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!

Suite 301 Experience with Elroy Powell

I had quite a unique experience in London a few weeks ago. I never thought I'd handle doing a video shoot, and though I've had some experience featured in events, it was to be all solo and as a matter of fact on-line for all to see, Well certainly a great change to doing stills all the time! London-based music producer, photographer and videographer Elroy "Spoonface" Powell contacted me through Model Mayhem where he even posted a casting call searching for models to appear in his website to promote his production company. Now that's something different! And definitely to add in my diversified portfolio of work.

Elroy scheduled the shoot the weekend before I was due to arrive in England. As I expressed my disappointment at this and keenness to work with him, he kindly arranged an additional day for 20 February 2011, for which I have been most grateful. Luckily another model was shooting the same evening so I didn't feel bad he'd arranged one especially for me. The promotion was to be based on the theme "Suite 301" involving various exotic models being photographed, interviewed and videoed in and around, you guessed it, Suite 301 of a North London hotel. I took the tube there and arrived at the hotel where Elroy greeted me. And what a nice guy! Very polite, professional and making sure I was comfortable throughout the shoot. He even provided healthy treats like water, fruit juices, fruits and ok flapjacks...not quite healthy but certainly beats Jaffa cakes! Not many togs would do that.

We started with me entering the room in the outfit I came in and introducing myself on video. Then Elroy had this bright idea of me doing that all in Japanese. Having been out of the country since 1994, and hence not having much opportunities to speak it, that completely threw me off! Still I managed by switching into my Japanese mode and being giggly, humble and acting "cute", you'd think I was a totally different person. Now that would certainly add value to my work experience and add diversity to the Suite 301 promotion! For the other video clips though, it was all back in English so I was back to my more confident "Westernised" self, hence positively enhancing versatility. Many of my peers in UK were also rather surprised to see the other side of me. I've certainly Elroy to thank for thinking about this!

Througout the day, we shot in different settings. On the bed where I rolled around in lingerie or in the nude playing with silky fabric, one in black another in red. That was a lot of fun, bringing out the inner child in me! Then in the closet in my red lingerie all huddled up in the narrow space and hanging on the rails. Thankfully I'm rather flexible and small while not so claustophobic. Then it was the most unusual part: slathering myself in baby oil and moving around a leather armchair to enhance sheen. He'd take photos in low key to make a fine art nude effect. Then into the shower! I didn't mind getting my hair wet or my make-up smudged but my eyes started stinging trying to keep them open. Oh well! Worth the fun. Finally, when I got out and dried myself, I changed into some black bra and panties as Elroy was shooting me dancing to some sexy music.

It was such a productive, exciting and interesting day. It's always good to have a new challenge now and again, and this certainly was one of them! Now, Elroy has a website for this, and he's even got a limited-edition book out! I'm considering getting it as it'll remind me of what a fun shoot it was and how chuffed I am being among these other beautiful models featured. By the way, Elroy is looking for models for his various projects, the more exotic-looking the better, but really it doesn't matter as long as you're sexy, vivacious and fun! Get in touch with him via www.suite301.co.uk. You get my recommendation for working with him, he's awesome!

Oh... and don't forget to check out the videos on the Miu's Videos page!!