InnerGlow Studios wrote:
Man, you must really be in the dog house!

'fess up: what'd you do?

Ummm,well ummm it was like this you see I was just stopping by to say hello to the people who work at the bar and then all of a sudden in an instant just as I was about to leave.............

Model THUG wrote:
I aMUSE myself.

Good luck with that.

Model THUG wrote:
I aMUSE myself.

You aMUSE everyone, I think. LMAO!

Hadyn Lassiter wrote:

Good luck with that.

The nuns said I would go blind and grow hair on my palms. They was wrong.

Model THUG wrote:

The nuns said I would go blind and grow hair on my palms. They was wrong.

Really?

Mike Walker wrote:
from 1971-75 Betsy was my wife and Muse and took everything I had except my life and gave me my most successful portfolio to date. Twinka got me into the Museum of Modern Art in 1976. Liz and Melissa got me thru the rest of the 70’s where Claire and Cheryl picked up and helped get me out to CA. Sandie and Ex pretty much define the last 20 years. I thought I had a new Muse in Claire but she vanished. She did leave behind 8-10 of my best images of this century so I can't really complain.  Ex just left the state ending 19 years of collaboration. My wife has grown tired of modeling after 20 years. So I am left with Jamie and who ever I find next. See images of all of them on my profile.
Mike

Thanks for sharing, but I was just interested in the "one" muse not a list of people you have worked with. To me there is only one, the "one". So who would that be without the "Go see my port" ad?

Mike Walker wrote:
from 1971-75 Betsy was my wife and Muse and took everything I had except my life and gave me my most successful portfolio to date. Twinka got me into the Museum of Modern Art in 1976. Liz and Melissa got me thru the rest of the 70’s where Claire and Cheryl picked up and helped get me out to CA. Sandie and Ex pretty much define the last 20 years. I thought I had a new Muse in Claire but she vanished. She did leave behind 8-10 of my best images of this century so I can't really complain.  Ex just left the state ending 19 years of collaboration. My wife has grown tired of modeling after 20 years. So I am left with Jamie and who ever I find next. See images of all of them on my profile.
Mike

It takes a lot, I'm not usually easily impressed. But I gotta' say... Wow! Fabulous work, Mike. Beautiful, Stunning... Your work DEFINITELY impressed me.

Hadyn Lassiter wrote:
Thanks for sharing, but I was just interested in the "one" muse not a list of people you have worked with. To me there is only one, the "one". So who would that be without the "Go see my port" ad?

Oh yeah... He did that to me yesterday when I named a few different publishing credits in my post. You can only name ONE. Lol...

Hadyn Lassiter wrote:
Thanks for sharing, but I was just interested in the "one" muse not a list of people you have worked with. To me there is only one, the "one". So who would that be without the "Go see my port" ad?

Maybe you haven't been at it as long or maybe you were not as lucky as I have been prior to the 21st Century. My portfolio takes swings and it's usually to do with somehting in my lfe that is dramatic, or a Muse whose presence guides me thru or to something new in my work. 40 years and there have been the ones I named who have accomplished that feat with me. Top 10 is the best I can do. But then I really do NEED a muse to create art. I can do glamour, fashion and general commercial work just fine with a good model or 10.
Mike

Mike Walker wrote:

Maybe you haven't been at it as long or maybe you were not as lucky as I have been prior to the 21st Century. My portfolio takes swings and it's usually to do with somehting in my lfe that is dramatic, or a Muse whose presence guides me thru or to something new in my work. 40 years and there have been the ones I named who have accomplished that feat with me. Top 10 is the best I can do. But then I really do NEED a muse to create art. I can do glamour, fashion and general commercial work just fine with a good model or 10.
Mike

Only 25 years for me and it still comes down to one, not a phone book of names. But thanks for stopping by anyway.

Mayanlee wrote:
So what makes her your muse? How does she inspire you on all levels? Is it possible that just ONE person can do that on all levels?

What makes a person a "muse"...?

Love. Love of her mind and her heart, the way she moves or doesnt. The feeling of calm when I am with her. The endless ideas that come to mind each day that I look or think on her. That urge to pick up the camera whenever she is nearby, and that feeling of anticipation when she is not. Its a great deal of little things that add up to inspiration.
Inspiration would most likely be the word to describe a muse? You will know it when and if you ever achieve this with somone.

