, numerous attempts to get a tv series off the ground.



The Leading Ladies:
Pre-Pulp Fiction

Kirstie Alley
Really what is there to say here.... Pre 1993's Look Who's Talking (and it's two pointless sequals) Kirstie Alley was a sexy Emmy award winning actress. After...



Jamie Lee Curtis
1985's Perfect did not end the career of Jamie Lee Curtis but it certainly did not help it. Arguably her chance to show she could do more than scream and run, this film was another one of those movies Travolta seems drawn to without really thinking it through. Like the much better Saturday Night Fever, Perfect is about a trend, in this case aerobics which was all the rage at that time (Richard Simmons anyone). Following trends in movies is a tricky thing and most generally fall flat. Curtis had an ok movie career pre Perfect and continued to have an ok movie career after.



Finola Hughes & Cynthia Rhodes
1983's Stayin Alive is one of those films that is so bad it is almost fun to watch for a laugh. Travolta's co-stars Finola Hughes (below) and Cynthia Rhodes both found their respective film careers come to a crashing death after alive. Rhodes went on to Dirty Dancing and not much else. Hughes continued a healthy television career but that face of hers was meant for the big screen, but after Travolting herself it was not to be.



Debra Winger
One of my favorite actress's Debra Winger shared the screen with Travolta in 1980's Urban Cowboy. Now Urban Cowboy certainly did not end Winger's movie career with two of her biggest hits, Terms of Endearment and An Officer And A Gentleman both coming out within a few years of Cowboy but... Like many of Travolta's leading ladies, one of the 80's biggest female stars career certainly hit some bumpy roads from the late 80's all the way to the present. Winger began rebuilding her resume in 2000 and was seen most recently on tv in In Treatment. If you have not seen 2002's Searching For Debra Winger it is a great documentary!



Lily Tomlin
1978's Moment By Moment remains one of those 'Why Did They Do That?' questions in motion pictures. (Travolta has a few of those Battlefield Earth anyone?)Lily and John as a romantic couple is almost laughable and laughing is just what many did. Tomlin's acting career certainly continued with 9 to 5 just two years later but any hope of a Tomlin being seen as a leading lady in a drama were dashed permanently. Tomlin's movie career pretty much petered out after Big Business in 1988 but she continues to be a force on television most recently in a great turn on Damages.



Olivia Newton-John
Now working with Travolta certainly did not end Olivia's singing career but it in no way helped her acting one. Granted Newton-John was not an actress to begin with but between Grease and the horrid Two Of A Kind, except for a couple of tv appearances and a cameo or two in the movies, Newton-John's acting career ended about the same time it began. In 2000 she did show she had a bit more to offer than previously thought with a fun turn in 'Sordid Lives'.


Karen Lynn Gorney
Actress Karen Lynn Gorney is really the perfect example of what Travolting an acting career can actually result in. Pre 1977 Gorney had a few small guest star roles on tv but was known mostly for her time as Tara Martin on All My Children. 1977 brought Gorney brief fame starring along Travolta in the iconic disco movie Saturday Night Fever. Despite huge box office and great reviews Gorney's career basically came to a screeching halt. In fact Gorney was unable to get any professional work of note for the next 15 years. In the 90's she showed up in guest spots and small roles but still has not recovered for her time as Travolta's leading lady.

Not a great day for the Palin Girls...

Source:

I have written in the past that I am bothered when people cannot seem to separate the child from the actions of their parents. Most of us spent our entire lives trying to separate, often fighting hard not to follow in our parents footsteps.

I LOVE Meghan McCain, even like the Bush Girls (love Laura too, although Jenna should NOT be on The Today Show). Sort of luke warm on Chelsea Clinton and have never really disliked the Palin kids, even though their mother drives me batty. I wrote before how bothered I was by some of the crap thrown at Bristol since she joined DWTS simply because who her mother was. Most of us would not get out of bed if when we left the safety of our front door every good and bad thing our parents did in their past was known to every single person we met. I applaud Bristol for going on the show and think she did a great job.

However...

She was far from one of the best dancers and I fear she is going to regret getting pushed through another week. With Brandy's departure last night those who were simply annoyed by her are not going to be furious and I am sure the degree of insults are about to escalate. Too bad really as being on the show was her choice, her choice when to leave is not.

