These Are The Special Times

"In these moments, moments of our lives

All the world is ours and this world is so right

You and I sharing this time together

Sharing the same dream as time goes by, we will find
These are the special times, times we'll remember
These are the precious times
The tender times, we'll hold in our hearts forever
These are the sweetest times, these times together
And through it all one thing will always be true
The special times are the times I share with you"

With Christmas around the corner, I wanted to do a shoot that

reflects not only the spirit of Christmas but also portray a softer

and more mature side of myself, perhaps even more vulnerable in

a sense. 

[Previously Unreleased] Androgyny: People Like Us, Part II

This is the initial concept of what the shoot would of been, 

without the essential addition of the corset. Although I always

do end up posting them on the blog on a future date or time, 

at the time I didn't feel like it spoke enough of the theme I wanted

it to embody. 

This should however still be seen. 

Google Plus' Year In Photos

Google + released this montage of photos I did 

throughout the year, and although it's not everything, I figured

I'd post it here, since it blog/shoot related.

[In Retrospect] #IMatter

A while back I decided to turn "hashtag selfies" into "hashtag selflove"

instead, irrelevant whether it has been trending before or not. A friend

of mine, Hyren Peterson then posted a photo with "#IMatter" that inspired me 

so much...

A photo that spoke of self acceptance, as well as self love, regardless

of how the outside world views you, because all that matters is what you 

think of yourself; I figured I would incorporate that and begin with 

"#IMatterBecauseILoveMyself' & 'ILoveMyselfBecauseIMatter'.

The decision/idea to do this also came after going through a very gruesome
personal issue which was tacked with the two part shoot (I Had) Come Undone
and Coming Undone Part II, Finding All The Pieces

Here's to many more ;D

Summer

I have worked so hard on becoming myself physically, 

and the last few months I really gotten results and I was exceptionally

proud of myself for persevering in my goal of losing weight, 

eating more healthy and being more comfortable in my body. 

Although this is not the first shoot that represents this amazing

journey, this is however the first shoot to dedicate and put light on the

subject. I have consciously stopped using a body-cincher for my shoots as well.

I have always prided myself in being a big bodied man, having been

bullied all my life not just for who I love, but what I look like. 

I have finally reached a point where I can look at myself, and say, 'good work 

babes.'

Coming Undone, Part II, Finding All The Pieces

Part in reason I felt I needed to post the rest of this shoot before I 

move onto any other shoots, was exactly that. I needed to finalize

that chapter in my life. I needed to learn from it, take what that lesson, 

grow from it and close that chapter. I do not ever want to revisit the

feelings I felt. the pain, the helplessness of the experience, although I

am forever grateful for having experienced it. 

I have absolutely no regrets in my life. And that is due to the fact that

I believe I would be where I am and who I am today had it not been for

where I had been. I am incredibly grateful for my past, as it allows me to

see my future a little brighter. 

"Similar to what J.K Rowling had went through, I had to hit rock solid bottom before I could rebuild my life. Perhaps the hardest, but most fruitful situation I have ever endured. I crashed, and had trouble picking up all my little pieces, but gluing together everything again bit by bit, everything is falling in place the way I needed/wanted it to be." 

- Franco Mostert, 5 October 2014

Here is part II, 'Finding All The Pieces'

[Previously Unreleased] Panda

Did a #shotophoot back in August 2013 that I felt

disappointed in, although I kept it, I felt it was not

worth sharing as it did not embody any of the creative

vision and result I anticipated for it. As with all shoots, 

I usually go through my old work and try and see if there

has been any I may have judged too harshly on or perhaps

have changed my creative perception about. 

This shoot still does not resonate what I had in mind or embodies

what I felt should represent me as a photographer or alter ego Dorian Kyle.

But nonetheless, I felt it should however get a chance to see the daylight, and I

realised I have improved in my make up skills since then, so that attempt was

my "win some/lose some" attitude and I haven't done a retrospect post in ages. 

This shoot was inspired by this picture:

And this is the outcome/result:

Hammer Time!

The moment I saw these pants, I knew I had to have it. 

Anyone following the blog will know my latest obsession

with leopard print, and this just tied in all of my childhood; with

one pant. 

So here is Hammer Time:

Perhaps next time I can collaborate and listen?