New Camera - David Walker Shoot

I've finally acquired my own camera! I'm particularly excited about being able to photograph others, as well as myself. So I decided to make my first official shoot a very close friend of mine - David Walker.

I've always been particularly mesmerised by the tattoo on his right arm which depicts the "Satan" tarot card - as Dave is particularly enchanted by everything occult.

I wanted to create a sense of "unveiling" through light, which proved harder at first seeing as we had absolutely no studio equipment. However in strokes of genius on Dave's part, we ventured into the afternoon sun and constructed a make-shift background on the side of his shed.

Originally I wanted to try for some odd angles of reveling the tattoo, which proved difficult considering Dave is 6"3. We settled for a calmer look in which the tattoo, his face and his chest were exposed. I'm particularly fond of the chest shots as they show 2 large scars he acquired while being treated for cancer in 2004.


I wasn't sure if I wanted colour versions or black and white so I decided to keep both options. I'm much fonder of the Black and white, especially with the subject matter. However I did feel the need to go beyond conventional photography and venture into paint.


- Hanna

Hawkesbury River Shoot

Valentich and I hadn’t seen each other in quite some time, so of course we just had to do a shoot together! I had been inspired to shoot a set wearing a black dress while wading in the river and we finally found the opportunity to do it!

We started late in the day as I had uni classes in the morning.

After driving for some time, we finally found a small spot in an off-creek of the Hawkesbury River. As the sun was starting to set, we had a beautiful lighting effect on the water


We moved closer to the mangrove trees on the sides of the clearing as we were trying to find as many shots as possible for these sets.


After consulting a few of my sets, I discovered that I rarely have any smiling photos; I was quite set out to add a few more to my portfolio.

I need to give a big shout-out to Aaron Roper for inspiring the smile with his Pi abilities – for the record, Pi is EXTREMELY SEXY!

As all good models do, I brought along 2 dresses to this location, just in case the black dress wasn’t doing a very good job. As we had some time left, I decided to change into the white dress.


By the time we had been shooting for 4hrs, both Valentich and I were getting a little bored with the scenery; I decided to go under the water just for a little difference.
In the water:

And coming out of the water:


All in all, I’m quite happy with the shoot, hopefully we’ll be shooting more now that we both have a little more time on our hands.

- Hanna

The Monroe Debate

One thing I see over and over again as a plus size model with an hourglass figure, is references to Marilyn Monroe. Although the sexy, sultry, glamour-puss of the silver screen was indeed curvy, she (unfortunately) was nowhere near what is considered to be a ‘plus size’ model in this day and age or in her own time. So after being directed to yet another store blog stating that she was, I compiled a response:

Hi,

Thanks for sending this to me on twitter – it was very interesting to read. I’ve been a plus size model for the last 5 years; I know exactly how stunning hourglass figures can look!

I would like to point out that: although Monroe is most famous for having an hourglass silhouette, she actually wasn’t a plus-size nor a true hourglass – her standard measurements were bust:37inches, waist:23inches, hips:35inches, many people confuse her bra size (35C) and add this to her hourglass figure but its technically incorrect - bra sizes are calculated by reducing 3inches from the true measurements (for cup sizes A-C) – this making her true measurements 38-22-35 (some even argue she was a bra size 37D, this makes her measurements 40-22-35), Monroe was top heavy – not an hour glass.

Although it’s arguable about which sizes are considered ‘plus-size’ now-a-days (some say it’s a standard size 12 others say it’s a 16) it’s usually accepted that the smallest “plus-size” will have the following measurements – bust: 39.5in, waist: 32in, hips: 42in, obviously Monroe (38-22-35) was no where near this.

In Marilyn’s day, she was a dress size 12; standard measurement clothes sizes changed in the 1970s from the standard measurement being a “dress size” to being “pants size”. According to Columbia Studios in 1948, Monroe weighed 118lbs (rumours of her weight fluctuating up to 140lbs) with a pants size of 8. As curvy and beautiful as Marilyn was, at most she would have been a size 10-12 in today's sizes.

The size 16 myth started in the early ‘90s by pro-size advocates in the USA, unfortunately it is completely false.

