“Having What She Is Having”

I keep my cell phone on and near me at all times. I seriously think it has to do with being part of the beeper generation (yes, I know I aged myself there). Another part of it is that I have been blessed with the kind of friends that call me at random hours to do things. Luckily, this model of Blue comes with the endurance to figure out the how 20 seconds after I said yes (and 3 minutes after I walked out the door).

 It was a surprise that Anthelian called me when he did. Not really because he called me randomly; he always does that. But that it had been so long. The amazing photographer was always travelling around taking stellar pictures of some of the most phenomenal people and locations. It had been almost a year since we had been in the same place to hang out. So I wasn’t as used to his call to action, which never disappoints. So, after finishing out work, I was off to a bar to meet a friend, and make a new one. 

I run into Anthelian and we take a few to catch up before he introduces me to the lovely woman next to him: Lavella.  She was very smart, flexible and willing to take a few chances.  She was only in town for one more night and had a soft spot for rope. Anthelian brought me out there to see if I could oblige her.  That part was the easy one. The hard one was where. I suggested bombing locations, but it was a bit cold. It was Anthelian who came up with the crazy idea to talk to some bar owners, and see who would let us shoot. I thought he was being a little too risky, but it was in very short order, he got us a place to shoot in the back of a active bar.

Lavella seemed to be nothing but happy to be in rope.  And that’s something to say for New Yorkers: they don’t get fazed by much. Some random person seeing us set up asked their friend: “Is that girl getting tied up?” The friend said, “Yea”. And that was all the conversation I heard about it for the hour or so we tied and shot her. Lavella was fine once the tie was on, and Anthelian never lost a stride. So I just relaxed, rolled with the moment and got a great shot of my art.

I tipped the bartender quite a bit, and headed out with my friends. It was nice to shoot outside of my element. It’s a different kind of edgy. And a different kind of fun. Just like Anthelian and Lavella. And I cant wait for the next call like that… whenever it come in.

Later.

“This one time at Rope Camp, I bound a beauty at Sunrise”

 So the circus was a success, the ties were epic and good times were had by all. But there was one more story to be told. One more experience to have.

 Annie Sky, the silly mind that came up with the idea for the circus in the first place, was actually busy during it’s happening. And I happened to have a sunrise rope date fall through, due to partying hard the night before. So, I made a deal with her: she gets up at sunrise, she gets rope.

 We had tried to do this earlier in the weekend, but it didn’t work out due to lack of food. And, to be honest, I was afraid that the night’s excitement was just gonna wipe her out. So when I woke up and took my shower to the rising sun to find no one in her bed, I wasn’t surprised.  When I came out however, she was just laying down. I asked her if she was still game, and, as she stated, she was, “Born ready.”

 We went to a structure in the middle of the camp space, and I just fell into the tie. It was a quiet tie, with the fog, and the slow warmth of the sun, and Annie all happy in the middle. In the end, she looked stellar in the rope, and happy to rise with the sun, in more ways than one.

 That tie was the last rope I did at Rope Camp. And what a way to end the experience. I’ve already been asked to return this year, And trust me, I’ll be there with rope and energy aplenty, ready to make some more stories happen.

Later.

“This one time at Rope Camp, I ran a 3-Rig Circus”

So yea about this circus… 

My awesome friend Ammre tapped me before Rope Camp about a very very large ring. The bad boy had to be about 3 ft in diameter. When you consider that in general rope folks use rings roughly 8 inches across… well this was a monster. So when she said she didn’t want to bring it unless it was going to be used, I promised I’d figure out something awesome for it.

I had just picked it up and was heading back to the NYR cabin as a hot scene with Graydancer, Poetic Desires, and Annie Sky. Annie sees the giant ring and asks what it’s for. I admit that I’m not sure yet, but I’m positive it will rock. She says that it looks like something used in a circus…. And then it hits her.

“You guys should have a circus!” I first I dismissed the idea, thinking a circus on this short notice was just impossible.  Then I started to figure it out, seeing the possible fun of our cabin running a circus in the middle of rope camp. But I couldn’t plan it alone. So I told Annie and an excited Poetic if they could convince Gray and Dov to help me out, we’d bring the circus to town. Poetic tells that tale better than I do, but long story short, they were in and the Three Rig Circus was on.

