Todd Stringer

Photography Appreciation

I don't recall exactly how I came about Todd Stringer's photographs, but it was one of his models, Erica Jay, that first caught my attention.

Stringer is a respected photojournalist and fine arts photographer based in Nashville, Tennessee with a diverse portfolio.

You can see more of his photography HERE and HERE.

Erica Jay via bigorangemichael 

Sources:

http://www.toddstringerphoto.com/
https://www.facebook.com/toddfstringer
https://twitter.com/toddstringer
https://500px.com/toddstringer44
http://iconosquare.com/stringerphoto
https://www.patreon.com/toddstringer?ty=h
https://about.me/toddstringer
http://naked-yogi.tumblr.com/post/100083894278/stringerphotos-cam-damage-by-todd-stringer
http://bigorangemichael.tumblr.com/post/92341628019/toddstringer-erica-jay-by-todd-stringer

Gottfried Helnwein

Art Appreciation

Gottfried Helnwein is an Austrian-Irish visual artist who is known for his provocative photo-realistic images of children. His images explore not only sexuality and victimization but also historical and political issues.

You can view more of his works HERE.

Epiphany III - Presentation at the Temple (1998) via youstrangepeople

Kiss II (1998) via anitakunz

Murmur of the Innocents 13 (2009) via coffeecigarettesmagazines

Sources:

http://www.helnwein.com/
http://www.theartblog.it/gottfried-helnwein/
http://coffeecigarettesmagazines.blogspot.com/2011/08/gottfried-helnwein.html
http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/02/problem-child/?_r=0
http://www.helnwein.com/texts/selected_authors/article_3983
http://youstrangepeople.blogspot.com/2012/03/gottfried-helnwein.html
https://anitakunz.wordpress.com/2011/11/10/gottfried-helnwein/

Cosplay...Is An Art: London Super Comic Con 2014

via SneakyZebra

Jean-François Millet

Art Appreciation

Born on October 4, 1814 in Gréville-Hague, France, Jean-François Millet was a French painter best known for his paintings of peasant farmers.

Millet is one of the founders of the Barbizon School of painters, which was part of the Realism movement. The major theme for Barbizon painters was the French landscape, especially the area around the Forest of Fontainebleau.

One of Millet's famous paintings is titled The Gleaners. It's a painting that portrays the daily struggle for survival of peasants who clear the field of grains left after harvest.

From the Barbizon movement came Impressionism and the practice of en plein air painting. Millet influenced many future painters such as Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Eugène Louis Boudin, Georges Seurat, Salvador Dalí, and Vincent Van Gogh.

You can learn more about Millet HERE.

The Gleaners (1857) via commons.wikimedia.org

The Bather (1863) via conchigliadivenere

Academie masculine (1837) via if-hommes-nus

Sources:

http://www.jeanmillet.org/
http://conchigliadivenere.wordpress.com/2013/10/26/jean-francois-millet-1814-1875-french/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Fran%C3%A7ois_Millet
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/millet/
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/millet_jean-francois.html
http://thepalmhq.blogspot.com/2009/04/song-of-lark.html
http://agustinmarinschz.blogspot.com/2011/04/jean-francois-millet.html
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jean-Fran%C3%A7ois_Millet_-_Gleaners_-_Google_Art_Project_2.jpg
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/bfpn/hd_bfpn.htm

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

Film Appreciation

Known as one of the best horror films in cinema history, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was written and directed by Austin native Tobe Hooper. The low budget film also starred one of the original "scream queens" and University of Texas alumni Marilyn Burns.

The film was controversial and banned due to the onscreen gore, yet it grossed over $30 million dollars at the box office.

Sources:

http://www.cinefania.com/movie.php/31028/en
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Texas_Chain_Saw_Massacre
http://variety.com/2014/film/news/marilyn-burns-who-starred-in-texas-chainsaw-massacre-dies-at-65-1201276500/

Cosplay... Is An Art: San Diego Comic Con 2014

via SneakyZebra

The Killers - Mr. Brightside

Music Appreciation

Formed in Las Vegas, Nevada, The Killers released their debut single "Mr. Brightside" in 2003. The song, written by band members Brandon Flowers and Dave Keuning, depicts a man's suspicion of his significant other's infidelity.

The burlesque theme music video, which was released in 2004, starred Flowers, Polish actress Izabella Miko, and Eric Roberts. The music video won an MTV VMA in 2005 for Best New Artist in a Video.



via TheKillersVEVO


Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Brightside