Valentines!

Above: Valentines by FlyFoto

Valentines has never been a favorite holiday of mine. Had nothing really to do with whether I was in a relationship or not, more that it stems from nothing really meaningful except to make money for all those who attempt to profit from it. But...I do like any excuse to go out to dinner, have some wine and eat chocolate and I always enjoy posting holiday themed images! Check out more of FlyFoto's Valentine Day Card's at his blog HERE:

Favorite Pic of the Day for December 24th

Happy Holidays from FlyFoto

Heading out for Christmas back to posting on Tuesday!

I wrote the following in 2008. Each year when I try to think of something new to say to those who stop by here each day, I alway think this continues to say what I feel about the season.

'I love Christmas! I also know that Christmas has little to do with the way retailers try to shove it down our throats. Christmas to me is like life, a series of moments. Christmas can also be a very difficult time for some, those who are ill, those oversea's in the name of peace, those who have lost loved ones, those struggling with finances, those who are alone.

I hope for you all, as I deal with my dysfunctional, yet strangly loving family, a Christmas moment. Whether it is a day full of moments, or just one small moment, whether your surrounded by family and friends, or alone with the computer. Find a moment, snow falling, a walk outside, a laugh, your favorite Christmas movie, calling a friend, what ever it is, please do find your Christmas moment.'

Birthdays for December 24th & December 25th
FH Does Christmas!

A FlyFoto Christmas

Make the Yuletide gay!


Those Christmas lights light up the street
Down where the sea and city meet
May all your troubles soon be gone
Oh, Christmas lights, keep shinin' on



To see the full collection check out FlyFoto's Images To Inspire blog HERE:








FlyFoto on FH

HAPPY HALLOWEEN from FLYFOTO!

It is no shock to anyone who visits FH that Halloween is one of my favorite times of year. I have written in previous years why the day is special to me. People joke about Halloween being the 'gay' holiday but to me the reason is more serious. Many holidays lose their magic as we get older but Halloween is a day that for me, only gets better.




As a gay kid (or any kid really who struggles with who they are or family issues) holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving can be tortuous. When your apart of a happy and healthy family, these are days to celebrate and come together. When your apart of a dysfunctional family or are in pain, these are days when the hurt is intensely spotlighted. Unlike these 'special' days which can encourage massive repression, Halloween does the opposite. Expression, especially about who you are, is something sadly still not something universally welcomed, except...for many, on October 31st.



It has become a tradition at FH to celebrate the holidays with images from Flyfoto. Flyfoto's Joey has been marking all of the holidays with his blend of retro and modern themes and usually finds a way to hit upon both the pleasure and the pain of the day. I think this years Halloween themed shots are some of my favorites. I loved last years dark and ghoulish shots but love the that this years colorful images also incorporate the sense of fun also associated with the day. What other day blends morbid horror with hilarity?



Check out more of Flyfoto's Halloween themed images on his blog HERE:
& Check out more of Flyfoto on FH HERE:

Favorite Pic of the Day for July 19th

Above:
Boston Aiden by FLYFOTO
-See More Below-

The Artist's Accomplice: Boston Aiden By FLYFOTO -Part 2-

Earlier this month I profile Massachusetts photographer FLYFOTO's work with model Boston Aiden. FLYFOTO has captured thousands of images of Aiden through their many shoots together over the past several years. It was an almost impossible task to narrow them down to the usual 10 or 15 shots I use for a feature.

Thankfully, with FLYFOTO's support, my task got a bit easier by deciding to do a part 2. Check out part 1 HERE:) In the second part of The Artist's Accomplice, FLYFOTO gives a peak behind the scenes and shares with FH some of what was going on at as each shot was taken!

Thanks again to FLYFOTO for sharing his work and his words with FH!

Check out more of the work of FLYFOTO on Model Mayhem HERE:
& on his great blog HERE:

Check out more of Aiden on his Model Mayhem page HERE:


Blue Moon: 2010

FLYFOTO:
'This was a spontaneous shoot. It had come at the tail end of a rather whimsical study of Aiden in silly winter hats against a silver drape. The work that proceeded this was high concept and meticulous. Both of us wanted to take a break, and work on something less conceptual and more sensual. We went into this shoot with a completely blank slate – which was to say, neither of us had any idea of what we were about to shoot. The idea spark was ignited and I began quickly moving lighting around my studio so that this moody stage was set. Aiden was looking through a glass French door and the lighting was all carefully manufactured to appear as though he was staring out at a dark, blue evening sky. He controlled the pose and the emotional tone. We were both very pleased with the surprising visual drama that was accidentally created.'

