shhhhhhh

yep, it's been quiet, but never more peaceful than under water....

Enjoy my world....

The romance of film....

My history with photography goes back much longer than people know. Both my grandfathers were professional photographers...my dad was a Navy photographer and later supported my family with his darkroom (and still does this today)....

I was a late bloomer....really not getting into it until I started diving in 1994 - then a Nikonos V came into my life, and it was bubbles and velvia 50 for years. In the early 2000s, an N80 and F100 brought me to the love of Tmax and Tri-x.....and in going through my gear bags, recently found the N80 again (cant seem to find the F100....someone must have it, lol).....which in turn made me look at some older film scans....end point being I think I officially miss film and will start shooting it again. The two images are 35mm scans....no photo shop other than to resize.


And with that, I must find my slides and start going through the older underwater images....I know there's mostly crap, but hopefully a few winners worth scanning. I am looking forward to loading up the film, heading down to dad's lab and developing some new stuff. Be interesting to check my 'non chimp' skills.

Happy days folks.....happy days.

Best,
Stu

awesomeness

Continuing slowly to work on the tattoo book project....I spent some time with my friend Vera yesterday, who is covered in ink. She is an old school 'good heart', and it is always my pleasure to spend time with her, either hanging, tossing back shots, to photograph her, or photograph her jewelry line (she makes amazing stuff - www.ceresmetal.com).

On the personal side of life....things are up and down....my most happiest moments are spent with my girlfriend, who we call 'russian dressing'. She's real, she rips and she's hot. I couldn't have a happier heart right now.

Travel is going to pick up in June...South Jersey, St Louis, Buffalo, Detroit, Costa Rica, Ft Laud, amongst other places. If I can, I'm going to sneak down to Grand Turk to scuba dive with friends. The ONLY place on my wish list right now.....Portland. Miss my friends out there.

Lastly - today is Mother's Day. I am blessed beyond blessed to have the most amazing mom on the planet. Caring to a fault, beautiful in every way....I hope she enjoys her day. Like the good son I am, I got her two tickets to a baseball game - Mets vs Yankees...at Citifield...with VIP access to the Caesars club.

Hope you've all been well, and gearing up for an amazing summer!

Best,
Stu

newer.....

continuing the tattoo series....now includes men and couples!

Happy St Pattys Day!

I'm not much of a beer drinker, but thought some of you would like this....

50 ml/ 2 oz Belvedere IX

15 ml (¾ oz) Absinthe

20 ml (1 oz) lime juice

Ginger beer

Grapefruit wedge

Build the cocktail in a rocks glass with cubed ice. Top with ginger beer, and garnish with a grapefruit wedge.

There was a time when I was a street beat photographer....the parades were fun...

Have a safe one folks!

Stu

easing in....

Slowly easing my way back into shooting...it's been 8 months of not picking up a camera, other than the product photography (jewelry, t-shirts etc)....I've decided to finish the tattoo project I had started last year - originally meant to be a three photographer book....I'm likely to publish myself...taking my sweet ass time to shoot people I'm comfortable with and actually like....and I have chosen to shoot men and couples in addition to what I've already shot

....zero time table as to the finish. My website now has some samples of what will be published.

Why did I stop? It's all connected to the heart. The layoff came from my last GF (we dont mention her name) deciding my photography made her 'uncomfortable'. The amusing part is that she is an experienced model (and although she's looking much older, a phenomenol model nonetheless), who has no problem being nude in front of the camera, and has shot much racier stuff than I ever have, or will (fucking herself with toys, forced orgasm videos, getting fucked by other chicks on video)...

....and yet, I stopped for her....silly, I know, but I still did. It meant more to me to NOT have issues clouding the relationship, and this issue I COULD control (unlike so many of the other issues we had), so it was easy to stop. I didn't miss it to be honest. It was never a big deal to me.

So, after the long layoff ..I picked up the camera again last week...and well...it felt normal. I wasn't overjoyed or anything...it was just normal.....like breathing. I had some ring rust (mostly gear issues)....but Gabrielle and I work well together, very laid back.....no real plans other than to create something we both could use....

and so slowly I turn...step by step, inch by inch...


In other news....KINK magazine is picking up one of my images for publication, and I finally did get a copy of NUDE magazine, which has a few images of my underwater work....I'm pleased with two of the three images. Congrats to Alison, big ups to Mysha, and well...a fuck you.