Official hourglass figures are calculated using a 75% rule – in my instance as a plus-size model with an hourglass shape, my measurements are 47 – 34 – 47, bust and hips must essentially be the same (of course there aren’t going to be perfectly spot on every time, but they can’t be more than 1 inch apart) and my waist is less than 75% of my bust/hips. Below is a simple diagram for working what a woman’s shape is: http://www.diet-blog.com/archives/bodyshape.gif

I don’t want to come across as venomous by writing all of this, big girls need much more support then what’s out there and the fashion industry is horrendous for its treatment of plus-sizes. I just don’t think spreading rumours and falsely defining someone “to make them feel better” is correct either – the fact is men do prefer women with curves. Personally, I’m of the belief that no matter what your size, weight, height, shape, hair colour, skin colour on wards – if you show that you are comfortable with who you are then you’re sexy – as we should all know by now, confidence comes from within – not someone classifying you as ‘whatever shape’ for whatever reason.

- Hanna

Sources:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=1005120802556

http://marilynmonroepages.com/facts.html

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/fashion/article6044724.ece

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071219090353AANL56Y

and general knowledge.

Where did the Avon Lady go?

I feel like I’ve been photo editing for days, completely zoned out – increase contrast, fiddle with the gamma setting.... and on and on.

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -

Only this, and nothing more.'

In my jolt back to reality, I opened the door to find a pretty little thing who with the precise quality of a pop star who’d sung who concerts 1,000 times before and was to repeat them another 1,000 – began to squeal excitedly about the promotion her beauty clinic was doing:

“That’s over $1500 practically for free!”

Normally I would have quietly apologised, shut the door and returned to my quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, if it wasn’t for my boyfriend commenting on my skin condition 2 days earlier.

Dreamily I handed over my credit card for the release of $129 (“for over $1500 worth of state of the art beauty therapy!”), visualising soft lit rooms playing enya and pre-20s ‘specialists’ with breath smelling of vanilla.

However, once back at my computer I began to brows over the pamphlet explaining my ‘free’ treatments:

Anti-aging medi facial – Fair enough
Eye Masque Treatment – hmmm probably my first
45min Massage – Might ask BF if he’d like that
Wrinkle Injection Treatment – wait... what?
Botox Smile Lift - Huh??
Lip Enhancement Treatment – Oh, GOD!

A quick website viewing confirmed it:

I had just bought cosmetic surgery... from a woman standing on my threshold. This was scary stuff.

The website (which I won’t disclose) quotes:

"[Name Removed] Beauty helps you release your true natural beauty. We offer a comprehensive range of cosmetic medicine, dermal therapy, skin care and well-being treatments for men and women.

We believe in the new era of minimally invasive rejuvenation and only offer you the safest and most advanced cosmetic medicine options from our team of cosmetic physicians, cosmetic nurses, and dermal therapists."

Where has this come from?

March 2008, Dr. Mary Dingley president of the Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australia approximated that Australians spend $300 million on various cosmetic procedures. According to CPSA: “Australians per capita expenditure for cosmetic surgery is ahead of that for North America.” Link.

Prof. Bob Montgomery of the Australian Psychological Society was by the amount of money Australians are spending on cosmetic procedures:

"A very large number of the people who set out to change what they think is some ugly feature in them are actually suffering from a psychological disorder," he said. "The medical treatments not only don't help - the most likely outcome is they actually wind up more distressed, and that particular psychological problem, called body dysmorphic disorder, has a high risk of suicide."

He’s not wrong either, between 2005 and 2009 several studies came out with exactly results:

Women who received cosmetic breast implants are approximately twice as likely to suicide.

Phillips KA, Menard W (2006) Suicidality in body dysmorphic disorder: a prospective study. Am J Psychiatry, 163:

Women who have undergone implant surgery with BDD:

Annual suicidal ideation: 57.8%,

Annual suicide attempt: 2.6%


Unfortunately, it isn’t only implant surgery that has these types of statistics. Many other procedures are showing similar results, however due to the booming popularity of such practices the immediate statistics aren’t available.

As for me and my recent purchase? I’ll take the massage thanks, come anywhere near me with that hypodermic and you’ll pay!

- Hanna

Perfect Posing Tips From The Professionals!

We’ve all been there – family events, weddings, or Christmas parties.

Its all fun until someone whips out that little happy-snapper from a handbag and insists on making this moment memorable.

Everyone else has drawn closer together for the stand-in-photographer, and what’s running through your head is the millions of bad photos you’ve seen in the same situations – oh no, not again.

Fear not, plus-size online store Sara with help from their plus-sized model ambassador Ljubenka, they’ve created put together
Perfect Pose.

The site claims that a recent survey of Australian women show that 3 out of 5 dislike having their photo taken!

