(January 2013)

After the big internet activity clean up I promised a few weeks ago I thought this would be a good point to feedback on how it all panned out

500px – Joined, uploaded some images  and did get a bit of initial reaction, a couple getting onto the 'popular' page (or whatever they called it) But I quickly realised that building things up there appeared like it would be a really hard slog and that it was essentially DA, albeit smaller and without some of the issues. Couldn't justify paying for premium so let that one lapse.

I also set up a Facebook artist page which has totally belly flopped so far with 38 likes – I will leave it going and try to build it up, but my main problem is that although everyone tells me 'you must be on FB' I still haven't worked out why? I'm sure the penny will drop eventually…
(and I don't understand why one artist page cannot 'like' another artist?? Or am I being a tool and just haven't worked out how to?)

I have re-activated Redbubble but haven't done a lot there yet – I will build it up slowly, lured by all the people who've told me over the last few years that it's the place to sell prints …. We'll see

The biggest and most pleasant surprise has been Purple Port – never got much out of other model/photographer networking sites but this one seems absolutely buzzing with activity. Great layout and user friendly, But the 'proof of the pudding' is in the results which I'll discuss below…
I have invitations I can send out which get you a month's premium membership to look round and see how you like it – if this is of interest to anyone drop me a note…



2013 Shoots (What a difference a week makes…)

Muddled along through Oct/Nov okay, but by the start of the month everything I was attempting to plan around seemed to go down the drain and I got to that 'why do I put myself through this – give it up' headset that most of us get from time to time. Then about a week ago loads of things started to drop into place, all from purple port. Without giving too much detail now

I'm collaborating over one or two weekend shoots this year with an IMO 'top draw' UK 'Alternative' model – partly to shoot some art nude work, but mainly to shoot two very specific 'fantasy fashion' images, already well under plan – these will be proper team productions working with a MUA, clothes designer and set designer. This is by far the most 'upscale' project I've been involved in and provided I don't f@!k it up will be a major step forward

Ive have also booked a couple of shoots with a dancer, newly turned art nude model who I think has massive potential. From the little bit of work she has its clear that along with a great figure she has the grace and elegance that dancers turned models bring to the art nude genre. Im certain if she pushes on she will make a big impact on the genre and do very well, and I will be looking back in a year or two very happy to have gotten in on 'the ground floor'

In addition I also have another two shoots booked and two more agreed but to be dated. What's most surprising is that I'm only able to do TF work at present and I've managed to secure all of the above on that basis. Add some more work with some of the usual suspects and the first half of next year is shaping up to be very busy and I couldn't be happier






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FACEBOOK [link]

MODEL MAYHEM  [link]











Available via Amazon Jan 2013

'Derelict Nudes' – The Book



Now available at Amazon.co.uk [link]

POINT OF SIMPLICITY magazine ISSUE#6 RED



Read My Interview Here = [link]



Read my interview on Art Nude photography
With #projecteducate here = [link]

After a much longer and more difficult journey than I ever anticipated my book of Art Nude photography in finally complete and ready to submit to the printer/publisher.
The last hurdle will be signing off a printed proof and then it's all systems go.

Full details are not quite finalised yet but I can confirm that it will be available via Amazon in 11" x 8.5" paperback format, 156 pages containing 101 photographs included new images





I have also opened a new group here #Infrared-People specifically to showcase infrared 'human' photography from portraits to art nude

Whether you're a fan of infrared photography, 'people' photography or both, all are welcome – I will be sending out invitations over the coming days but feel free to drop by and check us out/join up



























FACEBOOK [link]

MODEL MAYHEM  [link]











Available via Amazon Jan 2013

'Derelict Nudes' – The Book



Now available at Amazon.co.uk [link]

POINT OF SIMPLICITY magazine ISSUE#6 RED



Read My Interview Here = [link]



Read my interview on Art Nude photography
With #projecteducate here = [link]

After a long time procrastinating and being generally apathetic I decided to expand and organise my internet presence.

I ran a poll, talked to a lot of friends and eventually settled with this –

Facebook  [link]
(Never been a huge fan but so many people persuaded me it's a must these days)

Red Bubble [link]
(Had an account here for years but never used it much – but people say it's the place to sell prints)

PurplePort [link]
(Interesting new photographer/model networking site – nicely organised and easy to use.)

Still with Model Mayhem and Purestorm (links below)

So if anyone wants to follow, like or just pop by to say hello to me on any of these sites please do





























FACEBOOK [link]

MODEL MAYHEM  [link]









'Derelict Nudes' – The Book



Now available here  www.markvarleyphoto.co.uk/derelictnudes

POINT OF SIMPLICITY magazine ISSUE#6 RED



Read My Interview Here = [link]



Read my interview on Art Nude photography
With #projecteducate here = [link]

Photography it could be suggested is just a reflection of life, and the longer I've been taking photos the truer this mirror seems to get for me personally. As quickly as you solve one problem or issue and finally feel like you're moving forward, another crops up or your solution falls apart.

