Women Of The Camarialla Calendar Information post to Cam-Announce

Here is a suggested post... in case it helps, instead of posting a link to LJ:Editorial Comment From Photographer of Women of the Camarilla 2006 CalendarHi everyone! My name is Bridgett Harrington, and this is being re posted here by Charles Bailey at my request. Wow! Who would have thought that my artistic vision would cause such an uproar? From concerns about bigotry based on age, gender or aesthetic, to anti-feminist reactions... in just a few days since folks started to hear about it...So, here's my story :)I'm the crazy photographer doing this project.I began in the Camarilla in 1995 as a high schooler just about to enter College. I grew up a gamer- both or my parents did D&D in pamphlet form when if first came out, and as military geeks were avid war-gamers. I was empowered by both of my parents to be a brainiac and an artist, and live both sides of my brain... be a state math competition finalist and pick up a camera at the age of 8 and be allowed to keep it (I still have my OM2).I am also a model. I've been in front of the camera my whole life because my mother taught me that women come in all shapes and sizes, and just because I was the biggest girl in class, that didn't mean I shouldn't be in front of the lens. I make a living as a model and educator, but have a passion for being *behind* the lens, and hope to make my eventual career there, or working back in the museum industry (I have a BA in Arts Administration). I am 5'11", 180lbs, bald, and have big piercings. I am not the girl next door.There is NO stereotypical gamer... male or female. I proposed it not because I wanted to shoot "98 pound, raven-tressed goth models", but because as a tall, curvy bald body-mod'd gamer woman, I want to show that gamer women come in a thousand forms and are still all sexy. We are big, little, black, white, asian, latino and mutts. We are young (sometimes too young), weathered, mothers, grandmothers, sisters and sluts. We are business women and street kids.I don't just want to shoot half-naked women wearing see-thru black spider material (though one shot like that might sell, what can I say, I am also a capitalist), but I want women in mideaval wardrobe, women sitting around in tee shirts and knickers reading gaming books, women in bubble baths, women in tight corsets and high heels, women in frumpy button-up shirts and ties, women in seamed stockings smoking cigars. I want brunettes, blondes, redheads, freaky colors, bald chicks, women with tattoos and piercings, girl next door types, women with grey hair and intense eyes.I am looking to capture passion. I am also looking to have the project show diversity in the beauty our club represents inside and out. I'm not going to shoot just cute tiny girls (though there will be some and their aps are welcome), just like I'm not just going to shoot high MC folks or folks who know me (though there will be some and their aps are welcome).If you have a question, or a rant, please let me know.I've had a few folks rant about feminism, or on the other end of the spectrum, about a Men of the Camarilla Calendar.To be 100% honest, since it was my first year pitching the project:1) I don't have time to shoot 2 calendars. WW is not paying for my travel, and I have to schedule these shoots in between paid work.2) I have a passion for women in gaming as a long-standing gamer and want to support it.3) I thought it would make a better advertising campaign for the club.4) I have more experience shooting women (I've shot over 150 in the last 3 years) vs men (I've shot about 40 in the last 3 years, and very few of those were risquee)5) I thought I could pitch the idea as a money-maker better to WWI have 54 applications right now from NE, EC, NW, SE, SW, SC, GL, England, Scotland and Brusells. However, some of those places I have only one ap from... and to be 100% honest, I can't have the whole calendar be full of sexy big-breasted redheads with great smiles. Hell, I wish I could. Where are my sexy gamer women with grey hair? Where are my beutiful coco skinned women? Where are my fighter women in armor? Where are my body-mod blondes? Ladies, we know you're out there... or hell, if ya are a curvy redhead, apply anyway :) We're looking for diversity.I've already had a few men voice an interest in being in a Men of the Camarilla Calendar. I LOVE the idea, as do a few of the folks at White Wolf who I've mentioned it to. But we just don't have time for me to shoot it for production for 2006. I need to have all the images finished and edited by April, and you saw my travel schedule. Add to that the fact that I'm in negotiation to shoot and write 2 books as well on unrelated topics... you get the idea.Okay, rant done for now. Please cross-post. And if you have concerns or comments, please let ME know. My email address is ropelover@ropelover.com. My website as a photographer is listed below. Look at my work. Buy me a drink at ICC. I shoot real people, and sexy people, and ya know what... they're one and the same.Let's make some art!Cheers,Bridgett HarringtonUS2002024572Luminescent Dreams- Portland, Oregon, USAPhotographer for the "Women of the Camarilla 2006" Calendar