Now little sister Willow...all the insults coming her way today, (mother aside) are quite warranted. I certainly did not watch Palin's Alaska but the few seconds I saw on the news tell me Willow quite possibly might have more power in how well her mother does in the next election that anything we have seen before...

Electronic Assault

Note: The post below is long and boring, but I felt compelled to get it off my chest. Feel free to skip! ;)

Let me begin this post by saying that FH began as my way of sharing things that I loved. The blog has evolved into a showcase I am very proud of, showcasing the work of up and coming artists and performers as well shining a light on the work of those I enjoy and respect.

I think anyone who regularly checks out FH knows I am a stickler for giving credit. I rarely post a photo I cannot credit and if I do I ask the help from readers to track down the artist. I loath those sites and blogs that just post picture after picture without thought to the time, money, work and passion that went in to it's creation. In fact, FH strives to find out the story behind the photo and that story is often more interesting to me as the photo itself.

I love and respect the profession of photography. I have written many times before that at one time it was going to be my profession. After dozens of wedding and pet shoots I talked myself into believing I could not make a living at it and switched my major to psychology and currently make my living as a guardian at litem working with youth and families within the court system.
This background really is not really that important but wanted to set a tone.

I have several rules when posting on FH. 1. ALWAYS give credit. I am careful not to cross any copyright laws and again respect the time, effort and passion that artists put into their work. 2. When profiling a photographer I always try to get in touch with them. Not only for consent, but support and help to ensure my post does their work justice. 3 When profiling a model or actor I also attempt contact. It is often more difficult (as it should be) to get in touch with them. I still try my best.

The last rule is one I will no longer follow, it was a short cut I know, and was wrong. I used it last week and it came back to bite me in the ass. 4. When doing a general profile ie Favorite Face of the Day, a profile where I use numerous shots by numerous artists I generally shoot them an email with the link to the post to alert them to the post and to thank them. I give a quick blurb about the blog and let them know that if they want their work removed just to shoot me a line. I do this as when using multiple artists work in a post sometimes it takes weeks to hear back from everyone involved and posting would be extremely difficult. I know this is a short cut but I convinced myself it was ok given that I was giving credit and contacting them about it.

Last week I did a post on a model (positive post as always) using my favorite shots and crediting the three photographers whose work was used and linking back to their sites. The second I posted I shot each of the photographers an email and asked them to check out the post and let me know if it was ok with them to use the shots. Again, let me say I am aware this is a short cut, but I have found it helpful sometimes to show an artist how their work is going to appear on the blog. Blogs, and rightly so, get a bad rep and I want to ensure the artist their work is being respected and that FH is not a 'porn' blog but instead tries to be more of a study of photography and photographers.

After shooting off these emails I did something I should not have. I went out for pizza with my older brother who was visiting. (He lives about 5 hours away so we don't see each other that often.) After dinner, my brother left to head back to his home and I headed back to mine. When I opened my email I felt like I was hit on the head with a baseball bat. Here is a sample of what was in the 3 emails from one of the photographers.

DON'T PATRONIZE ME WITH YOUR LAY IT ON SWEET ROUTINE.
I LOATHE YOU PEOPLE FOR TOUCHING IT AT ALL.
YOU HAVE ALREADY VIOLATED MY COPYRIGHT AND I HAVE THE SCREENSHOTS.
BETTER MAKE REPARATIONS TO ME IF YOU WANNA KEEP BLOGGING.
YOU OWE ME NOW, PAL.
I'LL HAVE IT TORN DOWN AND I'VE DONE IT PLENTY OF TIMES BEFORE.
IT AIN'T PUBLIC PROPERTY. IT'S MINE.

And for some reason the following line was not in all caps

Please Be Advised that I didn't wait for you, scumbag, and filed a violation complaint of the DMCA against your blog.

Of course I quickly took down the photographers shots and emailed him back. That email did not go over any better than the first one.

I want to point out again that although I did take a short cut it was I who initiated contact with this photographer. I think this contact if anything shows there was no intent to steal, harm or in anyway do anything negative. I am not defending my process, obviously this photographer was right and I was wrong. It is not the what but the how that bothered me.

I understand that the Internet, as great as it can be, has it's downfalls. I am sure it is frustrating beyond belief to see your work splattered all over the net. In fact I am surprised that given this occurs, most photographers I contact are generally wonderful about being featured on the blog. This photographer is also not exactly Rick Day (whose work gets posted EVERYWHERE)and up until seeing his shots of this model, had never heard of him before. Given FH is now over 3 years old I often see my work, my posts and profiles I have worked on with other artists posted in other places. I only contact the site if they have not linked back to me and usually take it as a compliment.

