Video Contest – $100 cash prize!

The Alternative Modeling community at Twistedangels.net is seeking your videos to feature on our website! If you’re an aspiring film maker or just love to goof around with your video camera or cell phone, this contest could be for you.

We’ll accept videos from virtually any type of recording device including video-only cameras, still cameras that shoot video, cell phones, webcams and more, so long as the quality is reasonable.

All entries must be submitted by March 31, 2013. A winner will be announced on our Facebook and Twitter accounts by no later than April 8, 2012. And he or she will be have the option to be paid via Paypal or by mailed money order.

While the grand prize winner will take hone the cash, there will be one First Place winner who will get a HP Photo Printer with 4×6 photo paper and carrying case, a second place winner who will earn one year of free access to our website and a third place winner who will be able to select up to 5 hard copies of full-resolution 8×10 photos from our website featuring the model of your choice.*

See rules below:

Videos must be original content (you can use songs from any artist in them though) and cannot be published anywhere else on the Internet without our expressed written permission.

Videos should be centered around themes focused on goth, emo, or punk subcultures or body art and body modification.

Videos may not exceed 100 MB in file size, the smaller the better as that submitting larger files can be difficult.

In terms of subject matter, pretty much anything is acceptable from the silly and playful to the intense and sexy. ** If you aren’t sure, just ask.

There is no limit to the number of entries you can submit.

All people featured in the video must be at least 18 years of age.

To submit your video:

Upload your video to a private file sharing tool like Yousendit, Dropsend, Transferbigfiles or Google Drive (share the download like only with us).

Visit our “Contact Us” page at TA leaving any relevant information about your video (title, cast, location…) in the message box along with the other required information. You may leave the download link in the “Website” box, message area or send it to twistedangelsnet@gmail.com .

 *This prize applies specifically to models shot by our staff photographer, not those submitted by other artists.

 **Artistic nudity is acceptable but graphic pornography is not. And the videos cannot contain any illegal or discriminatory activity.

The variations of Goth

The term “Goth” is pretty generic.

It tends to conjure up certain images for the typical, mainstream individual. However, as a photographer who spends a lot of time working with alternative models, I can assure you that there are a number of different sub-cultures within the larger category we typical define as Goth.  These sub-sections each tend to have a cool, artistic style of their own. With that being said, I give you a few of the many faces of the Gothic community.

Old school, traditional Goth:

Cyber Goth:

Raver Goth:

Punk Goth:

Gothic Lolita:

 

 

Alternative style girls in the music industry

It’s been a while…

since I’ve posted about one of my favorite subjects. As an avid fan of the arts, especially photography, I’ve long had a fascination with alternative style. This is apparent in much of my work with alternative models. If you’re not familiar with it, there are a number of prior posts that deal with this subject matter.

Anyway, when I also stop to consider my interest in various genres of music, some of those musical styles go right along with the alternative cultures of body modification (like tattoos and piercings), Gothic looks, punk attitude and more.  That being the case, I decided to write this little post highlighting six of the hottest ladies in the music industry who fit the aforementioned mold if you will. Of course, there are many, many, more so feel free to offer your thoughts, suggestions or additions to this list.

Avril Lavigne

From the beginning of her career in the poppy punk rock scene, Avril has been a huge success. She’s got attitude, she’s got talent and she’s got a punk but marketable look. She’s also been featured in the Maxim Hot 100 several times as well.

Hayley Williams

The first time I heard Hayley sing I was highly impressed with her vocal skills. Once I learned more about her band Paramore, I got hooked. She’s a stunning beauty and seems like loads of fun too.

Taylor Momsen

This child actress from films like How The Grinch Stole Christmas has done a complete 360 and now sports a sexy goth look. The music she makes with her band The Pretty Reckless is dark and edgy.

Megan McCauley

While Megan is a little lesser known, it’s surely has nothing to do with her skills as a musician or her very attractive punk-ish look. I suggest you check out her song Tap That for starters.

Siobhan Magnus

Perhaps American Idol’s hottest and most authentic rock chick, Siobhan seems to be a fun and eclectic package. After she sang the Rolling Stones’ Paint It Black on AI, I darn near fell in love.

