February 18, 2017

Welcome Mirabilia Images



Mirabilia Images : a very sensual sweet world, warm and delicate colors at the same time, portraits made of dreams or dreams portrayed, visions to share and to savour like a sensuous perfume carrying along the senses and lasting for hours.




"Precious world"









"Dance in Fa diesis minore"









Poetry... It was my first word when I've discovered the artworks of Mirabilia Images :


" The goal is to leave the viewer enchanted, amazed, moved, drawn by our photographs."

Touched !

Some years ago, Luciano Marino et Mira Nedyalkov, two experienced artists, have decided to work together on a common project called Mirabilia Images. The success was immediate.

This inspired cooperation is based on a master word, emotion, as you feel it in each of their so personal compositions, often simple and minimalist in dark shadowed B/W, but softer and delicate in "romantic" colors...








"Scent of cinnamon"











Their consuming inventiveness is always full of sense :


" Mirabilia Images tells stories that raise questions ; stories that enable us to grasp the mysteriousness of the unrest surrounding us in our “reality”. Our message tells of the “realities” which everyone presents by themselves."


Disregarding conventions and out of fashion, their innovative work is a lesson in harmony and grace I couldn't miss.

As I couldn't end this article without to thank Luciano and Mira for their wonderful generosity and their spontaneous trust.





"Tunnel of love"






"Don't move II"









"Sometimes"













" The Mirabilia Images project is the fruit of the passion for photography of Luciano, a 42-year-old Italian, and the talent of Mira, a 36-year-old Bulgarian, an artist and a model.

The project starts with the website Mirabilia Images, which within a year of its creation and without any advertisement whatsoever reached 200 000 views.



The aim of the Mirabilia Images project is to show beauty captured in its momentary manifestations and female beauty in particular as an archetype of beauty, as a metaphor of all that which reality conceals and photography reveals.






"Bitter Moon II"






"Dampness II"








"To lose myself"









Beauty felt as a metaphor, a moment, a revelation, but also as a provocation, a point of departure and a deeper interpretation of the world around us.

The photography of Mirabilia Images presents reality in a more sensuous and expressive way.

The term “presents” describes quite accurately the function which the means of expression performs : reality is only considered a point of departure for the exploration journey into new worlds and countless possibilities.





"Heart's desire"






"Love voodoo 3"





"Phobias"








"Maybe"








Being emotionally bound, the photography of Mirabilia Images peers into the soul, seeking to bring out all those hidden emotions, which become visible only by the capabilities (and restrictions) of the photographic medium.

In this respect, it is precisely emotion that binds the realized projects of Mirabilia Images together.


The goal is to leave the viewer enchanted, amazed, moved, drawn by our photographs. What we want is not an impartial eye, but an appraising one. The message is emotional because it strives to stir emotion. Any kind of emotion, as long as it is there.

Mirabilia Images tells stories that raise questions ; stories that enable us to grasp the mysteriousness of the unrest surrounding us in our “reality”. Our message tells of the “realities” which everyone presents by themselves.

In short, with the help of emotions, Mirabilia Images tells of the fragments of reality, which every one of us carries inside."





"Malinconia"






"Yummi"



January 27, 2017

The male nudes of AJ Khan







Art Model Zack



















There is no hazard... Since some times I told myself there are not enough male nudes in Uda. Of course, it is not really my cup of tea, I prefer curves to squares, you know it since 1587 articles. And I never found photographs which touch me.

And guess what ? I was searching for a particular series I love on the site of AJ Kahn and I found these prodigious male nudes which remind me Rodin. I ask him the honor to exhibit them and he sent me these one. I am really a very lucky man and AJ Kahn a true friend since a long long time.

Thank you AJ Kahn from the botton of my heart. It is always a true honor and I am deeply proud of your indefectible confidence and your kind words.






Art Model Zack















"Approaching the male and female subjects in my photography has evolved over time.   It is my feeling that all too often both genders are depicted as stereotypes and perhaps objectified in their own way.  I believe most artists have been guilty of this to some extent, including myself.  Often times, I would portray male subjects as rugged, brawny and robust as possible. I would use hard, high contrast lighting to bring out definition and texture, broad poses that enhance strength and size of the male physique while avoiding poses that might imply vulnerability.  With female subjects, I would use much softer lighting to help smooth the skin and minimize texture. I would encourage poses that are “flattering” to the female figure as well as render them in a gracefully feminine way. 

