Visions of Zentai @ the Exotica 2 Expo

As some of you have previously read, I held a little photography session with 10 models in Zentai bodysuits at the recent Exotica 2 Expo in Detroit...and here are the results:



"Zentai Taikai" - I saw a small sea of bodies in this image flowing about one another so the title translates from Japanese into "Covered Ocean".



"Zentai Hejira" - I saw an exodus of beings from within darkness towards light. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the Japanese word for "exodus" so I decided to use the Latin "hejira", which means a flight from an undesirable place.

Special thanks to models (in alphabetical order) Amadeus, Chrissy, Dika, Elys3, Farril, Jade, Kajira, Libertine, Siddella and Sparkillz.

Comments/critique/praises welcome...

happy birthday...

...to me...sing it softly...

A tribute to Day of the Dead - "Virgen de los Muertos"

Day of the Dead (or Día de los Muertos in Spanish) is a Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1 (All Saints' Day) and November 2 (All Souls' Day). Though seemingly morbid from the perspective of some other cultures, Day of the Dead is a colorful and joyous time to honor the lives of the deceased and celebrate the continuation of life...that death is not the end, but rather the beginning of a new stage in life.

My tribute combines the traditional Day of the Dead imagery of floral calaveras (skulls) and the Virgin de Guatelupe which marks my first attempt at special effects makeup. Special thank you to the very patient model Plain Jayne Jones (more of her coming next).

Further information and history on Day of the Dead can be viewed here and here.

Comments/critique/praises welcome...

New image - playing with tentacles...

"Shokushu Genkai" - Japanese translation: Tentacle Bondage

Yes, that is a real octopus and her actual eyes...



Comments/critique/praises welcome...

TODAY: Huge DVS solo gallery (& secret unveiling) @ People’s Art Festival

I was graciously given a 1000 square foot studio at the People's Art Festival and have filled it with nearly 50 of my best exotic photographs...some never shown before! PLUS I have decided to unveil a preview of a new series that is an experimental new direction within my art...Divina Soma, the nexus of spirituality and the anatomic self. You can find me inside the main building (number 2) off the music stage on the second floor next to the wine tasting. The directions are further below. Hope to see you there!

DVS



What does a world-renowned poster artist, a hospital pathologist, an underground novelist, a Detroit City Council woman, a former police officer, a sword and guillotine maker and the author of a best-selling business book have in common? They are part of an estimated 150 plus visual artists, filmmakers, musicians and other performance artists already on board to exhibit and perform at the Inaugural People's Arts Festival on September 15th, 2007 at The Russell Industrial Center located at 1600 Clay Avenue off I-75.

The People's Arts Festival is also expected to be the largest free-to-artists festival ever held in the City of Detroit. "We hope to accomplish several things through our sponsorship of the Festival," said Dennis Kefallinos, the owner of Russell Industrial Center. "First of all it's our way of saying, 'Thank You' to the artists and other creative people who have chosen to locate their studios and businesses with us. It's also a way of giving back to Detroit and proving that there's still a lot of positive enery in this city. Finally, it's a way for us to showcase this unbelievable campus. We have 7 buildings here and over 2.2 million square feet, so there's still plenty of room for people who are interested in joining our community."

Among the dozens of visual artists will be legendary Detroit poster artist Gary Grimshaw, Mark Arminki (a globally-renowned painter and poster maker), Pete Traskal, Megan Jones, Ryan Matthews, Amy Memminger, Mike Kelley, Steven Dunn, Audry Pongracz, Jeff White, Robert Stewart, Julie Fournier, Lisolette Gilcrest, Marc Nischan, Matt Feazell, Emily Slade, Andy Kem and Sarah Lipinski.

Confirmed musical acts include (among others): Jill Jack; Audra Kubit; The Loftees w/Johnny Chrome; The Cetan Clawson Revolution; NOMAN; Circus Boy Detroit; Imperial Empire; and thtx.

NooMoon and Causing a Scene are among the scheduled performance artists.

Filmmakers are scheduled to present a series of short films.

Food and beverage service will be offered by Niki's Pizza, Loco's Mexican Cuisine.

The Russell Industrial Center is right off of I-75 and the Clay/W. Grand Blvd. exit (north of Mack, south of 7 mile)

Once you get off that exit, it's on the SouthEast side of the road. Big sign.... enter off of Clay

Iris revisited - Experimentations with projection

This session with the most wonderful Iris was supposed to be a continuation of the "ash" series, but instead became a different experimentation altogether with a recently purchased high-definition digital video projector. The technique used was much more than mere projection of an image on the nude body as seen many times before, but more of the use of the projector as another light source. As always, nothing was added digitally in post.

















This is definitely an experimentation worth exploring further...

