Shibari Shoots in Sweden

I spent my first White Christmas and New Years 2013 in Sweden.  It was so wonderful to spend it with Dmitri Reyer and his family as well as chill and escape the concrete jungle of Tokyo, where I had been for the last 6 weeks.  During that time, we also worked together and shot loads, as Dmitri discovered a new interest: Shibari!  Whilst in Japan, he had an introductory lesson from a French shibari artist and decided it would be good to practice it on me and produce some amazing photos.  And we did!

During the trip in Sweden we had at least four fruitful sessions for the bondage shoots.  Over time, Dmitri got more confident and was getting the knack quickly though we need to practice more.  I am, in fact, having so much fun being his guinea pig as well as his muse, so am happy to help him.  Traumatised by the damaged nerve I succumbed to in 2011, though, we are being extra careful and avoiding any “crazy” stuff like suspension and inversions.   It is more about showcasing the beauty of the female form in rope bondage we’re after rather than the physical effect rope bondage has on the female.  As such we were aiming to create something refined, artistic and even subtle whilst combining it with something as raw and edgy as shibari bondage.  

Dmitri had this ingenious idea of using the family piano as a prop.  The intention was to produce a piece called “Piano Lesson” in which we were hoping to involve another model as a dominatrix-style teacher, whereas I was to be the pupil all tied up in front of the piano.   Unfortunately this other model became unavailable so we proceeded to do this solo.  The image turned out just as wonderful!  I was tied to the chair with my arms bound to the back and both legs to the chair legs with the chest harness tied to the piano pedals.  To give this image a more classical feel, I was in nothing but my black holdups and stiletto heels.  Then Dmitri processed this image in a 1920’s retro-style mood.  Posted on his Facebook page we were chuffed to notice that within 24 hours we received a record nearly-60 likes!

Another living room shoot we did involved some hanging on ropes.  I had my hands tied together which was then suspended on a loop nailed to the ceiling.  Then my left knee was to be bent and the ankle suspended to the ceiling as well, whilst showing off the ultra-high stilletos.  To add some interesting effect, my hair got tied with some rope and suspended as well!  Captured from the profile view, it produced a sexy yet stunning high-fashion style image as I was wearing nothing but a collar, black suspenders, stockings and heels!

Much of the bondage shoots, though, was spent in the basement storage area. It was spread out over a few evenings, each lasting a few hours.  After 11pm or so nobody visits it so we can afford to sneak in for some nude bondage shots. The area was rather confined but created the right sort of cold and solitary atmosphere: painted grey concrete floor, white walls and wooden doors. During the first few shoots I donned a latex head mask breathable only through the nose.  Not recommended for the claustophobic but it was certainly worth it!  The images turned out tremendously dramatic with all the ropework which was simple yet restraining.  With Dmitri capturing the images in various angles, namely from the top upwards, the result was quite edgy and striking especially with the stiletto shoes.  In fact, the aim here was to combine fetish with “high fashion” which I think we achieved successfully.

We also worked on creating portraits using the fetish theme.  This time, it involved me wearing nothing but a black leather collar that inscribed “SLAVE” in metal with small chains around the collar loops and wrapping my wrists together hence restricting my movement.  I am supposed to look ecstatic with my eyes closed looking sensually feminine.  I would definitely like to develop this idea more in the future by maybe using a blindfold and having red lipstick on. 

I always enjoy working with Dmitri.  Though rather new to fetish photography, I love that he constantly thinks of ideas and concepts whilst coming up with something new.  We look forward to shooting more once back in Tokyo.  The storage room in my Tokyo apartment is definitely a must.  Can’t wait to shoot more! 

Stockholm Tour Trilogy - Window Display

The Bitch

In addition to classic nudes, I am looking to extend my fetish portfolio and explore erotica.  Unlike glamour or fashion modelling, they have no age limit if well pulled off.  It’s all about the art of making a statement and leaving the viewer with awe.  Fetish involves role playing to one’s fixations and fantasies, and thus, I find the idea of being in control wearing latex and boots just as exciting as being subject to the beautiful art of rope bondage.  Erotica aims to provoke and tease without the “in your face” vulgarity.   Not to be confused with pornography, it means exposing yourself elegantly and looking refreshingly sensual as opposed to overtly sexual.  The purpose is to leave the viewer imagining with the wow factor.

