Baby's Got Back in Action

(Snapped on 5/28/15, on the shipwreck Pamead, in Road Bay, on Sandy Ground, Anguilla, BWI - using a Sony Cybershot, and edited on iPhoto)

I went into the shipping container that sits on my yard beside my little shack here on Anguilla yesterday - searched for, and after digging through one box after another, I somehow miraculously unearthed my poor, neglected Sony Cybershot. I was on a mission to locate, dust off, charge up, and ultimately set the timer on the derned thing, in order to be able to try my hand at taking some selfpics for the first time since last April (see outtake from that shoot below…a rawther dreary contrast to today's pics., dontcha think?) 

(Snapped on 4/14/14, in Frederick County, Va., USA - using a Sony Cybershot, edited on iPhoto)

And just what exactly could've possibly compelled me to come out of my self-imposed, presumed permanent exile from self-portraiture, you might be puzzling? Welp…although it's probably gonna sound pretty silly, the reason is this: Elvis' Beach Bar (my most favorite haunt on the island) announced on their FB page a few days ago, that they wanted folks to take pictures of themselves, their friends, and/or their loved ones - sporting Elvis Beach Bar attire…and the person whose photo ends up garnering the most "likes" by June 30th, 2015 - will wind up to be the proud winner of a $100 bar tab…(Incidentally, if you'd like to help my chances of winning, visit Elvis' Beach Bar's FB page, and then please "like" my submission photo - found in the comments, Thank You so much!)

Never one to pass up on a photo challenge (nor one to forgo the possibility of being issued comped cocktails), I felt that I simply couldn't not participate. And after mulling over a few different ideas, I decided to stage Elvis' Beach Bar attire-inspired selfpics on the Pamead…not only because upon first sight many years ago, I've been particularly fond of the shipwreck for her photographic comeliness, but also because I knew that if I aimed my camera over her starboard side, I might chance to include Elvis' Beach Bar (or roughly thereabouts) in the pics., which I reckoned would make my submission that much more relevant. So there ya' go.

After gingerly hurrying back and forth numerous times between camera and pose, across the rusted out deck that crunched, and crackled, and threatened to give way which would've sent me plunging through jagged rotten metal to the level below - I packed up my gear and disembarked what's considered to be a landmark for some (like myself), but sadly on the contrary, an eyesore to others - I then set up my camera so that I might snap a next set of pictures with (the majority of) Pamead's likeness in the background. Only 3 frames into my second set of self-portraits however - completely without warning, and to my utter surprise - my dear friend Frankie came tromping out of the sea and up to greet me - and (naturally) he then promptly ask me for a cigarette, haha! 

He sweetly obliged when I petitioned him to first pose in a few pics. with me, and after reviewing them all, I ended up liking this ^ one the most out of the lot. Thank You, Frankie - for being so willing to collaborate with me, you absolute doll, You!

Anyway, so here's the new deal…I am suddenly and very inspired to resuscitate my love of self-portraiture, in an effort to document my new(ish) life here on Anguilla. The pictures won't be as racy, nor nearly as dark and depressing as the ones that I used to take back in The States (at least I think they won't be)…but I'm looking quite forward to charting new waters here on and around my favorite rock on the planet, for the sake of revisiting an art form that I've dearly missed, since I begrudgingly gave it up a year ago…

It's Time For Me To Fly

I've decided to remove my Big Ugly blog entries, for a variety of different reasons. 

Many of the hundreds of self-portraits that I've taken over the last (nearly) four years - are available for purchase, as signed, dated and numbered ("1 of 1") mono prints, however…so to anyone interested in acquiring one-of-a-kind prints of my work - please don't hesitate to contact me at: lb@onepoundgallery.com.

Thanks to all of you, for being so supportive of me and The Big Ugly…I can't even begin to properly express how much the last 3 1/2 years have meant to me - THANK YOU - for everything!!!

Lauralyn Brickhouse

North Hill Village

Anguilla, BWI

lb@onepoundgallery.com

Washed Up, Washed Out...

