Docs from Mark Velasquez Photography

Exploring.

nobody@ipernity.com (Mark Velasquez Photography) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:54:34 +0000

Mark Velasquez Photography has posted a doc:

The first Sunday in January I was sitting around bored and had a model who was just as bored as I come over to hang out. With a lack of any real inspiration for a photo session, we got to talking about types of photos, eventually getting of course to the idea of "ultra sexy" images, which she of course was completely interested in taking as long as her face was unseen.

However, she was unsure of how sexy "ultra-sexy" really was, giving me the spoken challenge of seeing how dirty and "hot" we could make an image while still preventing the exposure of any "naughty bits".

After shooting in the bathroom of the Take Out for half an hour, I figured we couldn't get much hotter than this without crossing a dangerous line.

So...here it is. I cringe at the comments I get on this one.

In other news:
There are still a few dozen NEW PIN-UP 2009 CALENDARS left! If you'd like to order one, send me a message!

Also, I finally gave in and created an official "blog". Check it out.

And lastly, please add my as yet Unrestricted Flickr Profile.

Tom's Take Out Calendar 2009

nobody@ipernity.com (Mark Velasquez Photography) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:47:49 +0000

Mark Velasquez Photography has posted a doc:

The new Mark Velasquez 2009 Calendar is at the printers and should be here by December 1st. Whew, what a load off. This will be my third for myself but fourth calendar overall. Sometimes the amount of work and uncertainty seems daunting, but in a masochistic way I love it as a whole, or at least I will in a year when I look at it fresh and can appreciate it in a more objective way. This time the theme will be straight pin-ups, "Vargas-style", if you will. Simple, classic, less is more.

I wish I could take more images of Sarah, but our schedules never seem to work out. She is the first woman I "censored" and is always an excellent model.

In other news:
There are still a few dozen NEW PIN-UP 2009 CALENDARS left! If you'd like to order one, send me a message!

Also, I finally gave in and created an official "blog". Check it out.

And lastly, please add my as yet Unrestricted Flickr Profile.

Alone in the Bat Cave.

nobody@ipernity.com (Mark Velasquez Photography) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:27:24 +0000

Mark Velasquez Photography has posted a doc:

Stephanie is a longtime dancer friend of my regular models Laura and Kari. She is a bit shy when you talk to her, but is definitely not shy about her body. I finally got ahold of her for my Censored Project several months ago, and before I could direct her to my studio area she was taking her clothes off in my front doorway. Yes, sometimes I tell women to keep their clothes on.

She was back visiting family for the holidays and wanted to do a shoot, so I again challenged myself to see if I could take a decent photo without all my lights and equipment, which I continually doubt myself about. This is just another test shot.

Sin #1-LUST: Prostitution

nobody@ipernity.com (Mark Velasquez Photography) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 04:51:28 +0000

Mark Velasquez Photography has posted a doc:

Seven Deadly Sins of Modern America #1

LUST: Prostitution

Prostitution is the worlds "oldest profession", but I think it might come in handy for, say, the socially awkward. In this case, an escort who makes house calls.

In other news:
There are still a few dozen NEW PIN-UP 2009 CALENDARS left! If you'd like to order one, send me a message!

Also, I finally gave in and created an official "blog". Check it out.

And lastly, please add my as yet Unrestricted Flickr Profile.

Sin #2-GLUTTONY: Anorexia Nervosa

nobody@ipernity.com (Mark Velasquez Photography) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 04:50:07 +0000

Mark Velasquez Photography has posted a doc:

Seven Deadly Sins of Modern America #2

GLUTTONY: Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes an eating disorder characterized by low body weight and body image distortion with an obsessive fear of gaining weight. Individuals with anorexia often control body weight by voluntary starvation, purging, vomiting, excessive exercise, or other weight control measures, such as diet pills or diuretic drugs. It primarily affects young adolescent girls in the Western world.

In other news:
There are still a few dozen NEW PIN-UP 2009 CALENDARS left! If you'd like to order one, send me a message!

Also, I finally gave in and created an official "blog". Check it out.

And lastly, please add my as yet Unrestricted Flickr Profile.

