By CYAN

After a long day of errand running and appearing on This Week in Startups, I headed to the office to get two hours of pressing work done. I'm going to Sundance next week and I wanted to get as much done as possible so I could take this weekend off. I got into the office, took off my jacket and appreciated the silence. Just as I placed my fingers on the home row on my keyboard and thought to myself how much I loved our new Zivity office, a huge thud sound came from the suite next door. 

BAM. 

Ok, no biggy, someone's redecorating or something over there. It reminded me that I had some framed art I needed to hang in the new place. Good reminder. 

BAM. Then I hear a woman yell, "BASTARD!"

Huh. Clicky. Clicky.

BAM. BAM. BAM. "OH NO HE WON'T!"

I sit up straight in my chair. Was that really coming from next door. I'm second guessing myself now. Maybe it is upstairs.

BAM "I'M GOING TO SMASH THAT ATTITUDE RIGHT OUT OF HIM!!"

Our office is next to a therapist. We've heard some mumbling over there and every now and then we can make a few words or sentences out, but nothing has ever come in this clear.

BAM - groaning noises. grunts. more groaning... roaring like a lion. 

BAM. BAM. BAM.

"MOTHER FUCKER! THIS IS BULLSHIT!"

BAM.

Then I hear two other voices, a man and woman and they are encouraging the woman to hit whatever it is she is hitting and to get out these expressions of anger. I hear their voices say...

"GOOOOOD! THAT'S IT! GET IT OUT. GOOOOOOD. AGAIN"

BAM. BAM.

At this point I'm laughing. I have a good sense of humor. I pull out my iphone and do what every good person does when they hear or see something funny, I share it with the world on Twitter. I can't laugh alone. However, the work I needed to get done, just isn't getting done. My productivity at this point? Completely killed. All I can think about is the bastard she was yelling about and I was thinking about this woman and her life. I was thinking about this strange way of working through her issues and I imagined I was sitting in some sort of Two and Half Men type of comedy show. This wasn't my real life. There were cameras somewhere. Right?

BAM.

I hear a knock on my door. My neighbor wants to know if I'm the one making noise. Nope. Not me. We may have naked ladies, but we're professionals. We're quiet. We're respectful.

BAM. "FUUUUUUUUUUUUCK YOU!" groan. groan. groan. grunt. RAWR. Lion sounds.. etc. 

The downstairs neighbor goes to knock on the door and sees a sign on the handle that says, "DO NOT DISTURB, IN SESSION" or something close to that. It was a clear keep the fuck out of here kind of sign. He makes gestures like he's going to knock and says, "screw it, I'm calling the landlord."

He's calling the landlord, so I don't have to. I hear another knock.

BAM!! (they are getting more intense) "NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I explain again it isn't me to another neighbor and he knocks on the door...

Knock. Knock. Knock.

BAM. "What?" says one of the coaching voices.

BAM. groan......

Neighbor "Uhm, could you keep it down in there. Nobody out here is able to get work done. At a minimum, could you stop the banging? It is disrupting the whole floor."

Female coaching voice, "NO. We can not. We will not. We are in a session. Go away."

We look at each other. Puzzled. Did she really just say that? Seriously? This is a floor of offices about 600 square feet each with paper thin walls. There's about 10 of them on our floor. 

Female coaching voice, "Give us 10 more minutes and we'll come out and talk to you."

BAM. Encouraging voice, "Keep going. Its ok. Don't stop"

BAM. BAM. BAM. ughhhhhh (now it sounds like groaning grunting sex noises) This woman is going full animal now. She's a fucking bear. I try to picture her in my mind. 

The neighbor goes to call the police. At this point, I also email the landlord. Things are getting tense in the office.

10 solid minutes go on with the banging, the cursing and the getting pounded noises. The woman ends her session with a good laugh and says, "wow, that felt good." I hide. I don't want them to see me. I don't want to see her. I imagine them carting her out of the office with a burlap sack on her head so we never know who she is. I'm afraid I might know her. I just hide. My door is glass and they can see through if I'm not in the perfect hiding position.

It is suddenly quiet. At this point it is 5pm and I need to head home.

I peek around the corner and their office is dark. The neighbor comes back dismayed that they never came to explain the beating noises. We apologize for meeting each other this way. He's annoyed. I'm amused, but also annoyed I didn't get any work done. I'm thankful I have a sense of humor. This guy had more serious work to get done than I did. He threatened to move out. 

Man. What was going on there? What kind of office have we moved into?

How strange.  

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YIKES! Ok, so yesterday I was just too excited to get the list out there and sent the wrong numbers. I am so sorry! Seriously. I know how hard all of these artists work and to be on this list is no small feat. Please forgive me. :(

Here are the corrected vote totals and the corrected Top 10. 

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Antietam is one of those out spoken girls with a lot of positive energy with the hospitality of a Southern girl to match her genuine appeal. She documents her life through photos and snap shots which she posts to her blog. If you follow her life on Zivity and Tumblr, you really get a feel for  her life and *who* she is. Check out the gorgeous Antietam - and her beautiful dogs, too!

Where did you grow up and how has it affected your modeling work?

I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I did have a brief love affair with California for the last year and a half but moved back to Pittsburgh at the beginning of December. I am not really sure if my modeling has really been affected by where I grew up, but Pittsburgh is a very blue collar working-class city, so you learn to shoot with little or no budget and really get creative with what you have available.  The cool thing about living somewhere that is affordable is it gives you the chance to save money and travel.

What do you do primarily? Is it something you want to pursue seriously?

