Beautiful

Jerome Haffner's Heat is On

EVEN THOUGH THE MONTH OF AUGUST STARTED SLOW, THE TEMPERATURE HAS BEEN RISING STEADILY TO A SOLID 35 DEGREES CELSIUS AT THE MOMENT WE WERE PREPARING THIS ARTICLE FOR YOU. AND WHEN IT IS THAT HOT, WHEN THE SUN BURNS THE PAVEMENTS AND YOU HARDLY SEE ANYONE ON THE STREETS, THERE IS ONLY ONE THING IN YOUR MIND: COOLING DOWN.

No there is absolutely nothing wrong with your screen. Even though it looks like it, it isn’t sweating. Those drops of water are all part of Jerome Haffner’s interpretation of refreshing photography in the hot days of summer 2009. And guess what, it works. Or does it?

Jerome Haffner is a self-taught photographer who lives and works in the south-east French city of Lyon. Maybe it is this southern character that inspired him for these portraits of model Loic, dressed in nothing but a variety of fashionable swimwear. The images themselves seem to have difficulty keeping it cool with sexy Loic posing in them. Jerome believes men in their most natural form can express the purest form of sensuality and sexuality. Jerome also believes in shooting every day guys. He almost never goes with the ‘real’ model, but prefers to scout his subjects in public places like bars, underground and on the street. He also doesn’t believe that much in post production and prefers to shoot with the simplest means. Light and shadow and minimum make-up. Which does make us believe of course that the drops on these photographs are the result of the presence of Loic in his swimwear.

Everything seems clear and logical to us. A hot photographer with a hot model and hot accessories. How can the result me everything but – well – hot. The only thing that puzzles us a bit is the title Jerome Haffner have to this series: Boy de Never Wet. Because let’s face it, there is no never wet here. On the contrary… the heat is on. -B-

JEROME HAFFNER | BEAUTIFUL

Brothers

THEY ARE BROTHERS. SIBLINGS. ONE IS A MARINE, MARRIED TO HIS HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART AND ABOUT OF HIS FOURTH TOUR OF DUTY. THE OTHER A DRIFTER, JUST OUT OF JAIL, AND SURVIVING SOLELY ON HIS WITH AND CHARM. AN HERO AND A REBEL. TWO OPPOSITES BUT INSEPARABLY CONNECTED. UNTIL A DRAMATIC EVENT SHAKES THEIR WORLD AND REVERSES THEIR ROLES.

Shipped out to Afghanistan, Sam is presumed dead when is Black Hawk helicopter is shot down in the mountains. At home in suburbia, the Cahill family suddenly faces a shocking void., and Tommy tries to fill in for his brother by assuming new found responsibility for himself, Grace and the children.

But Sam is not dead; he and a fellow soldier have been captured by Taliban fighters. In Afghanistan’s harsh, remote Pamir Mountains, Sam is subjected to traumas that threaten to rob him of his very humanity. At the same time that Sam’s sense of self is being destroyed overseas, Tommy’s self-image is strengthening at home. And in the grief and strangeness of their new lives, Grace and Tommy are naturally drawn together. Their longstanding frostiness dissolves, but both are frightened and ashamed of the mutual attraction that has replaced it.

When Same unexpectedly returns to the States, a nervous mood settles over the family. Sam, uncharacteristically withdrawn and volatile, grows suspicious of his brother and his wife. Their familiar roles now nearly reversed, Sam and Tommy end up facing each other. In the shifting family dynamics, who will dominate? And how will the brothers come to terms with issues of love, loyalty and manhood – and with the woman caught between them?

Produced by Sigurjon Sighvatsson, Michael De Luca, Michael De Luca, Brothers is a 2009 Comedy/Drama/War film directed by Jim Sheridan, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Tobey Maguire and written by Tim Allen, Matt Carroll, David Benioff. Brothers will open in theaters as of December 4, 2009. –B-

BROTHERS | BEAUTIFUL

BeautifulMag Cover Story | Rockstar

EVEN THOUGH THE TERM ROCK STAR IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH A SINGER OR PLAYER IN A ROCK BAND, THERE IS ACTUALLY A MUCH BROADER MEANING TO THE WORD. IN FACT, THE TERM ROCK STAR IS NOT SELDOM APPLIED TO PEOPLE WHO STAND OUT IN MANY DIFFERENT FIELDS. MODERN DAY HEROES, TRENDSETTERS, SELF-CONFIDENT IN WHAT THEY DO AND ENLIGHTENING EXAMPLES FOR OTHERS. FRANK LOUIS, CHRISTOPHER UVENIO, RAFAELE RIVERA AND BLUE MICHAEL ARE ALL ROCK STARS IN THEIR OWN TERRITORY. SO WATCH WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY JOIN FORCES.

The handsome and talented Rafaele Rivera literally is an emerging rock star. Born in Puerto Rico, he followed dance and voice classes and his first dance single "I Need Someone" (2006) burned up many New York City dance floor. More recently Rafaele has been working with music producers Beppe Savoni/Dinamix, Worren Rigg and Daniel Bagley/RythmDB, completing tracks "Goodbye, Goodbye," "Survive," "Mi Corazon" and "Livin on a Dream" for his upcoming album under SoundGroove Records and Blaze Imprints. If you believe Rafaele has something familiar: it is very well possible you have seen him before. Rafaele has made appearances on the Iyanla talk show and had a role on daytime soap, All My Children. He has recently appeared in major motion picture films such as Sex and the City, The Day After Tomorrow, and Hitch. He is certainly one to watch and these photos prove he's got what it takes to deliver. 

Fashion designer Christopher Uvenio is not a complete stranger at BeautifulMag. Already we have seen his amazing creations in a beautiful series by Joseph Sinclair [Dark Angels - The Christopher Uvenio Collection], and Christopher has a history in collaborating with Frank Louis. Christopher Unvenio can look back at 16 years of experience in both designing and illustration for several international fashion houses, such as Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace and Bob Mackie. Like Rafaele, Christophe’s career also involves TV and film. His creations have appeared several times in Award winning daytime drama The Bold And The Beautiful as well as in Disney film Romy & Michelle’s High School Reunion.

Frank Louis has appeared many times on the digital pages of BeautifulMag, most recently with his discovery of the super hot Phil Ductan as well as the strip tease series featuring Chris Campanioni. Always first in line when it comes to trying something new, Frank was immediately intrigued when Christopher Uvenio told him he had designed something very edgy, sexy and rock star-like. Knowing this would require the hand of a master make-up artist, Frank contacted Blue Michael. Playing on the fact Christopher Uvenio carries the cross as a logo, Blue Michael found inspiration in a collection of rosary beads he has collected over the years. Together with dramatic glam make up and the creations of Christopher, it was enough for Frank Louis to shoot a series of portraits of Rafaele that radiates such a sexual rock star image, that you almost hear the music come through the image. The whole series is a perfect example of what happens when great talent comes together. The magic of  creating a rock star. –B-

Model: Rafaele Rivera.
Designer: Christopher Uvenio.
Make-up: Blue Michael.

FRANK LOUIS | BEAUTIFUL

Madonna's Celebration

YOU CAN LOVE HER OR YOU CAN HATE HER. BUT WHATEVER YOU DO, THERE SIMPLY IS NO DENYING OF THE FACT SHE IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST – IF NOT THE BIGGEST – PERFORMERS OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC. THE UNOFFICIAL TITLE QUEEN OF POP DOESN’T DO HER HONOR. SHE IS SO MUCH MORE. FROM A TEENAGER UNDERWEAR FETISHIST SHE EVOLVED IN A TRUE ICON AND LIVING LEGEND. SHE IS MADONNA.

Madonna Louise Ciccone started her dazzling career in the pop industry as a dancer, participating in French disco artist Patrick Hernandez' 1979 world tour. It is during this period she met Dan Gilroy with whom she formed her first rock band Breakfast Club. Her second musical venture came with the band Emmy, also co-formed by Madonna, with whom she gained modest fame in the  New York dance circuit. It was while performing with Emmy when she draw the attention of Sire Records founder Seymour Stein and it was with Sire Records that Madonna produced her first, self-entitled album in 1982. Although revolutionary in appearance and performance in the early 1980’s, Madonna’s big breakthrough success came with her second album. Like A Virgin was released in 1984, sold about 12 million copies worldwide and rocketed her career on a one-way trip to astronomical heights.

Ever since her debut in the international music scene, Madonna has found ways to shock, impress, invent and reinvent. She has produced 11 studio albums [Madonna, Like A Virgin, True Blue, Like a Prayer, Erotica, Bedtime Stories, Ray Of light, Music, American Life, Confession on a Dancefloor and Hard Candy] and 3 soundtracks [Who’s That Girl, I’m Breathless and Evita] that are all proof of her remarkable talent to constantly find, establish and own new styles and new trends, and that keeps her ever growing audience yearn for more. One can argue her musical talent, but there is no denying of the fact she has as no other been able to manipulate media and public. Not only with her music but most certainly also with her video’s, appearances, personality and sexuality. She was the first female pop star with complete control over her productions, both musical and visual.

Singer, songwriter, actress, producer, author, humanitarian. Having such a strong public face, and chameleon-like character that has made her her own product of the last 3 decades, it is almost inevitable to focus on her personality and public image and to forget that it all began with the music. And thus it seems completely justified to celebrate 26 years of Madonna with the release of a greatest hits compilation named – yes – Celebration. It has already been said that Celebration is a true jewel for the hard core fan, but we strongly believe it is a compilation that can not be missed by anybody who enjoys, admires and/or respects contemporary pop music. The Ultimate Greatest Hits Collection it has been named by Madonna.com; 34 of her biggest titles that changed the world. Plus two additional brand new tracks, of which the first one – yes, equally entitled Celebration – has been released earlier this month and already tops several international charts. And even though critics are divided over Madonna’s most recent musical performance, we believe it is a happy dance track, maybe less impactful of her 2005 hit Hung Up, but a possible dance classic nevertheless. True, the lyrics aren’t too deep, but who cares if the beat goes well. The song seems to be a true reminder of who Madonna is as an artist, and a reassurance that she herself has not forgotten it. –B-

The compilation Celebration comes in two formats. One is a 2CD box with the following track list: CD1: Vogue | Express Yourself | Into the Groove | Papa Don’t Preach | La Isla Bonita | Everybody | Lucky Star | Holiday | Like a Virgin | Borderline | Material Girl | Crazy For You | Open Your Heart | Cherish | Like a Prayer | Justify My Love | Deeper and Deeper | Erotica | Rain. CD2: Celebration | Music | Get Together | Frozen | Hung Up | Ray of Light | Beautiful Stranger | Don’t Tell Me | Hollywood | Human Nature | Secret | Take a Bow | American Life | Die Another Day | Sorry | 4 Minutes | Give It 2 Me | Revolver. Simultaneous their will be a 1CD version, holding the following hits: Vogue | Express Yourself | Into the Groove | Papa Don’t Preach | La Isla Bonita | Lucky Star | Holiday | Like a Virgin | Material Girl | Crazy for You | Like a Prayer | Erotica | Music | Frozen | Hung Up | Ray of Light | Don’t Tell Me | Take a Bow | Sorry | 4 Minutes | Celebration.

Celebration will be available as of September 29.

MADONNA | BEAUTIFUL

BeautifulMag Week 35-36 | Star

It is interesting that we call people who have reached a certain level of fame stars. A star is a massive and luminous ball of plasma, held together by gravity. This in contrary to what we call stars in our celebrity hungry society. You can hardly call persons a massive ball of plasma, and usually they shoot sky-high instead of being held by gravity. Like their heavenly companions, we know earthly stars in many kinds and just as many magnitudes. You have singers and actors, models, authors, dancers… you name it. Usually our stars don’t take as much time as natural stars to come to greatness, and usually they have to work a lot harder to reach their height. But when they shine, they shine as bright as a sun, and sometimes, when they go, they go with a force similar to a supernova.