Sin #3-PRIDE: Sexual Dysfunction

nobody@ipernity.com (Mark Velasquez Photography) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 04:48:04 +0000

Mark Velasquez Photography has posted a doc:

Seven Deadly Sins of Modern America #3

PRIDE: Sexual Dysfunction

Sexual dysfunction is "difficulty during any stage of the sexual act that prevents the individual or couple from enjoying sexual activity". In this case, he can't "get it up";. Or, as I wanted to originally title this one: "I'm allergic to shrimp!"

In other news:
There are still a few dozen NEW PIN-UP 2009 CALENDARS left! If you'd like to order one, send me a message!

Also, I finally gave in and created an official "blog". Check it out.

And lastly, please add my as yet Unrestricted Flickr Profile.

Sin #4-SLOTH: Agoraphobia

nobody@ipernity.com (Mark Velasquez Photography) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 04:46:43 +0000

Mark Velasquez Photography has posted a doc:

Seven Deadly Sins of Modern America #4

SLOTH: Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder which primarily consists of the fear of experiencing a difficult or embarrassing situation from which the sufferer cannot escape. In severe cases, an agoraphobic may be confined not only to their home, but to one or two rooms, and they may even become bed-bound, or a recluse.

In other news:
There are still a few dozen NEW PIN-UP 2009 CALENDARS left! If you'd like to order one, send me a message!

Also, I finally gave in and created an official "blog". Check it out.

And lastly, please add my as yet Unrestricted Flickr Profile.

Sin #5-ENVY: Body Dysmorphic Disorder

nobody@ipernity.com (Mark Velasquez Photography) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 04:45:24 +0000

Mark Velasquez Photography has posted a doc:

Seven Deadly Sins of Modern America #5

ENVY: Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a mental disorder, which involves a disturbed body image, which isn't helped by our culture telling both sexes that they need to look like super models.

So here is a classic example, sizing yourself up to the next person, as we all do.

In other news:
There are still a few dozen NEW PIN-UP 2009 CALENDARS left! If you'd like to order one, send me a message!

Also, I finally gave in and created an official "blog". Check it out.

And lastly, please add my as yet Unrestricted Flickr Profile.

Sin #6-WRATH: Domestic Abuse

nobody@ipernity.com (Mark Velasquez Photography) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 04:44:06 +0000

Mark Velasquez Photography has posted a doc:

Seven Deadly Sins of Modern America #6

WRATH: Domestic Abuse

Domestic Abuse occurs when a family member, partner or ex-partner attempts to physically or psychologically dominate or harm the other. It occurs in all cultures; people of all races, ethnicities, religions, and classes can be perpetrators of domestic violence. Domestic violence is perpetrated by, and on, both men and women, and occurs in same-sex and opposite-sex relationships.

Pretty straight-forward here.

As a side note, having drunk uncles stumbling and dribbling Budweiser on me while trying to hug me as a kid, I associate Bud in the can as the lowest of the low class drinks. Can't stand even the smell of beer because of that.

In other news:
There are still a few dozen NEW PIN-UP 2009 CALENDARS left! If you'd like to order one, send me a message!

Also, I finally gave in and created an official "blog". Check it out.

And lastly, please add my as yet Unrestricted Flickr Profile.

Sin #7-GREED: Kleptomania

nobody@ipernity.com (Mark Velasquez Photography) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 04:42:36 +0000

Mark Velasquez Photography has posted a doc:

Seven Deadly Sins of Modern America #7

GREED: Kleptomania

Kleptomania is an inability or great difficultly in resisting impulses of stealing. The most interesting thing about kleptomaniacs is that they often steal things they would never want or have a use for. In this case, a very well off woman pocketing a bottle of Tapatio hot sauce from a Mexican market.

In other news:
There are still a few dozen NEW PIN-UP 2009 CALENDARS left! If you'd like to order one, send me a message!

Also, I finally gave in and created an official "blog". Check it out.

And lastly, please add my as yet Unrestricted Flickr Profile.

