Q: "Why do you mark everything you do as 'mature content'?"

A: Because I do not support censorship or self-censorship in any form. It is, of course, DA's right to require that some images be flagged 'mature' or not, it's their site and they can make the rules for it. In the past, I had problems where people would complain to DA admins that an image was inappropriate -- at one point someone apparently complained about an abstract fiberglass mannequin being "nude":

and it was at that moment that I realized that there is someone out there who will take offense at anything. That was when I decided to flag everything I do as 'mature' with all the options. Because, that way only someone who is willing to see anything, will ever see my work. I don't want people who support censorship to see or use my stock; they don't deserve to. The 'mature' flag is there to protect my stock from the prudish, easily offended, and immature.

Q: "Why do you say please do not give me DA subscriptions??"

A: Because DA supports (and thereby encourages) censorship. If you're thinking of giving me a subscription, please donate the money to the EFF's blue ribbon campaign:
[link]
supporting freedom of self-expression.

Q: "Isn't it hypocritical of you to use DA's resources and then speak out against them?"

A: No; I have a site of my own and could host my stuff there, or in a variety of other places. I feel that my making stock available is a benefit to the DA community and DA's users, not the other way around. It is contributors that add whatever value DA has; without contributors this site would be empty and pointless. In return for my contributing artwork to the community, I feel free to express my views about how that community is run and I reserve the right to leave at any time.

mingled at last
the ashes of faiths
flutter like the feathers
dropped by a concrete
phoenix

I've replaced this with a linkable version here:

The "shoot stock" tutorial has a number of illustrations of the kind of set-ups I use for lighting, as well as pictures of my studio.

Today I posted another tutorial on "photographic lighting". It's a workthrough of experiments with lights ranging my my expensive pro studio flash pack to some $55 light heads I bought on Ebay. In it, I try to demonstrate the way I like to think about photography; a synthesis of intuitive play and methodical trial-and-error by varying a single parameter.

It is here:

(For my stock usage rules, see [link] )

Is there something you want?

Bear in mind that:
a) I am super busy and will not have time to respond to comments here; but I'll read them (I read fast)
b) I can't guarantee I'll be able to do any or all or even some of what you suggest
c) Other stockers also read my journals so if you post an idea here, you're posting it where other stockers might pick it up and run with it. How cool is that?
d) You won't have an exclusive on anything you ask for or see here; any stock I do that's not commissioned for a specific artist is going to wind up public. If you have a precious idea you want to keep, don't post it here.

Yes I know it would be nice to see more male stock. I have 2 really buff guys coming in, hopefully in February. Generally I don't shoot guys because, um, well, I like how girls look better. My plan for the guys is to shoot them dressed up as pirates (arr!) and in classical wrestling poses, as well as some body part studies. What actually happens may be very different.

I'm also planning on shooting more stock with Sarah Ellis - the Bodice Buster Project was a lot of fun for us, and if the weather is good we may try some "highwayman and village girl" stock. I've got this microscopically small sexy Mrs Santa Claus outfit and I'm going to try to get some last-minute Mrs Claus stock of Sarah for you.

Remember that my budget and patience for props is somewhat limited. I have lots of swords and costumes and stuff like that but I sometimes get requests like: "I want a shot of Sarah Ellis leaping out of a refrigerator waving a chainsaw while wearing a block of gouda cheese on her head!" - don't complain if it's cheddar, OK?

So, what do you want to see?

you all (well, most of you anyhow)

----
PS - my stock image "Death Rides a Pale Trike"
( [link] )
is vying for the top slot all-time for DA stocky goodness. I'm not asking you to fave it or anything, but if you dig it and want to make me happy, show it some love.

...with all the notes and comments I get here.

I'm tremendously grateful to all of you who use my art, and share your own, and I wish that there were 3 of me so that I could keep up with the comments. Unfortunately, there aren't. This morning my in-box contained 4,000+ messages and 2,000+ unread notes. If I had a broadband internet connection and keeping up with DA was my full-time job, I still couldn't do it.

Consequently, I've updated my stock usage rules (here: [link] ) to remove the part about leaving me a note; I won't be able to review and comment on every art-work. But if you leave a comment on an image, with a link to your work, others will be able to see it. I plan to periodically check and see what's going on, so I will still be +faving works and, of course, my stock crops up in all kinds of weird places on the site, all the time. So I'll still be watching you.

The bottom line, for me, is that doing this on DA has become a whole lot less fun. Between the idiotic "mature content" rules, the sheeplike attitude of the DA staff, and the inane self-congratulating babblings of the site's founders, I've pretty much lost interest in anything to do with the site except the artwork and artistic exchange. To me, that's a shame, because the web already exists as a perfectly good vehicle for that, and I don't need DA; DA's owners and administrators need to remember that the site needs good art and artists - not the other way around. Always remember that the people who have time to run around reporting art-works for "mature content violation" probably have that time because they're not creating anything worthwhile, themselves. For that matter, those who administer - have time to administer because they're not creating anything worthwhile with that time. Think about it. If that sounds like me being contemptuous and elitist - so be it.

What was really eating at me - and still is - was my inability to track everything you guys are/have been doing with my art. I was losing sleep. I was spending time reading my DA notes and +faving images, when I could have spent that time in my own studio, being creative. I was feeling guilty because I could not engage each and every one of you in the respectful, personal, dialogue that you deserve. But - ultimately - I can't. So I'm not going to try, anymore. It's nothing personal, it's just how I choose to spend the limited time that I have available - and I'm going to spend that on my art. I hope you understand.

I'll try to drop in at random in various places and say "hi" and I constantly stumble across art that uses my stock. So I'll be around. Now, stop reading this and get out there and create something beautiful.

mjr.

PS - my birthday is Nov 5. Do you think I'll break 2 million pageviews by then? I'll be 46. I never thought I'd make it past 40!