Archive for December, 2009

Nathan J. Owens @ Wilhelmina Models for COVER of DNA Magazine January 2010

Today the 22nd December, 2009, I found out my January 2010 DNA came out in Australia and New Zealand. The rest of the magazine will makes its way to major European states and finally to Canada and USA.

Borders, Barnes and Nobles, and mainstream newsstands will carry DNA Magazine.

This was special because not only I single handedly chose my muse to be the cover, but I influenced my editor to place Nathan as the first “color” COVER model of the magazine.

Change is good!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2010

2010 is already starting to be shining for me. If everything goes well, my cover that I shot a few months back during the summer in Palm Springs will finally come out in Jan 2010 in Australia and abroad. I won’t disclose who the cover model is. If you read my blog enough or have followed me, you’ll know! :-)

I AM SO EXCITED!!!

Our Chinese New Year 2010 lands on the 14th February. Before 2010 comes, I also plan to post in entry reflecting on the things I’ve completed in 2009.

Last but not least, I truly want to wish everyone that stumbled upon my blog, “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!” Regardless of what you believe in, please keep in mind the real reason why the vast majority of the population of humankind celebrate Christmas. For my family, Christmas time is a time to enjoy the end of a year and waiting anxiously to welcome the new year.

We have our own tradition–we do not get trees or give each other presents. Instead on the Eve of Christmas, we prepare a huge Chinese Egg Roll feast! I’ll share these photographs on the 24th and the 25th.

Wishing you and your family warmest wishes and best in health.

Love and light,

Ron

John Kenney @ LA Models in Gap Holiday Ad & Neiman Marcus

Congratulations to John Kenney for appearing in the recent GAP Holiday advertisement. I was happy because John was one of the professional male models I’ve met when I was in Los Angeles and he’s a great gentleman and well-mannered. I don’t throw around compliments.

When good people work really hard, they deserve to be successful. I AM VERY HAPPY FOR YOU! :-)

Link to HD Gap Holiday Ad on the Official GAP Channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j1yupiHgek

Here is John Kenney for Neiman Marcus.

John Kenney @ LA Models for Neimen Marcus - http://www.neimanmarcus.com/

John Kenney @ LA Models for Neimen Marcus - http://www.neimanmarcus.com/

“I am RVP 50″

I learnt about this fun little quiz on Facebook that my Sifu Brooks took and I took one myself. “What Classic Photographic Film Are You?”

Ronald took the What Classic Photographic Film Are You? quiz and the result is Fujichrome Velvia 50 8×10

Rich, vibrant, positive, expensive, extremely fine-grained and rare. You love the finer things in life – and settle for nothing but the best. Quality before quantity, you have discriminating taste and a rare appreciation for fine craftsmanship. You KNOW photography, and consider yourself to be an ARTISTE. Whether or not you rake in six figures – your den probably smells of rich mahogany and fine Corinthian Leather. Regardless of your high-falutin’ airs, we love you for your refined eye and good taste – you are second to none.

:-)

For the Models That Don’t Read…Ugh…Sigh

First, let’s get something straight. I am NOT in short supply of male models for my commercial and editorial work. With two years under my belt as an auto-didactic photographer, I’ve earned the trust and confidence of nearly all the agencies with strong mens board across, LA, SF, Miami, and NYC. I’ve contributed to the many agencies’ book with my images. Having said that, when it comes to personal projects, I need help!

Recently, I had the courage and the audacity to challenge my personal demons regarding creating images that my culture considers “taboo.” These are regal visages of the elusive beauty of the male form in the class and elegance of the late Mr. Herb Ritts. I had many unpleasant dealing with “so-called” professional models, but this one deserved to be blogged.

This 32-years old male model added me on Facebook and I add everyone that wants to be friends. I wrote him a message because I thought he might be interested in helping me. In my email, I sent him the exact link on my website that explained my prerequisites and submit if interested. He replied that, “he’s interested and would like to help.” He had “seen my incredible works and would love to be apart of it.”

I later received a Facebook IM. I was polite and told him that I would be honored to be the recipient of his help. Our conversation continued and I mentioned nudity. He wrote back, “I don’t do nudity.” At this point, he did not read my Modeling Info: http://ronaldntan.com/docs/ModelingInfo.pdf. I got moderately upset for bringing my hopes up and taking that away! I called him out on his incompetency at reading and he got defensive telling me, “he got all of his jobs by keeping his clothes on.”

OK…you’re the one that initiated contact and I reciprocated by sending you a message hoping you might want to help me. Our conversation was going no-where and I bluntly told him, “We’re professionally incompatible” and un-friended him.

Seriously, I just about LOL-ed….

It bugs me that some of you questions the kinds of equipment I’ve used. When I ignore, you people think I am uptight or arrogant. Fact is, I ignore those, “What equipment do you use?” questions because they are irrelevant! I am confident in myself that if given a point and shoot with full manual controls, constant lights, and the same people, I guarantee I can reproduce the same results as seen on my website.

I truly feel sorry for you people out there that thinks you need the latest and greatest equipment to make you feel you’re a “professional” photographer. So, hopefully this little FB screen cap of mine will answer some of your questions about me. :-)

[Click to view at higher resolution].

Just remember, it is about you and your creativity–don’t “blame” on the tools. For all those “lazy” photographers, “OMG! I don’t have a studio!” Um…you can go outside, right? You know how to scout out locations, right? Then it is your indolence that is preventing you from creating the kinds of images you aspire!

30D-CaptureOne-PRO-4-and-5

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