Fashion Garbage

nobody@ipernity.com (Mark Velasquez Photography) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 23:47:36 +0000

Mark Velasquez Photography has posted a doc:

When I am uninspired, as I've been most of the last year, I try to think of technically challenging projects to keep me on my toes. Invariably I find myself looking at meaningless though visually lovely images out of fashion magazines for ideas.

The women in these magazines are always pretty, often dressed in something a normal person would never typically wear, in a setting or environment that doesn't make much sense at all.

After a very short time of looking at those kinds of images I find I want to tell those women, and all the hundreds of people it took to make the images come to life, that they need to do something more meaningful in life.

Maybe I am just trying to convince myself of that.

---------------------
Special thanks to Laura for being the one to say "Hey, let's go play in the trash cans!"

In other news:
There are still a few dozen NEW PIN-UP 2009 CALENDARS left! If you'd like to order one, send me a message!

Also, I finally gave in and created an official "blog". Check it out.

And lastly, please add my as yet Unrestricted Flickr Profile.

Ring of Fire

nobody@ipernity.com (Mark Velasquez Photography) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 02:32:53 +0000

Mark Velasquez Photography has posted a doc:

Steven is a good guy.

I met him through Laura, one of my most favorite models, as her boyfriend of two years. He is very responsible, a highly skilled and talented ballet dancer, a bit of a geek, and not afraid to be silly. Most importantly, he treats Laura well, and that's what really matters to me. I think it would be fair to say I like the kid.

Occasionally Steven gets hired to do a show spinning fire and for quite a long time I've wanted to do a shoot of him on his own. He finally reminded me again recently and I refused to make an excuse out of being as tired and sick as I've been.

For the Photographers: Though its a bit of a cliché to take photos of such a thing as fire performers, it is also technically a challenge to expose properly using multiple strobe lights on a moving model and a continuously setting sun, all while having a long enough exposure to capture a long movement of fire. Surprisingly we figured it out pretty fast. Go figure!

Luckily the beach cops didn't give us much of a hassle, and aside from a dozen or so observers walking behind him the shoot went surprisingly easy.

"And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun don'-go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round"
-The Flaming Lips

In other news:
There are still a few dozen NEW PIN-UP 2009 CALENDARS left! If you'd like to order one, send me a message!

Also, I finally gave in and created an official "blog". Check it out.

And lastly, please add my as yet Unrestricted Flickr Profile.

The Birth of Christmas

nobody@ipernity.com (Mark Velasquez Photography) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 02:29:27 +0000

Mark Velasquez Photography has posted a doc:

C'mon, we all are more than aware of what Christmas has become. Whether you believe in a virgin birth, celebrate Hannukkah, or participate in one of the other myriad winter solstice holidays, we all must admit that the real celebration has become devoted to Commercialism.

Whether its grocery stores playing Christmas carols in October, shopping at 4a.m. on "Black Friday", or people literally killing each other for the rare Nintendo Wii, you have to admit that things are getting worse. In some way or another, we are all guilty of participating in what this has become.

So I figure, since so many people have been blatantly rewriting history, why not me. Its a fact, some 14-16 year old girl named Mary gave birth to a child named Joshua (Jesus in Greek) who became a religious leader. So what? BFD. I really don't think any of that matters anymore. In 2007, all that is important is that she gave birth to Christmas.

So try not to get too wrapped up in the whole thing. Make a donation to a worthwhile charity. Call that long lost friend. Go hug your mom. And do all of it for no other reason than its the right thing to do, not just because "tis the season".

Merry Christmas.
-----------------------

In other news:
There are still a few dozen NEW PIN-UP 2009 CALENDARS left! If you'd like to order one, send me a message!

Also, I finally gave in and created an official "blog". Check it out.

And lastly, please add my as yet Unrestricted Flickr Profile.

Dynamic Laura

nobody@ipernity.com (Mark Velasquez Photography) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 02:27:28 +0000

Mark Velasquez Photography has posted a doc:

Ah, Laura. Such a doll.

She came over to help me shoot my Christmas Card this year. After the first part of the shoot I needed to shave and clean up a bit for the second part. As I was getting ready she sat on my couch watching "America's Next Top Model" eating large amounts of gummy bears. By the time I was ready to shoot again she was bouncing off the walls with an insane sugar high.