Smoking Hot: (or the Easter basket shoot) 2009

FLYFOTO:
'It was Easter Sunday and we had both just come from our respective family holiday meal disasters. We were bored to tears and chose the opportunity to venture into imagery that would serve to tell a very mysterious, murky and sensual tale. (In hindsight, I think we were both feeling a bit of religious rebellion.) Unlike most shoots, this one was eerily quiet – which is to say there was not much interaction as we worked. There was a certain degree of intensity as the rather intimate nature of the moments, were captured. This was a difficult image to edit, but in post production, I manipulated it further to enhance the seductive nature of the shot.'


Egg Lamp: 2011

FLYFOTO:
'At Aiden’s suggestion, we ventured to the home of his friend to do some location shooting. In the renovated attic, we discovered a wonderful assemblage of modern furnishings and a large, illuminated egg. The egg was intentionally hidden behind the sofa so that the glow of the attic eave, would be mysterious and backlight him in a way that competed with the natural lighting coming through the window. In his usual fashion, Aiden delivered a refined sense of sensual.'

Orange Balls: 2011

FLYFOTO:
'I had discovered a stash of cast off inflatable balls in my wanderings and the idea for this image popped into my head. The concept was so strange and unusual, that it was difficult to communicate it to Aiden, but he agreed to go along with it. We spent a considerable amount of time (and lung capacity) blowing up those damned balls! Aiden donned the orange gloves, grabbed an orange out of the fridge and hopped in the tub naked. I spent a considerable amount of time positioning the balls around him in such a way so that he was completely concealed. From a ladder above, I shot with my wide angle lens. Interesting side note, Aiden was in the tub for so long that he actually began to fall asleep!'

Popeye n Bud: 2010


FLYFOTO:
'I stumbled upon my old Navy uniform when cleaning one day and the idea for this shoot instantly began to germinate. So many military inspired shoots are so one dimensional and rely upon the cliche’ of delivering that same sexy message. I wanted to put my own spin on it. I drew from my memory of my years in the military what being a sailor really was about; drunken ambivalence. I set about to tell the story of a drunken sailor who was just horny enough to take on any ‘port in a storm’. After conveying the concept to Aiden, he nailed it – bringing forward just the right attitude.'

A Room With A View: 2011

FLYFOTO:
'This was shot on the same day, in the same location as Egg Lamp, but in a completely different part of the home. We came across this simple, but spectacular room that was filled with light. The furnishings were modern and the drapery bold and impactful. Through the window, we discovered the view of a neighboring property that had recently been ravaged by a tragic fire. The space was filled with quiet drama and we deduced that Aiden himself must bring his own element of curiosity into this mix. The tux pants, top hat and skull suspenders were chosen specifically to add complexity, texture and story to the image. We shot hundreds of images and in this one in particular, he delivered the right amount of mystery in both pose and expression.'

Blow Me: 2011

FLYFOTO:
'The idea behind this capture was to generate images that might represent one as they had simply slipped out of bed naked in the morning, and set about to prepare for their day. My niece had brought me back a silly tourist mug from Scotland with the quip ‘Blow me” written upon it and that prop, paired with a bright red tea kettle, triggered the inspiration for this image. While it may not seem readily apparent, there was some tricky lighting set in play to make this shot more dramatic, more sensual. But it was that intense, smoldering gaze that Aiden delivered that brought the image to life.'

The Fighter: 2010

FLYFOTO:
'Believe it or not, this may be one of the more technically complicated images that I have every created with Aiden. We had decided to try and shoot him against a green screen, with the intent of capturing a variety of different personality types. The styling, pose and expression of this image, was his interpretation of himself as fighting mad. Post production, it was paired with a background of urban graffiti and then further manipulated in Photoshop to create a jagged, scratched patina to the image. The final edit was sent through a sepia wash and given a rough edged frame. I have always loved this image as it really does illustrate Aiden in a way that is in very stark contrast to who he is as a person.'

The Bicycle: 2009



FLYFOTO:
'We had spent the morning working on location at a seaside spot just outside Boston. Aiden had discovered an abandoned, rusted bicycle and was completely fascinated by it. At his encouragement, we began to shoot with it as a prop in the exact location that we discovered it. We shot hundreds of images – with the goal of pairing his emotions and expression with this curious object. This image spoke to us both as his emotional tone took on the sensation of the bicycle; poignant, lost, alone. It is one of the rare of images that I have of Aiden where the sentiment of melancholy is discovered.'

Batting Cage: 2009

FLYFOTO:

'We returned to Aiden’s suburban hometown and chose his high school athletic field as a location. It was a crisp early morning shoot and while both of us were completely ‘in the creative zone’, the beginning of this shoot was lackluster and unproductive. Then we discovered the batting cage. From the moment he stepped into this chain link enclosure, his personality changed and suddenly, the visual sparks flew. Aiden took on a larger than life “all American boy” persona and as I snapped away, I was enthralled at his acting chops. Side note; in the middle of this shoot, a security guard from the school decided to become an audience for us and monitored our activity closely from 25 yards away. He finally shooed us off the property!'