I have been a working hairstylist and makeup artist  for the past 6 years.  I love modeling but know that my shelf life (I'm older than i look) is going to be coming to an end here in the next few years.  Especially since i wanna settle down and have a family within the next few years, and hair is a great job to have because of the flexibility that comes along with it. So to answer your question -  yes, it is something that I will pursue more seriously, just not really while I am modeling.

What is your ultimate goal as an artist?

My goal is to make art that is fun to look at and makes you stop and go "huh?" . I don't really care about being pretty or sexy. Having  posed with tarantulas crawling on my face as well as cockroaches and african millipedes, I just want to make pretty or not-so-pretty pictures that convey a mood or theme and evoke emotion.  Usually my hopes are that the pics are just plain fun to shoot and to look at.

When did you decide that modeling was what you wanted to do? How did you get started?

I decided that I wanted to start modeling when I was 15. My cousin had started modeling for tattoo magazines, and I just thought she was the coolest thing ever.  Once I turned 18, I started getting tattoos and doing some modeling for troma entertainment as well as acting in some of their films. everything just pretty much took off from there.

How did you discover Zivity? Has it changed your modeling journey? If so, how?

Hahah to be honest, I can't really recall how I found out about Zivity.  Zivity is unique in that you get out of it what you put in.  There are not many sites where you don't have to get nude unless you want to and still get paid and it's refresing to see such a self motivated site.  With the guidelines for shooting, there really is something for everyone and you can be as creative as you want to be. You don't always have to worry about dumb shit like "do I show enough tits in this set". It's all up to you and I think thats a pretty rad concept!

What things are you passionate about?

Hmm...I am in love with so many things, hahah. This is just the tip of the iceberg so bear with me: modeling, acting, doing hair, spending time with people who matter, my amazing boston terriers, traveling, working out,  dance parties, tattoos, daydreaming, drinking tea,  learning new things, and challenging myself to always be the best person i possibly can be. I could go on for days but I won't bore you.

You mention your terriers a lot in your blog, what makes them special?

Twinkie is my 4 year old boston and she has been deaf since the day she was born. I think it makes her a little bit cuter than other dogs and she definitely has a huge personality because of it.

Moo is a little over 2 years old. On my move to california he started having seizures in Oklahoma. he had 16 in one morning and i thought we were going to loose him for sure. They put him on some meds and diagnosed him with k9 epilepsy.  He has seizures now about every 2 weeks and currently gets 6 pills a daily, taking them  every 12 hours.  moo is my little boy though and I would not trade him in for the world. So many people tell me that he's an inconvenience and that I spend too much money and should have had him put down. Nothing makes me more furious than those statements. I feel that pets are like people and when i adopted him I agreed to give him the best life I possibly could. The fact that he is sick shouldn't change that. So my dogs are very special in the way that they need me just as much as I need them.

Do you think that the value of an animal's life is higher than a person's? If so, why and how?

Not higher but not of any less value. They are living creatures with the capacity to love and trust  unconditionally. A pet is much like a baby - they rely on you to feed them and care for them. They need you to care for them. If you wouldn't abuse a child then why so an animal. In my eyes it's no different.

What is the craziest thing that has happened during a shoot?

The day before my 21st birthday I was shooting for Rockin Bones magazine. We had me dressed like a doll and I was destroying stuffed animals and melting barbies. Well I lit the one barbie on fire and the photographer went to stomp it out and the barbies head came off and melted to the flesh on my leg. Not really crazy but pretty gnarly for sure.

What is your favorite tattoo of yours? What does it mean? 

Hahah I have so many that I love I can't really say I favor one over the other. Every time I get a new tattoo I become obsessed with it and it becomes my "favorite" one for a while.  Very few of my tattoos have any meaning, however the ones that do have meaning are for  people that are important  in my life. For example, I have tattoos with and for both of my ex husbands..yes folks count em, two ex husbands lol. I don't regret getting them though because they represent a time in my life and have memories both good and bad that go along with them. I'd like to think that those experiences helped make me the person that I am today.

Did you make any New Years Resolutions? If so, what?

I don't really make resolutions. I don't need a certain time frame to make changes to my life. In the new year though, I would like to learn how to drive (at 28, I never learned), travel more, and just do things  that inspire me to be a better person.

How would you describe Zivity to someone who has never heard of it before?

Never heard of zivity? Send me a message and I'll send ya an invite..p.s did I mention there's a lot of naked chicks?

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Drum roll please..... It's time to share with you the first in our series highlighting the Top Models and Photographers of 2011. First up, we're going to announce the Top Models for 2011 by VOTERS. These are the ladies that had the highest number of members voting on their sets.

Next week we'll share the Top Models of 2011 by VOTES.

Now, enough chatter, on to the winners.....

Congrats to Vivka. Our #1 Top Model of 2011 by Voters.
Hardlit Fur by CorwinPrescottII

#2. Gwendolyn
Dripping Ecstasy by Craigman

#3. Vaunt
No Couch Potato by CorruptImageData

#4. VeraBaby
and a Wooden Box by BoldDaniel

#6. CherieDeville
Morning Light by SadPenguin

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It's January and so that means we get to show you the Top 10 Models (by votes) for December! If you don't see your favorite model here drop on by and give her sets some vote love and you might just see her here next month! 

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We must have been VERY good this year because Santa gifted us with lots of great new sets. So many in fact, we just had to share some of our favorites with you!

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Zivity artists love to shoot sets based around the holidays, and winter is one of the best times of year for it.  From sets shot out in the freezing snow, to beautiful ice queens and so much more, I wanted to explore some of my favourite winter sets!