Once we were done with my card, she wanted to do a shoot, feeling "sexy and inspired" from watching "ANTM". So we did.

Enjoy the attitude.

I prefer this shot to the next one, but am posting both to show the HUGE difference between having a model make a dynamic and interesting pose instead of just being shot straight on.

In other news:
There are still a few dozen NEW PIN-UP 2009 CALENDARS left! If you'd like to order one, send me a message!

Also, I finally gave in and created an official "blog". Check it out.

And lastly, please add my as yet Unrestricted Flickr Profile.

The Censored Project: Final 100

nobody@ipernity.com (Mark Velasquez Photography) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:04:10 +0000

Mark Velasquez Photography has posted a doc:

Far be it for me to complain about a system that I willingly chose to be a part of censor my work. I could leave Flickr.com at any time, so could everyone who complains about it. We choose to be a part of this system because it works. Its not perfect, but it gets the job done and pretty damn well, I might add.

So why do people complain when they knowingly break the rules and get censored for it. Its happened to me a total of four times now, my account being all but frozen with only 4 images visible. I didn't complain, I re-classified a few images, asked for a re-review, and POOF! Back to normal.

Still, I was made more than aware of just how arbitrary the restrictions they place on what is "decent for all viewers" can be. Why did a photo of a buxom pin-up make the cut, but all my images of children and landscapes become censored? Why did a nude woman whose nipples couldn't be seen be fine, and yet an almost fully covered woman with a partially exposed nipple be irrevocably restricted?

I "censored" my first woman as a joke, but got such a good response from it that I sarcastically told someone I was going to try for 100. I am more shocked than anyone that I managed to pull it off. From start to finish, it took almost 5 months, which in a small, fairly conservative town like mine is quite an interesting feat. The final 100 includes women of every race, ages ranging from 18-54, over a third of whom are moms, one grandmother, and over half of the women I had never met before the day they showed up. They are all special people, a few more special than others, but I am indebted to all of them for making my idea come true. This project taught me more than I ever would have guessed, introduced me to some very special people, one in particular, and overall once again reminded me that you can achieve anything when you stay focused.

Lastly, I just want to thank everyone who participated and supported me in another hair-brained scheme. Sadly, a few months after I finally finished this project, my Flickr profile was irrevocably censored to a "moderate" level, making it unable to be viewed by the average web-surfer. So, finally, I have set up an account here on ipernity. Here's hoping...

And no, I will not send you a larger version. :)

In other news:
There are still a few dozen NEW PIN-UP 2009 CALENDARS left! If you'd like to order one, send me a message!

Also, I finally gave in and created an official "blog". Check it out.

And lastly, please add my as yet Unrestricted Flickr Profile.

Surviving Cancer

nobody@ipernity.com (Mark Velasquez Photography) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 23:56:07 +0000

Mark Velasquez Photography has posted a doc:

During the Censored Project I met many different kinds of women, a lot of whom surprisingly keep in contact with me. One of them is Ashleigh, who I recently found
out has Cervical Cancer at the age of 24. I shot some nice portraits of her with her long dark hair, and a few days later shot this. With the hair falling out in large clumps from the chemo, she decided to just shave it, and I really wanted to document that.

No one ever said much about the other pics I took of her, but now with the bald head a lot of people have been effusive about just how beautiful her face is and how penetrating her eyes are. Maybe more women should shave their heads in order to have their true facial beauty be appreciated.

In other news:
There are still a few dozen NEW PIN-UP 2009 CALENDARS left! If you'd like to order one, send me a message!

Also, I finally gave in and created an official "blog". Check it out.

And lastly, please add my as yet Unrestricted Flickr Profile.

American Strength

nobody@ipernity.com (Mark Velasquez Photography) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 01:07:13 +0000

Mark Velasquez Photography has posted a doc:

This as raw and immediate as it gets, out of the camera with little touch up, moments after the shoot ended.

A lot has been on my mind lately. Medical problems and falling short of goals in terms of age progression have just been the tip of the iceberg. I stay way too caught up on the news, home and abroad, of the corruption and backstabbing and bullshit that goes on in our and every other government. I'm not an anarchist, I love America and most Americans, but I see us all suffering from a collective stagnance.

