Celebration of Life.

That say that the more things change the more they stay the same.

Every year we hear this is the worse winter ever. We know we shouldn't be eating that but it's the first thing we reach for. Lovers fall into the arms of people that certainly remind everyone else of their ex's, and yet for all our technological advances, where racism and bigotry are concerned we seem condemned to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Yet in the midst of all this drudgery, sometimes a spark shines true. The discovery of a new restaurant; meeting of a new BFF, falling in love, giving birth. Similarly, sometimes the blip on the timeline is not a new spark but a light going out. It's been a particularly hard weekend for me with the loss of my friend. And I think as always when something like this happens, especially to someone that is so young, we question ourselves. Our place in the "scheme of things". Are we living right? Have we given back?

Death is a funny thing; not funny 'ha-ha' but funny strange. Do we mourn the loss of the person?Or do we mourn the loss of innocence as we are brought face to face with a more grim reality. "People die, and the world moves on." We somehow desire the rest of the planet to stop and mourn with us. To rent and cry and vent and well.., MOURN. But they don't. It doesn't concern them, it's not their reality.

They go about their daily business oblivious that a mother has lost a son; a father a daughter; a brother a sister, friend or lover. With all the information overload that we are faced with daily, are we still in touch with the "people in our village"? Do we truly see them; see their pain? Do we know how our 'neighbours' are getting on? Do we even care? Or have we in the rush to get 'the next big thing' have we sacrificed feelings for GUCCI and mutual respect for PRADA.

I can speak only for myself. But I see 2010 as a significant year. Change is in the air. And this is never more evidenced as by the loss of a loved one.

THINGS DON'T ALWAYS STAY THE SAME. LEON WE WILL MISS YOU.

Leon Hamilton 1970 - 2010

ALEXIUS DIANA and MY LFW2010 VIDEOBLOG coming up next...

London Fashion Week is many different things to many different people.

Wheter you are a model, designer make up artist, stylist, hairdresser, dresser, PHOTOGRAPHER..., the list is endless.

But for me, LFW this season past was all about ALEXIUS DIANA!!

This leggy 5' 11" native of Virginia USA, came to the UK and captured our minds and hearts as she slinked down the catwalk. At just 19 years of age, it was her first time here to London Fashion Week, but it was no surprise that she was snapped up and used by so many designers for their runway shows.

She hung out, strode down, and mashed up the catwalk and we were MADD lucky to grab her to do a couple of shoots for us.

(WHICH IS WHY WE'VE BEEN SO BUSY.)

She's been a joy to work with and Maxine, Nathan, Nate, Alex and I,

voted her our "NEW FACE MODEL OF CHOICE" for the season.

(that's the team behind me here at RasConradpresents...

Yo ALex, you're late with the video edit BTW)

Still though in this the land of plenty, where fashion and divas abound,

ALEXIUS is definitely a face to look out for.

See her next at the FASHION FUSION event taking place this weekend

choreographed by Trinidadian fashion eccentric Rueben Joseph.

Look for our next VIDEOBLOG coming out this week

which features her in ALL her glory.

GUS does it UP!!

Flipping through the pages of one of my favourite magazine for inspiration

BHF CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN MAGAZINE who do I come across but one of

the fitness models I photographed just last month.

GUS ALLIEU, was recently chosen as one of the models for the CITY GYM BOYS UK team.

and will be at their unofficial launch party this friday at Cafe de Paris.

Way to go GUS!! Loving the image bruh.

WICKED!!! continues....

sorry i wasn't around guys. Been shooting photos ALL MORNING with my two biggest finds for this Fashion Week Season - Linton Clarke and Alexius Diana
ALL THE PHOTOS AND VIDEO COMING SOON.
Much thanks to my amazing make-up artist Kaew Kongthong, my stylist for this shoot SUNNY (who also brought along the snakes) and Hanan Magoo of Miss Magou who provided the caftans for the shoot. Here's a sample...

ZIM of CITY GYM BOYS presents "THE BIRTHDAY GALA AND UNOFFICIAL LAUNCH PARTY"

One of the models I have been working with extensively,

'ZIM LELO' is having his birthday party at Cafe de Paris

this coming FRIDAY 12th MARCH, 2010.

He is doubling this with the opportunity to have an unofficial launch for

THE CITY GYM BOYS UK

is a new group of fitness models and professionals based here in the UK of which he is now part.

(The City Gym Boys BRAND is an elite team of natural bodybuilders from the inner city streets of New York

dedicated to mentoring young men and women on the lifelong benefits of fitness and exercise.

And now they have come to the UK with the same message in mind. -

www.citygymboys.com)

With this in mind the V.I.P. area of Cafe de Paris has been set aside for this event

as well as a prepared 'welcome' area to photograph the 'BOYZ' on their arrival

together with that of their special invited guests which includes:

ALEXIUS DIANA (model from NY currently in london for this season FASHION WEEK),

the 'NATURAL CANDYGIRLS'

(The 'Natural Candy Girls' were founded by model Catia Violante & Fashion Stylist Natasha Clarke

who wanted to create an agency that consisted of models with natural beauty whom they felt were overlooked.

With so much experience in this area Natasha and Catia joined forces to create an agency that aims to provide

natural beauties for fashion events, music videos, launch parties,TV, promotional evenings etc.)

ex BIG BROTHER INDUCTEES

(Siavash Sabba was part of the BIG BROTHER EXPERIENCE CYCLE 10, was a popular favourite on the show

and has long been a style icon within local fashion circles)

as well as a host of other models, designers, stylists and the like.

RasConradpresents... will take you there. Stay TUNED!!

3-4 Coventry Street, London W1D 6BL - Google Maps

You mourn then you move on...

I was all set today to come to you guys to let you know all of what was gonna be happening for this month of MARCH, especially important for me as it is my birthday month. Now, I feel pretty much like an early morning soap opera doing LIFE AND DEATH in the same episode.

Today March 3rd, I celebrate the birthday's of over six(6) of my good friends. I celebrated a fellow photographers just two days ago. We collectively will come together for one of my model muses on Friday. My own birthday together with four(4) good friends on saturday and that's just this first week of MARCH.

Yet with all this, in the midst of all this celebration, last night I got the news of the death of an old friend. Someone who I didn't get the chance to say goodbye too. Someone who always had time for everyone, never took shit from anyone and who always stood out wherever they went. So while we take the time to celebrate the many birthdays that are coming our way this month, let us all (especially you my PISCEAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS) rememeber that in truth what we celebrate is not the years that have past, but the LIFE we continue to live and what we do with that gift of life.

RCP THOUGHT4TODAY - "YOU MOURN THEN MOVE ON". Whether it is death or disappointment. Take the time you need to acknowledge what you feel. Then pick yourself up and continue. Life is a journey, you'll never get where you want to if you stay in one place. Goodbye ole friend. We will miss you. (for LEON HAMILTON)