My book of Art Nudes is finally near to completion, although the last stages have proved more difficult and time consuming than I'd imagined. I should have the final design proof early next week – then moving on to print proofs and all being well a finished and available book around the end of the month.

In the meantime here's some new features
































Model Mayhem [link]







'Derelict Nudes' – The Book



Now available here  www.markvarleyphoto.co.uk/derelictnudes

POINT OF SIMPLICITY magazine ISSUE#6 RED



Read My Interview Here = [link]



Read my interview on Art Nude photography
With #projecteducate here = [link]

Decided it was time to put out a final feature journal before my subscription runs out tomorrow.
My intention is not to renew it for the time being and for the immediate future to be spending less time here. It's entirely possible I won't be on the internet by the end of the month so I'm pre-empting this situation by winding down my internet activity.

On a brighter note I'm very busy putting together a book of Art Nude images – hopefully it will be available next month, initially via Amazon. More details soon…
At first, I saw this project as a step forward, but as it's progressed over recent months and the length of time since my last shoot approaches 8 months it has begun to take on the feel of a summing up – hope this isn't how things turn out, but if it is it will be a sort of closure and a small achievement I can be happy with
















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Model Mayhem [link]





'Derelict Nudes' – The Book



Now available here  www.markvarleyphoto.co.uk/derelictnudes

POINT OF SIMPLICITY magazine ISSUE#6 RED



Read My Interview Here = [link]



Read my interview on Art Nude photography
With #projecteducate here = [link]

For any interested persons, I've been interviewed by #projecteducate
On being an Art Nude photographer
Read it here =>

[link]


Also, time for some new features…  










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Model Mayhem [link]





'Derelict Nudes' – The Book



Now available here  www.markvarleyphoto.co.uk/derelictnudes

POINT OF SIMPLICITY magazine ISSUE#6 RED



Read My Interview Here = [link]



Read my interview on Art Nude photography
With #projecteducate here = [link]

Ive decided to stop my regular mixed feature for a while and for the next few months focus on some of my favourite models and photographers here on - kicking off the series with the awesome Pinkerbell




From Pinkerbell's gallery….







From Mark Varley's gallery…


  



From my gallery…






And by others….







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Model Mayhem [link]





'Derelict Nudes' – The Book



Now available here  www.markvarleyphoto.co.uk/derelictnudes

POINT OF SIMPLICITY magazine ISSUE#6 RED



Read My Interview Here = [link]

The first half of 2012 has been a strange period of inactivity for me – so far all I've done creative photography wise is one model shoot, a couple of hours out shooting infrared and a couple of hours shooting landscapes a few days ago.
This inactivity has given me a lot of time to reflect on the images I have been taking over the last few years and I find a great many of them lacking. So the time is ripe for a big gallery clear out over the coming weeks…

I've been considering this gallery clear out for a while but held off because I wanted to achieve one small landmark here on DA, which I did a couple of weeks ago – namely one million deviation views.
Now I know that these sort of DA statistics aren't really important in the grand scheme of things, but to put this into context for you – when I joined this site in 2007 I'd been taking photographs for a number of years and in that time id only had the confidence to show my work to a very small handful of people.
So 4 ½ years later to be able to say that my images have been viewed a million times on this site alone is a huge turn-around from the photographer I was in 2007 – and a great testament to this site for being an excellent place to build an audience and grow in confidence as an artist.
So big thanks to everyone who's taken time to check my work out over the last few years

Despite the slow 'artistic' start to the year, on the 'bread and butter' side things have been picking up. I've got the first wedding of the year under my
Belt with two more booked this summer and I have just become an 'approved' photographer for a large corporation which has already started to prove profitable and should generate a four figure slice of income this year
































Model Mayhem [link]





'Derelict Nudes' – The Book



Now available here  www.markvarleyphoto.co.uk/derelictnudes

POINT OF SIMPLICITY magazine ISSUE#6 RED



Read My Interview Here = [link]

Thought it was time for a feature

Nothing new to report , except I have an interview for #projecteducate coming up soon…










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Model Mayhem [link]





'Derelict Nudes' – The Book



Now available here  www.markvarleyphoto.co.uk/derelictnudes

POINT OF SIMPLICITY magazine ISSUE#6 RED



Read My Interview Here = [link]

There's been a lot of noise around DA lately (even more than usual) about the sad state of the artistic nude gallery – the cock n crutch shots – how we're turning into 'DeviantPorn' not 'DeviantArt'

I don't look round the main galleries much these days – I have enough trouble dealing with all the images that land in my Devwatch. But tonight I decided to have a look around the Art Nudes 'newest' submissions and couldn't believe how bad it's got – I had to laugh in the end. I'm going to leave the issue of general quality to one side for today and concentrate on content

Now don't get me wrong – I've got nothing against genitals, or sex. I'm not a prude and I don't really agree with censorship. I'm not against pornography, right time and place (there I said it – shoot me )

My issue with these images is this –

1) The complete lack of any attempt at artistic endeavour – example tonight – a picture of a guy with his trousers unzipped, holding his erection, taken with his iphone and entitled "my cock" – this is simply a guy who wants to show his dick to people and choosing an inappropriate place to do it. He's one step away from flashing at people in the park.
2) It's damaging the credibility of the genre within the DA community and damaging the already rather tarnished reputation of DA to the rest of the world.

