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Well, I had a fun job. Not that I would use this in my portfolio, but it was fun to shoot. Seems like I'm constantly getting jobs that have to do with people making faces. I suppose my past fashion shoots has had humor in it, but the humor was more spiteful and sarcastic. It seems that people are hiring me and taking that humor and watering it down. But I guess that's what it is when you get hired to do something for someone else. Buviet! Means "Oh Well" or "Shit Happens."

Sounds like a band.... So I shot this sort of conceptual series for this new magazine I'm working with. The results weren't bad, but the conceptual part was already kind of predetermined before I got the job, which takes the fun out of things for me. But I managed to add a little of my flavor and pulled out this shot that I do like. This guy is a fashion designer named Max Chernitsov and he likes fishing and fishes. Max Fish? Get it. If you don't, never mind.

I've seen it all now. Well... not really, I couldn't really see what was going on since there was a huge crowd, so I just concentrated on... something else. Anyway, yes, I've seen it all now. A bunch of Russians singing ritual Brazilian Capoeira songs just before the start of a Capoeira class. Not sure if they were any good, but the special guess instructors FROM Brazil were way righteous. See video on movies page.

So in my attempts to make more connections, I decided to help a new friend, Mark Ames, who is the editor of this ex-pat english newspaper called, The Exile. It's kind of a raunchy, crass and sometimes funny-as-shit newspaper. He asked me to come to this "de-branding" party for his newspaper, as they have relaunched the newspaper with a more appealing look (appealing to advertisers). He wanted me to take pics of the event so that he could put them in his paper to bring it up a notch. Well, we'll see what happens but the party was thrown at this swanky lounge on top of the Swissotel over looking Moscow. The close-up is of Paveletskaya area, Pavel meaning Paul.

Okay, another Friday at Krisis Janra (as they spell it in Russia in English?????) It was fun, but not as fun as before, but still very okay. So instead, I will show my foot. It hasn't been a common picture at Krisis. (By the way, that's Moscow mud on the shoes. Where it comes from, who knows!?)

*Revision* - I realized I haven't showed any bar whores in a while, so that's my revision. instead of showing my foot, i will show pizda...

So I had a shoot today for Maxim Russia. And as usual, the magazine is full of T & A. Lots of local talent, of course. So the shoot wasn't bad at all. It was pleasant, fun and conceptual. DIdn't pay much, but at least it was smooth and fun. The idea was to shoot an editorial photo illustration for an article in the next issue. What the editorial content is, i have no idea. But the arrangement was to center on a typical Russian Trash Sovietsky family having a party. Of course, this was a exaggerated mock family with hired bit players and all, but I've been in Russia long enough that it didn't seem exaggerated. This is how many families are. And of course, a hot Russian babe in the mix.

Well, not much really exciting happening lately. The only notable event was that I travelled outside of Moscow to a city/town called Zelenogorad, which means Green City. It's a city built in the Soviet times to compete with Silicon Valley. It was pretty much a secret city, but since the fall of the Soviet Union, it's been opened up. So an old foreign guy like me, may go to visit my young 23 year old friend for her birthday party. Oooofff! Much vodka. I'll bring some back. Good stuff for cheap called Green Mark Vodka at $4 for 500ml bottle. Seriously, it's a reintroduced soviet recipe created faithfully.

Gone away is the sunshine
Here to stay is the grey grime
A muddy cold sight
We're drinking tonight
Walking in a Winter Fuckerland

In the meadow we freeze our balls off
And drink bad moonshine that can kill us
We'll get drunk and tell people to fuck off
Until the Militia comes raids us

When they beat, ain't it chiilling
Though your nose gets a bleeding
We'll slip them some pay
The Moscovite way
Walking in a Winter Fuckerland

Walking in a Winter Fuckerland
Walking in a Winter Fuckerland

Okay, this weekend, I decided to stay sober. But before you praise me on my fortitude, if some chick called me tonight, I'd probably be swaggering home later tonight. In any case, none has called, so I can tell you what I witness last night. Much is said about Russia and Russians. Lots of it propaganda by the West to discredit Russia and sow seeds of discontent amongst it's own people. But some of it is very true for some of the people here. Last night, some oligarch (an oligarch is a guy who had gained vast control of fortunes from the crumbling Soviet Union) had a birthday party for his girlfriend, and for the entertainment of 50 or so guest, he hired A-ha. A-who? A-ha. Yes that crappy 80's one hit wonder band. From all accounts he paid a small fortune for this shindig. Why? Well because he has the money. Why A-ha? Because he has no taste. So there you have it, lots of new money and no taste. That's new Russia for you! (see movie section for A-ha video)

What does one do when one is hung-over, hungry and tired? One participates in a friend's fashion shoot that remakes Reservoir Dogs. Ooofff! I need sleep or a juicy steak.