See the rest of the session at:
http://www.dvsdetroit.com/iris

Comments/critiques/praises welcome...

Dark Vision Studio
www.dvsdetroit.com

Visions of Kajira

The first image was planned thouroughly using a star filter and developed just as wonderful as envisioned...



The rest of the session has unexpectedly become very sacred to me. It began simply as covering the captivating Kajira in gently sifted ash and mud to find beauty within its filth. After she showered and left, I placed in one of those soul-searching CDs and began reviewing the images...and begun seeing something different...something unexpected that mere beauty-in-filth images. I remembered where the ashes came from. I remembered what they once meant to me. Years ago, through a period of personal torment and pain from a relationship, I decided to cleanse. Cleanse the self and soul of all remnants of this pain. Cleanse all through the purity of fire.
Photographs...poetry...mementos...
All that was once beautiful
that fell fast beneath nothing
burning within a flash
as the moments were lived
enflaming towards ash
smolderings smothered
in bitter spit-wine
to blackened filth
discarded
forgotten
in darkness
waiting
for a moment
for a final word
silently
unexpectedly
from filth
arising
to beauty
once more









So...what was veiled upon her skin was more than mere soot and ash. They were the remnants of discarded hopes, passions and dreams, once mighty and great then denied and forgotten. A simple exploration of ashen beauty uncovered a radiantly emotive phoenix silently rising by way of Kajira's moving poses of reflection, solace and serenity. Perhaps she felt a powerful dormant essence enshrouding her...guiding her. I'll never ask as, in my mind, I already know the answer.

Then this image was just for fun...



See the rest of the session at:

http://www.dvsdetroit.com/kajira

Comments/critiques/praises welcome...

This weekend - DVS @ Exotica Kinkfest @ Leland

What happens when one of the key figures of Hollywood's legendary BONDAGE BALL, FETISH DISCO, AND KINK! meets up with one of Detroit's most established promoters?

Detroit is about to experience an event of a new kind. Chaos productions, Detroit's most known alternative modeling and talent agency have teamed up with Vena, one of LA's most acclaimed fetish models.

Exotica is designed to be a convention of a different kind. Vendors and workshops by day and the wildest and sexiest parties by night. Exotica is a convention made for the Erotic side of sex. Anything from sexy lingerie to toys and lubricant.

Friday night we will kick off with two fashion shows and smaller shows as a prelude to Saturday night . Saturday night is our Masquerade Ball complete with our sexy VIP room. Large performances and wild dance music.

Confirmed Vendors are:

Dream X Streams - bondage furniture

Wiked and Grey Gargoyle

"Thee Inferno" from Chicago

DITC fashions from New York

Super Bitch magazine

Evil minds inc. - Tatoo and peircings

My Tulip - adult toys

Noir Leather - fetish store

Clever Designs - graphic art and printing

DVS photography

And special guest and models

Jessica Rabbit hosting "the rabbit hole"

Monique, detroit's sexy fashion model, living it up in the rabbit hole

Kajira, one of our local fetish models

Cyfar, fire performer, fire never looked so hot!

Lana - bellydance detroit!

Also confirmed DJ's: DJ Darks Choire, DJ Audio flesh, and DJ Glamazon

This event is brought to you by:
CHAOS PRODUCTIONS- The most established and respected organization in Michigan representing alternative acts such as Fetish Models, Go Go dancers, Tattoo'd strippers, Fire Performers and Bizarre Carnival Acts. For over a decade, Chaos Productions has been a key player in Detroit's most reknowned fetish and erotic events.

VENA- Fetish Model & Performer from Los Angeles and one of the key figures in such reknowned events as
Bondage Ball, Fetish Disco, and Kink!.

EXOTICA is an 18+ Event. Since our site contains adult oriented material, you must also be 18+ to be added to our Myspace site.

Also our show will be featuring one of our most exotic famous models, Monique. Monique will be in the vip room, "the rabbit hole" helping host the night with sexy and bubbly celeb Jessica Rabbit!

Layne Conn...may you forever be in peace

Layne Conn, a close and dear friend of mine of a dozen or so years, passed away in his sleep on April 1 2007. A fellow photographer, scenester and generally a wonderful human being, he will be missed by many whose life he has touched. We will in rememberance this Saturday (4/21) on the 3rd floor lounge of Mephisto's in Hamtramck from 9pm until 2am to share our stories and enjoy the many photographs he took of all us all throughout the years. There will also be a enlarged photo of him to sign our wishes, which will be sent to him within a flaming tribute at the end of the night. Please stop by any time of the night to say hello, have a drink in his name and remember his life. The will be no cover at the door for this.

If you wish, you can add a comment on his MySpace page at: www.myspace.com/2297088

Mephisto's is located at:

2764 Florian St
Hamtramck, MI
48212


You will be truly missed, my dear friend...

