Louis LaSalle/Fine Art Photography blog

Photographs & photography ramblings, tips and techniques for models and photographers 

Website Update

The website is long, LONG, overdue for an update. Rather than provide a litany of reasons for my absence, I'll relate a brief story about Mother Teresa. In an interview, when asked about the trials she had faced and overcome in here life, she responded, "I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didnt trust me so much." I won't flatter myself, nor denigrate Mother Teresa by a comparison, but suffice to say, we appear to have the same creator. 

As with my last overdue update in January, I've nearly completely updated the "Featured Models" catalog:
http://www.louislasalle.com/Assets001/Photos/catalog1.html

Nathan Lewis

Nathan hails from the UK and was introduced in my January update. Nathan stayed at my home for a couple of days this summer while we did a followup shoot. Over our two shoots, we've become fast friends. At the risk of using an old cliché, he is a gentleman and a scholar who through his own hard work is smoking hot. We had a good time and I look forward to our next encounter, be it a photo shoot or two old codgers sharing a glass of wine 30 years from now.

Vic Rocco

You get a double-berrel load of Vic. This portfolio represents two shoots, about 9 months apart: one late last year, then the second this summer. Vic is another one of those guys who has quickly become a close friend.

Forrest Maddox

Forrest is a local find of mine; I found him through a social networking site. He's one of those guys who responded back with a "Who, me?" sort of response. After a bit of cajoling, he trusted that maybe I knew what I was doing. We've both been very happy with the results.

Jordan Sin

Jordan was referred to me through a colleague. He was a lucky find. He's a former professional athlete, still courted to return to the fold (don't ask, you won't get any more clues, nor will I entertain any guesses). Now he's an award winning performer, and a natural one at that. But you can see that for yourself in the photos.

Giuseppe Quaro

Giuseppe was the lone (and spectacular) male model when I took a workshop from one of my photographic idols, Andreas Bitesnich, last summer (er... ahh... that would be summer of 2008). Giuseppe is a great, big, overgrown kid hailing from Sicily. He puts all that boyish enthusiasm into his work.

Bobby Momenteller

Bobby and I met through an online modeling site, where we had a mutual laugh at a few of the boys who had profiles with statements like "I don't do nudes, don't even think about asking!", but then have profiles filled with nudes. From there we put together the plan for the shoot.

Race Cooper

Race has been a friend for years, his first (besides his partner) in California. I'm flattered that when he decided to enter adult entertainment, he picked me to shoot the photos to start the bidding war. If he happens to read this, I still owe him and his partner dinner. 

Kevin Taylor

Kevin is another local find, but in this case he found me. One of the wonderful things about my work is that beautiful men send me naked photos of themselves 

Damon Danilo

Damon is making a return engagement. I'll let Damon and his photos speak for themselves. We have in mind doing a desert shoot in the spring.

Chad Glenn

Chad is a style consultant and former gymnast with a lithe athletic physique.

I trust you will enjoy the update There is, of course, as always, more to come. Enjoy!! 

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Photoshoot: Christopher Bain

Hit "send" too fast to post to the blog and left one out. I also shot with Christorpher Bain this week. Yes... four shoots in one week. And yes... I'm tired...

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Photoshoots: Sinjyn, Ricky and Milo

I've been delayed recently by a catastrophic computer system failure. I din't lose any originals, but I did lose editing work, which is quite time consuming. And because I had shoots scheduled, I had to replace the failed computer on an emergency basis. And on that topic...

I've been shooting up a storm over the last week. First up is Sinjyn, a prize winning burlesque performer.

Next up is Ricky...

And finishing up with Milo (Mee-lo)

I really will have a website update out soon. Trust me. :-)

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Hanky Code Run Amok

The Diddams Party store people are there to take care of all your hanky code needs. If you don't know about hanky codes... well... never mind. But seriously... is there really a market for all these colors of bandanas?

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Camera Preview: Canon EOS 7D

Currently I am shooting with the 10mp Canon 40D. I've been very happy with the results, but of course, more would always be nice. So I keep an eye on new cameras coming out. I pay the most attention to Canon, because it's what I've been using for years, what I am familiar with, and I like the way their interfaces work.