I was initially very upset by the emails. Worried three years of hard work and trying ensure I showed respect to those I profile might be blown out the window. I know my blog is not Oh La La but I do reach a large audience each day, sometimes up above 20,000 (I know, I can't believe it either!). I know FH has not made anyone millions but I have had great feedback from photographers and models and actors that the post helped sell a book or two, got them a membership or two on a site, brought them a bit of attention or helped bring a small audience to something they were promoting. I am sure this person does not care about my feelings, but not sure the he gave much thought to how his actions could effect the model in question or others.

I grabbed my dogs and went for a run (run is pushing it as one of my dogs refuses to go beyond a light trot). During the trot I went from frustration to anger to feeling bad for this poor guy. I am not sure if I hit him at a bad time or what but his all cap emails reminded me of those cartoon characters who are beet red with smoke coming out of their ears. I am sorry if I caused him any stress but really his response seemed a bit dramatic. Curious as to what you all think? Did he overreact, am I?

I will not name the photographer as that would not be nice nor would it be professional. But...if the blog does go 'poof' and disappears, be sure to cut and paste my email somewhere as I then will be more than happy to share!

Thanks to all the wonderful photographers, artists, models and actors who have shared thier work with FH!

T

Switching Teams...

It is generally thought that to be a good parent you must teach your child to speak their mind, be an individual, and don't succumb to peer pressure. Most parents at least start out wanting their child to be who they are and to follow their passions.

Trouble is in many countries (North America) included people are generally punished for not maintaining the status quo. People are expected to stick with their team, even when their team might be heading towards disaster.



Over the past year I developed a respect for Cindy McCain I had not had before. Listening to her daughter Meghan and reading Meghan's book gave me a picture of a woman who managed something very few are able to. Despite the camera's of the world on she and her husband during the last Presidential race, Cindy McCain played the dutiful Stepford wife so well most people bought it. Cold, shrill were adjectives that were used to describe her. Then, after her husband lost off went the suits, on when the jeans, off went the Presidential hair (buns and all) and on came the blonder highlights. Cindy even posed fiercely for Adam Bouska's NOH8 campaign. Who would have thunk it?

Now this week Cindy seems to be back peddling a bit...guess her 'team' was not happy she actually shared what she really feels.

Politicians rarely say what they really feel. I for one am quite sure Obama supports gay marriage fully. His actions in who he hires speaks volumes. Much more than his words or his public stance on the issue along with Don't Ask Don't Tell. Obama unfortunately is attempting to appeal to both teams on the issue. Of course, because of this, both sides are turning.



When Rosie was on The View if I had to choose I certainly would have been on Team Rosie over Team Elizabeth. Yet...there were days when Rosie was a knob, a bully and totally wrong. There were just as many days Elizabeth said the more insightful things. Call me crazy but I will say again Elizabeth is the one woman on that panel who has spoken loudly and strongly about her support for gay marriage. You have to listen carefully as Joy and Whoopi usually bellow louder but Elizabeth actually stated it best. I am still shocked that most people are fooled believing Joy is a 'friend to the gay's. I know she believes in our rights but Joy can only speak in stereotypes. All her comments, her groaner jokes are about gay men being effeminate, overly sexualized, interior decorators and every other stereotype that homophobes throw at us. A few weeks ago Joy make a 'joke' regarding Bristol Palin on DWTS that Bruno was 'The only woman on Dancing With The Stars getting any'. This is how Joy shows her support... Again you have to actually listen to these women and not just through the 'team' ears.

Just because Joy appears to be on the team does not mean she is a support to it...



This world forces you to stand by your team. Republicans are supposed to support the 'team' even when Sarah Palin and the tea party are making them look like Cotton field Plantation owners. Democrats are supposed to tow the team line even though Obama is trying so hard to please everyone that he is pleasing no one (I still say Hillary would have got the job done better...). The truth of the matter is both parties have great idea's and horrible ones. The team however forces you to believe everything from your team is right and everything from their team is wrong.



When watching hockey, which I love I am sure most people root for their home State or Province. But...in the NHL being a Bruin does not mean your from Boston, or being a Maple Leaf doesn't mean your from Toronto. Most of the NHL teams are made up with players from both the US and Canada not to mention Europe and Russia.

