The boys met in San Francisco...

The boys met in San Francisco...we made art for a few days...it was fun, creative and at times stressful for myself. Some things didn't go as planned, but all in all it was another great experience staying at Jimmy's place, the William Westerfield House. We walk and we walked and then...walked some more. I photographed Stellar with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. It was almost "therapeutic", I'm still emotionally attached to the memory of Bray. Sam flew from Canada to be with us, Jesse moved back to San Francisco after living in Texas for awhile. I picked Stellar up in Pasadena, he'd been there a few days...took a bus from Las Vegas to Cali.
Here are a few pics from our time together.

LIMITED TIME ONLY, PROMO BOOK AVAILABLE

....AT: WWW.BLURB.COM
SEARCH: AMERICA'S FINEST KIDS

NOTE: Zander is not fully nude in this, so that'll make him happy that I've cleared it up...when you see the actual book...the INDEX page lists all the images and who is in each picture.

So, if you want this book...get it now, not sure how long I'll have it up on Blurb. Some people tell me to re-design it, cut it in half for fashion people, others tell me to leave it as is for the art people, others say this or that...well, what the fuck ever ya know...it's just for promo for a short while...I'll have a book published eventually by someone like TASCHEN, a Publishing House with some real ballz!

Okay, that's fucking that....
Peace,

~Terry

TOM NICON & MODEL/ACTOR/YOUTH SUICIDES

This morning as I signed onto my hotmail account, got my daily bulletin/update from MODELS.COM, it was sad to read through the comments regarding the passing of the Model, Tom Nicon. I did not know this young man...but have learned some of the possible reasons for him taking his life. People have all kinds of ideas about why others take their lives...I've lost too many friends this way. In my documentary it's a bit of a juxtaposition...including sexuality, innocence and suicide in the over all story.

Of course one must live a life first before being in a state of mind to consider and then end it. There must be a strong foundation for us to fall back on as we mature and move on in this life...it's never easy and often times can be overwhelmingly impossible to understand, and yet, living...the simple act of it has value. We the human race, come from all walks of life, cultures...some are familiar to us and some ways of life seem and feel incredibly foreign.

For many years I have said that all things in this World revolve around the reality of "relationships". Regardless of where we are or what we do, it's something we all deal with, accepting, rejecting, embracing, rejoicing in relationships...each and every day.

Models and those that dream of the "Celluloid lifestyle"...all have value, it sometimes appears only to be surface or superficial...the Industry of modeling, the Fashion World, Art World, Entertainment Industry...it's all about money, power, sex and ego...where is the real value? Clothing is clothing, Art is Art, a Film goes away in 90 minutes...it will be and has always been "the relationship". Humanity, we are amazingly complex and beautiful creators...truly from the inside out. We're drawn to the surface, but what really connects is the emotion, feeling, love which comes from within.

Regardless of our own desires for that which is superficial, sexy and fun...let's never ever become so limited in our human experience that we forget our humanity.

Let's all perpetuate life!

Sincerely,

Terry Smith

You can eat a meal at WENDY'S for only $2.70

Wow, what a value! I'm budgeting my days...getting ready for my week up in San Francisco...it'll be nice to see my friends up north and it'll be nice for those coming to see me...the road trip should be beautiful...I love the scenery of this amazingly beautiful State of California. Folk music, Bob Dylan or Woody Guthrie...hmmm, both are fine for the road...TOOL and Hendrix too. Well...I gotta say I'm thinking of Dylan...definately one of "America's Finest Kids"...such a loving, caring human being...this is a pic from one of our shoots. Peace to you my friend.

~Terry

Thinking of BRAY

I'm thinking of Bray, he would be 21 tomorrow...I'm sad because some people that are supposed to be a friend...they just fucking don't get it. Sure, I love what I do, I take pictures of beautiful young guys...so, does that mean I can't enjoy my life. There is a price to pay, to create art, make friends with those that are younger...those that think I'm "the shit"...(a compliment)...they love my photography and sometimes they love me too. Who knows, maybe I will finish this film...maybe not. All I know is photography keeps me alive; being alive can be a good thing. I wish Bray was here so I could hold him...walk on the beach and reflect on what's going on...all around us.

Selah,

~T

meet Ernest from NEW MEXICO

This is Ernest, about 3 weeks ago he flew to San Diego to shoot and film with me...also he shot with Kevin Medina-Esquival. So, I picked him up at the airport and we went to the Apartment in Hillcrest that a friend fixed me up with for 4 days...seeing as how I lost my elder care job...the old man got put in a nursing home and his son was an ass-hole and just booted me out. Oh' well, guess he did me a favor.

Ernest is so cool, we had a blast photographing in color and in black & white, I still shoot 35mm ya know. He had fun making out with Kevin; interesting pics we got. We walked around the City, day and at night...taking all kinds of pictures, I set up a studio in the living room, we shot in the bedroom, bathroom. He wanted to do something in the shower or tub, so I fixed him up with "Mr. Bubble", lol

I really feel that he has great potential as a Model or as an Actor, really cool personality...almost a Brando'esque kinna attitude. Ernest can also be very theatrical as we did some light make up and he wore fish net, very sexy and wild. Okay everyone...

pEaCe OuT!

~T

Tennessean

Yes Sir, just photographed another boy from Tennessee...something must be in the muddy water. I got a message from photographer Ethan James, told me about Nathan's in San Diego...leaving next day, may want to do a shoot.
I called him up on the phone, we decided to do a shoot together...picked him up at the Marriott, his plans here had fallen through. We shot most of the images at the bridges, one of my fave places to shoot graffiti...love the lighting. Funny thing is, a family rode by on their bicycles, haha...got a "free show"! We had a good time and got along well...it was nice to clean up at his fancy room, got on with my evening and he packed for the Limo's early morning pick up.