Based on reviews, the 50D was a bit of a snooze when it came out. 15mp (5mp more than I had), but only marginal improvement in real resolution -- that is, the ability to resolve detail, measured in lines per inch on a standard test pattern. The rest of it's feature changes were refinements over the 40D, but nothing revolutionary.

Then the 5DMkII came out and it was really, really drool inducing. 21mp, jaw-dropping image quality and HD video recording capability. But the 5D uses a full frame sensor, while the 40D uses a smaller APS-C size sensor. And I have an investment in glass (photographer speak for lenses) for the smaller sensor. So for me, taking the range of my zoom lenses into account, switching to the 5D would cost at least $7K and perhaps $10K or more for the full telephoto range.

Now, Canon has just announced the new 18 mega-pixel, APS-C size sensor EOS 7D, with many of the features of the 5DMkII (lots more megapixels, better focus, better exposure, better image processing, HD video, etc.), but with the compact sensor of the 40D line. And at a price of $1699. Given that I'd have to replace my battery grip as well, I could get into this camera for around $2K. I'm not quite drooling yet. I have to wait to see the competitive reviews to see if the camera is worth it. Those will come out soon after it ships, expected to be around the end of September. Too soon to drool, but my mouth is getting moist.

At Canon USA:

Previews at Digital Photography Review:

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Learn Your Own Lessons

One of the tips I posted in the modeling section of my website (http://www.louislasalle.com/Assets001/modeling.html) is "Plans change. Be prepared. ... So keep the loaded gym bag handy in your car..."
 
I didn't pack my gym bag this morning because I had plans to have dinner with a friend this evening. But he had to cancel (pesky flu). So... now I've got the evening free and should be getting my butt to the gym for some aerobics, but to do that, I have to head home first and pick up my gym bag. Grrr...
 
Learn your own lessons.

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The Road Not Taken...

The hour is late. Unexpected heat prevents sleep, after an exhaustion inducing week. Drink and exhaustion makes the brain wax philosophic.

Some 12 years ago, I embarked upon the path of a photographer of fine art male nudes. Opening that door closed windows unseen at the time.  In the words of that iconic Captain James T. Kirk, "I know I've zigged when I should have zagged."

But would I trade it, for friends I've made as a result: Pietr, Jesse, Dino, Mark, Rick, Jody, Joseph, Martin... I think not. In the words of Robert Frost...

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has mad all the difference.

Peace

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Photo Shoot: Vic Rocco

I've been shooting up a storm lately and finished up the flurry of shooting with a weekend visit from Vic Rocco, who i shot with back in April. You can check out the blog entry on the previous shoot here:
http://louislasalle.posterous.com/photo-shoot-vic-rocco
 
We shot most of Saturday, with a break for the gym. Then after a quick switch to a white background for an hour of shooting on Sunday morning, we spent the rest of the day playing in San Francisco.
 
This time, Vic came to me furry chested (he gave me the option of having him shave it off). But I don't often get to shoot the furry chested, so I went for it. Vic has some friends at Sweat Undergear (http://www.sweatundergear.com/) who wanted to see how he filled out their stuff. I'll let you judge for yourselves.

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Photo Shoot: Forrest Maddox

I found Forrest on http://BigMuscle.com/, a social site for gay men with muscle into other gay men with muscle. His profile was pretty typical, full of self photos taken in a mirror. But even in those photos with relatively flat lighting he showed a lot of nice development and definition. He was in the local area so I decided to contact him. He responded back (this only happens to about 1 in 3 or 4 such inquiries). His response was along the lines of "Who, me? I don't look anything like the guys on your site." This too is pretty typical. Most guys have no idea the effect proper lighting has on the physique.

 For the full gallery results from the shoot, check out my website:
http://www.louislasalle.com/Assets001/Photos/Forrest_Maddox/Shoot1/index.htm

 BTW, before anyone asks, no, you can't have his phone number or a link to his BigMuscle profile. Do I look like Yentl the matchmaker to you? Wait... don't answer that.

     

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Photo Shoot: Nathan Lewis

After an abortive attempt (scheduling problems), I finally got to shoot Nathan Lewis in my studio on black background! Nathan came an visited me for a couple days last week and we shot up a storm and had a bit of social fun. We shot TONS (903 to be exact). There's definitely a downside to whole damn digital "pixels are free" thing. So it will be a while before I get the work edited, but here's a first sample.

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