Kitty13/Pirate Photography

xx

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We all have seen his pictures around on the site with the infamous Storm Trooper avatar. World, the man without need for an introduction: Tmronin.

TMronin: <blinks back tears>  Thank you for this...I would like to thank the academy, my hair stylist, my mom...oh wait, I'm not getting an award?!  man...really?  This is like when I entered The Zivity Circa '63 Contest - me and GogoAmy shot an awesome disco ball set with "Staying Alive" blasting in the background...we thought it was Zivity Circa '73!  oo...boogie ooogie ooogie...I, I I...stayin'...oh wait."

Uh...On to the questions...!

Where are you from and how has it affected your work?

Well, I'm from North Carolina but I moved around a lot when I was younger.  By the time I had graduated college - I had attended 15 schools, I was always the shiny New Kid.  I was raised on MTV and WWF wrestling (Charlotte, NC is a professional wrestling Mecca) - so I tend to believe in the Rockstar theory of talent: "when you don't have as much as you would like - Boobs, Backlighting and Bright Colors make up for a lot." hahahahahaha!  I've been in NYC for a bunch of years now and pretty much can't imagine living anywhere else at this moment - the sense of purpose and the insane energy in this town is addicting.

When did you first discover that you wanted to be a photographer? How long have you been doing it since then?

Dad is a very enthuastic advanced amateur photographer (mom's an artist) - so I was surrounded by photography my entire life.  To be honest, I'm kinda amazed that I can see today after all the flash bulbs that went off in my face before I was five.  LOL!  I've always had a camera of some sort and shot a bunch in college until I took my first real photography class.  I realized that I'm not cut out to take artsy blurry shots with really impressive artist manifestos describing what you are supposed to be looking at.  Should have realized then and there, I was destined for a life of commercial photography.  But then I discovered the campus radio station (WKNC in Raleigh, NC).  Fast forward to NYC 2000 while working in the music industry and getting a digital point and shoot camera in trade for a website design.  In 2004, I got a DSLR and discovered that naked girls would sometimes jump in front of it.  So, 8 years later - I am doing my level best not to suck on a daily basis.

What was your journey like at the beginning? What did you struggle with coming into your own as a professional photographer?

I was in a weird position when I started (still am, in ways)  A lot of my music industry friends moved into other fields and figured it's easier to screw me on my rates than get screwed by someone they didn't know.  LOL!  I shot a lot of comic book conventions (shot a poker game at Kevin Smith's house for Wizard World Guide to Comics), night club events, Doggie Holiday Portraits, catalogs, lookbooks and other "Making the Doughnuts" type of shoots to make ends meet...actually still do.  I have no ego when it comes to paying work.  shoot, assist, paint cycs, whatever.  better than a desk job.  It's like that line from Office Space:

Bob: "Looks like you've been missing a lot of work lately."

Peter: "I wouldn't say I've been *missing* it, Bob."

What is one of the most important lessons you've learned during your career?

Knowing how to handle people is as important as being able to handle a camera.  You can be the most AMAZING photographer to EVER pick up a camera and be forced to work a day job because you can't deal with the business/people/networking side of being a photographer - it's about the hustle.  Opportunities very rarely come to you.  Chance favors the prepared.  In this respect, I'm a get-shit-done Boy Scout.  I make sure that I'm ready for whatever I can hustle up for a gig.  Oh!  also...Bigger the hair, Closer to God.  (so sayth my patron saint, Saint Dolly of the big boobs and bigger hair)

How did you find Zivity?

I got invited to the beta when I was a staff photographer for suicidegirls.com and when I saw that one of the first sets on the site was the awesome Missy shot Sash set (Sash just makes me melt as a photographer - lord, that girl needs to be in front of a camera, often), I was excited to check it out.  I emailed one of my favorite people (Vivka) and we shot something quick for the site when I was up in Detroit for a wedding.  The rest is history.

What were you doing before you joined Zivity? How is this site different from your other photographic ventures?

Staff photographer for SG - pretty much the same but different.  I LOVE this site - no-one tells me what or who to shoot.  If a set goes up, I know if someone
votes on it, we will be paid. The diversity on this site is bonkers - All the sets don't look the same (don't get me started on the sheer amount of talent shooting for zivity - between Corwin, Thingstolookat, Shooter, AddictedImage, Adam Robertson, Dwam, P-Mod, Ghettomonk, Lorelei and others: I just stare at the screen and try to convince myself I don't just suck.  LOL!)

If I want to shoot something that is a bit out of my usual box - ArdenLeigh's debut set for example, I can.  I can shoot sets with heavy studio lighting, natural light, high concept, no concept...whatever is clever.  I can shoot a quick zivity set with my model friends for fun and they can be as involved as much (or as little) as they want.  Stoya's debut set is a great example. We shot a pack of fuji instax while she was taking a smoke break after getting her hair done for a magazine layout on the balcony at the location.  No muss, no fuss.

What is the craziest/funniest thing that has ever happened to you while taking photos?

Couple of years ago, I shot a model down in NJ at Sandy Hook (famous nude beach).  It was a foggy morning in August.  Do you know who comes to a nude beach in New Jersey at 8am on a foggy thursday in August?  Old dudes who can't be described as "thin".  Do you know what these naked old dudes do on a nude beach in New Jersey at 8am on a foggy thursday in August?

Pick up shells.

Pick up shells without bending their knees.

What has been seen, can't be unseen.

