FM Zombies

FM Zombies
Originally uploaded by chadmichaelward

FAMOUS MONSTERS Group Photo after our zombie shoot for Issue #252. Featuring: Kristina "Halloween" Klebe, Ashley McCarthy, Ashley Pagliuso, Lacy Soto, Radeo Suicide, FM's Publisher Phil Kim, Director of Production Ed Blair and Director of Operations Dominie Lee.

Scouting the Vancouver Aquarium

During a recent trip to Vancouver in beautiful British Columbia, I had the opportunity to meet with Public Relations curator Kent Hurl at the facility with a colleague of mine while we were location scouting the city. He gave us a wonderful tour of the grounds, both inside and out. I was so greatly impressed with not only the beauty and variety of sealife there, but the way they run the facility, and the contriubtions they make to both the community of Vancouver, and around the world. Two programs in particular caught my attention. The first was Ocean Wise, a program which works directly with food service companies to promote sustainable seafood in restaurants, markets, and other food service facilities, available for the general public. Today, well over 300 restaurants in Canada are participants in the Ocean Wise program.

The other which caught my attention is their Marine Mammal Rescue and Rehabilitation Program, which is aimed at rescuing and rehabilitating ill, injured, and abandoned sea mammals until they are ready to be returned back to their natural habitat. On average, the rescue centre admits approximately 100 distressed marine mammals per year. Unfortunately, not all that are taken in can be re-released, and in turn have become a part of the family at the aquarium.
One of several Pacific White-sided Dolphins the aquarium has rescued in the past few years is currently housed next to the beluga whale tank, nestled between the lush greenery of Stanley Park. Both of his pectoral fins were mangled when he was caught in a fishing net off the coast of Japan. While he cannot be released back into the wild as a result of his condition, his contentment at the centre is wildly apparent, playing and interacting with curators, and of course, posing for my photos (pictured above).

Not only do they run several programs positively effecting our environment, but the Vancouver Aquarium is also independently sustainable, and entirely non-profit. As the fifth largest Aquarium in North America, they are making a powerful impact in the health of our oceanic environment. For more information on the Centre and all they do, visit vanaqua.org

Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine

Yesterday I shot with one of my favorite photographers, Chad Michael Ward, for Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine. We did a vampires vs. zombies editorial spread for the mag, the issue is due out this summer. The shoot features several horror-genre actors, including Derek Mears (Friday the 13th, Predators), Carey Jones (Predators), Kristina Klebe (Halloween), America Olivio (Friday the 13th), and a few other models I've shot with before. Lacy Soto was among the models as well; her and I are both featured in Chad's newest book, Storyteller.

Available for preview and purchase on Blurb:
'STORYTELLER is a 40-page, 10"x8" hardcover collection of the very best of my photography. Featuring darkly erotic images from series like "The Salton Sea", "...Throne" and "The Pain Box" as well as lush portraits of my usual staple of beautiful models and rock bands, STORYTELLER contains 50+ photos, many of which have never seen print.'
-Chad

For a virtual tour of the book, check out:
http://www.blurb.com/books/1215468

I got to work with one of my favorite mua's again too, Bella Muerta. The first time we worked together was for Chad's Throne series shoot, and we instantly clicked. She's the one goofing off in the background after working her magic. Sometimes we get to be so silly in all that downtime!

Oscar Night

Went to Guy O's house for 'The Party' last night. This is the only photo I got the whole night, but I loved my dress and had a blast! :)

Save the Peak - The Save Hollywoodland Organization

The preservation of our natural resources and wildlife has slowly been a growing concern for the past few generations, myself included. Today, there is a new topic of preservation that has struck Los Angeles. The world-famous Hollywood sign, and the beautiful Cahuenga Peak it perches atop of, is now in danger of losing it's luster.

The sign is at risk of being surrounded by a housing development funded by the current owners, a Chicago-based development company. The Public Land Trust has raised one million dollars to buy out the sign, and cover it up with 'Save the Peak', in order to help raise awareness. They must raise 12.5 million by April 14th, in order to purchase the land, and deed it over to the city, where it will become a part of Griffith Park.

The awareness of something to this nature is so important to me. With our planet's exponentially growing population, it's tough to find land that isn't already taken up by tract homes, or strip malls, especially for Angelenos. It is up to us to preserve our historical landmarks and natural resources. Big business and money grubbers are often who we point the finger at when it comes to the commercialization of America, and thus the resulting loss in history and preservation of Earth's natural ecosystems.

In Elementary school, we are taught and fascinated by the nature of organic materials and different types of ecosystems. As adults, we tend to get so wrapped up in succeeding at work, getting the bills paid, and making sure our children are provided for; that we literally forget to stop and smell the roses. We are so concerned with our world, that we forget about what is happening in the natural world around us. Maybe it's a wild gesture of activism, but these are things I think about when precious historical landmarks are threatened.

This especially happens in urban cities such as Los Angeles. If you think about it, our country is very young when it is compared to the rest of the world. When you visit an American city, it isn't like visiting someplace else like Europe, where every single building has some sort of historical significance. The few historical parks and landmarks we have must be protected and looked after with the same care and love we give towards our planet as a whole. Our history is what brought us here to where we are today.

We all have been through our parents' or grandparents' old neighborhoods, and told stories of when a new building used to be a school they once attended, or that they "remember when" something happened in a place that is no longer there. We don't have to do that with all of the precious landmarks in our lives, with our children. We teach our children that their vote counts at an early age, and the same goes for being involved in causes that they believe in.

Every little bit of effort counts towards a large common goal among a group of people. Which is why I ask you today to help spread the word about the Save Hollywoodland Organization (http://savehollywoodland.org/)

Blog about it, become a fan of the cause on Facebook, or most importantly, make a donation, to help preserve this precious piece of history.

xo
Ashley