But the real kicker for me is that the www is crammed full of sites for amateur porn – where you can post your DIY and camera phone stuff and plenty of likeminded folk will come and have a look. For god's sake you can even go and play flash the wang with other people live via webcam on places like chat roulette.  So why aren't these people using these sites and coming to DA instead??

In reality, I don't think this problem will ever go away. There's not even a pretence of any active gallery moderation anymore and DA have no interest in doing anything about it, only taking reactive action when stuff gets reported for clearly breaking the rules.
So tonight, instead of the usual raised eyebrow and move on to the next image I actually reported half a dozen images for clear violations – sent really fucking scathing comments to the people who posted them. I then popped them on my 'blocked' list so I don't get bogged down in any subsequent tit for tat B.S with these people.  10 mins work and I felt a lot better for it.
Maybe if all of us who are genuinely involved in the Art Nude community here on DA and want a credible gallery to display our work in started to take similar action en mass the sheer volume of negative comment would start to oust this sort of material and the people that post it a lot quicker and also discourage the serial offenders who stick around from continuing to post this stuff.






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Model Mayhem [link]



My Art Nude Photography => [link]

My Infrared & Landscape Photography => [link]



'Derelict Nudes' – The Book



Now available here  www.markvarleyphoto.co.uk/derelictnudes

POINT OF SIMPLICITY magazine ISSUE#6 RED



Read My Interview Here = [link]

Well It's been a rather slow start to the year so far…

Apart from a quick visit from Pinkerbell and Mark Varley last month and the ensuing shoot I think the most creative thing I've done this year is grow a beard.
I have subsequently decided that permanent face hair is greatly over-rated.  All it's done is make me look 10 years older and remind me how grey I'm going. And instead of a new air of gravitas it's been attracting comments from friends such as "Oh, so you've finally given up then?" and "scruffy bastard"
I intend to persevere for the time being but something else that's rapidly become apparent is that a beard will not be a lot of fun come summer time. (Though that is admittedly a long way off – it's snowing at the moment)
I think I'll have to put up a new ID photo and give everyone a chuckle

Anyway, Congratulations are in order for Pinkerbell on her well-deserved DD yesterday



I was lucky enough to be at the shoot when this was taken and saw the amount of planning and effort needed to put together this spectacular image in what was a very difficult location setting
So well done Heather and Mr Varley. (I heard you were involved somewhere along the line mate )






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Model Mayhem [link]





'Derelict Nudes' – The Book



Now available here  www.markvarleyphoto.co.uk/derelictnudes

POINT OF SIMPLICITY magazine ISSUE#6 RED



Read My Interview Here = [link]

Belated happy New Year to all












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Model Mayhem [link]





'Derelict Nudes' – The Book



Now available here  www.markvarleyphoto.co.uk/derelictnudes

POINT OF SIMPLICITY magazine ISSUE#6 RED



Read My Interview Here = [link]

My Interview in 'Point Of Simplicity' Magazine is out



POINT OF SIMPLICITY ISSUE#6 RED

16 pages of infrared photos and

Available to read in PDF format here => [link]




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Model Mayhem [link]







Now available here  www.markvarleyphoto.co.uk/derelictnudes

POINT OF SIMPLICITY ISSUE#6 RED

Interview = [link]

The Derelict Nudes Group Book is now ready and available to buy



'art nude photography in derelict places'

Compiled by Mark Varley

Featuring the work of 13 photographers from the group and 21 models







8.5" Square format, 80 pages, £25 GBP

Available to purchase here => www.markvarleyphoto.co.uk/derelictnudes
[link]

Grab it while its hot!







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Model Mayhem [link]







'art nude photography in derelict places'

Now available here  www.markvarleyphoto.co.uk/derelictnudes
[link]

So…Things are starting to look up this month. I've finally managed
to land a couple of job Interviews over the next  two weeks which
is a huge improvement on my job hunting record for the previous
few months

And many thanks to Jon and to another anonymous deviant
for buying me subscriptions to keep things rolling here in the meantime

Other News…

I'm being interviewed and my infrared photography featured later this month
In issue 6 of 'POINT OF SIMPLICITY' Magazine – full details and links coming soon

And the 'Derelict Nudes'   book being complied by
Mark Varley is nearing completion. It features myself
and 12 other photographers  and proof copies are currently being checked
with a view to release in the next couple of weeks
What this space for details …










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Model Mayhem [link]