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William Burroughs

Posted on May 11, 2012

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In 1972, Rolling Stone magazine sent me and writer Robert Palmer to London to do a feature article on William S. Burroughs. William greeted us cordially; despite his outlaw reputation, he was a complete gentleman. We stayed a week, and had a terrific time. We also met Brion Gysin (William’s closest friend), who showed us his “Dream Machine,” a revolving flicker device that caused visual fireworks in the viewer’s brain. Bob and I also enjoyed Burroughs’ awesome intelligence and his controversial ideas about addiction, conditioning, and control.

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Photo: Charles Gatewood

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Rolling Stone loved our article, and made me their New York photographer (they were based in San Francisco) later that year.
In 1975, Crawdaddy magazine asked me to photograph Burroughs and Jimmy Page as they interviewed each other. Burroughs was back in America now, and we met in his downtown Manhattan loft. Burroughs disliked being photographed, but he remembered me and was warm and friendly, even giving my camera a rare grin.

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Photo: Charles Gatewood

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In 1975, William Burroughs wrote the text for my first book, Sidetripping. I was so thrilled. Shortly thereafter, Burroughs moved to Lawrence, Kansas. I never saw him again. He died in 1997 at the age of 83. By introducing my photography to the world, William Burroughs changed my life, big time. Thank you so much, William!

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Photo: Charles Gatewood

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Photo: Charles Gatewood

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Last year I published Burroughs 23, a handmade artist’s book with DanaDanaDana, a noted San Francisco art book publisher. Burroughs 23 contains all the best photos from both my NYC and London shoots. To view the book (and the boxed set of my Burroughs prints), go to www.Burroughs23.com.

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Photo: Charles Gatewood

Editor’s Note: To learn more about Charles Gatewood’s work log on, www.CharlesGatewood.com

Dutch Treat

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Tony Ward

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………Fetish model and songstress, Rachael V continues to turn heads both in her native Holland. and here in the US where she can be seen on the March cover of the popular New York based, Leg Show magazine. I had the opportunity to photograph Rachael during her tour, and edited a few new photos from our sitting: that have not been previously published.

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TWS contributing photographer, Alejandra Guerrero was also featured and interviewed for the publication.

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Rachael V

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Rachael V

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Rachael V

Rachael V

Editor’s Note: To see more pictures and learn more about Rachael V, go to the search bar at the top of the page: enter name and click green icon.

Nefertari Williams

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Nefertari Williams

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………. It was June 8th 2008, and although the doctors had already determined that I was in early labor with my fifth pregnancy, I was relaxing at home while watching television when it happened, at 34 years of age. As I rolled over to get off my deep couch, I felt a pain stronger then I had ever felt before. Since this was my fifth pregnancy I knew it wasn’t labor. I rolled onto the floor and the pain disappeared leading me to believe it was gone for good. Although I called the doctor I quickly called back and said I was fine and started back to my couch. Suddenly it hit again. It was just like they had explained. It felt like a piano or an elephant was sitting on my chest and I wanted nothing more than to remove it so I could get just one breath of air. Movement was around me, but the next thing I remember was my husband getting me to the car and rushing me to the hospital. When I arrived – the nurses quickly got me back to labor and delivery. The doctors were puzzled. They were unable to diagnose my problem which caused me to sit in a hospital room for hours without care. I felt every pain and even though they gave me strong pain medication it didn’t help with my inability to breath.

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The next morning did come. The man that walked in and introduced himself as a Cardiologist is still today, one of my heroes. He said he thought he knew what was going on and that he had ordered a helicopter to take me to the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, as I was in New Jersey. I was pretty drugged but I do remember hearing voices and the next thing I knew was in the Critical care unit with hundreds of tubes and doctors surrounding me. I looked up and one of the doctors said you are a very sick lady. You are alive but we need to decide if we are going to spare you or your baby. You and your husband have to make a decision.

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I refused to decide. I could feel my baby moving and thumping around just as her four siblings before her had done. Although I knew I had four children at home that needed me: how could I just spare my own life and not give this new beautiful life a chance? I had dozens of doctors and nurses coming in to visit the woman who actually survived an actual coronary artery dissection. Yes….. my coronary artery had broken completely in half and the time that I was left untreated caused the bottom front of my heart to die (which is an actual heart attack). I was experiencing cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart) and the dead heart muscle was forming an aneurysm which could rupture at any moment. I was a walking time bomb. All of this and still nine months pregnant.