So...after we figured out that a) we were in the interesting shell capitol of the beach (cuz all the old naked dudes were picking up a LOT of shells right near us) and b) if we combined our ages between the 3 of us (me, model and her friend who was assisting), we were younger than anyone on the beach - we decided we should get on to the business of shooting.

All is going well, then an....err..older gentleman in a rainbow thong walked over and inquired if he could be in the photoshoot.  I politely thanked him and said, "no thanks sir."  (I was raised to respect my elders - esp. ones that someone somewhere calls "Grandad".)  Couple more shots and the model (who was mostly naked by now) steps away to do a quick hair fix with her friend.  The older guy comes back...sans thong and not, well, un-excited.  ifyaknowhatimsayin'?  Once again, I thank him for offering to jump into the shoot and tell him that his services as a male model aren't needed at this moment.  He runs off into the water and errr...proceeds to make the ocean a bit more, well, "salty".  Needless to say, I didn't point this out to the model at that time. (pretty much cuz I wanted to finish the shoot without an 18 year old naked girl killing a 75 year old naked guy with a boner on a beach in NJ.  Pretty sure that would make the 6pm news. LOL!)

See the full gallery on Posterous

How would you describe your own work?

A product of the three B's - Boobs, Backlighting and Bright colors.  Here at Team Rockstar, we believe in nothing is worth doing unless you can over-do it.

What other things are you passionate about? Why are you passionate about them?

hmmm...I like coffee, things that go "vroom" - mainly american muscle cars and italian motorcycles, coffee, beer, books (lots and lots of books), coffee, loud music, the past (what has been done before that looks cool), the future (what can I do that will look cool)...oh yeah, coffee.

<sigh>  y'all are gonna ask about the whole coffee thing, aren't you?  Ok, fine.  I have 3 coffee-themed tattoos (including half my chest done by Paul Booth as well as "Death Before Decaf" on my ribs) and have told someone's mother at a holiday dinner, "if coffee had boobs, I would marry it."  (for the record, I was sitting next to my wife at the time.)  What can I say?  I like coffee...a lot.

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So I'd be lying if I didn't tell you that I have the biggest girl crush on Rachel Dashae. Her work is consistently eye-catching and beautiful. What's more is that once I started to ask her those tough abstract questions, she took on the challenge and beautifully worded the responses. This girl is a true model - oh and don't get me started on that wicked hair!

When did you first start modeling? What drew you into it?

I first started modeling in 2006; I took breaks off and on, and then became full time in 2010. I wanted to become a different person; I wanted an outlet for my creative spirit. 

Why did you want to be a different person? 

It's like acting; it's like growing out of your skin. But in a good way, haha. Like this other person coming through your eyes and expressions. I want to own the demons, the lust, the happiness, the love inside of me, and sometimes I feel like throwing that out in front of a camera makes you appreciate it. 

How does modeling help you do that?

 It lets me see the end result of my emotions, and how I am putting it into my art. 

What is it about modeling that strikes your creative spirit?

 I get to be a part of someone's vision. They come up with these ideas, concepts, styling, and I get to act it out for them. 

What was the moment you realized it was something you wanted to keep doing? 

Ever since I started. I would stop sometimes, but I would come crawling back shortly after. It's been the only thing that has stayed consistent in my life for 5 years now. 

What are you trying to express through your work? Do you think you've accomplished it? 

Vulnerability, high emotion, and staying fierce and proud. Telling a story with movement and eyes, instead  Yes, that is the one thing I always feel proud about when looking at an image, just how I can show anything that has been pent up for weeks through an image. 

How did you find out about Zivity? What sold you on joining? 

Dastardly Dave actually told me about it! And it was before I was doing nude work, so I was very excited for it. 

You've build a strong fan base both on and off of Zivity - how do you connect with them? How have they influenced your work? 

I try to comment back on any posts, comments, e-mails, etc. I try to actually build a connection and speak with them with truth. I feel like people then think of you as a person they can relate to. They have influenced me to keep going no matter what. Like I have said, I stopped a few times, sometimes I think I would've permanently quit if it wasn't for my fan base. They make my work feel worth it, even if I am being tough on myself. 

Is there anything a fan has ever said to you that has stuck with you? If so, what? 

There have been lots of things. Ever since the first "You are so pretty!" comment most things stick with me. I think what sticks with me the most though, is when people tell me the story they say see in my eyes, or in my hands. It's so awesome that I can inspire someone in that way. 

What is the craziest/funniest thing that has ever happened to you on a shoot? 

One time, I was on some railroad tracks (haha), that were on an overpass over a pretty main road.  I dropped one of my shoes in that little sneaky bend part between the columns. I actually climbed down into the crack (sliding on my butt down rails, haha!) to get my shoe. They were like $5 dollar shoes, but it was really muddy out because it had just rained and the thought of possibly breaking my leg was better than having to walk barefoot through the mud! 

You travel quite a bit! What was one of the most exciting trips you've made? Describe your experience! 

I try! This year will come along with much more traveling. One of the most exciting though I think was to Boston with PXE. Her and I just get along sssooo well; I flew into NYC, and met her. Which was just fun in general, we stayed up all night drinking soda and playing around. The next day we drove to Boston, and the whole trip was way fun. I also think it was a blast because it was just on a whim, I think I had a week to plan anything, haha. 

Is there anything else you're passionate about besides modeling? If so, what and why?

That's a tough one. I put so much into modeling, so I feel like maybe my other passions are photos (I just got a new digital camera, so look out for some pictures), fashion, and learning. I love to read about any subject from "the fattest country in the world" to "black holes". 

