by Nahp Suicide

Lavonne is from Alberta, Canada. She is a Suicide Girl, a Staff Photographer and a really good artist, and has been modeling and shooting sets since 2005.

How did you first get involved with SuicideGirls?

I applied and sent in my first self-shot sets in 2004. I hadn’t done anything like it before and thought it would be fun. Then other girls started asking me to photograph them too.

What’s your background photography-wise?

I’ve been shooting for fun since high school and have taken a few courses for darkroom developing, but am mostly self taught.



What was the first photo you had published?

My Tropical set, which I shot with a crappy point and shoot camera and lit with a reading lamp. I think my work has come a long way.



How would you describe your style?

Emotional and real (ideally).



What gear do you use?

For the last 4-5 years, a Canon 5D, mostly with a 50mm f1.4 lens. Rin’s Voyeur set was my only set with a different lens: a 100mm for a more distant feel.



How important is Photoshop in your final images?

I like to use it to remove major distractions and to create dream-like coloring, but I try to keep images natural looking.



What gives you ideas and inspires you to create such amazing sets?

I get most of my inspiration from the model and location I’m working with. I prefer shoots to be organic, and keep my own ego out of the way. Photography can often overtake a subject’s true beauty.



What is your favorite image?

There are many that come to mind, but this photo of Rin and Malloreigh [NSFW] is high on the list.

Tell us why it’s your fave and how you achieved it?

I love it mostly because of the good memories of that day. We created a super pink and girly scene, put on a bubble machine, then jumped around and had pillow fights! It wasn’t really about techniques or skill, I just captured a really lovely afternoon as best as I could. It was magical and real, and for me that is what life is about.



Is there anybody or anything you would love to photograph that you haven’t? (And tell us why)

There are lots of people and places I’d like to photograph! Models that are passionate and genuine. Places that are inspiring and remote. I want to experience as much of this world as I can.

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by Ryker Suicide

Ryker: Taqueria Style Chicken Tacos with Fire Roasted Salsa

For a brief time about 5 years ago, I lived in Santa Cruz, California. Of all the things I miss the most about Santa Cruz, I think the taquerías top the list. Where I lived, there were taquerias on every corner and everyone I knew had their favorite stop. Mine, was Tacos Morenos. I literally would dream about their chicken tacos (though they called them quesadillas, the only difference I could see between these and the tacos were the melted cheese on the corn tortilla). For nearly 5 years I have been trying to replicate both the fire roasted salsa, as well as the way they made this incredible pulled chicken. And finally, I think I’ve done it 🙂

Ingredients: For The Tacos

• 1-1.5 lbs chicken breast
• 1 can of diced tomatoes/peppers
• 2 packages of taco seasoning
• 1-2 cups of flour (for dredging)
• Ground cumin
• 1 can of diced green chili peppers
• 1 can of chicken broth
• 1 package of corn tortillas
• Fresh cilantro
• Cheese (such as queso fresco or 4 blend Mexican cheese)
• Shredded cabbage slaw
• 1 can of pinto beans
• olive oil

Directions:

1. Coat pan in olive oil and heat to medium high. Pat chicken dry, and cut each breast into two pieces (smaller pieces cook faster). Mix flour and one packet of taco seasoning. Dredge chicken in flour mixture and brown on both sides. While browning, sprinkle chicken with a bit of ground cumin. After chicken is browned, remove from pan and set aside.

2. In same pan, add 1 can of chicken broth and taco seasoning. Also add chili peppers and tomatoes. Mix together well, scraping up any little brown bits at the bottom of the pan. Return chicken to pan and allow to simmer for 45 minutes covered. (Now is a good time to start on the salsa, recipe follows below). Turn chicken after 45 minutes and allow to simmer for another 20-30 minutes until chicken is fork tender.

3. Once chicken is cooked, remove from pan and turn off heat. Allow chicken to cool a bit and then pull apart. Return pulled chicken to pan and allow to simmer on low for another 30-60 minutes uncovered, letting the liquid reduce a bit.

