Frame, Reframe, Celebrate

“Thank you for this! I love it. And you, and this community, have made that love possible. Five years ago, a photo that showed my rolls and folds would have made me cry. But now, I see how sensual and celebratory a photo like this can be.” Maria Merian

This was Maria’s comment on her portrait yesterday. And it rings true. I know that if anyone had told me a couple of years ago that I would be excited about posting this photo with my big belly on full glorious display I would have laughed out loud. Many of us frequently make reference to how much this community has done to increase our self-confidence and sense of our own beauty but I think it’s worth saying again and again. Molly does many brilliant things (and I’m pretty sure there’ll be more evidence of that in a few days!) but I think Sinful Sunday and February Photofest are the ones where the ripple effect makes such a profound difference to people’s lives. So, again, THANK YOU!

I have loved participating in February Photofest and you can see all my photos here. Aside from giving this month a black and white theme, I wanted it to embody the spirit of Exposing 40, which is an exuberant celebratory collaboration. Sometimes we’re silly, sometimes we’re thoughtful, sometimes we’re intimate, but we’re always having fun!

This month I’ve posted 11 portraits I’ve taken of others, 10 that have been taken of me by others and 7 self portraits. And how much fun it has been! There’s been new photo adventures with friends, I’ve used photos that had previously only been in my personal library and have delved into the archives for Throwback Thursday and smiled at the memories. I’ve photographed and been photographed by a valued partner of many years and a new lover who I only started chatting to on the 1st of the month! Of course, that one’s at the exciting who-knows-where-this-will-go-but-it’s-fun stage, but I love that he’s found his way onto February Photofest. I wonder if my secret dating superpower is being able to find people who want to be photographed naked?!

In total, 15 people have participated in my February Photofest either in front of or behind the camera. Framing, reframing and celebrating. Thank you! Same time same place next year?

Self Portrait with Exhibit A

Maria

I knew months ago that this fabulous woman would be staying at mine for Eroticon. What I didn’t know until a few weeks ago was she’d get here a little earlier. There are plans for more photo outings this week (this tough cookie isn’t afraid of our winter temperatures!) but in the meantime I’m very happy she made it in time to grace the pages of my February Photofest!

Maria Merian by me

New

“How beautiful maleness is, if it finds its right expression.” D.H. Lawrence

Getting to know a new body is exciting; getting to know it with your camera as well as your own body is an honour.

Sean by me.

Bite

I was going to use this photo alongside a write-up about this threesome for the Kink of the Week a couple of weeks back but I wanted to check with the couple that this was ok. They said yes, but by that point I’d run out of time to get anything down before the deadline. I did write about it here when I included a sketch from the evening on Exhibit A’s anonymous page. I reread the comments on that post as I wrote this and I got a little surge of emotion reading all the comments from people who I didn’t know then but who I now consider friends.  You’re all brilliant!

Me and R, by B

Stepping Out, reprise

My blog was two yesterday so for this #throwbackthursday I thought I would revisit my first post, Stepping Out. I don’t think there’s any contest in this re-edit; in my opinion black and white lifts this shot in such a spectacular way I’m not sure why I ever thought the colour one was any good!

Self Portrait 

Shining Star

Marie Rebelle, a shining star in our lovely community. Kind, welcoming and supportive of everyone, you’re an example for us all. Sorry you’re having a tough time at the moment and that you’ll miss Eroticon. I hope there is some birthday joy this weekend and that the next decade brings you all the glitter dust you so rightly deserve. Xx

Me by Exhibit A

Thoughtful

A quiet moment. 

Me by The Photographer

 

Random Leg Shot

“There’ll come a point in the month where I’ll have to wheel out some random leg shots.” Me.

There are some new photos from yesterday to edit, hopefully more with this chap at some point this week, and this gorgeous woman is flying into the country just in time to get in on the February Photofest action. So I definitely haven’t lost the love for this challenge! But on this slightly fuzzy headed Monday I’ve decided to have a little breather by wheeling out a random leg shot…

Self Portrait

Perched

Me: ‘Do we need a haiku to go with your photo tomorrow?’ Imagines some dreamy words about woods and windows and castles…

19 Syllables:

For God’s sake, please don’t
Force me to write a haiku
About my own arse.

Me: ‘Hahahahahahahahahaha’

19 Syllables: ‘Am I off the hook? I don’t have to faff about with peachy, perched and folly anymore? Hooray!’

I love this woman!!

@19syllables by me.

Curvature

Here is the third in a series of photos shot  over a birthday brunch and photo planning session last month. Here are the first and second posts. Most of the ideas we had that day will come to fruition in the summer (it seems we’re all terribly naughty women who just want to get naked in nature!), but the sun did come out to play that afternoon so we could get some cool indoor shots.

What I love about this shot is how the shadows accentuate Honey’s beautiful curves. Without them it would be quite a flat photo, but they draw the eye to the luscious voluptuous landscape of her body. 

@ht_honey by me