I decided to do an aerial act with a girl sitting in the ring. But who was I going to get on such short notice to get in this thingie? Never let it be said that the Rope Gods don’t provide, for it wasn’t 10 minute after asking my self this question that the beautiful and spontaneous Janice Stine came over to say hello and harass me for making her get in the pool naked (another story for another time). When I told her what I was thinking, she said, “Well, I’ll do it.” I was shocked. I was amazed. I was… not so speechless to forget to say thank you and take her up on her offer.

One of the things that Janice brings to a tie is a wonderful balance of grace and fun. Tied within the ring, she was a sky bound ballerina one moment, and a kid in a tire swing at the park the next. It was nothing but fun. People cheered. And Poetic got this pic of us making the art.

Folks enjoyed the circus so much, that we’ve already been asked to come back and do another one. It’s a good thing Annie had that idea. And a better thing that she wakes up early so I was able to properly thank her in the morning. But that’s a story for, well next time. Come back this way so I can share it with you.

 Later.

“This one time at Rope Camp, I got to rig a Rope Savant”

So, I told you about breakfast. And so you know, the meals just kept getting better at this event.

It couldn’t have been very long after I scarfed down lunch did the beautiful Celeste poke me about rope.  The young rope savant was amassing skill as a capable rope top at a phenomenal rate. As skilled as she was becoming, she still had a passion to be bound. We did rope once before this, and had things get in the way before round two. I had rope and camera (thanks to afore mentioned Cabin Bitch), and there was no way I was going to let lighting miss twice.

The tie was open and soft at points, but intense and technical at others. Al the while I could feel her exploring the shape of the kinbaku with her limbs, her spirit. And then there was the moment where she just fell into it, and enjoyed the way the wind spun her. That afternoon she was bathed in sun, sky, and jute. She repaid me with bliss in front of the camera.

The time ended for our adventure together, with the hope that a next time would come, and soon.  Celeste wandered off to go and explore herself on both sides of the rope the rest of that weekend.  I went to revel in the memory of the tie, and rest. After all, I had a circus to plan…

Yup, I said circus.  Come on back later and find out how the circus came to Rope Camp.

Later.

 “This one time at Rope Camp, I was the entertainment for a Safety Meeting.”

Ready for another Rope Camp Story? I hope so. Cause I sure got one. 

The NYR’s were up pretty late with the Hitatchi Firing Squad experiment (Yes, you read that right, and it’s a story for another time), so by the time I actually walked into the cafeteria for breakfast, it was later than usual and the caffeine need was higher than usual. This means that unlike every other day, I hadn’t done anything evil before 9am. So when Cat, the director of Rope Camp, says “Speak of the devil, there he is now”,  my first thought is “Really! I didn’t do it this time!! Like I swear!”

How right I was. And I was about to fix that oversight.

Cat was actually pointing me out to the beautiful and spunky Phoenix. Apparently she had brought up in conversation that she had wished to be tied to a tree, and it hadn’t happened yet. Cat was suggesting me, and Phoenix was quite happy with the idea. She wasn’t the only one. A good tie was better than coffee to me. So, if she was free, breakfast be damned, I’d rig her up right then.

Her eyes lit up at the prospect, and then faded a little. She was on staff for the event, and there was a mandatory safety meeting. I began to think of when I would be free next when Cat said that she would move the meeting outside so Phoenix could get tied up. I looked at Cat, and reminded ,that she should offer anything se wasn’t serious about, that I had no problems with this, that she had better be serious.

She looked straight into my eyes and said “This is my serious face”

 This worked for me.

 So it was, that I went straight out from the cafeteria, to the nearest tree based hardpoint, and began to wrap the gleeful and bouncy Phoenix into a wonderful pattern of rope…. Then flipped her upside down, like an egg.  The sunny side was up, indeed.

True to her word, Cat brought the meeting there, and Phoenix could hear it all. People asked if they could shoot it,  and she was okay with photos of her. It was then that I found my dilemma. I my walk to the cafeteria, I did not bring a camera. I just didn’t think I’d need it that early (Yes, I did bring rope with me, because I always carry rope… especially at Rope Camp). But while I did not have my camera, I did have my voice…. And NYR cabin had a Cabin Bitch.

