Nadya

Adobe InDesign Questions, Mac vs. PC

2008-05-07T09:56:16Z

Graphic designers! Can you help me with some burning Adobe InDesign questions? And please speak up, even if other designers have already done so - I've heard both answers to some of these and I guess I just want to hear as much input as possible.

1. You have an InDesign project that was done on a Mac. You want to open it on a PC. Assuming that you have all the correct fonts installed on a PC, would you still run into font issues? I know that if you open a Flash file that was made on a Mac on a PC, you run into baseline shift issues with the fonts. Does this happen with InDesign as well?

2. Assuming there are some problems like the above... if you open an Mac-originated InDesign project on a PC strictly to make alterations to the text, and then transport it back to a Mac, will it export properly (into a PDF) on a Mac? In other words - if I want to use PC InDesign strictly for spelling/grammar corrections of a Mac-originated document, will it come back to the Mac all warped?

3. Let's say you have large images and you want to resize them to make them smaller for a layout in InDesign. Is it OK to use InDesign to resize the image, or must it be resized inside Photoshop and then imported into InDesign?

Whoever takes the time to answer these questions: thank you so, so much. I am a complete InDesign newbie. Someone made an InDesign file on a Mac, and I need to edit the text copy on my PC. If anyone has any insight into this process... please help!

For everyone who was completely disinterested in the above, I have also posted a picture. :)

Concept/Art Direction: Mil Von / Mother of London
Makeup: Melanie Manson
Prosthetics: Jenn Rose
Hair: Holly Jones
Model: Pia Kaamos

Piercing Series for Coilhouse

2008-03-31T17:56:56Z

This image is part of an editorial COILHOUSE, the magazine of alternative art and culture that's been my focus for the past half-year along with Zoetica Ebb, Meredith Yayanos and Mildred Von. The theme of this image and others from the series (which will be published in the upcoming magazine) is artistic body piercing. The concept is by Mil, and we've been talking about shooting this picture for a year now.

We've been posting a lot about photography and alt fashion at the Coilhouse blog, so I strongly suggest readers of my LJ subscribe to the Coilhouse RSS Feed or Friend Coilhouse on LJ so that you don't miss a thing. Thank you to everyone who already supports Coilhouse by reaidng, commenting or sending us links.

The amazing team on this:

Art Direction: Mil Von / Mother of London
Makeup: Melanie Manson
Prosthetics: Jenn Rose
Hair: Holly Jones
Model: Scar13

COILHOUSE Magazine and Blog

2007-10-10T19:45:58Z

Guys, I have a huge announcement to make! My friends and I are launching a new magazine. I think all of you will enjoy it. Here is the information. Click the picture below to go to the site!

COILHOUSE is new magazine that covers dark/alternative culture.

COILHOUSE covers art, fashion, literature, film and technology as it relates to underground scenes.

COILHOUSE welcomes submissions.

Our aim is to inform, inspire, infect. The project is a joint effort between myself, artist Zoetica Ebb and musician Meredith Yayanos. We will also have guest writers, and we welcome comments and submissions! We're don't yet have a release date for Issue 1, but it will be soon, and you will know about it. To tide you over in the meantime, blog posts will be a-plenty!

In case you're wondering if this project will replace my photography, fear not: I love photography and will continue to take pictures. I view COILHOUSE as a journalistic multimedia extension of what's always been my primary photographic aim: an exploration of what I find beautiful about alt culture, and an insight into the tranformative power that creativity can have over an individual. I hope that you have enjoyed these themes in my own work, and that you will now find them in this new project as well.

Please visit COILHOUSE and get involved! If you like it, SPREAD THE WORD! Feel free to re-post the flyer above, or the one found in Zoetica's journal.

COILHOUSE can also be found on the following places on the web:

COILHOUSE on MySpace
COILHOUSE Flickr Stream - sometimes contains "bonus images" relating to various posts
COILHOUSE LiveJournal RSS Feed (thanks, Kristin!)

