Labor Day

An artist is not paid for his labor but for his vision. - James Whistler

Tiana - 083013 - SideB

A short post on the beginning of this Labor Day weekend.  I will not be working to earn money this weekend.  I deserve these day off from that type of work.  Instead, I am going to do a labor of love and work on more photos and enjoy some private time with a special someone.

Tiana - 083013 - SideB

It is too easy to postpone taking time to feed those parts of our souls, minds, body, and sensual spirits by earning a buck, fixing something around the house, or helping others ceaselessly.  I encourage you to take the time off to spoil yourselves between the sheets, on the kitchen table, or however you do it.  Even if you live a century, life is too short to not have another carnal moment.

Well said, Side B!   Just adding my two cents, wishing you all a fabulous weekend however you choose to spend it!  I absolutely agree that you all deserve a lil "me time" ... feed your passions, indulge your fantasies, and reward yourself for all your labors!  

On the Lighter Side: Goofy Glamour & Giggle-Gasms

I recently enjoyed a brief exchange with the legendary Playboy photographer Byron Newman.  He shared a fabulously sexy, whimsical image and a discussion ensued about the overwrought gravitas of much glamour photography ... we agreed that many artists have taken themselves too seriously and the FUN of sexuality has been lost.   In my less than humble opinion, laughter is sexy as hell ... and if you aren't laughing in bed and on set, you are doing it all wrong!  

Fortunately, I work with people who are as brilliantly funny as they are talented.   Last weekend I enjoyed an erotic shoot with Miz B Havin' Model Adam.   As we worked through our shot list, we arrived at the topic of phone sex.   I was throwing around some ideas on image concepts for this theme, when Adam struck upon the most hilarious idea - which we managed to execute in between bouts of the giggles!  I think it's a fun, sexy take on our modern obsession with technology and our subsequent disconnect from actual personal interaction.   Hopefully, the images from this series will stimulate your funny bones and tickle your fancies ... welcome to Phone Sex a la 2013!

 

I often joke around that posing with all these yummy models is hard work, but somebody has got to do it.  For once, this actually was very hard to shoot because we had to remember to completely ignore each other lol.  There were probably 10 shots like the last one here for every single shot in which we managed to keep a straight face!  Sometimes, dear readers, there is nothing sexier than being silly, getting naked, and having a good laugh with your partner ... so put down your phone, log off your laptop, and lighten up! 

Full moon on my mind

Moon Marie - 082113 - SideB

Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass. ― Anton Chekhov

Moon Marie - 082113 - SideB

Last night I looked out the window and saw the beautiful full moon.  It made me reminisce of old days seeing its beauty at perfect moments.  One such night was camping with my family in Montana under the big open sky when I was eight.  It was a perfect memory of innocent times and family love.

Another memory crept in of sitting in my old truck on the bluffs outside of town making out with my high school girlfriend.  I remember how beautiful her skin was in that pale light that bathed our partially-dressed bodies.  At times I felt that I could touch the universe when I caressed her face.  At other times I felt I touched heaven when my hands moved to other bare areas of her body exposed to the moon's luminance.  There are few things more beautiful than seeing her orgasm bathed in the full moon's brilliance.

Moon Marie - 082113 - SideB

Back in 2010 I went to New York and had the blessing of working with Moon Marie.  As I started writing this post and thinking of which photo to pair with this post, I flashed onto our work together.  I highly recommend doing an internet search for her and looking at how others have captured her beauty, eroticism, and grace.  You can find more of my photos of Moon at this link.  

Note- Our Creative Spark contest is going strong.  Please read about it here and send your entries to shadowsexposed@gmail.com.  If your concept is chosen, we will use it as a theme in an upcoming photo shoot and you will get to see a fantasy become real!!  Keep the great ideas coming in.

Calling All Muses! Creative Spark Contest - Help Us Bring YOUR Fantasy to Life!

Creative Spark - 081913 - Miz B

We're excited to announce our first ever shadowsexposed contest!  Side B & I were discussing some of the awesome feedback and comments we've had from our sexy readers.   We're inspired by your insights, passions, and ideas.  Then, it hit us:  why don't we take that a step further and bring you directly into our creative process?  Why don't we make some art together!?  