Thank fully, the site is extremely easy to follow – with text and video of Ljubenka, she takes you through the following categories:
Silhouette
Eyes
Nose
Mouth
Chin
Neck
Arms & Hands
Legs

Each, having a min. of 2 good posing tips – I’ve been in the industry for the last 5 years and there were a few things that I didn’t know!

Best of all, they’re currently holding a best photo competition! Upload your best photos – you know the one where you really looked good and you’ll be entered into a grand prize of $1,000 wardrobe!

Time to stop fearing the family function and start looking fabulous in those photos!

Good luck!!
- Hanna

Skinny Beer

Alcoholism and sexuality have often gone hand in hand. The Greek God of wine Dionysus is often portrayed amongst a plenitude of young women, Absinthe is commonly associated with its “green fairy mascot” (la fée verte) and for a plenitude of years this has resulted in the problem of women’s self image.

However now with the introduction of a new Australian beer – Skinny Beer, this has taken this already bloated market to a whole new low:

Complete with their own line of living “skinny Blondes” this new beer has taken the blatant and irrational sexualisation of women to all new levels.

With model tag lines such as:

“Before I was a Skinny Blonde, I was a Large Red head”

and

“There are two main requirements in being a Skinny Blonde, You must be skinny and blonde”

The beer is slowly trying to promote this behaviour as “oh, we’re just having fun”.

Skinny Blonde spokesman Hamish Rosser said the beer was supposed to be a "bit of cheeky fun".

"This generation of Aussies have grown up on the beach and topless girls in bikinis are commonplace. The label and website is in no way meant to offend women or anyone else, rather embrace the Australian beach culture." Mr Rosser, a former member of The Vines rock band.

However, I want to know what the VAADA and AHA is doing about this! This is clearly not just “some advertising” their entire beer promotes a very serious dangers in the forms of binge drinking and promotion of eating disorders – I don’t know about you, but I have NEVER seen girls so photoshop’ed on a beach!

Luckily enough, VicHealth and Women's Forum Australia are standing up to this atrocity regarding itself as a beverage:

VicHealth chief Todd Harper slammed the use of nudity to encourage drinking:
"The website should be shut down and we should be using this as an opportunity to review the way the alcohol industry promotes products and enjoys the benefit of self-regulation in relation to alcohol advertising."

This being said, there is still not enough being done, company has clearly gone too far.

- Hanna

Skinny Blone Website
Health, women's groups demand ban on Skinny Blonde beer Article

The Begining.

I suppose I need to start with an introduction. Firstly, I’m Hanna Oxford, plus-size Model, Photographer and advocate for women’s self esteem.

I’m currently developing a photography studio in inner city Melbourne directed at women with body image problems – I’m doing this for the following reasons:

1. After working for 3 years in the US (located in Boston) as a plus-size model, I returned to Australia with a completely new appreciation for the plus-size industry.

In the US the industry it’s empowering, it’s loveable and it’s admired. Frightfully I found my home (Australia) to have the upmost distain for everything plus size.

• I found that generally a plus size model in the US is between 85kg-120kg (170lbs-240lbs)
• In Australia “plus-size” models are 50-70kgs (110lbs-140lbs).
• In the US, a pus-size model are respected and treated the same way as any other model.
• In Australia, “plus-size” models are a very small branch of the fashion industry – mostly shunned away by agencies and hardly hired by major corporations.

2. For the first 4 years of my adolescents, I was teetering between bulimia and anorexia.
This resulted in many hospital visits, group therapy sessions and specialised eating plans – unfortunately nothing seemed to work.

At 17, I moved to Boston where a photographer immediately picked me up as a model. For the first 4 months I suffered imperfection complexes, until the photographer had an open gallery. For the first time I saw my images on display and judged by the general public – and…

Everyone loved them. They saw me as a beautiful human being without fault – a piece of beautiful artwork.

I want other women who feel the same way I used to, to see themselves – only them up there and only them who are beautiful – of course, this isn’t a one fix solution for everyone, but I want to provide the opportunity for women to see themselves that way.

I'm setting this blog up so anyone whoes interested can follow my progress!

Alternitavly, you can find me on the following site:
Ms. Eerie @ Deviant Art - you can find my newest photos and artworks.
Ms. Eerie @ Model Mayhem
Ms. Eerie @ Twitter!

Thanks for reading, any comments good or bad will be appreciated!
- Hanna