Hadyn Lassiter wrote:
Mine is my wife, my stylist and my best friend Karen.Her natural beauty and charm combined with her style bring me almost to the brink each time I look at her through the lens.
And yours would be?

Welcome back, Haydn Lassiter.

The right kind of Friends are treasured, and all of the others are 'deleted'.

T R Willmitch wrote:
Hi,

I suppose that the idea of a “muse” sounds ridiculous to those photographers and model that have never experience such a relationship.  But if you have then you know that it is absolutely magical. 

I don’t believe for an instant that such a relationship can be made to happen -- even if both artist and model want it.  My experience is that a muse-like relationship, as seen from both the perspective of the photographer and model, is like falling in love.

First comes a natural chemistry that draws two people together…  For some reason that defies words, they simply click.  Next comes a friendship that is built upon a deep mutual respect and admiration for one another.  And at the same time, each individual naturally fill a deep need in the other. 

Finally, comes something closely akin to love that includes strong sensitivity to the other person.

It takes all these things to come together in the proper order at just that magically moment when both artist and model are ready for the other.  If the timing is not just right, then the two will pass as strangers -- never knowing what they have missed.

And from personal experience, loosing a muse is heart wrenching.  The bonds are deep and the experience painful. 

I am certain that I should count myself lucky.  I honestly think these magical relationships rare.  I have had two incredible individuals that meant a great deal to me and had the honor to photograph time and again.  I will be forever grateful that for a time they were a part of my life and I was a part of theirs.

Beautiful Lindsye Cruz:




And the breathtaking Courtney Danielle:




Take care,
Tom

Many models I work with have inspired me to create incredible images. I have not come close to anything akin to falling in love with any of them, especially those who are minors.

Brian Diaz wrote:
Thalia.

Maybe Terpsichore.

I have to admit that I'm more inspired by laughter than dance...

Clio and melpomene

Webspinner wrote:
My boyfriend keeps telling me muses are goddesses not people and they exist to be the  mirror of the artist. However, I still have a bit of a muse complex. At this point though, I am looking for my own muses, and to me that would mean some models willing to shoot with me repeated times and giving me ideas, I am not really someone who does best if I shoot someone only once. That said, my biggest model and inspiration to date has been my boyfriend, even if the mortality and the penis keep him from qualifying for muse material.

My soon to be ex used to be my favorite subject to photograph. I have the best shots of him. Ahh... the memories.. Lol..

Ammunition wrote:
wow, isn't courtney underage? she looks nude in that photo

Hi Ammunition,

Hey all my work with models under 18 years-of-age is age appropriate.  And I always insist that a parental escort be present at the photo-session from beginning to end.  That was the case with this session.

Additionally, I treat each and every model that I photograph with the utmost dignity and respect.  Also, escorts are always fine with me.

Now you are correct that Courtney is under 18.  As a matter of fact, I have a scanned copy of her model data sheet and supporting documentation beside me.  And I would be willing to either post it here (with last name and all contact information blacked out) or pass a copy to the site administrators.  That way there will be no question among site administrators as to Courtney's precise date of birth and current age.

As for the image in question, as I said all my images are age appropriate.  As proof in the case of this head-and-shoulders portrait, here is a rare treat.  The original image with no tonal or color correction, and (most importantly) no cropping.



Oh but please don't take offense at the OMP "In the Click" T-shirt. 

Take care,
Tom

PS, Sorry, but a little bit of Courtney's T-shirt can be seen in the final image just under her right arm.  However I saw no point in retouching it out.

Vegas Alien wrote:

Many models I work with have inspired me to create incredible images. I have not come close to anything akin to falling in love with any of them, especially those who are minors.

I dont think I was talking about being a pedo but if that works for you OK.

Hadyn Lassiter wrote:

I dont think I was talking about being a pedo but if that works for you OK.

Umm...you need to take a look at who I was responding to.  It was not you, it was poet-creepy-flower boy.

Farenell Photography wrote:
I definately could do headshots of her all day.

HEY! ... That looks just like my muse!

What's going on here?