Comment or email us this week with your favorite erotic vision - that fantasy that never fails to arouse you.   The more detail, the better ... create a visual for us, and we'll bring it to life in a custom photo shoot!  Here's your chance to expose some of your most erotic fantasies to this incredible audience, so come out and play with us! 

Desire in old art.

Candace Nirvana - 081813 - SideB

If you are reading this blog, you probably know a bit about desire and lust.  For me, these things are two of the few life forces making my existence meaningful (throw in love, loyalty, and compassion for a few more).  While  our art we share here is full of lust and desire, we are just travelers along a very long artistic path that have conveyed these needs and emotions through creative representations.

I took an art appreciation class back a few decades ago when I was in my early twenties, but was too young to learn and absorb the meaning of the great works.  A few years ago I took it again from a great professor.  In it, we explored western art from the Gothic period to contemporary art.  I was astounded to see how much hot erotic art was made back 500 years ago.

Among many of the pieces that we studied with subtle or obvious erotic content, one master sculptor's work stood above the others, Gian Lorenzo Bernini (I highly recommend reading the linked Wikipedia entry about him and seeing more of his art).  Many of statues have a deep sensuality and erotic richness that still astounds many today.

The Ecstasy of St. Teresa - Bernini - SideB

In 2011, I went to Rome for work and had a few days to explore on my own.  I set aside a a dark and rainy day to find as many of his statues as possible.  I first saw his infamous (with much promotion in Dan Brown's book Angels and Demons) The Ecstasy of St. Teresa.  There is obvious desire and lust with the expression on Teresa's face, but the subtle details of her arched right foot and how her big toe is clenched on her left foot leaves such great, but subtle hints to her "ecstasy*".  While I found that statue erotic, it was the next Bernini work that took my breath away.

Much like the The Ecstasy of St. Teresa, The Blessed Ludovica Albertoni is hidden away in small Catholic chapel on a side street of Rome.  Ludovica is different from Teresa in that she is no where near as famous as her sister statue, but has her own deep erotic message.

Maybe it was the darkness of the cloudy, cold, rainy January day, but I felt the quiet desire and lust of Ludovica so powerful.  I know the story of the sculpture is of her ecstasy at her death, but the erotic quietness spoke to me.  Both Teresa and Ludovica make me wonder about orgasm and whether it brings us closer to a spiritual world.  They both also hint at our previously covered topic on orgasm and the Le petite mort, or the little death.

The Blessed Ludovica Albertoni- Bernini - SideB

I know art history can be boring and I have a suggestion for making it much more interesting.  Think of

The Blessed Ludovica Albertoni- Bernini - SideB

themes you find important in the art you like now.  You may seek representations of the human condition, war, sex, death, aging, etc., in the art you enjoy.  I challenge you to take those same themes and try to find how they have been represented in art of all ages.  You may be shocked to find that these themes are not just contemporary issues and topics, but age old things that humanity has always put in to artistic creations.  For me, who knew that a great sculptor from the 1600s could so perfectly capture women in ecstasy from a piece of marble.  Bravo, Bernini.  Bravo.

Another Ecstacy- Artist unknown - SideB

* Note - I do know that the traditional religious definition of ecstasy is very different than sexual ecstasy.  

Opposites Attract: Interracial Eroticism

Later this month, I have an erotic shoot scheduled with one of the awesome male models on my team.   I am beyond excited!  The reason for my anticipation might surprise you.   He's fun, sexy, handsome, and adventurous ... just like all the models I shoot with.   But this shoot will be special for a reason that truly irritates me.  This shoot will be unusual because this particular model happens to be white.  His color doesn't annoy me, but the fact that it matters does!  I'm overjoyed not just for the images themselves, but because hopefully they will help me put to rest some serious misconceptions about me and my art.

