Image: Bombshell Betty and Bunny Pistol in this terrific burlesque set by popgoesamanda.
I’m so excited! I can’t wait to get my rouge-stained paws on a copy of Bombshell Betty’s new book “Pinup Modeling Workshop In A Book: ‘Plain Jane to Pinup Queen'”. For several years now, local burlesque goddess Betty has been teaching scores of sexy dames how to pose, preen and peel it off, making everyone feel good about their bodies and sharing her secrets about how to look curvy and sexy for audiences and cameras alike. My pinup modeling (and ability to take a good photo every time someone shoves a Finepix in my face) became a smooth, reflexive skill after I took one of her pinup modeling workshops. Learning her sekrits is highly, highly recommended.
In the book, she ‘splains why the camera adds 10 pounds and how to avoid this effect; tricks fashion and pinup models use to “sculpt” their bodies; traditional pinup poses for an authentic retro look; photo movement, including specifics for face, body, and hands; techniques to practice at home to master the art of always looking fabulous in front of the camera; how to gain confidence in front of the camera and present a powerful persona; hair and makeup techniques for creating looks from the 1920’s through the 1950’s, and way more than I can list here.
Even better, your money goes directly to Betty, supporting a local female small business owner and her much-needed messages about feeling, being and looking sexy in a time when *no one* looks like the so-called standard of beauty. It’s $29 and it ships everywhere! Here’s her blog, and watch for sexy-sweet videos being added periodically to her YouTube channel if you want to keep up with the bombshell…
Speaking of pin-ups books, I just bought, “Peepshow, 1950s pin-ups in 3-D.” It’s a series of stereographic pinups and it comes with its own stereographic glasses built in. Although the book has its flaws ( the photos are somewhat small and a few sets are switched left-right so as to be pseudoscopic) it has several strong points. The book itself is well designed and large-pocket-sized. The photos are carefully composed glamour-shots on sometimes elaborate sets with wildly-50s furniture. There are many beautiful outdoor scenes as well. You can tell the photograhers considered themselves artists. Introduction by Bunny Yeager and two pics of a young Betty Page sprinkled in. This came out in 2001 and I just scored one used for under $10.
I also just got another 3D book of nudes, “Le Secret Des Yeux.” Modern photos in sepia with tinting to mimic early 20th century pictures. Though the idea is good and the models are nice the book is not as well designed.
I’m a 3D enthusiast and excited about taking the SF Center for the Book (what a great place) class on making stereoscopic books this summer.