 Shirley Manson

While Shirley hasn’t been active in music in a while, this lead singer of the band Garbage was arguably the most notable Goth chick in music from the mid-90′s – early 2000′s. If you want to see for yourself, maybe you should check out the video for the song When I Grow Up.

The art of modeling and it’s many, many genres

When we think of modeling, most of us probably have a particular image in mind. Perhaps that image involves gawking crowds around a runway with models strutting with vigor in some “new look” for the season. Or maybe the bikini clad woman of Sport Illustrated and other notable publications pop into your head. Whatever the case may be, it may surprise you to find out just how many different types of modeling actually exist.

Here’s and extensive but certainly not complete list:

Fashion Modeling

This niche is all about the clothing being worn and usually features tall, slender models.

A few of the many Sub-genres include - 

Editorial, Runway and Showroom

Parts Modeling

It’s pretty much just what it sounds like. Models in this niche show off specific body parts like hands, feet, legs…

Commercial Modeling

Some sub-genres include -

Product, Lifestyle and Corporate

Fitness Modeling 

This genre is all about showcasing fit and athletic models often in sporty clothing.

Alternative Modeling

One of my favorites, it deals with models sporting body modifications like tattoos and piercings along with a punk or goth pics style.

Glamour Modeling

This style focuses on sexual or sensual themes. This can range from mild to quite intense in terms of how graphic the content might become.

Wall Calendar

It’s finally here!!!

As you may know by now, in my photography work I love the chance to work with alternative models. While that genre of modeling does cover a lot of area, I’m specifically referring to those who feature tattoos and piercings, vibrant colored hair and perhaps something of a goth, emo or punk style.

That being the case, a site I work with called Twisted Angels just published it’s 2013 wall calendar. I’m so excited by the results considering it’s the first time the site’s calendar has featured more than 13 photos. The count is actually 25, the cover, one main shot for each month and one small one too.

Anyway, if you’re so inclined to check out a preview, you can do so below.

Please keep in mind that some of these photos would fall into the NSFW category and you may not want them to be readily accessible by children. Nudity can be and often is artistic and beautiful but is also often hard to explain to your boss of an inquisitive young child.

Calendar preview form store standard version)

Video preview of deluxe version from the site itself

The Old Masters Can Inspire The New Artists

Guest Post by Steve Fowler

If my teenage daughter’s taste in art and music is representative of the majority of her generation, it can be assumed that the next superstar will be the product of inspiration provided by the last superstar.

Since I travel around the world I have the unique opportunity to get a glimpse of many different cultures. It seems, at least for the young generation, inspiration for new, creative art and music is no more than one generation past and usually much less than that.

It might seem that up-and-coming artists are stuck in a rut. Then something happened that restored my faith in the value of those artists’ works  which have been around for hundreds of years. In February during one of the coldest weeks in recent years, I found myself going to the State Pushkin Museum of Art in Moscow. A temporary exhibit of the works of Caravaggio was being hosted. One might think that such harsh weather conditions would deter visitors. To my surprise there were Russians of all ages lined up for many yards and around the corner waiting for their turn to enter.

The State Pushkin Museum of Art in Moscow

It didn’t surprise me that citizens of a country which has such a rich cultural history would flock to an exhibit of Caravaggio’s best paintings. After all, to see these paintings in their usual environment would require a lengthy journey and, quite likely, a visa. What did surprise me was the inconvenience and harsh weather that so many had disregarded.

One of the paintings on display was Crucifixion of St. Peter. I had only just two weeks earlier been in Rome to see that painting myself. As I approached its usual spot in the Santa Maria Del Popolo I saw a notice announcing that it was on loan to the Pushkin Museum of Art in Moscow. Since I go to Rome so often I elected to visit the Pushkin European Gallery next door where no line existed.

As I have thought back on that frigid day in Moscow I have wondered if any of the fans of the Moscow band “Pussy Riot” were also braving the weather to pay a visit to a 500-year-old painting. I hope so.

Russian punk band Pussy Riot

Steve Fowler is a travel writer and planner for tours of Rome, Moscow and St. Petersburg as well as being a pilot for a legacy airline in the United States.

Guest blogging/posting

For those of us who consider ourselves creative people and also try to get the word out there about our creative ambitions, guest posting or guest blogging can be a good opportunity.