A friend and reader recently suggested that I address interracial sex here ... "It's almost never mentioned explicitly, but almost every photo on the blog suggests it." This gave me pause, but on further review, he's right! I don't set out to shoot interracial themes very often ... I just shoot with the models on my team, and for years the men have tended to be primarily black and mixed by an enormous margin. I'm not sure why that is ... I hear rumors that there are lots of white men in the gym, I just don't seem to meet many interested in posing. I'm sure there is an interesting sociological discussion in there somewhere, but for today we'll just say that for the most part I find the photos I share on this blog erotic, not because of the racial mix, or in spite of it, just because of the energy of the models involved. I have nothing against white men, and most days I would put "being black" nowhere on the list of what makes my models sexy.

Caught Up - 081513 - Miz B

That said, there are a lot of people who find interracial eroticism taboo, very arousing, and socially significant. Those buttons get pushed by much of our work, whether intentionally or coincidentally. From a photographer's point of view, it can be very challenging to light disparate skin tones, but the contrasts can be incredibly visually striking. I always enjoy creating images that challenge stereotypes (not just racial ones - I'll turn gender, religion, and any other dividing factor on its head gleefully!) ... so I'm always fascinated to hear reactions from viewers to our interracial images, both positive and negative.

So what is it about interracial sex that sends pulses racing and juices flowing? [And sometimes elevates blood pressure and troubles minds?] There are three main things I hear often ... but feel free to add more to our list!

1 - It's forbidden. I'd like to say this is less true with each generation. Frankly, I believe that we are slowly working our way towards all humankind sharing a perfectly mixed spectrum of latte colors. I vividly remember being 16 (back further than I'd care to admit in the dark ages lol) , starting to date a mixed friend of my step-brother and having an intervention-style sitdown by my parents in which the message was clearly stated: "We have nothing against him, but you need to understand that a lot of people will have a problem with this and you will get that boy killed." Wow - that's a bit of a buzzkill on youthful sexual exploration ... the idea that if you let someone touch you, you are signing his death warrant! Had my parents forbidden me to see him because of his color, though, I'm sure that he would have instantly become 100 times more desirable to me! I do think there are still a lot of places where interracial sex is a scandalous topic ... from both sides of the issue. In fact I know far more black men who are ostracized by their families and communities for dating white women than vice versa. As this stigma evaporates, though, the forbidden thrill of interracial sex will probably become just so much mist as well. Face it, we all get an extra rush out of having what we aren't supposed to have, and doing what we aren't supposed to do.

Purr - 081513 - Miz B

2 - Variety rocks! I think in our rush to outdistance the racial agonies of our past in America, many of us make the mistake of trying to pretend that differences don't exist. {Harvard Business Review recently had some very interesting things to say about this} Sadly, in trying to ensure that people are not seen as lesser or greater based on the color of their skin, we have forgotten to celebrate the cultural differences of our world. There is such beauty in the diversity of our colors, our shapes, our experiences, and our traditions ... and these differences should be savored and treasured. When it comes to sex, I can only speak on my personal experiences and those others have shared with me over the years. It's very clear to me that every generality has exceptions ... but different cultures do indeed have different attitudes, different standards, and different vocabularies for sex. There are things I hear consistently from the mouths of black lovers that I've never heard a white man say. There are things Latinas consider taboo that Asian girls consider ho-hum. Again, these are trends, not absolutes. No one tendency is better or worse, they are just different. French men talk dirty differently than men from South America. Italian women seduce in a completely different way than Indian women. And mutts like me (I may not be a purebred anything but I'm pretty sure I got the best of everything!) who have travelled widely and learned a lot of neat tricks from a lot of unique and sexy people ... you just never know what we are going to bring to the table ( or the tub, or the floor, or the ... well, you get the idea) ! All of this is to say that I think a huge part of the appeal of interracial eroticism is more about a quest for new experiences and variety than about skin color.