What do you enjoy doing when you're not working?

I love hanging out with my family. I am very family oriented; I am the oldest of 5 and am extremely close to my mother. I spend a lot of my extra time with them and my boyfriend. Other than that, I like to exercise (mostly yoga), read, and hang out with friends. I frequent clubs on the weekends and LOVE to go out and have some fun! I feel like sometimes I'm a dirty house wife and no one realizes it, haha!

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Can you believe that the Holidays are here already? Time sure does fly when you spend your days looking at gorgeous pictures. We don't care if you've been naughty or nice we think you deserve a little treat. So here are some of our favorite Holiday Themed sets.

From all of us here at Zivity, we wish you and yours a very Happy Holidays!

AaliyahLove in Christmas Present by JayAllan

CordialLee in Dearest Zivity, are you a naughty or a nice nut? by Tabatha

Gwendolyn in Naughty or Nice? by Craigman

InfraRedRoses in Fesitvus For the Rest of Us by NicoleNygaardPhoto

KrystalKaos in XXXmas by samguss

Lyndsey_Love in Dressing the Tree, Undressing Me by Photogofer

Mosh in Have Yourself a Moshy Little Christmas by DastardlyDave

RoxieTee in Ribbons and Bows by Allenm1

SarahPrankha in Santa Baby by chrismaverick

xotorreyox in Santa's Sweet Helper by ricyoung

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Brrrr the chill has finally hit San Francisco and it's got us thinking about ways to keep warm.

My hands are freezing as I type this so I think a pair of these awesome Toast Hand Warmers are in order.

I mean, seriously, look how warm her hands look. Jealous!

Oh well, never mind. Maybe I'll just cozy up in this awesome Pac Man blanket ....

Put on some Cthulhu slippers....

How do YOU plan to stay warm?

xoxo,
Audrey 

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I love freckles.  A little sprinkling, through to a face full of those beautiful little markings, I love how unique they are on each individual, and we have some stunning freckled ladies here on Zivity!  A lot of the time, people photoshop freckles out, and it is such a shame, I wish I knew more models with freckles.

Kitty13/Pirate Photography

xxx

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It's time to share the Top 10 Models (by votes) for November. Don't see your favorite model listed here? Go vote on her sets and you might just see her here next month.

#1. JennyRose  - 3753 Votes
Legalize It by KrizanekPhotography

#2. Trailer - 3252 Votes
Summer Rain by SarahBeth

#3. Vivka - 1433 Votes
Ataraxis by Alatusphoto

#4. Gwendolyn - 883 Votes
Blue Latex by Craigman

#5. EnglishBabs - 822 Votes
Up On The Roof by DavidHoughton

#6. nccherry - 787 Votes
Cherry has me Seeing Red by Dragon762

#7. Spaci - 733 Votes
Yummy Bunny by themorty

#8. RazorCandi - 724 Votes
The Secretary by BodoAttila

#9. Sankie - 712 Votes
Santa Please Stop Here by BoldDaniel

#10. KatRazor - 701 Votes
Break from Work by wsistudio

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I've always been a *HUGE* fan of Corwin and have followed his work on the site from the first day. If there is one thing that Corwin Prescott is great at, it's making anything (literally ANYTHING) look moody, ambient, and bold. (Must add that the beautiful women he photographs can make anyone envious). It was such a huge honor to interview this guy and really dive into what makes him tick. For more of his work, check out his personal site here.

Where are you from/how did you grow up?

I'm from New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, a small town of which you haven't heard.  Mostly I feel like I grew up in a couple different scenes that have had a pretty big impact on my work.  I was really involved with the boyscouts, drumline, and punk/metal scene when I was in highschool, so I take a lot of that with me now.

I think the combination of all of those has really helped me make compositional sense of chaotic and sometimes dark tableaus.  You know when you are in drumline, it is kind of like the musical equivalent of being in the military.  Everything is extremely structured, planned and perfectly timed.  And going from that to punk shows in my friends basement where you are an inch away from a band playing as loud and fast as they can, slamming into sweaty bodies, and bouncing off walls caked with condensation, it has an impact on you.  It helps you see that even in a place like that there is some sort of structure, so I kind of try to apply that to my work, and make a sort of controlled chaos.

The boyscouts is a lot easier though, I mean I wasn't a great boyscout.  I got in a lot of trouble for disappearing into the woods, a couple of times.  I liked camping and being outdoors, but I didn't like this new idea that exists in boyscouts where in order to advance you basically have to do the same thing you already do in school.  Take tests, do home work and so on.  I was already good at school why do it twice, but yeah boyscouts is easy: I like going outside and so that is where I do a lot of my shoots, or just get ideas for a lot my shoots.

When did you start to feel that photography was the direction you wanted to head in?

I never really thought until my senior year of high school that photography was something that I could do in college or for a living.  The only reason I took my first photo class was so that I could have a class with my two best friends, and they were a lot better than me with a camera.  I'm not one of those people whose parents gave them their first camera at 5 or 6 and fell in love and have been shooting all of my life.  We all played instruments in my family, but pretty much none of use used camera's.  My dad always jokes that if he had a camera and somebody else picked it up to take a picture that'd be the only one that came out.

So I didn't have any plans on going into photography, I was going to be an English major.  I had taken every English class there was to take in high school, and passed all of the AP courses as well.  Then, I decided to take photo 2 as an elective and the first day the teacher said something to the effect of "I know not all of you are planning on going into this for college like, Corey (side note: I went by Corey until college) is, but you still have to work in this class."  It just kind of stuck with me, so when I started applying to colleges I wanted to double major in English and Photo, which is actually pretty hard to do, and after a long search I didn't find any schools that I could afford that would let me double major, so I took a two year technical degree photo program that worked out great.

