Deadly Dreams

Ahhh ... fall, that lovely time of year when everyone gets to enjoy a day of living like me! Wait, did I say that out loud?   I meant Halloween arrives and gives everyone a chance to bring out their inner freak ... one day of the year where it's acceptable to live our fantasies in public, to step out of the shadows and dress the way we want to, party without inhibition, and attribute our rampant sexuality to a dress-up persona!

I often tell people that being a model is like Halloween everyday - dressing up, assuming personalities, and being able to drop pretense & actively engage the world sexually.   I think that many women find it very empowering to let their inner goddess/slut/diva out for a change ... especially in a manner that is encouraged instead of condemned!  

Deadly Dreams - 103113 - Miz B

We've discussed before on shadowsexposed the intimate relationship between arousal and danger or fear.  Halloween is a delightful mix of sexy and terrifying, which makes for a powerful cocktail of stimulation.   No intense analysis needed, dear readers ... drink deeply of this usually forbidden cocktail, make the most of this wicked holiday, and remember that the deadlier the dream - the better!

It's elemental

We cannot conceive of matter being formed of nothing, since things require a seed to start from... Therefore there is not anything which returns to nothing, but all things return dissolved into their elements. - William Shakespeare

A few weekends ago I went to a Meetup near the San Jose airport.  For two hours, six photographers worked with one model, Aleska.  This crowded setup made me work on keeping the photo shoot down to a few charged elements and keep the rest simple.

While these photos have few elements, each adds layers to the sensuality.  This is true of life in general.  When we first are attracted to a moment, and the person or people in it, we often focus on those charged elements that have meaning to us.  In these photos, what elements draw you in, the crop, the stockings, her smooth and sensual lines, or maybe nothing at all.  Not all photos, nor moments in life, have to draw us in.

I feel that while it is easy to build complex stories and narratives in art, our interactions, our romantic lives, etc., it is often the simple elements that we remember most.  These include the line of a lovers jaw, the scent of our combined sex, the light in her eyes, or the feel of the soft sheets we are entangled in.

As with many of my recent shares, I post both the black and white and color versions for your viewing.  Any thoughts on which work and what doesn't are appreciated.

Shadowscapes II ~ Sapphic Shadows

A shadow is never created in darkness.   It is born of light.  We can be blind to it and blinded by it.  Our shadows ask us to look at what we don't want to see.

  If we refuse to face our shadow, it will project itself on someone else so we have no choice but to engage.  ~Terry Tempest Williams

Pinch - 101613 - Miz B

The brightest flame casts the darkest shadow.  ~ George R. R. Martin

Bite - 101613 - Miz B

People who avoid shadow scare me.  ~Fierce Dolan

Lick - 101613 - Miz B

How can I be substantial if I do not cast a shadow?

I must have a dark side also if I am to be whole.  ~C.G. Jung

Out of the Shadows - Happy Coming Out Day!

In honor of National Coming Out Day, let's celebrate the vast diversity of human sexuality.  Attraction is such a complex thing, that I simply chalk all its variations up to MAGIC!   I absolutely agree with Hunger Games actor Josh Hutcherson's recent statement that "I think defining yourself as 100 percent anything is kind of near-sighted and close-minded!"  

I've always been confused by labels.  By the time you list all the exceptions to those rules, you don't have much left to look at!   I've never understood how someone can classify themselves as a loyal Catholic, except when it comes to that pesky birth control issue where they do what they want to do … or how one can scream that they are a liberal, right up until it's time to defend the free speech of someone they disagree with.   Why insist on putting oneself in a box labeled straight, when all it takes is a few shots and a leggy blonde to bend your preference for the night?   It's downright unnatural to  ALWAYS be anything!

Girl Time - 101113 - Miz B

In my less than humble opinion, there is no such thing as being 100% gay or straight.  I think we are all on a broad spectrum of bi by nature.  Does that mean everyone is able to admit those randoms thoughts or fantasies that don't fit our self image or social norms?  Of course not.  But in general I think that it's a sin to ignore huge realms of human experience and sensation because of societal labels.   I'm not talking about anything that victimizes another person ... but I truly believe that connecting with another being or enjoying a physical sensation consensually is a beautiful thing and needs no classification to validate it.   I'll go a step further and say that no soul needs a label or definition to give it value or legitimacy.   

Man to Man - 101113 - Miz B

I understand that we all live in the real world where there are bigots and sometimes horrific consequences for lifestyle expression.   I would never out someone - that's a personal choice.   What I will always do, however, is to encourage everyone to come out of their shadows to themselves.   Get honest about ALL of who you are ... then choose how much to share with the world.   There is an amazing peace with being unable to simply define oneself with labels.  There is freedom in not caring what to call yourself.  I am simply me.   You are simply you.   And it's perfectly ok for you and I to change - day to day, hour to hour, person to person, passion to passion.   

3sum - 101113 - Miz B

In the end, there is not enough love, passion, and happiness in this world.   We should all honor and respect it wherever it does exist!  Gay, straight, bi, trans, poly, curious, you name it ... be you, my dear friends, and know that you are celebrated here! 

Drum roll please ............

With much fanfare and showgirls we are proud to announce the winner of our reader contest Bring YOUR Fantasy to Life!...

Fremont Street Showgirls, Las Vegas - 100213 - SideB

But first, the stuff that if we announced the winner first you would never read (of course we know many of you will peek ahead anyway. ;-) ).  We had dozens of entries and read each one multiple times and established a set of criteria for which to evaluate them.

1. T.I.F.H. Scale - (That Is Fucking Hot).  This was purely subjective on both our parts.  Some ideas started out on fire, but after thinking on them, didn't sustain the heat.  Others kept a hot even burn, but never scorched.  A few started off cool and subtly heated up to surface-of-the-fucking-sun hot. The latter were treats and the winner was one we both separately, and after talking, revisited and expanded upon.  For the winner we both felt we a connection to the theme and wanted to make it even hotter.
2. Do-able Scale.  All submissions were appreciated and we strive to honor both the reader who submitted, the theme, and our readers.  We want to do this right.   With this in mind, we had to evaluate on the following criteria:
• What would it take to create the set, scene, and round up the actors/models to pull it off.  
• Is the theme rich enough to be important to many, yet simple enough for us to create and honor.  Sometimes the elegant ideas are the best for this type of thing.
• While all of this sounds like we may be taking the easy way out, the truth is that some of the submissions were so rich with theme and details that we knew with our budgets, abilities, and time, we could not honor the request.  This isn't a judgement on the quality of the submission, but our doing a reality check on not only what we could do, but what we will do well.

So with a long drum roll (queue up the dancing girls!)  The winning submission is from...

DAVE O.!

Dave's winning submission:

Maybe it is because everything is so dire and life or death in our youth but that is where I find the most intense passions

Or maybe I am simply emotionally stunted- who knows...but the teenage make out session has always captured my imagination, well at any age.
Usually taking place in semi-public surroundings..a car, secluded woods or a room that a room mate can barge into at any moment.  There is always danger and immediacy ..to get the deed done bit also make last as long as you can

The kisses are obtuse, wet, and deep.  Hands wander and fumble ..but each miscue only adds to the passion and anticipation....

So what do you think you can do with that? ;)

Lots, Dave.  Lots.

Thank you for inspiring our creative juices.  We will start planning this soon and will share our manifestation of this winning scene.