Le Voyeur - 081513 - Miz B

3 - Is it true what they say about black men?! {insert nervous giggles here} I hear this question constantly from both women and men - with equal parts fear and hope in their voices. I think this fascination with the stereotypical "hung like a horse" archetype draws many people to interracial experimentation. My best honest answer based on the less than statistically significant sampling of my own experience is, "Sometimes!" Like any group of men, you will find that some are under-endowed, some are average, and some are over-endowed. I tend to encounter more in the latter group, but I doubt that has to do exclusively with race ... I suspect it has more to do with the confidence level of men in my industry and who are likely to approach someone of my experience and sexual energy. Whether the perception of black men as more virile is accurate or not, it definitely underlies a lot of the excitement around interracial encounters. There seems to be an enormous interest in cuckolding as a sub-genre here ... both from black men who are turned on by the idea of humiliating the white husband or boyfriend, establishing themselves as the sexual alpha males (don't need Freud to see the appeal here, do we?!) and from the white men who love to see their women ravaged by an enormous black lover who shows up their inadequacies and even "breeds" her. Interestingly, I don't hear a lot of buzz about white men/black women scenarios ... I'm sure they are a serious turn on (and alternatively a serious threat) to many people, but they don't seem as fetishized or prominently pandered to in pornography, art, or popular culture. Perhaps some readers can offer me some insight on that side issue?

Whatever the psychological and sociological roots of this fascination with interracial eroticism, it can offer some mind-blowing sexual experiences, some intriguing fantasies, and some truly sensational art. What appeals to you - or troubles you - about this particular variation?

Colors and moods.

All colors are the friends of their neighbors and the lovers of their opposites.  - Marc Chagall

I am not sure if black and white or color works for either of these photos of Krysta.  I find sexiness and beauty in either treatment.

Krysta Kaos - 081313 - SideB

I love Krysta's eyes in the BW version.  They are much more daring and provocative.  Her tattoo is so much more integral to the story.   Her bare breasts though are much less a part of the image. For me, all of the story is around her face and the tattoo casting notes up to it.   

Krysta Kaos - 081313 - SideB

It is impossible for me not to notice her beautiful purple hair and how it plays with the green in her tattoo on her shoulder and the blue of the wall.   I really like the color of the bright spot of the wall and how it goes into shadow behind her arm.  I feel her nudity is much more pronounced in color.

Krysta Kaos - 081313 - SideB

In this color version, I notice how the light is almost coming out from between her legs and flowing onto the couch.  Her tattoos on her legs and the line on the back of the stalking work with this bright light and makes me want to move towards it like a moth.

Krysta Kaos - 081313 - SideB

In the BW version that warm light is gone, but the graphic elements of her tattoo play with the lines of her hair.  Once again, her eyes and expression say much more to me in BW. 

I tend to vacillate between photos like these depending on my mood.  For me, I will usually like the color ones when I am in an artistic sensual mood and every color, shade, shadow, and moment brings back memories and fantasies inviting me into the image.  

The black and white ones appeal to me more when I am in a primal lusty mood and tend to be one-track minded.  They become part of the tunnel vision that deep lust envelopes me with and I am totally at one with that person at that moment and the world is gone.

How do you feel about the use of color and how it affects your connection with the model in art?  Does one feel more intimate while the other makes you feel disconnected?  Do you know of prime examples of erotic photos that pull you in because of the color or black and white treatments?

Bottom Line: It's Better to Give Than to Receive!

Today we head back to the mailbag (ok the inbox, but I'm feeling retro!) for another top five most mentioned item.  I'm not sure if this is really such a pressing topic on the male psyche or if it's still a little taboo so everyone is relieved to have someone open to frank discussions of sexuality with whom to broach the subject.  Either way, anal sex seems to be on a lot of minds.  Even moreso after my recent posting of the Starscape image.  If you missed it, consider this to be an invitiation to peruse the archives - it's never too late to chime in on a topic that titillates you! 

Ass Up - 081013 - Miz B

I'm going to come right out and say that I'm not opposed to anal sex ... I just happen to believe it's better to give than to receive!   If you're a loyal reader, you now I'm a fan of trying things before you decide you don't like them.   I'm also convinced that almost ANY sexual variation can be a disaster or an ecstasy - depending on the circumstances, the partners involved, and the skills with which it is practiced.  Even things that are physically unappealing in and of themselves can become sensational if your mental arousal is overwhelming enough.  All of that said - sorry to burst so many bubbles - anal sex is right up there with the toe-sucking encounter on my list of things I feel no need to do again for my own satisfaction.   That doesn't mean I'll never go there again ... it just means it better be your birthday and I'd better be head over heels for you - for starters!  