What angle are you trying to achieve with your photos? 

What I want to do with my photos, particularly my personal work is take subjects or themes that walk a line between art triteness, and shoot it in a way that is totally different than people have seen it before.  I mean most of my favorite subjects be it eroticism, outdoor nudes, or landscapes are all done to hell.  Eroticism is pornographic, but to me so are bad outdoor nudes or landscapes.  They are boring and its offensive that they continue to pass as what people consider art.

I like creating images with multiple moods, a lot of what I do could be considered erotic, funny, or depressing depending on how you view it, or your own mood.  I like to explore darkness with a sort of Tarantino or Kubrick manner, a sort of humorous/beautiful/tragic concoction.

How did you learn about Zivity and what was your first impression of the site?

I learned about Zivity from a model friend named Tracey who sent me an invite in the very early days of the site.  I liked the idea, but I'm a photographer, so I forgot to sign up and submit for at least a couple more months.

I really liked the idea behind the site a lot.  I've always wanted a place to showcase my art to a wider range of fans, and make a little money from it, but losing the copyright to my photos has and always will be a no go.  I love that they let me keep my copyright. That alone is the biggest plus for me.

How has your photography changed since you’ve been on the site?

Well I don't think has really changed that much.  I have gotten better at what I do, but that comes with time.  As long as you keep shooting and keep editing inevitably you will get better and more consistent.  I think most probably the biggest way it has changed is that I shoot stuff other than my personal work.  Sometimes I'm out of idea's for myself, so I just shoot something fun for Zivity.  Its nice not to deal with the pressure of constantly creating images to fit the few themes I have going on for myself every shoot. 

How did you meet all of the gorgeous models you work with?! 

I mean initially, I met everyone I worked with through Modelmayhem, and networking.  Not incredibly exciting, but now I'm less active on there, so I sometimes meet them through friends, or through Zivity.  I know social networking how exciting, but its the only way I have found to meet people and get them in front of my camera. 

What is Uncropped magazine? How did it start? Where are you trying to go with it?

Uncropped Magazine is one of the many ideas I've had on my many 12 or more hour drives.  You get a lot of time to think on the road when everyone else in the car has fallen asleep, and its just you darkness, and 8 hours at 75mph through South Dakota.

So Uncropped, is my brain child, but its not really my magazine.  Vaunt does pretty much everything.  All the graphic design, the emailing, business, and layout that is all Vaunt.  I pretty much just come up with cool ideas for a few of the articles we have in each issue, shoot content for it, and help her decide which photography, and artists we want to involve.  Where we go is pretty much her call as I'm not really in the drivers seat, I'm more like the child in the back seat that sees a sign in Kansas and says "Hey, wouldn't it be cool if we saw the little house on the prairie?"

 You seem to travel around a lot- how did you make the move? (Financially, mentally, artistically)

Traveling is kind of our way of life.  We get a lot done when we are at home, but I feel like I get the most done when I'm on the road.  There have been models making a living as traveling artists for a while, and as my name in the photography world grew, I had lots of people hitting me up for shoots all over the country.  I figured I want to travel, see the country, and I have friends all over the place I can make this work, so I took to the road.

Making it work takes a couple trips.  I think I'd already driven coast to coast at least 6 times before I really got a feel for how to book these trips.  I always had places to stay in cities, but I did spend a lot of time sleeping in my car at grocery stores, post offices and highway turn offs to save money.  You don't make a lot of money being a traveling photographer unless you are better than planning than I was then.  The plus side was that I managed to break even, and saw more of the country than most people will in their lifetime.

Now our trips are like a well oiled machine.  The car gets packed perfectly, we have a tent, sleeping bags rated for negative forty degrees Fahrenheit, and generally we don't constantly get canceled on, which is awesome.

For your art while traveling you just have to find a way to work it into the system.  Go to the city do your work, and then spend sometime in a national park, camping, shooting and hiking.

Where do you live now and who do you live with?

So right now I live in Philadelphia in what we refer to as the Compound.  In my apartment I live with Vaunt and Porcelain, but we have had a pretty large number of Zivity people live with us.  Alysha Nett, Rachel Dashae, Stephy C, and Laura T have all called this apartment home at one time or another.  Then in the building we've also had or currently have PXE, Jackie, Velocity, Rilo Monroe, Redrum Collaboration, and Adrian Louise.  

So there are a lot of us.

What lessons have you learned through your career in photography that keep you going?

I think the more you learn about photography as a career the harder it is to keep going, but you either do it or you don't.  A lot of people don't make it for any number of reasons.  It can be disheartening to see shitty work frequently rewarded financially with jobs from big magazines, grants, or gallery shows because of a last name, or a connection you could never hope to have.

I dunno a lot of people I graduated from school with aren't doing photography anymore, some are, but its the minority.  The only thing that will keep you going is yourself, and support from, family, friends and fans.  You start with the first two, then you gotta build the third. 

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Let's take a look at some of our favorite new sets this week!