I was lucky to be able to capture a few such images during my trip.  Dmitri Reyer, the photographer with whom I was travelling in Sweden, has also been looking to explore the more outrageous.  So we decided to shoot some discreetly naughty yet subtly classy images in the living room using the natural light from the window.  We wanted to capture this “home” feel for a more spontaneous effect.  Again all the images were nude but it was about projecting a statement and focussing on the emotions.  The first set I was to assume a submissive role.  I wore nothing but a collar and leash, tugging at it whilst staring aimlessly out the window.  I really liked this image because it captured helplessness and despair without any exaggerated facial expressions of fear.   Relying on the natural light coming in from the window further enhanced the calm but gloomy mood.

In Waiting

And now for some role reversal and some truly bitchy stuff!  Dmitri cleared the dining table and had me sit on it.   Then had me wear nothing but my infamous pair of über-high Perspex platform sandals embellished with “BITCH” spelt loud and clearly across the side in diamante.  I sat and propped my legs and knees up to enhance the shoes which clearly required posing rather indecently.  To top it all, I had this  “don’t think you can f*** with me” smirk on my face.  And you’d think the image would turn out vulgar?  Wrong!  With clever lighting, correct facial expression and making the image black and white, the result came out very tastefully.   Even our parents would have been proud!

Another highlight to this shoot was an even more daring pose.  This time, I lay down on the table facing the window with my legs sprawed out.  Yep clearly for all the passer-by’s outside to see!  I must admit that even I was a little apprehensive but thought what the heck, is anyone really going to notice?  Besides, at that time of the day on a weekday in a quiet Stockholm suburb, there was not a soul in sight.  Dmitri took the photo from behind me.  And wow, the result was so stunning!  You can clearly see me with my legs wide open but the image was cleverly taken from an angle so that my chest was obstructing the area between my legs.  Being black and white further made the image look more serious and aesthetically pleasant.  Something that would be perfect for a Taschen photography book!

It is always great fun shooting with Dmitri and experimenting with different concepts.  This time there was a fetish and erotica element to them by being more daring.  The images nevertheless came out so tastefully and elegantly with immaculate lighting, interesting angles and perfect composition.  And he is right, I should stick to being photographed doing more artistic stuff as they suit me best.  It’s wonderful to be reminded that I can still manage to pull off looking exquisite and elegant when I’m nude and even assuming a risqué pose.  I definitely should exploit that.  Thanks so much, Dmitiri, for believing in me.  I look forward to shooting more of these with you again soon!

Exhibitionism

Again, for more of Dmitri's great work, please check out his Facebook Page!!!

Forest, Fetish and Fun

Since being back and settled in the Netherlands, I’ve been trying to get myself known out here too.  This involves travelling around the country quite a bit but it’s certainly worth it!   One of the most memorable is on the Dutch-German border called Terborg, almost 2 hours away from Amsterdam, where photographer Bjorn Hijink is based.   As usual, I somewhat got acquainted with him on Facebook through mutual photographer friends.  So impressed with his work and his friendliness, I didn’t mind the long travel, and besides, it is the part of the Netherlands I have not yet explored.  We set the date of the shoot for 30 July 2012.

Bjorn picked me up from the station and those few minutes or so were quite an adventure. I had no idea we were going to drive across the border into Germany where he lived!  I was greeted by his wife, Marion, who is also a model but was assisting the shoot that day.  And what a wonderful couple they were!  Very hospitable and unassuming, they immediately made me feel at home.

Typical of the area, the weather was changeable.  First it was beautiful and sunny so after an introductory coffee and chat, we drove to the nearby forest to capture some nude shots as well as some skimpy PVC outfits such as the blue shorts and collar from Unzipped and the white top and bottom from Webers, both in Amsterdam.  Within an hour or so it started raining but luckily we had more than enough images to keep us happy.  

We returned to Bjorn and Marion’s beautiful home and continued shooting.  This time we used a semi-outdoors venue which was a staircase from the garden to the basement utility room hence providing natural light from above in a narrow confinement.  We thought that black PVC number from Weber’s in Amsterdam would be ideal, combined with a pair of thigh high boots to provide a dungeon atmosphere.

Our final venue was indoors in the bedroom for some low-key images.  I donned a red fishnet bodysuit I got in Tokyo and posed by the mirrored dressing table.  The red was so beautifully emphasized.  Then I proceeded posing nude wearing these super-high perspect stripper heels on the bed looking “come hither”.  I loved the way these heels stood out like lights.

And the day went by so quickly!  Although exhausted in the end we were very pleased with the outcome.  Bjorn has been rather quick in turning around the images despite having gone on holidays a few days after the shoot.  After having received the final batch a few days ago, I must say I am pleased with all the images and can’t wait to upload them soon!  I will share a few of my favorites here.

Thank you so much, Bjorn and Marion for this wonderful day.  I thoroughly enjoyed this photoshoot.  Let’s definitely do it again!