The Pick-up Game: 2009

FLYFOTO
'This was shot this alongside a very busy highway in Boston. It was a crisp, bright Sunday morning and both of us were just starting what was to become a long day of shooting. The shorts themselves were the seductive style choice of the shoot, but neither of us could ever have predicted how the sun gods would bless us at this moment. After it was shot, both of us gazed at the image and had a classic “OMFG” moment. We chuckled at the simple perversity of it and realized that we had struck visual gold.'

Favorite Pic of the Day for July 9th

Above:
Boston Aiden by FLYFOTO
-See More Below-

The Artist's Accomplice: Boston Aiden By FLYFOTO

It has become a tradition at FH that when a holiday is approaching I look to Boston artist FLYFOTO for a bit of inspiration. Although I enjoy the traditional 'feel good' shots usually posted at certain times of year, there is something about FLYFOTO's work that pulls me in. Most of us who have lived past the age of 18 have sadly learned that holidays are not always candies and kittens. Holiday's have a powerful ability to bring out great joy and euphoria as well as the depths of sadness and loneliness, sometimes on the same day and at the same time.



Darkness and light meshed together is one of the things FLYFOTO does so well. Erotic and dark, depressive and hopeful, are all intertwined throughout his work in colorful pieces of art. FLYFOTO'S images are frequently compared to paintings. A touch of Picasso' starkness, The darkness of Dalí, the vibrant colors in Henri Matisse's work, a bit of Vincent van Gogh and Chuck Oberstein all mixed to create erotic, creepy and powerful results.



One other thing often seen in FLYFOTO'S work is model Boston Aiden. The 24 year model has been the centerpiece in many of my favorite of FLYFOTO'S shots. Aiden was the centerpiece of a feature I did last Halloween. (FLYFOTO Does Halloween!) Model and artist have worked together many times, creating literally thousands of images. FLYFOTO'S Joey calls Aiden a chameleon, fearless, and willing to try just about anything in the interest of art.



Below, in their own words, Joey and Aiden discuss their art and their working relationship. The pair also took their time to narrow thousands of images down to 70, and then down to 37, to send to me for this feature. I then had the task of picking my favorites (some of which I could not edit out and will share in a follow-up next week).



The Model:
Boston Aiden

'Back in 2009, if anyone had asked me where I would be in three years I would never had guessed I would be where I am at today. In those years, I have not only grown as a model, but as a person. I owe most of the credit for that to my favorite photographer and friend FLYFOTO.

Joey knows that beauty is different for each person. When working with FLYFOTO I have no worries, I know he will not allow any image with his name associated with it to be anything but spectacular. When the one in front of the lens is so sync with the one behind it, the responsibility is shared to each bring the effort and creativity. Joey and I both share in the benefits of what we have created together. Of course we don’t always agree on everything, but even if I am uncertain of where we are going, my trust in Joey, and in our working relationship, have me confident in the end result.'



'Joey and I respect each others opinions and value each other’s input. I have been fortunate to have collaborated with such a fine photographer, a gentleman and a scholar. We have conquered almost every task that we have set out to do but and there are plenty more to come!'
Boston Aiden



The Photographer:
FLYFOTO:

'I have never been much of a subscriber to the phenomenon of “Muse”.

But then I met Aiden.

It is through him that I have come to clearly understand the true definition of the word “Muse”. There is, without question, a very magical creative energy that occurs when I consider raising my lens to shoot with Aiden. It is through him, that I consistently discover a boundless source of inspiration. It is intangible, indescribable but Aiden has unlocked the doors of my imagination in ways that no one else has, or likely will.'



'Our teamwork began in 2009. Since that time, we have collaborated on hundreds of shoots that have spanned the full breadth of creative exploration. The work we have collaborated on has been limitless in experimentation and in discovery. As each project was launched, my imagination was matched (and often surpassed) by his openness and enthusiasm. He has challenged me to be more innovative, to be more daring, and to think much further “outside the box”. And I have encouraged him to express himself freely, to allow his inner thoughts to emerge visually in the manner that I know he can achieve. The creative kinetic energy between us has been unbridled and explosive'.



'The work we have accomplished has come to represent the essence of our partnership. The images read like little novelettes of our teamwork along the way. Each shoot has been stimulated by our insistence to “out do” our most previous effort. In that simple goal, we have pushed each other creatively in ways that have produced some extraordinary results'.



'There are many photographers and models in the world. And there are countless amazing images that stand as testimony to the magic that occurred when an optimal talent pairing collided. It is however, a rare occasion when a photographer meets a model who genuinely and consistently inspires him. It is even more remarkable that such a chance meeting, can evolve into a powerhouse team where ongoing exploration of their creative synergy is allowed to flourish. With Aiden, I have discovered the true heights of my talent and it is only because he has encouraged it, and then, come to expect it from me.'
FLYFOTO



Check out more of the work of FLYFOTO on Model Mayhem HERE:
& on his great blog HERE:

Check out more of Aiden on his Model Mayhem page HERE: