Eddi & Ryce Photograph Second Life: July 2016

Sunday, July 31, 2016

Great Second Life Destinations:The Pines at Jacob's Pond Becomes A Charming Village For Summer 2016

The thoughts of many in the sweltering heat of the United States and Canada this time of year turn to thoughts of cool and crisp late summer days in September, not yet touched by the first frost, but cool enough at night to light a fire and put on a light jacket to ward off cool northern breezes. It is still summer, but changes are in the air. The skies during the morning can be brilliantly blue, and even the clouds look different. The sizzling heat of summer can return for a while in what is known as "Indian Summer" --- but the brilliant fiery displays of autumn are only a short time away.

I live in one of two states which, does not actually experience four seasons -- subtropical Florida, the other being the Aloha State of Hawaii. I tend to be romantic about the glories of northern climates, since South Florida basically has two seasons -- rain and thunderstorms from May - October, and less rain from November - April which we affectionately call "crowded tourist season".

Dacotah Longfall's The Pines at Jacob's Pond changes with the four seasons into unique North American environments. Each of her sim designs is, quite literally, a masterpiece. Her current rendition is that of a country village, perhaps like New Hampshire or Ontario right at the end of summer. Shops and straight country lanes yield store signs and charming vistas. I cannot tell you how delighted I was to explore here.

The Pines at Jacob's Pond is highly recommended-- you wont be dissapointed. Make sure to visit even if you do not fantasize about getting out of the summer heat and humidity as I do!

Your taxi:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Jacob/69/217/24

For more photography and blog coverage of The Pines at Jacob's Pond:

http://www.scoop.it/t/second-life-destinations?q=Jacob%27s+

Photographic Information:

I used Windlight Sky Setting [TOR] MIDDAY - Baskaholic to get a warm golden light and antique burnished glow in these images. This advanced environmental effect comes standard in Firestorm and some other viewers.

Looking for more places to visit?

To see more of my coverage of great destinations to visit in Second Life (scroll down):
http://www.eddihaskell.com/search/label/Second%20Life%20Destinations

Check out Scoop It Second Life Destinations for more great places to visit:
http://www.scoop.it/t/second-life-destinations

Friday, July 29, 2016

Wildlife Photographer Peter Beard

Abercrombie and Fitch Prototype?

Our real life hunk for today is one of the most famous photographer living in the world today, wildlife photographer Peter Beard. These photographs of Peter date back to the 1950's and 60's and show him in all his blonde and tanned athletic glory; unfortunately, there is not that much subject matter of him that I could find for his early years. Although he has stayed remarkably handsome in his 60's and 70's, he has recently suffered a stroke and has suffered health issues.

His gorgeous younger looks (he is the prototypical Abercrombie and Fitch man before Abercrombie and Fitch was cool) is not why Peter Beard is my Real Life Hunk for today. Over the past half century, Peter has done more than any other artist to promote the cause of wildlife conservation in Africa. He has documented the destruction of over 35,000 elephants for their ivory tusks - and promoted the cause of wildlife preservation in Kenya and other African nations. His art and diaries, while gorgeous, have served a conservation cause far beyond their creative value as "coffee table" art book fillers.

Prep School Days in the 1950's -
Turning Heads in New York City

A Very Short Biography:

Peter Beard was born on Long Island to a wealthy family in 1938. He decided to leave premed studies at Yale University and study art history. His photography of wildlife in Kenya and documentation of the demise of 35,000 elephants together with a dramatic flair for photographic presentation quickly built his creative mystique to a cult-like status.

Biography (continued):

Peter Beard was married to supermodel Cheryl Tieg in the 1980's. He has collaborated with artists Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, Francis Bacon, and Andrew Wyeth. He was a fixture at Studio 54 in the 1970's and still enjoys huge celebrity status. Peter Beard, along with legendary portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz, is perhaps one of the two most famous living photographers living in the world today. However, he recently has had a stroke and is embroiled in several law suits over ownership of art works -- you can read about this in the link below to the June 2016 article in the Observer.

For more information about Peter Beard:

Wiki Entry:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Beard

Peter Beard Studio:
http://peterbeard.com/

1996 Interview in Vanity Fair Magazine:
http://www.vanityfair.com/magazine/1996/11/beard199611

June 2016 Article on Hamptons Show in the Observer Magazine
http://observer.com/2016/06/another-side-of-peter-beard/

For more real life hunks:

You can catch additional hunks posts from 2015 through this link. Make sure to scroll down.

http://ryceskytower.blogspot.com/search/label/Real%20Life%20Hunk

You can catch Eddi's coverage of over 270 very handsome men by scrolling down at this link:

http://www.eddihaskell.com/search/label/Real%20Life%20Hunk%20of%20the%20Week

With Catalan Artist Salvador Dali

Interview Magazine Cover by Andy Warhol

_____________________________________

Some of Peter Beard's African Wildlife Photography

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Great Second Life Destinations: Khaled in Silverplate Photography

I wrote about Cambiamento Radikal's Khaled's mystical Khaled here last month - and loved the destination for its strange and timeless lakeside setting. I took an alternative set of images and developed them in a dramatic silverplate finish which I am running here. I think these bring out the inherent drama of this highly recommended destination.