A Cabin Bitch is like a submissive personal assitant that is smart, skilled, and obedient when you need those things. I needed that now. So I breathed in and went “Lets see if this works…CABIN BITCH!!!” 

Lo and behold, running across the camp like a bat out of hell, My awesome Cabin Bitch flew to my side, took my instructions to get my camera, bolted away, and returned in no time. This allowed me to get the great shot you see here. 

Phoenix was extremely pleased with her tie, and she wasn’t alone.  The rest of the staff was happy with the meeting’s entertainment. They went off to their duties with a smile in their heart, tho one’s smile was a bit brighter.

And this was my breakfast. Come back later, and I’ll let you know how lunch went.

Later.

“This one time at Rope Camp, I caught up with a friend… and a rainbow.”

Hope your summer has been as busy as mine has been. I did tell you about some of Rope Camp,  with our disco ball fiasco. But, as you would guess of a place all about rope, and not about limits, that wasn’t all the fun to be had.

Bur not all fun is about late night clandestine jaunts rife with danger (thought those are fun), some of them are about happy reconnections. This one was with someone who as already appeared here. And hopefully, you will be as glad to see her as I was.

While the NYR’s and I were recovering from last night’s silliness (and planning that night’s trouble) I found out that none other than Laura Unbound was passing through Rope Camp. She was fresh from FetishCon, here on a day pass, and hungry for a little rope and fun.

The last time I got to do a fun tie with her, we were sneaking into buildings in NYC. So this was a little different. Plenty of time to tie, a perfect sunny day, and no reason to not just take our time. So we did. She told me some of her FetCon exploits, I caught her up with silliness in my world. All the while telling jokes and connecting differently than most pictures of bondage would have you believe is possible. Bondage, at it’s core, is connecting things. But what is connected does not always need to be intimate. What is always connected is time. What you do with it is up to you. What we did was spend that time hanging out. Well, Laura did most of the hanging. 

The tie was lighthearted as well, a bit of experimentation, a bit of trust, and a bunch of fun. With a bright sunny day, I was able to get a slew of pics, but this one, where the rainbow peeked out to be part of the shot was my favorite.

Laura always makes a tie awesome, not just for how she looks in it, but what she brings to it. And I was surely grateful for it then.  I was grateful our time got bound, and what we did with it.

Still got a few more stories about rope camp to pass on to you. And a few more shots as well. Hopeully you come tomorrow to see what’s next.

Later.

“Blue’s Travels: The Pennsic War Rope Bomb”

Hiya.

 I know. I’ve been quiet since Rope Camp. The rest of that weekend was pretty amazing, and the Nyr’s got into quite a bit of trouble after our little disco incident. There was a hitachi firing squad and a 3-rig circus, but those are tales for a bit later.

 Right now, I’m going to tell you about what happened after rope camp. I was finally convinced by Lord Percival to attend my first ever Pennsic War. For all of you who aren’t in the know, this is like the biggest SCA event of the year.  Over 11,000 folks were there this year, and Percival teaches kink out of his camp. It was good to be a valued member of his team and showing folks some of my work. But upon my first night, I found out that no amount of medieval clothing can hide me from my present.

 Upon being recognized as “That guy who does those Rope Bombs in NYC” the question was brought up if there was going to be one at Pennsic. Percival was already all about it and trying to get me to agree to the plan. I of course, was a bit apprehensive. This place was a bit out of my element, and I was without my co-leads in a place where most of these guys never did organized guerilla suspensions before. Also where would we do it. To that, the wise and shiesty Lord had a place in mind. And the fucker knew me well. Upon seeing it, I was so in.

 One of the most notable places in Pennsic was the fort on the battlefield. All the fights took place in front of it. It was iconic of the area. It was guarded at night. It was…perfect for a rope outing.

 Well, with a little scouting and planning, we descended upon it under the light of the full moon, rigged like crazy, got us a shot taken by the lovely Aaradyn , and disappeared as the clouds rolled in to cover our escape.  I just got the pic today and felt the need to share.