Getting Exposed Again

Posing among all the Graffitti in a Tunnel in Westerpark, Amsterdam

Since being back from Japan a month ago, I decided to resume modelling out here in Holland too.  Some of the photographers I have worked with before, others for the first time.  One of such is Frank van de Garde who was in fact my first ever photographer I shot with out here in Holland some 3 years ago.  The second time we did a shoot, we drove in the middle of the Netherlands where I got photographed nude in the middle of the countryside.  (See my Flickr page) That was fun, and I really like Frank’s open-mindedness and without pushing boundaries, his comfort with my exhibitionist nature.

This time, 3 years on we finally got around to shooting!  We scheduled for Thursday, 26 July 2012.  We thought it would be a wonderful idea to do an early-morning nude shoot in Westerpark, a park nearby my home in Amsterdam.  Up at 6am, I met with Frank and by the time we got to the park at 7:30 am we walked around quite a bit till we found a secluded spot.  The field was rather swampy and despite me wearing the wrong footgear as was wearing a pair of sandals, it didn’t least bit bother me because I was too excited about being photographed nude outdoors for the first time in even almost a year!

There were quite a few joggers and commuting cyclists scattered about.  Yet, that still didn’t stop me from taking my kit off and getting photographed!  I figured that 99% of the passer-by’s would be too embarrassed to let us know they have noticed or simply keep a blind eye and let us get on with it.  Some will admire us for our bravery, while others will shrug it off thinking, “not for me but hey if they are happy so be it”.  And if they are offended they would just walk away rather than make snide remarks or call the police.  What I like about Dutch society, especially in Amsterdam, is its tolerant attitude.

We shot in a wide variety of places around Westerpark.  First was in the middle of a secluded field although facing a railway line transporting early-morning commuters.  We wondered if any of them would have noticed and joked that we wouldn’t want to cause derailment.  Then we proceeded to the park itself, an area that was more open, just on a small intersection for cyclists, joggers and dog-walkers alike.  We also found a steel sculpture for me to pose as well as a tunnel adorned with graffitti.  It was such a thrill slipping in and out of my lose tube dress and sneaking a quick few snaps.  If it were too late for me to slip my dress back on when someone passed by, all I did was duck!  I am sure a lot of the passer-by’s noticed.  One cyclist cheerfully greeted in Dutch “enjoy your work” and yes we were!

Another spot we found was a small stream with falling water.  Although there were quite a few budget backpackers dozing off on the benches around it, that didn’t stop us from managing a few shots.  We tried to be as quiet as possible but one of them happened to wake up.  I’ll bet he couldn’t believe what he saw, possibly pinching himself hoping it was not all a dream!  After moving to the final set to a brick building with big glass windows and a huge wooden door, we decided to call it the morning.  It was nearly 9am by then and we were craving for some coffee.  We sat down and concluded it was such a fun shoot!

We are now shooting again next week at his pad. Next we will be introducing some crazy Hello Kitty stuff which am looking forward to.  Meanwhile, Frank has been quick at turning around the photos from our Westerpark shoot by sending a few a day.  I thought I’d share a few here on my blog…

And of course, I will be posting some up on Flickr in due course…

The backpacker's dream...

The City that Never Sleeps

Miu surrounded by all the beauties and cuties.  Tiffany is the blonde bombshell on my right.

It’s so wonderful to be modelling again! Whilst in Japan, I had the opportunity to shoot with a few talented and wonderful photographers.  One involved me in bondage by Shuhei Kitagawa, a renowned Shibari artist from Osaka.  Another a rather controversial yet inspiring one of me wearing nothing but a gas-mask, heels and erm... a sort of "toy"!  And how about one of me all starkers on a rooftop off a building in Roppongi over-looking the Shuto Expressway???   And not to mention I had so much fun being snapped like a celebrity all over Aoyama and Roppongi enjoying the Tokyo nightlife whilst hobbling around in my platform sandals even in the crack of dawn!  Am still waiting for more images but I am sure they will well be worth waiting for!

Apart from photoshoots, I had the opportunity to attend a few events in Tokyo.  One of them was the infamous Tokyo Fashionista hosted by beautiful model Tiffany Rossdale on Saturday 30 June 2012.  It was an honour to be escorted by the event’s photographer and my dear friend, Dmitri Reyer, and so keen I was about going that I even postponed my return flight back to Amsterdam for a few more days!

I have to admit that I was very nervous about the party.  So many beautiful gorgeous people, not to mention all the statuesque models and young talented people in the music and dance industry.  But everyone turned out to be genuinely friendly and wonderful.  All were there to have a good time rather than pose for appearance.  No pretentiousness.  I was even introduced to Tiffany with whom I managed to chat briefly over all the pounding music, and what a pleasant person she was!  I was ever so chuffed to be able to meet her at last.