With that being said, I’m looking to both guest post for other blogs as well as feature other people’s posts on mine. If you own or run a blog and are interested in in either of these possibilities, please let me know either in the comments section or via e-mail at trcapromo@gmail.com .

What I’ll accept for this blog:

Anything arts related in any way. It must be original work and at least 250 words (unless it’s poetry or a visual submission like photography or a drawing). I’ll provide one backlink per poem or visual submission and up to two per written other form of written post.

What I can provide:

Having worked in journalism as well as the arts, I am up for providing mostly anything. However, if possible I’d like to keep the topics related to:

Poetry and writing

Photography and the visual arts

Movies and video

Music and the performing arts

Goth, emo or punk subcultures

Body modification

Graphic design

Maybe we can make this work out well for everyone!

 

Reminiscing about monster ballads

I’m a fairly young guy (although I consider myself a child of the 80′s). But from time to I get a bit nostalgic. The other day I was riding as the passenger in a short drive and listening to the radio. On came the classic Poison track “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn” and it got me thinking about the great so-called monster ballads of the 1980s.

In that decade, “hair bands”  ruled the charts with their often hard rock style but every once in a while they took the risk to show their tender side. Here are just a few examples of some of the ones that really rocked.

The aforementioned ”Every Rose Has It’s Thorn” by Poison

“I’ll Be There For You” by Bon Jovi

“Faithfully” by Journey

“Here I Go Again” by Whitesnake

“Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses

 

Well, hopefully you enjoyed this trip down memory lane with me.

Video contest with awesome prizes!

So, a website I work with in the alternative modeling industry is holding a video contest and I’d like to pass the info along to the readers here at Creative Dreamers. Below you will find the details of the contest. Feel free to join anytime as that it runs through mid-September.

Twisted Angels Video Contest

1 Grand Prize – New Digital Video Camcorder, 1 item of your choice from the Twisted Angels Store at http://www.zazzle.com/twistedangels and a one year free subscription to our site at http://twistedangels.net.

3 First Prizes – One on one video chat session with one of our amazing models, a free professional photo of one of our models and a one year free subscription to our site.

5 Second Prizes – A free professional photo of one of our models and a one year free subscription to our site.

10 Third Prizes – A one year free subscription access to our site.

TWO CATEGORIES:

Entertainment – These clips should feature women primarily and fit somewhere in the goth, emo, punk, body modification or related concepts themes. They can be anything from skits to stories about subcultures or your own personal body art. The options are pretty open ended.

Promotional – These clips should be a conscious effort to promote our website which focuses on the aforementioned subcultures and anything that goes along with them.

RULES:

300 MB file size limit. Any common video format is acceptable. Any video recording device may be used.

All people appearing in the video and involved in the making of it must be at least 18 years of age or the age of majority in your region and voluntarily consent to involvement in the final product.

Entries may or may not be made with NSFW content but anything in this category must be artistic in nature.

Videos cannot contain any watermarking or similar content except in which case they only appear in either the intro or closing credits.

No real illegal activities may take place in the videos. Such things as simulated horror themes are fine.

All submissions must be received by no later than September 15, 2012.

HOW TO SUBMIT ENTRIES:

Once you’ve completed your video, upload the file to a private file sharing website (like Zippyshare, Google Drive, easy-share, etc.) not a public sharing site (like Youtube, Vimeo, Daily Motion, etc.).

Send a download link for your file to our e-mail address at twistedangelsnet@gmail.com. Do not post your video anywhere else online. This e-mail address can also be used to ask any additional questions you may have.

Along with the link, in your e-mail send the following information:

Your name/nickname that you want credited for your video.

Any title you may have for your video that is not evident in the video or file name itself.

The names/stage names of anyone credited in the video.

JUDGING:

The winning entries will be determined by Twisted Angels staff and/or assignees. Winners will be revealed Oct. 1, 2012 corresponding with the third anniversary celebration of our website.

Images of an alternative style

As you might know my now…

my of my photography work focuses on what you might call “goth pics.” Now while that can be a bit of an oversimplified take on the subject matter, it does hold some credibility.

When working with models, I tend to seek out those with various body modifications or just an alternative style like those who might consider themselves punk, emo or yes, even goth.

I think part of my reason for doing so it the unique factor models working in this genre seem to posses. So, I decided to include a few images that I have captured over tha last few years for your viewing pleasure.

Enjoy!