Read the Stories
Behind the Pole
The (Unofficial) Catacombs of Paris
It's the behind the scenes of a photo shoot inside the Catacombs - -the real ones, not the tourist ones.
It was a 5 hour trip, from 10pm-4am. We had to crawl through holes smaller than our shoulders, work our way through thigh-high muddy waters, explore abandoned war bunkers and sub-cultural phenomenons (Did you know the Catacombs has a secret movie theater in it? And 3 breweries that you have to be acrobatic enough to get to?)
Slums of Manila (WARNING--May Affect Sensitivities)
The backstory:
To get these photos, we had to jump through a few hoops. The government isn't thrilled about photographers documenting this area, and even visitors are carefully regulated; it took some work to learn what we were dealing with. To summarize, Jennifer Kim had posted some time ago about her visit to a place called "Happyland". The slums. The people she described were extremely poor, and yet they seemed so happy and friendly. She said it gave her a lot of perspective--that seeing the slums was the highlight of her trip.
On Location Modeling Tips with Marlo Fisken
One thing I frequently hear from fans of my photography (Pole Ninja Photography) is that I'm lucky to work so frequently with a model like Marlo. "Your images are incredible! Of course, your model is Marlo," is the typical phrase. It sounds like an excuse for poor photography, though I know (hope) no one means that -- but the fact is they are right: a model can make or break an image.
Working with her from the beginning of my career has definitively taught me about posing and angles and lighting, and I thought I'd ask her in an interview-style blog exactly what makes her modeling so on-point.
An Interview with a Native Amazonian
The Amazon is filled with magic. I can see why so many books have been written, set in this location. Some of the craziest stories and memories, for the rest of my life, will be from visiting here. Maybe it's because I've dreamt of coming here since I was a child that it feels so magical. My very own first short story, written in the 6th grade, took place here. But with people getting shot in the back with arrows.
The Bay of Fires, Tasmania
Ah, this image. THIS image...
Taken in Tasmania, near the Bay of Fires. This was our second attempt.
See, the first attempt, I was shooting a model on tripod for the first time, during sunset, and I, um...forgot to focus the camera. I walked away from it that thinking I'd gotten the best images of my life--they were so good...but they weren't in focus!
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Categories:
“Behind the Pole”
This was an idea for a book I had several years back.
It was to be a short story anthology based on interviews collected from pole dancers all around the world.
Police detectives, lovers, cancer survivors, drug recoverers, a woman sold into sex slavery—
There are pole dancers who are professors and doctors. There are Japanese business men who who use pole to close business deals. Pole dancers fighting for the right to dance in Arab countries where, if caught, they could be executed.
Each story is incredible in its own right, and the truth is that it isn’t about pole as much as the human behind the pole.
I’ve realized that, as each interview was conducted differently, I needed a structure to tie them all together. The only common thread was…me. I met them all, and I got to hear their stories.
So, I decided to make it a blog series that may take several different forms—sometimes audio, sometimes written.
My Story
It always feels strange to talk about yourself, but it’s the only story that you truly have the “authority” to tell. Thus, if you’re interested in the parts related to my personal story, this is where you’ll find it.
Pole
Most of my community is rooted in pole, and so whether they be stories, discussions on health, photography, or otherwise—everything is likely to have an aspect of pole dance in it.
Photography
Tips, how-tos, gear talk, post-processing, stories and BTS on photoshoots. I’ll discuss how I got the shot, the preparation, working with models, and why I made the decisions I did.
I find that the shared adventure in creating art matters more than sharing the photo itself. The photo is merely the keepsake that can speak to others, but the life experience that I’ve had with other people is where the magic truly is.
Travel
Meeting people of all different walks of life, with differing perspectives and cultures, is one of the most valuable aspects of traveling. I’ve found myself in so many unfamiliar and sometimes frightening (unbelievable) situations that it would be a shame not to share them.
Writing
Anything about my fiction and the craft of writing, from announcements to musings, will go here.
Health and Education
This content will be geared towards dance and pole, however much of the information will cross over and be applicable to any mover. Most my patients are active and healthy individuals, but rest assured that pole dancers still remain the minority.
Product Reviews
Here is where you’ll find my objective thoughts on any product, book, or sponsored content that I’ve found or have been asked to review. Please use any affiliate links to help support the reviews!
Crypto and the Economy
I’ve been involved in crypto since 2016, watching tho booms and busts, and booms again. At the same time, I’ve kept a close eye on all things related to the economy. Until now it’s been a private part of my life, quietly running a cryptocurrency news team for more than a year, now—however, since COVID-19, and the monetary actions being taken by the fed—my concern about the financial future of friends, fellow citizens, and the structures of the world have made it important for me to share.
I am not a financial advisor, and my knowledge is specialized towards cryptocurrency, so take what I say with a grain of salt.