So, stay tuned, I'll post new stuff as I go....

Best,
Stu
www.stuartphotography.com

little things....

sometimes the tiniest things are the prettiest. Shot some custom jewelry last night, all one of a kind stuff, and I can't wait to have a piece made....for me! If you like what you see here, go check out the entire catalog at www.ceresmetal.com

the sweetest thing.....

Last night was my birthday, spent with a small group of my closest friends out to dinner. Pear Martinis, fine dining....couldn't have been more perfect....

and yet....

The woman I'm dating could not be there, but knows me well enough to call the restaurant and order our table 'dessert first'. Wow. She's nicey nice!

Fondue bitches!

wass goin on

I finally have some time to sit down and jot out some thoughts. I know a ton of you have called me, and I'm sorry for not picking up the phone. 1) you know I hate the phone and 2) I've been getting my shit in order.

no more psycho girlfriend. That ended early january, after my four failed attempts to break up since oct. Long story short...she's not who she says she is. It was a good 5 months, but in thinking back on that now, the first five months were bs. Essentially, I've had 10 months of my life wasted for nothing. I blame myself...I'm generally a sucker when it comes to women, and tend not to see that I'm being used until its too late. I'm much happier now, and no longer taking 'gf pills'. Therapy is still a weekly thing, and it's been better than ever. I can say that I am completely done dating anyone in the modeling/photography community, and definitely not anyone who is a sex worker or prostitute. It's too much, and I'm getting back to the old Stu days, where I was happy go lucky.

Working out at the gym has been a godsend as well, and I'm finally seeing results. At least in my arms, lol. I still need to put on 10 lbs though.

For the time being, except for a few projects (mostly product photography), I am still uninterested in taking pictures, especially of models. Yep, Im a bit bitter, but that too will pass. I am planning a trip later this year on a liveaboard to costa rica, and that should yield some amazing images. Have my suite already for Fetcon, etc etc. It will all come back.

I wound up not going to Detroit for the Dirty Show, even though I had a large piece displayed there. I find it super amusing that my buddy the famous lawyer was there opening night Friday. I wish I had gone, just for that. I'd have welcomed that drink and ping pong match. I am more upset I did not get the chance to see my crew, although I had talked at length with most of them. Funny how 'knowledgeable' they all are about certain people out that way. I had no idea how common certain details are. I guess there really are no secrets in life. I'll be there in spring anyway, which should be better for us all.

Karma comes around. It always does. Watch and wait.

I have started dating, and it's been a real hoot. Dating normal women, hahah. I've never really 'dated' before, so this is quite the new experience. It has been fun going out to dinner, concerts and just 'doing stuff' again. All part of the continued health. and it feels great. My true friends have been great too. I am blessed to have so many REAL heartfelt friends, all over the country. Many are coming to visit in the next few months too, which should prove to be crazy fun.

work wise, things are in the right direction. New ventures on tap are looking promising, and I am likely to get back to the product line of light modifiers I was working on last year. I do believe that I can design something better than what is available on the market now.

I've decided to stay in NY for another year.

Lastly.....and more on point....I have been published a third time in Carrie Leigh's NUDE magazine, her winter edition, which should either be in stores now, or very very soon. I'm also heading out to LA in March to see them to continue discussions for future projects. I am looking forward to meeting the 'first lady of playboy'. check it out - www.carrieleigh.com .

In closing, I want to thank everyone again for the calls and emails. You guys are great, and I will start blogging more regularly again, now that the black cloud has been lifted.

Best
Stu

long time no see.....

so much to say, so much to disclose...it's coming, it's coming....just wait a little while longer

Nov 12th - Preview Art Show for my two upcoming books....

Should be a fun event....hope you can make it.

underwater adventures....

Here are a few early images from my recent trip to Grand Turk, using the lenses Sigma asked me to test. Mind you, I've been a die hard Nikon guy for life, and didn't know what to expect from Sigma.

I think their 50mm 2.8 macro is fantastic. The 20mm 1.8 is good too, but not wide enough for me. I never used their 10.0 fisheye underwater, but it was nice topside. 11 days is not nearly enough. Winds and swell (causing bad visibility and silt) prevented me from getting all the shots I had in my head, but I'm pretty happy considering....hope you like.