I'm not sure what my problem is exactly, but ever since taking this last (shamefully mediocre) set of selfpics while I was on Anguilla a few weeks ago - I haven't had even the slightest inclination to stage any new ones…could have something to do with the fact that a huge wave doused my camera only about a dozen pics. into this shoot - and that was pretty much the end of that (RIP Sony Cybershot #7...or wait…is it #8), and since I've been home - I haven't even so much as entertained the idea of going out to purchase its replacement. Making matters worse, I've also been draggin' my feet about setting aside time to update The Big Ugly. To be perfectly honest about it, I'm just not in much of a self-portraiture mood these days, and I literally have no explanation for why that is. "My Favorite" tells me not worry about it too much…he says that I'm just taking a bit of a sabbatical, that's all…I reckon he's thinking that before too terribly long, I'll find myself diving back into dash photography with a renewed sense of enthusiasm - just as I've done in the past whenever I've lost steam for brief periods of time. But I havta say, something feels decidedly different this time…I feel sorta like I'm all washed up…and on the brink of closing this chapter of my life...  

A Day at the Beach

Y'all have no idea just how badly I wish I was back here…le sigh...

(Everyone needs a cheesy "wet hair flip" pic. in their portfolio, hmmmm? Dontcha think?)

Home (Away from Home) Sick

Welp? I've returned from my long overdue, sorely needed, and way too short trip to my favorite place on the planet - the island of Anguilla.

…and although I am glad to be back home spending time once again with the people that I love the very most in this world...

…I can't seem to shake the strange sort of homesickness that I've been feeling for a place where I've never even actually lived…

It's Thanksgiving Day, here in The States...and one of the things for which I am most grateful - is all of YOU, my wonderful readers! Enjoy the day, each and every one of You!

  

Flyin' the Coop

For lack of anything else new to share, and because it might be several days before I can even take any fresh pics., thought I'd post a few more from the shoot that I staged recently at my friend and her dad's beautiful barn (Thanks again, You Two!) - before I pack up and fly south, bright and early tomorrow morning - on my first trip to the ocean in 6 years, Hollah!

Although there are no nude beaches on the island of Anguilla, I do know of a few fairly secluded spots where I'm hoping to be able to sneak at least a handful of naked selfpics on a beach - which would mark the very first time in the entire 3 1/2 years that I've been immersed in dash photography, that I will have had the opportunity to do such a thing! Sooooo…fingers crossed you guys, that I'm actually able to pull it off…you have no idea just how badly I've wanted to cross a beach shoot off of my self-portrait bucket list! 

Anyway...Sayonara , Au Revoir, Auf Wiedersehen!!!

Naked Streak

A new acquaintance of mine came by the gallery yesterday with a friend of his, and after the three of us chatted for a little while about, "Demons & Monsters" (the current exhibition on display at 1 lb.), we segued to a brief convo about my self-portraits. Somewhere in the midst of the new discussion, the acquaintance of mine asked (in such a shy and quiet voice, that it was almost inaudible), "So, is there a reason for why you pose nude as often as you do?". Without hesitation, I replied, "Cuz wearing nothing, is the easiest costume"…which apparently was not at all the answer that he'd expected to hear.

And although that isn't the only reason that I pose naked in my self-portraits (as my new friend had correctly implied), lately it has felt like more times than not - I've opted out of donning any of the many different outfits that I do still make sure to bring along on my shoots - for the sake of expediency, and in an effort to not fritter away precious time on (oftentimes elaborate) costume, make-up and character changes…

So today, when out of curiosity I went to The Big Ugly to check out the sitch, I scrolled down the first page that's up right now, and realized that in every post except for the very last one, I am in fact nakey - uhhhh, whoops…Right away I knew that it might be time to switch things up a bit here on the blog, and luckily - after a really nice afternoon of shooting on Monday, I've come to this entry equipped with pics. that will allow me to break the naked streak! Right? I mean…these pictures do count…do they not?

Oh! And Thanks sooooooo much to my friend and her father, who gave me permission to take selfpics in their immaculate barn, while the most delectable, late afternoon, autumn sunlight streamed in through each and every doorway and window…I enjoyed myself immensely, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate that!