Over the years, my anal sex policy has evolved to a very succinct attitude:  You First!   I don't think anyone is puzzled by why men want to try it.   But I do think men have very little idea of what they are actually asking for.  So rather than dismiss the idea out of hand, I just submit that if a man thinks it sounds like a good idea, he should anally take something relative to his size in ratio to his penis size relative to me.   Preferably at the level of intensity he intends for my lil ass!  If, after being on the receiving end, he still thinks this sounds like a fun idea, I'll consider it.  Face it, thanks to the prostate, men are actually built to receive more pleasure from anal penetration than women, so this should be a reasonable request.  Interestingly, this is usually the last time the subject comes up!   Now before you panic and fill my inbox with shocked distress, let me be clear.   I'm not a strap-on queen, I don't think that taking pleasure from anal stimulation equates to homosexuality, and I'm never disappointed when my offer is passed up.   I just think that people need to put themselves in their partners' shoes from time to time to gain appreciation for their positions.  

Ass Up II - 081013 - Miz B

Beyond personal preference, I've heard a lot of valid reasons for women resisting anal overtures.   #1 is the pain factor.  Sadly, this is one area in which being well-endowed is actually a detriment.   Face it, if you're a tripod, she has a very good reason to fear for her health.  The tightness may be part of the appeal, but it's also a warning that there is a limit to what she can take without damage.  Lack of natural lubrication makes lube a must (and honestly a lil bit of alcohol lubrication doesn't hurt either lol) ... and slow & steady wins the day.   Frankly, trust is HUGE to success in this endeavor ... so if you are a guy who likes to try to "oops!" slip it in the wrong spot in the heat of the moment, you are definitely not going to get cooperation in the future.   My "you first" approach applies here too - it's difficult to understand the vulnerability of being penetrated at the edge of your ability to relax if you've never had to take that deep breath and trust someone not to tear you to pieces.  

The other factor in anti-anal sentiment that I hear most often is the ick factor.  While there are definitely hygiene concerns that must be addressed responsibly, for some people there's a mental barrier that is absolute.   I won't play armchair psychologist on the roots of this position, but a partner who feels this way is unlikely to be swayed by anything you have to say or tempt them with.   Respect their boundary or move on.   People who perceive anal sex as dirty and taboo, even if they try it, are unlikely to enjoy it.  Our perceptions create our experiences.  You can't yield to an experience if you are actively fighting it in your mind.  And surrender is key to good, safe anal sex.   

Of course there are also those individuals who love anal sex for exactly the same reasons.  They find it dirty and taboo.  They think it hurts soooo good.  I doubt that they experience the physical sensations any differently than people who find anal distasteful, but they interpret the event much differently.   Much of their excitement comes from knowing they are doing something "naughty" or "wicked."   Much like BDSM activities, they find value in the pain, the taboo, and the primal nature of the act.   I've even met a few women and quite a few men who claim that with practice, anal gets easier and becomes as de rigueur as standard missionary.  

Wherever you fall on the spectrum of anal attitude, there are definitely plenty of people right there with you.   It's a polarizing issue in many bedrooms.    It's a complicated question in many minds, jumbled up with homosexuality, sadism, and taboo.  Let's remember, though, that it's also just another option in the endless possibilities of pleasure that flit through the shadows, waiting for the right spark to ignite unexpected passions.

Literary Shivers

Lick - 080813 - Miz B

When she closed her eyes she felt he had many hands, which touched her everywhere, and many mouths, which passed so swiftly over her, and with a wolflike sharpness, his teeth sank into her fleshiest parts. Naked now, he lay his full length over her. She enjoyed his weight on her, enjoyed being crushed under his body. She wanted him soldered to her, from mouth to feet. Shivers passed through her body.” 

― Anaïs Nin, Delta of Venus

Lick II - 080813 - Miz B

Always

I am not jealous of what came before me.

Come with a man

 on your shoulders

come with a hundred men in your hair,

come with a thousand men between your breasts and your feet,

come like a river

full of drowned men

which flows down to the wild sea,

to the eternal surf, to Time! 