Visions of Xaina

The first two were created using a hand-built clear plastic light table, translucent fabrics and lots of tiny lights. The last floating nude was also using the same table. =)

[ View more of Xaina's session here ]

New visions of Siddella - Transcendence Series (Artistic Nudity Warning)

It's been a while since I've sent new session updates, but I "have" been shooting...so here are the latest sessions with Siddella that begins a new series requiring definition...Transcendence. On appearance, some of the images may appear simply as gore, kink or something darkly sinister. But, as with life, simplicity can be deceptively complex and appearances can mask the true essence of self. This series represents transcendence beyond boundaries perceived by mortality, emotion and anima. Light from darkness...love beyond death...life above pain...the beginning within the end. (Note: The last image "Absolution" was featured at Dirty Show 8 in Feb 2007)

View more of Siddella's session at:


Or visit me on MySpace:

A new addition to the family...

May I introduce to you...Kali Ma (yes, you are seeing 6 toes and a double claw on her paw). ^-^



"Thou art the Beginning of all, Creatrix, Protectress, and Destructress that Thou art" - Shiva in the Mahanirvana-tantra

DVS interview in the Detroiter...with a real photo (gasp)

Here's the link:

DVS Detroiter Interview

=)

03.08.07 Hush: A Dirty Show Fine Art Photographer Showcase

NOT QUITE DIRTY...HUSH: A DIRTY SHOW FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHER SHOWCASE
Pulse Lounge • Thursday, March 8, 2007

From Detroit's own internationally acclaimed Dirty Show® emanates a more intimate exhibition of fine art nude photography entitled "Hush: A Dirty Show Photographer Showcase, Series One". Opening on March 08 2007 at Pulse Lounge in Detroit, the Hush exhibit will feature elegant sensual works of four specially selected Detroit-area photographers showcased at recent and past Dirty Show® events. These photographers are:

- BT Charles (www.btcharles.com), whose vintage-inspired erotic photographs have recently been published in "The New Erotic Photography" by Taschen Publishing as well as showcased at The World Erotic Art Museum in Miami Florida. BT is also a featured artist in the upcoming Colin Duerr film on Detroit Erotic Artists, tentatively due sometime in 2007.

- Chris Maher (www.dreamsofthegoddess.com), who has earned a living as a fine art photographer for more than 25 years, also co-authored the book "50 Fast Digital Camera Techniques" as well as written regular columns in Shutterbug Magazine and eDigital Photo Magazine. His current work includes his "Spirit Series" photographs of sensual anthropomorphic smoke and "Figure Series", a continuing exploration of the female form in nature and studio.

- DVS (www.dvsdetroit.com), whose goddess-inspired spiritual photography reflects a fascination in shadowplay, uncovers the emotive persona within his imagery. His work, featured in Photographer's Forum "Best of 2005" book of international collected works, and pseudonym, a play on the word "devious", clearly reflects the definition of "departing from the common norm".

- Danielle Kaltz a 'shoot from the hip' type of photographer whose approach grants her 'slices of life' that most would not keep in this digital age. Ranging from modern digital cameras to antiques refitted with current film sizes, the results are much like old 'flash bulb' memories purposely cropped oddly or softly out of focus to reveal an aura of intrigue.

The opening artist reception begins at 6pm on Thursday, March 08 2007 and will continue at Pulse Lounge until March 31 2007. Most works will be available for purchase. Pulse (www.pulsedetroit.com), Detroit's simple, yet sophisticated cocktail lounge, is located at 156 Monroe Street in downtown Detroit.

Reset...

Although not many of you noticed, I disappeared. I disappeared within a one month sabbatical/retreat from life. It was a month of essentially nothing. An isolation I literally feared would tear at me. Torment. No cellphones, PDAs, computers, internet, radio, cable or any communication whatsoever. No junk foods, sodas, alcohol, nicotine, sweets or any other gluttonies. No sex (eep), no job, no schedules, no projects, no "gottas" and no "shoulds". I only read, wrote thoughts, discovered new beliefs, learned to meditate, slept when tired, cooked when hungry, ate simple foods, drank lots of water and generally cleansed the body and mind of old ways. And somewhere along the way, it became (and still is) the most spiritually inspiring moment of my life. A much needed and long overdue life "reset". At times, it was quite rough to give up basically everything in life, be alone and live somewhat like a monk, but it's a wonderful moment when you actually realize that you feel what life is truly about.

Now, coming back to the realities of here and now, I already feel the struggle to hold on to the path I discovered for myself, but I'm confident that I'll have a harmony of minimalist idealisms, life and art soon enough. Unfortunately, I'm not quite ready to "give it all away" and be truly free, but perhaps one day...