So this post is all over the place I know so as Julie Andrews says 'Lets Go Back to the Very Beginning'.

It is generally thought that to be a good parent you must teach your child to speak their mind, be an individual, and don't succumb to peer pressure. Most parents at least start out wanting their child to be who they are and to follow their passions.

Yeah Ok...
That is why the little boy who went as Daphne from Scooby Doo was all over the news yet no news source that I know thought the little girl who came to my door as Captain Jack Sparrow was newsworthy.

Be yourself, speak your mind!!!
But...as long as it fits with the team you have been shoved in.

Thumbs Down: NBC KETK in Texas

I have no words, but when I do they will be sent to NBC.
Thanks to Neil for bringing this video to my attention.
It is impossible to believe this was aired in 2010.



Please go HERE: to let NBC Universal you want them to take action to end its affiliation with KETK now.

Just My Perspective:

I often think the state of a Country can be connected to the state of Prime Time Television. A stretch I know, but if your one of the few who reads the text along with the photos I post go with me for just a minute or two...

Prime Time is currently littered with violence. Between the CSI’s, The Law & Order’s, Criminal Minds and many other shows, Americans are being tortured, assaulted, raped and murdered every few minutes on tv. You add on top of that The Jersey Shore kids, Simon (I know he left) cutting down mentally unstable kids on American Idol and a barrage of talk and reality shows where the main goal is to get contestants to belittle each other for our entertainment. Bullying is not something tv is currently looking down upon, it is using it for profit.

My favorite show currently is probably Glee. That being said I am not ignorant to the fact that as a show set in High School bullying is part of it’s make up. Yes there are scenes where the Jocks bully the poor Glee Club Members, but oh those Glee Club Members (most notably Rachael, Kurt, Brittany and Santana) bully equally as much. We are expected to feel sorry for Kurt when he is bullied, yet are supposed to laugh when he bullies...

To top it off the television metaphor (again I know...a stretch), the highest paid actor on tv is Charlie Sheen. Sheen makes almost three times the money Oscar winners Glenn Close and Holly Hunter pull in. Yes I know it is all about ratings but there still something ironic about a medium where someone charged with domestic violence and third-degree assault is heading the top rated family sit-com on television.

Why is this possible? Well many reasons, but we are currently living in a world where money equal power and power is really the only thing that seems to count. It is one of the reasons there is such economic chaos.



Let me be clear. My heart broke reading about the recent suicide of Tyler Clementi and each subsequent story. Although I spend some of my spare time working on FH my day job is working with crime victims and I have a passion for facing cruelty head on. It is one of the main reasons I try to keep this blog as positive as I can. I know this may be a bit naive but there are far too many places you can go on the net if you want to tear others apart.

That being said, I have had mixed feelings about the way many in the gay community have reacted to the current attention on the issue of bullying. I say 'current attention' because I am not sure the issue is any bigger now than it ever was. The media is without a doubt giving it more attention but that means very little. Gay kids and adults have always been bullied. The difference I see now is that for the first time it seems cool to stand up against it. I have had this blog post written several times but have been hesitant to post it, but today after an email from a blog reader felt it was time.



I guess I am just not sure that bullying should become a ‘gay issue’. I say this for many reasons. For starters bullying is usually not about the victim (and do we again want to be seen as victims...) It is about the bully. Most bully’s are not concerned about the ‘why’ of the bullying they are simply needing to exert their false power. Gay kids are bullied sure, but so are ugly kids, over weight kids, skinny kids, smart kids, geeky kids, kids with physical and mental disabilities, kids who stutter, kids of other races, kids who are slow, kids who are fast, kids with braces, freckles, pimples, curly hair, red hair, no hair. You get my point.

Secondly, though not intentional, some of the videos I have seen would make it seem like the issue is about good and evil. Good gay victim vs bad big straight bullies. We all know the gay community has it’s share of bully’s. The biggest bully on the net bar none is PH who has bullied anyone and everyone at every possible opportunity. I am sickened that he is now trying to grab the lime light from the issue to shine back it on himself with his realization of his wrongs. Mark my words he will go where the audience is and he is losing readers by the thousands.

Thirdly, and correct me if I am wrong, but aren’t we fighting for equality? With Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and legalized marriage we are wanting the same rights as everyone else. Some of the videos I have seen of testimonials have brought tears to my eyes. Some have been cringe worthy and self serving.



I think it is time we, our community start looking at issues systemically. Of course it is normal to look at issues through one’s own eyes. But... Since we are begging the rest of the world to look at issues, marriage for example outside of their traditional way of viewing it and incorporate a perspective that includes gays don’t we need to do the same. I want the gay community to be as outraged at the bullying of anyone with the outrage we show when it is one of our own. If we want the rest of the world do so, we must begin. Some people’s need to grab this issue and make it ‘ours’ seems not only selfish but ultimately exactly what we are fighting against....

Why Choose A Bulldog?

True grit. True devotion.



Equally wonderful with Children, adults and the elderly

Sensitive to your moods: Are delighted when your happy, and are still and compassionate when you grieve.



Bulldogs are known to display heroic acts of courage in protecting their master.

If you want an obedient dog that will jump at your every command...don't get a bulldog.



Some think their not listening mean they are not intelligent...in fact just the opposite is true, bulldogs tend to think and examine every command they are given before making a decision whether to follow or not.

Blog Break

Well, it is that time of year again. Starting this Friday I will be taking my annual blog break until sometime in September. I started vacation and will be away off on over the next few weeks camping and spending some time at the beach with some family and friends. I am one of those people who does not carry their cell phone everywhere they go, nor do I take my computer with me when I go camping (though I might take it to cottage...)

I will still be posting when at home, just not on a daily basis til I return fully from my break in September. Please keep checking back as there are some posts and profiles I know you will like I have been working on to post over the next few weeks.

Thanks to everyone who stops by FH and enjoy the rest of your summer!
Tye


Photo Source: Beach Boys

'Fearless' at the Beach

For many, this time of year is a sad time with summer coming to an end. To others, who mind the heat and humidity, the end of summer is almost like the beginning of a year. The fall and it's cool whether almost feels like the start of something. Funny how the same time of year can be the end for some and the beginning for others.



Summer is ending, but 'The Fearless Project' is really only just getting started, so much still to come.

There are only a matter of weeks left of good beach weather and for many the beach can be a place where fears arise. Fears of exposing what they feel are their 'not so perfect bodies', fear of the water, fear of looking silly playing in the sand like you did when you were a kid. 'The Fearless Project' is also about facing these fears and looking at them in new ways. 'Fearless Project' creator Justin Violini recently woke up from a beachy nap from the slapping of paddles and instinctively grabbed his phone in a daze...'it was very surreal.'

As adults we convince ourselves beaches are 'for the perfect', but if we can take ourselves back to when we were younger, we know it really is just the opposite. Beaches when your young are about endless summers without teachers and schools, staring at someone your crushing over as you pretend to read your book, carefree time with friends and family vacations. Many have their first erotic or sexual thoughts or experiences on or in sand... The beach has nothing to do with how you look, it is all about how you feel.

The guy in these shots doesn't care about anything about living the moment. Fear frequently makes us miss moments. With only a limited amount of beach time left FH and 'The Fearless Project' challenge those who avoid the beach to try have some fun in the sun before the fall comes. Wear that bathing suit you have avoided all summer, build a sand castle, run in the waves like you don't have a care in the world, be fearless!

More Shots From Pride!

Dave was joined on the W float by a few other of New York's finest!
All shots again by Jimbo

Below: Chris Messina






Below: Adam Heart


Below: Chris & Adam.




Below: Josh Owens


Below: Joshua Laureano

Getting to know Andre Austin

I have said before on FH that when I find an image I love I often get as interested, sometimes more interested, in the person or persons behind the lens than who is front of it.

I have been profiling some wonderful models and many talented photographers for a few years now. Recently I became interested in finding out more about some of the other talented artists and professionals who play large roles in creating some of the amazing shots I have been fortunate enough to be able to share on the blog. I reached out to a few of my favorite stylists, make-up artists and fashion editors and will be sharing some of their work on the blog.


Above: Fashion Editor Andre Austin

Everyone who reads FH, or any other blog or site featuring fashion, not to mention beautiful men is aware of the work of Rick Day. Rick Day has an incredible reputation with both models and his fellow photographers. Many agencies send their models to Rick to have shots with his distinct look and style. No matter what the personality of the model, through Rick Day's lens, they are transformed. An inner strength is brought to the surface through a rare blend of both vulnerability and raw sexuality.