Bring them all

to where I am waiting for you;

we shall always be alone,

we shall always be you and I

alone on earth,

to start our life! 

~Pablo Neruda

Overwhelmed - 080813 - Miz B

Curves and lines

See how she leans her cheek upon her hand. 

O that I were a glove upon that hand 

That I might touch that cheek!

― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

What makes a photo real for you?  What are those elements that make you feel like you are in the piece of art?  What draws you in?

Krysta Kaos - 080513 - SideB

I've often wonder what elements of art make me connect with a piece.  I think this draw is similar to a few of things I find sexy and attractive in another person.  These elements are what I can sense with other senses.  For me, it is what I can touch, for example curves and lines.  I find that touch is something I can more easily experience by seeing art.

Krysta Kaos - 080513 - SideB

Visual art rarely can convey taste, smell (unless showing something we have a strong taste or scent association with - think of a photo of brownies).  Sometimes you can sense a sound from visual arts.  I can almost hear a moan or sigh from a photo.  While these can be conveyed, it is not as strong of an association as touch.

When I see a texture, shape, curve, line, or space, I can imagine how it would feel to run my hand over it.  I feel a deeper connection when it is a person.  I feel the smooth skin, soft hair, the softer muscle versus the hardness of bone under the skin.  I can feel the warmth of the person transferring to my hand.  Once I get feel these simulated sensations from visual art, I feel a connection to it.  I can feel all these things as real as if my hands were enjoying the moment.

Do you have a visceral sensation when seeing art?  What does it make you feel and how does it affect how you appreciate the piece?

Primal Passions

“Passion, it lies in all of us, sleeping... waiting... and though unwanted... unbidden... it will stir... open its jaws and howl. It speaks to us... guides us... passion rules us all, and we obey. What other choice do we have? Passion is the source of our finest moments. The joy of love... the clarity of hatred... and the ecstasy of grief. It hurts sometimes more than we can bear. If we could live without passion maybe we'd know some kind of peace... but we would be hollow... Empty rooms shuttered and dank. Without passion we'd be truly dead.”

~Joss Whedon Chained - 080213 - Miz B

I came across this oldie-but-goodie image today, and it got me to pondering sexual passion.   Sometimes passions can simmer, glow like candles, and smell of rose petals crushed on sheets in the glow of the moon.  Sometimes passions can explode, rage like an inferno, and smell of raw animal sex in the blackest depth of night.  And sometimes passions can swing wildly between these two manifestations, scratching and biting through brutal release, gasping & howling with primal abandon ... only to fall tenderly together in leisurely explorations, sighing & satisfied, already teasing the embers into a slow burn,  waiting breathlessly for the shifting breeze that flares hearts into violent conflagrations yet again. 

“He was now in that state of fire that she loved. She wanted to be burnt.” 

― Anaïs Nin, Delta of Venus

One of my favorite things about passion is the loss of control that it creates.   One cannot give free rein to passion while maintaining masks and manners.   One can hold onto both through arousal and emotion, but they are sacrificed to the insistent pulse of passion.  In the end, I crave this honesty more than any physical party trick or emotional declaration.   When a partner is so lost in passion with me that I glimpse the most elemental essence of them, unfiltered, then I am satisfied and fulfilled.   When that gentleman loses his restraint to passion's grip, his gentle civilized tongue growling coarse obscenity against the back of my neck ... when that timid, hesitant woman embraces the power of passion and demands of me exactly what she wants, hands grasping and sharp teeth nipping ...  when those mild-mannered, tender souls assume the passion-fueled strength of 5 gorillas and throw me around the bed with the fierceness of  gladiators, shredding any silk or lace that stands in their way ... oh mercy, THAT is when I am satiated!   Understand - I am not invested in brutality or careless disregard for my well-being ... but I live for the moment when one's sexual being emerges from the shadows, overwhelms the conscious, and has it's way with me.   Given my penchant for yielding to passion, this is often a clash of the titans - our passions wrestling for dominance and finally melding into a unique, unfiltered version of that elusive "us," if only for that moment.  

Catch Your Breath - 080213 - Miz B