Copyright 2012

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To Be Continued……..

Upenn: Photography $ Fashion

Posted on February 8, 2012

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The Walk: What is the best piece of advice you would give someone who wants to go into the fashion photography industry?
TW: Study Art and Photographic History, Politics, Business and current events. It is also very important to be driven by an unrelenting passion/obsession: to become the very best in the field. As the great Alexey Brodovitch used to say: “astonish me”!

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Bonnie Arbittier

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The Walk: Which designers have been most inspirational to your work? What about these designers resonates most with you and your personal voice?
TW: The first designer that was most inspirational early on was Emilio Pucci. He was one of the first artist that I recognized that became a master of his craft and the art of branding – by the application of his signature to has textile designs. I loved his sense of style, his choice of fabric and palette. His scarves for women and ties for men were commonplace in my parent’s wardrobes. In recent times, Calvin Klein has always impressed me for pushing the envelope of eroticism and fashion. Sam Shahid, the man behind CK’s sexy ad campaigns – designed the original lay out for my second book, Tableaux Vivants.

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Renata Siruckova

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The Walk: What does the word “fetish” mean to you? How do you encourage a student to incorporate the concept of fetish into their fashion photographs?
TW:Fetish means a penchant or obsessive interest in a particular thing, often related to sexual desire. Any student that endeavors to incorporate the concept of a particular fetish in a body of work are encouraged to understand the law: as it applies to what is commonly referred to as the censorship of obscene material. Working within the framework of the law, is important for the production of any photograph that may be considered lewd or lascivious in nature.

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Tara McConachie

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The Walk: At what point do you believe that nudity in art crosses the line into pornography? Is there such a distinction?
TW: I don’t believe there is a distinction. Nudity in art is about context and sometimes the subject area of the artists oeuvre has a very compelling erotic component. Pornography is primarily defined by politicians and legislators.

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Clare Din

Editor’s Note: The Walk is a student run fashion magazine, published by the University of Pennsylvania. Cover Photograph: Erica Sasche – Copyright 2012

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Photographs to accompany the interview were produced by TW’s Photography & Fashion students at Penn. The next course offering, Fall of 2012.

Playboy Centerfold 1995

Copyright 2012

Model: Elizabeth Southward

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Posted on January 23, 2012 – Copyright 2012

Lingerie: Victoria's Secret

Posted on January 1, 2012

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……….Elizabeth currently studies English at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She hopes to pursue the field of Public Relations upon her graduation. She sought out modeling at the end of May 2011, and currently spends her free time partaking in shoots. She was signed to Reinhard Agency in Philadelphia in August of 2011. She hopes to continue modeling full-time upon graduation and model internationally.

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Her interests include volunteering at the Camden County Animal Shelter in Blackwood, NJ. She specifically nurtures felines in preparation for adoption. Other interests include: tutoring elementary age children, fashion, reading the classics, baking, traveling, and attending cultural events in the Philadelphia area.

Copyright 2012

Advertisement

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Kevin Stewart

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I hope this finds you well. I just wanted to pass along a bit of holiday cheer and wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas! Its been a good selling season for the little company that could make a shirt in America. We’ve shipped to consumers in Italy and here at home through out the States. I’m glad we stayed the course and made our shirts in the USA.

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The press and the blogs have been steady and generous. We will be opening the Fall 2012 Collection in Jan/Feb for wholesale. We will test the waters and give it a go, while continuing to offer our special styles on line at www.RogerCharlesNewYork.com. This fall we presented our first fashion show and I was asked to give a lecture at U Penn. I’ve decide to come out of my shell a bit.

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Fall 1 now available at 25% off for the holiday: www.RogerCharlesNewYork.com

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All size large are sold out. A few size medium remain available.

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The old school New York Shirt Maker, ROGER CHARLES NY. Produced in the United States with a uniquely American taste level and sensibility.

Jean Ward: Thanksgiving 1955

Photo: Milt Ward