4. Once chicken is super juicy and tender, you are ready to assemble. Take two corn tortillas (feel free to heat in microwave ahead of time, it makes them more pliable) and add layers of cheese, cabbage, beans, chicken, salsa, and cilantro.

Eat and enjoy!!

Ingredients: For The Salsa

• 2 large tomatoes
• 1 poblano pepper
• 1 large jalapeño or two small ones
• 1-3 habanero (depending on your level of heat. 1 being mild, 3 being hot)
• 1 head of garlic
• 1 onion
• Olive oil
• Sea Salt
• 1 small can of jalapeño verde sauce

Directions: Fire Roasted Salsa:

1. Preheat oven to 375. Quarter tomatoes, seed and cores in tact. Slice peppers by the halves. Quarter onions. Coat everything heavily in olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Put in roasting pan, skin sides up.

2. For the garlic, slice top end off so the cloves are exposed. Pour with olive oil and wrap garlic in tin foil. Also insert in roasting pan. Roast veggies for 1-2 hours until charred and super soft.

3. In a food processor, blend roasted veggies, a handful of fresh cilantro, verde sauce, and salt (as needed).

Viola! You have fire-roasted salsa 🙂

Mmmmm….soo good!

[..]

by Daniel Robert Epstein

Jim Carrey is of course known as one of the funniest people on the planet. He first came to fame doing nutty features like Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Mask. In recent years he has really expanded his repertoire with movies such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events.

His latest picture, Fun with Dick and Jane, is a return to form because it is pure wacky nuttiness. Dick (Jim Carrey) and Jane (Téa Leoni) are in love and living the American dream. But then the company Dick works for becomes involved in an Enron-like scandal and he is confronted with the prospect of losing everything. Now Dick and Jane are forced to steal to get it all back.

Read our exclusive interview with Jim Carrey on SuicideGirls.com.

Aisline Suicide in Birds Nest

• INTO: Girls, movies, night time, awkwardness, saying inappropriate things, the beach, sunsets and sunrises, dancing, dancing around in my underwear, laughing at my own jokes, being the only one laughing at my own jokes, boobs, ruining everything I try to cook and making people pretend they enjoyed eating it, heavily tattooed girls and boys.
• NOT INTO: Big crowds, people I don’t know touching me, mirrors, drugs, being cold.
• MAKES ME HAPPY: Warm weather, music, driving around aimlessly, late nights, early mornings.
• MAKES ME SAD: People with no morals, people with no common sense, people who can’t act in public, disrespect, greed, poverty and John Mayer.
• 5 THINGS I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT: IPod, Blackberry, laptop, a steady internet connection, and my family/cats.
• VICES: Sour candies.
• I SPEND MOST OF MY FREE TIME: Trying to take over the world.

Get to know Aisline better over at SuicideGirls.com!

by Damon Martin

The decision Hollywood made a few months ago to remake Buffy the Vampire Slayer without series creator Joss Whedon was met with more than just a little venom from the fans that followed and supported the series for seven seasons and a continuing run into the comic book world.

It appears that some of those voices were heard after first time writer Whit Anderson was hired to write a script, and upon further review, the producers behind the project were thoroughly unimpressed with what he came up with; The Los Angeles Times reports the script was “was rejected completely.”

The project is now on hold awaiting a new writer, but it may end up getting shelved all together after the fans of the Buffy-verse revolted against the idea of a movie remake without its creator’s involvement.

Some of the actors who made up a big part of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series for seven years were also soundly against the idea of a movie remake sans Whedon. Especially considering most of them are still young enough to reprise roles in some kind of movie, if Whedon ever decided to make a go of it.

“Without Joss’s participation it is likely to be almost as good as the original film,” said James Marsters, who portrayed Spike during the hit series’ run when speaking to SuicideGirls. “Cause at least Joss wrote that one.”

The original Buffy the Vampire Slayer film –– which starred Kristy Swanson, Luke Perry, Rutger Hauer, and Paul ‘Pee-Wee Herman’ Reubens –– was released in 1992 and was a critical disaster. However, it became a bit of a cult hit among science fiction fans.

Whedon wrote the original film and created all the characters, but the Hollywood machine twisted, turned, and trounced on his ideas throughout the making of it, and the result is what ended up being released.