Your taxi:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lennox/200/64/24

You can see my original post here:
http://www.eddihaskell.com/2016/06/great-second-life-destinations.html

For more blog coverage of Khaled:
http://www.scoop.it/t/second-life-destinations?q=khaled+lennox

To see my review of Gaio, another gorgeous region destined by Cambiamento Radikal reminiscent of Tuscany, Italy:
http://www.eddihaskell.com/2016/04/great-second-life-destinations-gaio-at.html

Photographic Information:

All images were taken with Windlight Sky Setting "TOR" Dusk Fairytale Glow which comes as a standard option under advanced environmental settings in Firestorm and other viewers. I like Fairytale Glow for its eerie early evening light and darkly clouded skies.

I then applied a silver photography effect using Google's free Nik Collection Silver Efex Pro software which can can find out more about in an article I ran here on June 24:

http://www.eddihaskell.com/2016/06/great-second-life-destinations-playa.html

Monday, July 25, 2016

Great Second Life Destinations: Hermoupolis Revisited

Hermoupolis Village, named after a town on the Greek Island of Syros, is a retail and residential destination with a Mediterranean feel that is well designed and set in a golden autumnal landscape. There are many nice touches here including working fountains set in bench lines squares, a period streetcar on an electric track, and a little red corvette that fit in well in this plush environment. Textures and scale work very here -- yielding a realism and sense of place missing at other locations. I highly recommend a visit. If you are interested in renting a retail location at Hermoupolis Village contact the owner, Nitsuko’s Nits’.

To visit this highly recommended destination:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Paris%20Land/222/87/22

I used Windlight Sky Setting [TOR] MIDDAY - Baskaholic to get a warm golden light and antique burnished glow in these images. This advanced environmental effect comes standard in Firestorm and some other viewers.

To see my earlier posting on Hermoupolis from April 2016:
http://www.eddihaskell.com/2016/04/great-second-life-destinations_4.html

Inara Pey's recent review of Hermoupolis Village can be found here:
https://modemworld.me/2016/07/18/exploring-hermoupolis-village-in-second-life/

Saturday, July 23, 2016

Second Life Destinations: Giovanna Cerise's Variations in The Magic Flute - Soul of Colors at LEA 21

Mozart's masterpiece, The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflote), written in the German language, is one of the most famous and frequently performed works in the operatic repertoire. The opera is full of Masonic references and allusions, which are often used as design elements in costumes and stage sets. I once saw a spectacular version at the San Francisco Opera designed by the great artist David Hockney which was full of Masonic allusions.

(see David Hockney's illustrations here:
http://www.hockneypictures.com/magic_flute/magic_flute_11.htm.

Giovanna Cerise's evocative art installation, Variations in The Magic Flute, returns to Second Life after an absence of four years at LEA 21 (Linden Endowment of the Arts) through the end of August as part of her Soul of Colors art series. Color, light, shadow, and music intersect in this art installation inspired by Mozart's famous masterpiece. Musical citations which can be played by the visitor by clicking on musical notes accompany dramatic three-dimensional stagings which represent the libretto, or plot of the Opera. You can catch a good short summary of the Opera here:

http://www.classicalmpr.org/story/2014/01/03/opera-plot-video-mozart-s-the-magic-flute

You will also find animated poses that you can interact with throughout the art installation as your continue your journey. This is a gorgeous and highly recommended art installation and one that I highly recommend you visit before it closes at the end of August 2016. Your taxi:

SLurl:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA21/128/131/24

To find out more about Giovanna Cerise's Variations in The Magic Flute:
http://lindenarts.blogspot.com/2016/07/lea21-soul-of-colors-by-giovanna-cerise.html

For other blog reviews:
http://www.scoop.it/t/second-life-destinations?q=LEA+21%3A+%22Soul+of+Colors%22

To see my review of Tristan and Isolde, a 2015 art installation by Giovanna Cerise based on the great operatic work by Richard Wagner:
http://www.eddihaskell.com/2015/07/great-second-life-art-installations_18.html

Giovanna Cerise's Second Life Galleries::

Giovanna's Open Art Space and Gallery at The Last Harbor:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Southern%20Marvel/137/201/24

Giovanna Small Art at World Art Gallery and Mall:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sardegna/46/179/37

Giovanna Blogs At:

http://giovannacerise.blogspot.it/

Giovanna's Flickr:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannacerise/

Photographic Information:

All images were taken using Windlight Sky Setting Riverrock Night which can be found as an option in Firestorm and other viewers. I used it for bringing out the contrasts and dramatic lighting effects which are so much a part of Giovanna's art installation. In addition, I applied a 30% Orton lighting effect to each image.

Recommended Musical Accompaniment:

Although short musical notes can be found throughout your journey through the art installation, you may want to listen to more substantial parts of The Magic Flute through your journey. Two of the best known segments are the magnificent overture and the famous aria sung by The Queen of the Night. I run both here on videos from Youtube on a great performance from the 2006 Salzburg Festival conducted by the great Ricardo Muti and performed by the incomparable Vienna Philharmonic.

You can catch the entire performance here:
https://youtu.be/w9zwQNib-h4