 People are already asking me to come back to Pennsic, not just for the chance to get me in armor, but also for the chance to get them in rope at random places. And if I do make it out, I got a place or two that will just have to get bombed. Which goes to show you: Ya cant take me anywhere without rope getting into the equation. ;)

 Later.

“Mecha-Kate and the Revival of Disco”

Heya. 

I know I’ve been quiet, but I have been on the road doing so much stuff, it’s a bit daunting. I just left The Floating World in New Jersey (which I will tell you about later), and then had to turn around for the first inaugural Rope Camp. To say it has been pretty awesome so far is an understatement. One of the things that have made it such, is the “Nyr’s”

Our cabin was set up under the name “NY Riggers”, as the original people were from that area. People of such skill as Dov and El Ramon. We also got the import of the insightful Graydancer and amazing Margo Eve. While scoping the area for fun places to tie, I was talking about having fun in the N.Y.R. cabin, and Dov put the letters together and call us the “Ny-er” cabin. All of us present thought sound like some kind of Tolkien imp. So, we took the name as our own, and like imps, we decided to live up to the mischievous stereotype.

Enter: The Disco Ball.

On the same walk, we went into one of the old barns that would house some of the classes. We spied a ceiling beam, put our brains together, and assessed it as load-bearing. As such, we considered it a possible place to do a suspension. When we left, Remi (one of our cabin mates and a rope bomber) spied a disco ball. We assed the ball as badass, and decided that we *had* to do a suspension in this space and use the ball. But who would be up for such a wild tie?

Enter: Mecha-Kate

Kate is already helping me in a pinch by being my demo bottom for a few of my classes this weekend. Dov and I agreed she would be perfect for the shoot with her flexibility and her beauty. When we brought the idea up, she was stoked, and that night we descended on the old barn. 

It took a while to get the people and equipment up and running, but Kate was a pro and completely part of the team on this run. She was willing to wait and willing to speak up when need be to offer ideas and suggestions. It was her idea to tie the ball to her ankle, which allowed this shot to take place. 

Mid-shoot, while we were on a break, a few people from the Camp staff came in and were concerned about what we were doing. While they were not sure that the beam was load-bearing, they did trust the amassed experience of the riggers and rope bottoms there. We were able to continue, which was also when we got this shot. 

This morning, the beam was deemed unsafe by the staff. This is their well thought out choice. There is no guaranteed way to “check” a hardpoint. You assess risk based on experience, study, theory, science, and gut instinct. Our instincts told us we could handle that risk last night, but not everyone may be that lucky. They considered the skill levels of the entire camp, and those are different variables. It is something to be extremely careful of in your adventures. But our chance bore fruit, and for one more night, Disco lived again. 

I wonder what we will do next time to set a standard or create a line that no one should dare cross a second time? Well, we got 3 more days to find out how much trouble the Nyr imps can get into. Whatever it will be, it will be born of artistic inspiration, tempered with intense risk assessment and mitigation, and executed with all the skill we can muster. 

I can’t wait.

Later.

“Adventures in Beta-Testing Low Light Lenses”

Heya. Sorry I didn’t get this up yesterday. Tumblr was just swamped with folks putting up sexy pics and blogging. You all must have had one hell of a friday night. :)

Well, you weren’t alone.

For me, it involved a new lens that could shoot an much lower light than the one I had, a secluded location, and the sensuously loyal Kytten. She’s always interested in field testing equipment, from ropes to lighting gear. So off we went into the night to see what we could get.

It took a few minutes to get used to the prime lens. No more zooming in for me, and I love zooming in. However the ability to shoot like we did in that light was amazing. I shot there before and got nothing without a flash. this time, it was almost like midday with all the street lamps. So I brought the tech, Kytten brought her beauty, and it was a great shoot.

Being by the river also helped with the heat some. Even though it meant Kytten had to deal with the party boats passing by. But she took it like a trooper and endured quite well.

As I do a lot of night shooting, this was a wise investment for me. Hopefully over the next 2 weeks, I will get to show you a few more ideas I have for it. Better start looking at the evening sky ;)

Later.