The film’s ultimate failure is what put Whedon back into creative mode to bring Buffy and her cohorts back, this time to the small screen. The show ran for seven years and has continued to be one of the most popular and talked about shows in the science fiction fan realm, and even hit syndication.

“I don’t think it’s Buffy without Joss Whedon,” said Mark Metcalf, who portrayed ‘The Master’ throughout the first season and several other appearances during the show’s seven season run. “He was the source of it, originally, even before the movie. It was his idea and the series came about because he wasn’t happy with what they did with the movie.”

Marsters and Metcalf are just two of the players from the Buffy TV universe that didn’t seem to be on board for a remade movie, and despite their best efforts Hollywood seems to have come to that realization as well.

Metcalf may have summed it up best when speaking about the potential project, if it ever does get completed.

“I won’t go see it,” Metcalf stated.

Buffy or no Buffy, Whedon has obviously kept busy. He wrote and directed the big budget superhero film The Avengers which hits theaters this summer and is expected to be one of the year’s biggest films.

by SG’s Team Agony feat. Dalila

Let us answer life’s questions – because great advice is even better when it comes from SuicideGirls.

Q. I am in a relationship with a woman whom I love dearly and generally we are very happy. My only complaint is that she has a secret social life. For instance, she doesn’t work on Tuesday, but she will be gone all day and come home after I get home. If I ask what she’s doing, she says I am out of line, even if I am just trying to make conversation. She has a group of friends that she does happy hour with and I am not allowed to meet them and I know nothing about them – not even their names. Asking about them has caused a couple of fights so I have let it go. I am also not allowed to know where they meet for happy hour.

These are the same questions that make her very upset when I have asked them. I am not concerned that she might be cheating on me. I trust her. What really bothers me is that she feels like she needs to keep secrets from me. I really do not have any secrets and, except when she asks about my time in Iraq, I will tell her anything. I think people that keep secrets have something to hide. What do you think?

A: I don’t think that a person who keeps secrets necessarily has something to hide. People can decide to tell or not to tell, and sometimes they choose not to because they simply prefer to keep stuff to themselves. And there’s no clear evidence of seediness here.

Just think: what happened last time you had a relationship and you and your significant other had common friends? Usually, when couples split, friends are split too. There are the ones who stay with the girl, others who stick with the boy: but the original gang is often, sadly, no more. Your girlfriend might have experienced this kind of thing before, and, as a result, prefers to keep her closest slice of friends strictly to herself. Then again, she lets you join her and other mates, so perhaps she just wants to be herself with one particular set of friends. Maybe she wants to vent a bit in a safe space, with friends she really trusts. I’m sure there are things you’d prefer not to tell your parents, or you workmates, or your mates, even your girlfriend. Think about those. You wouldn’t go for sex advice to your grandma, would you?

It’s also true that sharing every single moment of the day brings most relationships to an end, so you should cherish the fact that your girlfriend is not the super sticky type. It’s actually a healthy sign that she has her own friends and interests; you’ve gotten yourself a woman, congrats! And a little mystery can be a good thing. Not sharing every little, tiny, weenie thingy is the best way to keep your companion awake and interested. Don’t sweat, it’s a good sign!

Cheers,

Dalila

Got Problems? Let SuicideGirls’ team of Agony Aunts provide solutions. Email questions to: gotproblems@suicidegirls.com

by Daniel Robert Epstein

Few filmmakers can make a movie about two cowboys falling in love in 1963, like Brokeback Mountain, and have it be considered Academy Award material. But certainly Ang Lee is in a class by himself.

He first gained notice in America with his “Father Knows Best” trilogy of The Wedding Banquet, Pushing Hands, and Eat Drink Man Woman. Later he gained monstrous international acclaim with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won four. After that he ventured into big budget studio films with The Hulk.

After that film didn’’t do as well as anticipated, Lee went back to lower budgeted filmmaking with Brokeback Mountain. It stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger (see SG interview) as two ranchhands who have a passionate love affair over 20 years to the detriment of their families.

Read our exclusive interview with Ang Lee on SuicideGirls.com.