From the beginning of history mankind has been fascinated by stars. It the beginning we looked upon them with awe, and even though we know much better now than many thousands years ago, we still like to look up to the skies and imagine divine bodies where stars shine. Just like we now like to look upon those who reached that so much desired star status in our society. Not many do reach it, but let’s be honest, we all dream of it. –B-

BEAUTIFUL | EVERYTHING THAT IS

Exterface | Mirage

WHENEVER WE ARE STAYING IN A HOTEL, WE ALWAYS SEEM TO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING. EITHER IT IS TOO COLD OR TOO HOT. THERE JUST DOESN’T SEEM TO BE A WAY TO GET IT RIGHT. THE MAN FROM EXTERFACE SEEM TO BE SUFFERING THE SAME PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH ONE WONDERS IF THEIR OVERHEATED ROOM HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE PRESENCE OF SEAN ANTHONY.

Whenever we have a bit of time, we like to surf the Internet and one of our favorite destinations is the ever growing gallery of Exterface. Julien and Stéphane always seem to be able to surprise us with their beautifully composed photographic stories. Like their most recent series Mirage, starring Sean Anthony.

Exterface has been traveling. Mirage was shot on location in a hotel room in New York, and apparently Julien and Stéphane liked it so much, that they promised to do more work in the city that never sleeps. And talking about sleeping, this seems to be something that Sean has a bit of an issue with. He seems to be turning and tossing in his bedroom and bathroom, desperately looking for some refreshment. Fortunately Exterface was around to immortalize Sean’s struggle with the overheated hotel room, so now we can all witness the attempts of this beautiful man to cool off.

Earlier this year Exterface ongoing quest for digital poetic art has been combined in a high quality photobook, published by Bruno Gmünder. The success of this book – The Thing He Loves – only seems to have encouraged them to continue doing what they do best: create beautiful visual fantasies. Soon they will open a whole new part on their website, where you will be able to also purchase prints of their work. And hopefully they will consider a follow up on their first book. In the meantime, go and visit their site for the full story on Sean Anthony. One word of advice… keep an eye on your temperature… –B-

EXTERFACE | BEAUTIFUL

BeautifulMag Cover Story | mis•chief

WHEN DEALING WITH JUSTIN MONROE, YOU NEED TO KNOW A FEW THINGS. ONE IS THAT HE HAS EFFECTIVELY MADE CRAZINESS INTO SOMETHING SERIOUS. NEXT YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO BE TAKEN ON A RIDE THROUGH MONROE-LAND, WHICH WILL NOT LEAVE YOU UNMARKED. ALSO, JUSTIN SEEMS LIKE A PLAYER WHO DOESN’T TAKE THINGS TO SERIOUSLY, BUT IS IN FACT VERY PROFESSIONAL AND DRIVEN BY HIS AMBITION IN CREATING A WICKED, COLORFUL FANTASY VISION. FINALLY, WHEN HE TALKS, SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED TO LET THE MAN TALK…

"Upon meeting these two super hot porno studs Adam Killian and Mitchell Rock the first word that came to my mind was mischief. These two are the consament example of what Hollywood bad boys are all about. We had just finished shooting for our 2010 calendar Roller Dirty and Mitchell and Adam were playing around in the men's room and of course me being the pervert that I am I asked them if I could have a three way with them and my camera. It was so much fun as you can only imagine."

"These boys have a very strong chemistry between the two of them. They feel very comfortable with a camera. In fact Adam lives for it. They are both extreme exhibitionist and rightfully so. Everything about them is beautiful, masculine and alluring. A photographers dream. In fact these are the only photos I can show you because the rest are for my private collection or for the highest bidder ☺. They always bring something new and exciting to each shoot. They truly love it. They give it their all and it shows in their images. So do yourself a favor, Google them and look them up. Facebook them, do whatever you got to do to follow these shining stars. Especially look them up in my upcoming new books Beautiful and Playthings… What can I say… I’m a media whore!" – Justin Monroe, photographer. –B-

JUSTIN MONROE | BEAUTIFUL