We're all pretty sure where we stand and how we feel, but don't know where we're going or what to do next. We are looking for something to believe in, someone to tell us its going to be okay, something that feels real and relevant.

So, being sick of all the symbols and rhetoric, I give you the anti-symbol.

Here's hoping for the best.

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The original inspiration for this series came from looking at old Guy Bourdin images. I thought that if I could take a topic I've been thinking of a lot and portray it with a very high glamor, high fashion style it might just make for some interesting photographs. You decide.

In other news:
There are still a few dozen NEW PIN-UP 2009 CALENDARS left! If you'd like to order one, send me a message!

Also, I finally gave in and created an official "blog". Check it out.

And lastly, please add my as yet Unrestricted Flickr Profile.

Little Red Riding Hood

nobody@ipernity.com (Mark Velasquez Photography) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 01:04:26 +0000

Mark Velasquez Photography has posted a doc:

Looking into the mythology, I was intrigued to find that the story of "Little Red Riding Hood", dating back to its earliest written incarnation by Charles Perrault in 1697, is basically about sexual awakening.

Doesn't take much Freudian study to figure it out, really: young and pure, covered in her protective red cloak, all alone in the dangerous woods being stalked by the ravenous, predatory wolf.

Basically, I was feeling bored on Friday afternoon, so I planned the shoot for Sunday. Two calls, a few trips to the grocery, fabric, and thrift stores, and a brief scouting of the location later, and here we are.

Special thanks to my photo assistant and little brother (Thanks Kev!):
www.flickr.com/photos/60797237@N00/

In other news:
There are still a few dozen NEW PIN-UP 2009 CALENDARS left! If you'd like to order one, send me a message!

Also, I finally gave in and created an official "blog". Check it out.

And lastly, please add my as yet Unrestricted Flickr Profile.

Mardi Gras 2007!

nobody@ipernity.com (Mark Velasquez Photography) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:57:23 +0000

Mark Velasquez Photography has posted a doc:

A few years ago I went to New Orleans during Mardi Gras to see if the hype was true.

It was.

What stood out most to me though was how the debauchery and flashing were limited only to Bourbon Street. Everywhere else Mardi Gras was a family experience with children of all ages wearing beads and enjoying the parade and spectacle of it all.

This is how I interpret it in my mind. Yeah, I'm seeking help.

Special thanks to my photo assistant and little brother (Thanks Kev!):
www.flickr.com/photos/60797237@N00/

In other news:
There are still a few dozen NEW PIN-UP 2009 CALENDARS left! If you'd like to order one, send me a message!

Also, I finally gave in and created an official "blog". Check it out.

And lastly, please add my as yet Unrestricted Flickr Profile.

"First, do no harm..."

nobody@ipernity.com (Mark Velasquez Photography) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:55:24 +0000

Mark Velasquez Photography has posted a doc:

The Evils of Man: The Mentor.

We have all had people who helped show us a path and how to walk it, in one way or another. More often then not, these mentors and advisors do so purely out of the goodness of their heart, leaving an indelible warmth in the hearts of those whose lives they have supported.

However, there is always the other side of the coin. From my 13 years in private religious schools, 6 years as a Catholic altar boy and a lifetime involved in Boy Scouts, I have unfortunately seen both extremes of "The Mentor". I have been lucky enough to have been advised by some of the very best men, and sadly I have had friends who have been scarred by some of the worst, with no rhyme or reason to why in either case.

As usual, judge this series of images to come for what you will.

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So many women over the years have accused me of only shooting "young, pretty girls", actively calling me a pervert, pornographer, or at the very least a raging sexist. I take all criticisms with a grin, whether they be positive or negative, not believing most things people say in any great degree.
Still, I realize I do need to shoot more males, if only in the hopes to broaden my portfolio a bit. Here is a better series than previous half-hearted attempts.

In other news:
There are still a few dozen NEW PIN-UP 2009 CALENDARS left! If you'd like to order one, send me a message!

Also, I finally gave in and created an official "blog". Check it out.

And lastly, please add my as yet Unrestricted Flickr Profile.