AnitaDeBauch in Alabaster Anita by adamrobertsonphotography

Annasthesia in Key West by dcmarsh

MeaghanB in Heavy metal with MeaghanB by Left-handed Photography

Missionimpossible in The one getting weird in the bathroom by sideviewinn

OkiDokiOkami in R(EVOL)UTION by APHROcentricity

Stoya in On a Clear Day by tmronin

shakenvanity13 in Fringe Benefits by Edwin_EVolve

unwoman in Outside the Republic of Gilead by mr_graves

Vera Baby in and a Wooden Box by BoldDaniel

Vivka in Haunted by ghettomonk

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Zivity models love latex.  All shined up, squeezed into rubber, it looks amazing!  From itsy bitsy bikinis, to slinky dresses and more, (and less!) there are some amazing rubber creations on Zivity.  Here are some of my favourite latex lovelies

Kitty13/Pirate Photography xx

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I have to admit, I didn't know much about RazorCandi when I first interviewed her. All I knew going in was that she was gorgeous, has amazing tattoos, and that her lovely corset collection could make any girl jealous. RazorCandi has an undeniable edge to her, but underneath all the bondage and body mod, she's a talented artist with an eye for the more creative things in life.

Where are you from and how did you grow up?

I was born in Baltimore, Maryland and from there moved around a lot due to growing up with a father who is a lieutenant commander in the Coast Guard. I spent a good portion of my early adolescent years in Pennsylvania and then my teen years to young adult in Tampa, Florida. Moving around must have grown on me as I now live across seas in Romania!

What was your experience of High School and how do you think it has affected who you are today?

High School wasn’t as dreadful as most in my shoes might have experienced. Surprisingly enough I did not get picked on for being one of the very few alternative chicks, people actually let me do my thing in peace and recognized my unique style which stood out even among the other goths. I guess since I had been dressing different since middle school people were over it by the time I reached High School, on that note I did get picked on a lot in Middle School, even by the principal who always made sure to intrude upon my outfits and make up by demanding that I remove or change things, she even went as far as suspending me a few times for “masquerading on my face!” or “showing too much skin!”     

How did you get into modeling?

I discovered my interest in modelling around year 2001. It began simply as a hobby and leisure pursuit. I find that modelling is a great way to express art and emotion. I’ve always been especially interested in painting but I feel that modelling is a more instant result. Modelling only became significant when I noticed I was inspiring people and that I was making an impact. It’s an elevating feeling to encourage people to learn and be part of the alternative community. I never actually started modelling with the intent to become a model, I continually look at my modelling in more of a stylist’s point of view. I prefer to have my photos taken to display my changeable looks and ideas. A model is generally a person that serves as a subject for an artist, in my case I model my own artistic ideas, though I have collaborated with many exceptional clothing designers as well. Only until last year did I delve into adult modeling which is new and exciting angle for me. It has opened many new doors and has helped me excel even further with my ideas, in addition it has become an exceptional way for me to express my sexual side which was very repressed during the more fashion modeling period of my life as most of my followers were young teen girls.

Did you model or do photography before you joined the site? Where? How is Zivity different?

I did model extensively before Zivity, but I have suspended all my other websites in which I was posting material and I plan to keep my sets exclusive on Zivity at least for the time being as right now it suits my output perfectly and I love that it’s so organized not to mention all the members so far have all turned out to be awesome, interesting, interactive people. I also enjoy Zivity because it is very different in the way that it’s challenging, the prizes are a great motivation to create themed photo sets, the people are all around very friendly and the voting system is something I’ve never seen on other sites.

You have a very dark and edgy appeal - what drew you into fetish/bondage modeling? How does it reflect your personality? 

I found myself being drawn to the lifestyle at a pretty young age mainly out of interest in the fashion. As I’ve gotten older and more experienced I’ve developed a greater taste for the lifestyle. As a girl with a dominant personality and a kink for bondage it was natural for me to find an affinity to the fetish scene. I feel it reflects my personality greatly because of my strong individuality, though I also have a weakness for being dominated, tied up, gagged and spanked despite my self-assured qualities *wink*. Being called a model (fetish or not) unfortunately does not reflect to the full extent my artistic skills, since I do my own styling and make up and I am also a painter I feel that simply being labeled as a model makes me out to be more of a prop than a creator.

Describe your biggest fantasy!

I don’t really hold a big fantasy as I usually get to live out anything I set my mind too, but if I were to say something off the top of my head it would involve a night out in the town, good food, a fun show, lots of booze, and lots of beautiful, sexy punk boys and girls to share my bed with. The rest is too explicit to share ;)

What are you trying to communicate through photography?

My main focus on modeling and what I am trying to communicate through photography is to inspire art while expressing myself. I love to support and expose people to the alternative lifestyle and modeling makes this possible. As far as adult modeling goes I find the raw sexuality to be both exhilarating and empowering! Clearly I’m a bit of an exhibitionist and I find it very arousing to know that my photos get to be viewed by countless people.

How did you learn about Zivity? What sold you on joining?

Kassandra Love contacted me on FetLife and told me about the site. She thought I’d like it and she was right! I had been hearing about Zivity over the years and thought maybe it was time I try it out!

How would you describe Zivity to someone who has never heard of it?

I would describe Zivity as a site where models and photographers can finally post full sets which are slightly more sexual but still very artistic and make money while doing it, which can never be a bad thing! I’ve always run into problems with my work being a little too racy and extreme, but Zivity gives me the chance to demonstrate the full potential of my sets without having them be rejected. Zivity supports art of every kind while also allowing a voting system for the artists to make money off their hard work and allowing fans and admirers to enjoy it. This combination on Zivity has lead to the members being all very supportive of one another and I have felt very welcome since I’ve joined so I would definitely recommend it to other fellow models.

You have a lot of tattoos - which one is your favorite and what does it mean? 