The event went all night till the early hours in the morning.  There were some dance shows and the piece the resistance, a fashion show for swimwear.  Plus a lot of dancing to awesome music.  I was dancing and having so much fun, I felt 21 again, something I haven’t felt for years!  Even with my sexy perspex stripper heels, I was practically bouncing off walls and still managed not to fall on my face.  The only limitation I had was that I was wearing another one of those skimpy hot numbers designed by my friend, Farzana Warasta.  So outrageous was the dress that I had to keep looking down to see if the material would slip to the side and expose my boobs to the public which erm… did  happen a few times.  Oh well!

Another highlight was that I was introduced to a few other photographers clicking away at the event.  A couple of them expressed keen interest to work with me the next time I am back in Japan.  I have yet to figure out if it’s because I of my rather revealing outfit and being so bouncy and mischievous in front of the cameras.  Whatever it is, I do look forward to working with them!   

I believe it was close to 6am and we were still dancing.  Amazing what chugging down cans of Red Bull does to one.  When we left and exited to the street, we were greeted by the daylight along with the groggy Shibuya party-goers.  Then had breakfast at a nearby burger bar.  It made me reminisce about my younger days in Tokyo, partying in Roppongi till dawn… except this time, some 20 years later, am totally sober even hyperactive with all the Red Bull and Starbucks coffee, rather than crawling all over the place blindly intoxicated with whatever the wide range of cocktails I'd been randomly sampling.

Thank you everyone for making one of my last evenings in Tokyo so worthwhile!  I will miss you.  Thanks, Dmitri, for taking me there and introducing me all the wonderful people.  I would also like to thank this talented and wonderful photographer, Nathan Berry, for taking the above photograph and letting me post it.  In fact, I am very honoured that he is keen on working with me the next time I'm in Tokyo.  Look at his work, and you'll know why I am speechless with disbelief that he even wants to collaborate with me!  His stuff can be seen on his website, and also do check out his Facebook page!

Wow... what a night it was... been a while since I enjoyed it so much!  So move over NYC, it is Tokyo which is the city that never sleeps!

Living it up in Tokyo

What Miu's been up to in a Shinjuku convenience store at 2:30am after a Saturday night out...
(with photographer Dmitri Reyer)

Hi, sorry for this few weeks of absence!  I've been rather busy trying to sort out family matters which of course take priority over everything and for which reason I've been in Japan again the last 3 weeks.  During this time, I thought it would be a good time to try phasing myself back into the modelling scene.  It's been a good 4 months!!  Due to family bereavement, I have been putting it all on hold until I was emotionally ready. In fact, I was not too keen to jump start my modelling career so soon. I, however, thought being away from home and traveling to Tokyo in June would give me a fresh start.  Besides, when I announced my coming to Japan on Facebook, quite a few photographers out here have been knocking on my door!  Some I've worked with before, others not.  Well how can I refuse!

Since arriving, I've had quite a hand-full of work.  I had my first shoot in a long time with a pair of Spanish photographers, David Rodriguez Toro and Jordi Olaria with whom I had the honour of working with last September.  We did a lot of artistic fetish and erotica stuff this time.  Then I came across Russian photographer Dmitri Reyer on Facebook who covers a number of "cool" parties and events in Tokyo as well as working with the most stunning models.  I have to say I was chuffed he actually wanted to work with me, let alone even speak to me!  I also had the opportunity for the first time to experiment with body-painting with Singaporean graphic artist Eldred Tjie and American photographer Jay.  Then today, I was called over at the last minute by David to join in on a fetish and erotica shoot featuring Shuhei Kitagawa as the Shibari artist, along with his model, Rei-chan.

Unfortunately, there were some photographers I didn't get to shoot with this time.  Due to time constraints, weather and putting family matters as priority, I had to unfortunately cancel a few shoots out of town.  I have worked with Nagoya-based photographer Jeffrey Johnston a few times already but not yet with Swiss photographer Laurent Schattenmann in Uji (near Kyoto). Sorry guys!!   Next time, I'll make sure I set aside enough time and organise myself more.

I will be posting more blogs in due course as photos arrive.   Still, I just wanted to share my thoughts about coming back into the scene.  It's great!  I'm loving it!  I suppose having a break certainly helped.  Modelling at times takes a lot of you, and you really need to be in the right state of mind to enjoy it.  Once I leave Japan for Holland, I envision going back to modelling more.  There are a few projects on the pipeline involving local photographers and some exciting assignments in Belgium and Germany.  So keep your eyes peeled for more stuff from Miu!