Currently, I aspire to challenge my approach.  
I want to go beyond what pleases our acquired esthetic senses.  It is my goal to represent both subjects collectively as a celebration of humanity.  I strive to honor what it is that makes each subject unique while at the same time paying tribute to our similarities.  
I seek to explore traits that we all share to a certain extent; elegance, strength, passion, vitality, empathy, desire and introspection.  It is my hope that if we acknowledge those traits we all possess, perhaps we can find a new appreciation of the human form, no matter the gender of the subject."

AJ Kahn














Art Model David






Art Model Zack





And of course :




Art Model Mixchief Vixen






Art Model Diane Yoga






Art Model Mari Dell' Antonio






Art Model Emily Cole






Art Model Marie LeFlure





January 17, 2017

George Schmauch (Zeitgeist Photography)





George Schmauch at Model Mayhem
And Facebook
Member of UdA since 2009









"Lady at the Lamp3"
Art Model Katy T






"Lela Rae"
Art Model Lela Rae







"Sine Wave"
Art Model Evaine





"Pounce"
Art Model Sarah Ellis






"Station WOW"
Art Model Melissa Trout




January 15, 2017

The Art of Dan Van Winkle



Member of Univers d'Artistes since 2007




In 2008, Dan Van Winkle told me during his interview :
"Define my own style ? Never. My style is constantly changing, otherwise I'd be a static and bored photographer. I could never do the same thing over and over.
I guess if I had a style, it would be to attempt to use natural fantastic light whenever possible.
I also have to admit that I love the way that oil/water and skin play together in the righ light."
And that's true ! From 2007 to our days Dan has never done the same thing as you could see it during the years I have exhibited his wonderful photographs. That said, in his last works I saw his camera take a little more distance from his always talented Art Models. And in 9 years, he found some other poses and magic places as the outdoors addicted photographer he still is.

Dan Van Winkle is a warm and friendly man and overall a great photographer I am proud and honored to know. Thank you Dan from the bottom of my heart for your active participation for this 10th article.













Dan has shot landscapes for many years, honing his craft on many hikes in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, in the environs around his house in Marin County, California and in various places around the world.

About 12 years ago he got the idea (not that original of an idea to be sure) to start incorporating the nude figure into his landscapes and has been focusing on that mostly since then.

The feeling of being out in nature working with a free spirited female (or male) model, collaborating to create an image that evokes emotion, thought or just appreciation for the combined beauty is one that Dan cherishes and will continue to pursue for many years to come.

By trade Dan is an electronic hardware design engineer mostly focusing on high frequency circuit design.  He works at the prestigious SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory where some of his circuits enable scientists from all over the world to do cutting edge research.  Shooting is a way for Dan to relax and re-connect with nature and other likeminded people.












Dan asked me to choose among more than one hundred photographs ! I spent three days to watch them one by one... Thank you Dan ;-)



My latest shoot with Art Model Kaela








For many, many years, I’ve wanted to do a shoot in the High Sierra.  I did one once, but the area I chose to go to just wasn’t what I had hoped.  Plus, I was younger and less experienced at shooting nudes.  So, I don’t really count that shoot.  Just recently (the day after my birthday) I made plans to shoot with Kaela near her home base in Bishop, CA.  The following galleries the outcome of our collaboration over a day and a half.  I hope they are enjoyed as much as I enjoyed making them.

There were basically for parts to the shot, we started at 5:30AM at some hot springs near Mammoth Lakes for sunrise.  We then moved to Convict lake for a short hike around the lake.  We then caught lunch and rested in the afternoon.  Then it was up the mountain towards Bishop Pass with an end goal of Bull Lake just below Chocolate Peak.  Then, it was home, to sleep, and up again the next day to start my new project with my old canoe.  I’ve already done a post on the canoe project, but will include the gallery again here for completeness.  Please, do, enjoy!  I do this for the love of it and to share with others.





















One of my favorite locations

Salt Point is one of my favorite places for environmental nudes (that’s what I’m calling them now).


















One of my favorite models in one of my favorite places


















A special trip to oceano













I end this article by a beautiful and realistic thought of Dan Van Winkle for the young photographers : No matter what difficulties you face, follow your dreams and be true to yourself.

Yes Dan, the dreams come true. Thank you again !



One of my "old" favorites with Art Model Vassanta :


"Natural"