My favorite tattoo is the bats around my bellybutton. I chose to do it when I got out of an abusive five year relationship in which I was very controlled so when I left the relationship I decided to get my first tattoo as a sign of freedom. I got the bats because I’ve always been a bit of a goth at heart, I thought the bats flying around the bellybutton were a cute representation of bats around a batcave which was a good icon for me as I am very into old school goth/deathrock music and last, yet most important, the bats are flying which symbolizes freedom and independence.

What was your first body modification? What was that experience like?

I think my first body mod was my septum or my tongue, I don’t remember which came first. I was only fifteen and I got them done at this place called Ink Man Dan’s in Tampa. The tongue piercing turned out fine but the septum was crooked, pierced through the cartilage, and done incorrectly, as a result it was very painful, the tongue wasn’t too bad,  I think the healing process was the worst part as it swelled so large I was reduced to eating soup broth and stuck with a speech impediment for about a week. My twin and I later Christened the shop “Stink Man Dan’s”. I don’t regret the experience what so ever!

What are some of the things you enjoy when you're not online? 

Watching movies (just finished re-watching the extended uncut LOTR trilogy!) while cuddling with persons unknown, painting, video games (D&D or AD&D based RPG’s), visiting the tea haus to try different teas, sewing as in modifying clothing, cooking and trying new recipes ….and last but not least, while not very geeky I love partying of course! Nothing like a crazy night out to get my blood flowing, along with other things *wink*

Are you passionate about anything else? What is it? Why?

I am extremely passionate about painting and almost every form of art, I love getting lost for hours in my paintings. I am also very ardent about environment and animal rights issues. I live by a vegan diet and I can make anyone’s taste buds orgasm with my cooking.

Why are you a vegan? How long have you been one?

It’s a very controversial subject so I won’t go into it too much. I chose to become vegan for animal rights. I’ve been vegan for a little over a year after I became exposed to a lot of information about animal cruelty and environmental activism, today I could never dream going back to meat or dairy products. I do plan to go completely vegan with my lifestyle once I retire from modeling but choosing a career path like modeling is not very lenient with a vegan lifestyle though I try my very hardest to avoid animal products or items tested on animals and have turned down many modeling offers due to this. 

When did you know that art was something that you wanted to pursue?

I knew I had a niche in art when I took it as an elective in high school and I picked up painting quite effortlessly. I wouldn’t truly call it a career, I’ve drifted away from painting a lot since I started modeling so it’s a hobby that has taken a seat on the back burner, though my techniques have evolved over time, just as any would with enough practice, unfortunately as long as the hobby remains on the back burner my techniques will remain untrained.

Art by RazorCandi:

(For more of her art, check out her DeviantArt here)

 What themes would you like to explore more of with your art?

I would like to explore using different mediums. I only recently moved onto oil which was not taught to me in school, I was mainly trained to use tempera paint and acrylics so oil is certainly something I’d like to study more. As far as themes go I would like to branch off to more fantasy and ethereal styles like Boris Vallejo and also darker stuff likeHieronymus Bosch style.

Do you think that your art has pushed you forward as an individual?

Since I started out with art at an early age I would definitely say that art has pushed me into being creative and more of an individual. Art has helped me develop a very keen eye for details and has exposed my mind to imaginative and very inventive thoughts. It is hard for me not to observe the world outside of an artistic point of view.

 Do you feel that art has shaped your identity over the years? In what ways?

Absolutely. I feel art has pressed me to expand my mind and creativity thus forming my identity into a very visional persona. Painting is a very emotional process for me, just as modeling and preparing for a shoot is, these steps all construct strong artistic qualities in my personality. I feel art has allowed me to psychologically and physically express myself.

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It's certainly starting to feel like fall around Zivity HQ and that means crisp leaves underfoot and hot drinks by the fire. It also means you get to take a peek at some of our favorite fall sets. Oh, and if you like outdoor themed sets then you should take a look at this post to see even more.

Adora in Warm and Fuzzy by jeffwalls

FawnyaFrolic in Fauntastic by PiratePhotography

Gwendolyn in Nature Goddess by Craigman

LadyFuchsia in Autumn by PiratePhotography

Marley in Escape by Evielene

MissMicaela in Fall by beaufoto

Radeo in Woodland Creature by AlissaBrunelli

SexyKitten in Leave Me Be by chrismaverick

uhhciara in Her Echoes They Surround by Shurie

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You might well see a Zivity artist!  I am so inspired by nature, and how it is always changing and progressing, and it seems many of our Zivity artists agree, so here is a feature all about the beauty of nature, always made better by a beautiful lady.  Whether is the open desert, the wilds of a forest, a cold river or a beach in summer, Zivity models have posed everywhere!

Kitty13/PiratePhotography

xxxx

ps.  if you want a particular theme for a blog, suggest it to me!  And if you want to know how I find all these awesome sets, it's easy, the search bar is fab!

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WOW lot's of great new sets were uploaded this week so we thought we'd share some of our favorites with you.

CharlotteRabbit in Rose by Pirate Photography

chrissydaniels in Sunday's Desire by megschutz photography

alyshaaa in What a Horrible Night To Have a Curse by CorwinPrescottII

Scarlet Saint in Long distance love affair by Pirate Photography

Cohen_ in Virgo: Virgin Maiden by Cohen_

gin in Weird Science by Sunnachan

Nekrofelia in Shadows by Nekrofelia

Porcelain in Parisian Nights by CorwinPrescottII

ShellySunshine in Comfy Cozy by KrizanekPhotography

Spaci in Yummy Bunny by themorty

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