Last month when I profiled the wonderful photographer and artist Jon Whitney, he said;

'I think a signature look can be a good thing just as long as you continue to evolve. One of my favorites is Rick Day because you immediately recognize his style, however, when he puts up a fashion shot you think WOW! that's unique and so different from what you generally see in his fine art work which is always incredible.'

When looking back at some of my favorite Fashion editorials my mind went straight to Rick Day's 'Slave of Love'. The story of 'Slave of Love' was for Book Moda Pret-a-Porter (Spring/Summer 10-New York Edition-Darkness) Book Moda is one of the industries leading fashion magazines.

'Slave of Love' is a work of art. Beautifully dark, dramatic, using fashion and visual artistry to tell the story. Since this is FH it does not hurt it also involves several beautiful men. Included in the shoot are two of my favorite models Cameron Bailey and Tanner Tillung both of whom I have featured on FH in the past. I love Cameron's look and Tanner has a beauty far beyond the surface. The Fashion Editor for 'Slave of Love' was the talented Andre Austin. Andre graciously agreed to answer my questions about his work and about the shoot.

Below: A bit more of Andre's work.

Above:
Mate Magazine Issue#27
Photographer: RickDayNYC
Fashion Editor: Andre Austin
Model: Carlos Freire @Major

It is the model and photographer who generally get the attention for that perfect shot. But, like a great movie, the actor and the director cannot do their jobs without countless other talented individuals. Although the life of a fashion editor may be filled with glamour, parties and beautiful models, it is also filled with hard work and long hours. The fashion editor is there to make sure everything is ready before the photographer, and long before the model arrives on set. They are also usually there long after the others have left. A fashion editor is in charge of guiding the direction of a shoot in terms of clothing, accessories and shoes and often the overall look. The Fashion Editor selects & edits all wardrobe.


Above: Model Vania Bileva from Code Models

Below: Some of the wardrobe for 'Slave Of Love'


For over a decade, Andre Austin has crafted looks, created images and captured trends. A highly regarded stylist & fashion expert. Andre is currently contributing to i-D, Esquire, Aventura, Neo2, Complex, Rolling Stone, Mate, Glamour, Book Moda (prêt-a-porter) magazines. Andre’s trademark sensibility is always apparent. Mixing high-end trends with street flare. (Andre can also be found on www.WhatToWear.com)

Andre has worked with photographers, Terry Richardson, Annie Leibovitz, Rick Day, Sante D’Orazio, Robert Maxwell, Randall Slavin, Sheryl Nields, Pieter Henket, Norman Jean Roy, Michael Lavine & Kwaku Alston.

In addition to his editorial work Andre has styled for many celebrities including, Jay Z, Kanye West, Nicky Hilton, Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, Chris Brown, Backstreet Boys, Wyclef Jean, Ryan Leslie & Mary J Blige.

You can check out more of Andre and his amazing work at his official site HERE: You check him out on Twitter HERE: and or Facebook HERE:. Until then scroll below and enjoy the beauty that is 'Slave Of Love'

Rick Day's Slave To Love: Fashion Editor : Andre Austin

'SLAVE TO LOVE'


Book Moda Pret-a-Porter (Spring/Summer 10-New York Edition-Darkness)

Photographed by: Rick Day
Fashion Editor: Andre Austin
Hair & Make-up: Stephanie Carranza



Models:
Vania Bileva @Code Models
Cameron Bailey @Click Models
Tanner Tillung @Click Models
Michael Ramm @Empire Models



Model selection was made by Rick Day & Steve Benisty, as the Fashion Editor Andre was on board for the initial concept & to confer with casting. All wardrobe was chosen by Andre.

Andre tells me the inspiration behind the story was woman in control. She has her
choice of men when she wants them, the power.

This is accomplished through the fashion, the colors, the set and the staging of each shot. Vania is clearly front and center in each shot with 'her men' naked, vulnerable and at her disposal. Her eyes speak of power but as well longing. Even with everything she could possibly want she still appears to be seeking.

Andre says that once the first shot was up, they knew they had something special. He also remembers the guys running around naked and Rick telling them to at least put something on their feet. because feet are hard to clean in post.









Below:
Thanks to Andre Austin for providing FH with some backstage shots!

Cameron on set.


Cameron & Vania


Rick Day on Set.


Below: Steven Benisty (Rick's agent/booker) and Stephanie with the models.


Below: Vania & the models.