Replicant Model Type: Tiger Lily

2007-05-07T19:49:35Z

Many of you have seen the picture above because it's made its rounds on the journals of my friends, but I thought I'd post it too because I realy like it.

The model is lumivalkoinen
The designer is _yungfuktoi_
The hair is Holly Jones
The makeup is Nelly Recchia
The photographer is me, Nadya Lev

How lucky I am to collaborate with everyone above. It was one of those rare shoots when everybody was on exactly the same page with what kind of mood we wanted to create... it's inspired by Blade Runner and aristocracy. Lumi's friend auraphage even came up with an awesome title for it: "Replicant Model Type: Tiger Lily".

And because I am in an extra-chatty mood this afternnoon, I am going to ask my LJ friends some questions! I have 700+ friends here on LJ now and I'd like to see who's out there.

1. Who here is a fan of Haujobb and other Daniel Myer projects such as Cleen? When I was younger all his music sounded boring to me compared to Nitzer Ebb/242/VNV/late-90s ooontz ooontz, but now I find a lot of subtlety in his music that makes me feel things that no other industrial music makes me feel. Does anyone else know what I am talking about? This feelings seem to be enhanced by knowing William Gibson's books - anyone else feel that connection?

2. Has anyone here ever produced an old-skool 'zine using rubber cement, scissors and a Xerox machine? Who remembers Factsheet Five, Rollerderby, Ben is Dead? Who mourned the demise of Sassy?

3. What blogs do you read? I only started reading blogs in the past year. Here are the blogs I follow every day: BoingBoing, Valleywag, Brass Goggles, Warren Ellis. Sometimes I check in with Crooks and Liars and Paleo-Future. What's on your reading list?

Expectation

2007-03-10T11:25:35Z

Latex blinders and dress with transparent lace-print back: Atsuko Kudo
Makeup and hair: Shelly Manser-Cavanagh
Model: Joy the_killjoy, owner of fashion/design comapny Kill Betty Inc.
Photograph: Nadya Lev

Oftentimes, I hear girls who are not into latex say, "the only latex I'd ever wear is Atsuko Kudo." And it's true; their clothing breaks through the glass ceiling of the fetish world, into high fashion. It's the texture, the cuts, the seams, the precision, and the originality of design that make it so. To put it another way: even my parents like pictures with Atsuko Kudo fashion, and they hate most latex and much prefer it when I shoot lace and absinthe bottles, bless them. My collaboration with Atsuko Kudo began two years ago, and also featured Joy as one of the star models. There are three pictures of Joy from our first Atsuko shoot on my website, here, here and here. In light of our past work, Atsuko Kudo was so impressed with Joy's style and look that they flew her to London just for the shoot! We shot at the Big White Space in London this past December, with equipment borrowed from the fantastic Lily (who heroically woke up early in the morning of her birthday to replace a sync cord that had gone bad). There were tons of new outfits by Atsuko Kudo; in time, the rest of the images will surface.

Milady De Winter

2007-02-24T22:02:59Z

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Milady De Winter
Model, makeup, hair: Mildred Von
Gloves, neckpiece: Mother of London/Yungfuktoi (Mildred's fashion company)
Photo: Nadya Lev

For the longest time when I came to LA, I could not get my photo on. I had to start from scratch - rent a new studio, buy all new equipment, get all set up. When I finally got into the studio, I discovered to my horror that I had basically forgotten how to take pictures, because I was so out of practice. It was devastating. But Mildred patiently stood by while I got up to speed, and helped me with test shoots with no expectations of end results and encouraged me when I was ready to drop the whole thing. That really meant a lot to me. And, slowly but surely, I felt like I knew what I was doing again. Here is the fruit of our labor. Here's to many more great collaborations together!

There is another shot from this series on Mildred's LJ. Or there will be, when she gets around to posting it! :P

Annabel Lee

2006-08-14T08:48:11Z

Model: Mariecke tanthe
Makeup: Deigh Roxxx

I still don't believe I've moved to California. Any day now, I think that I'll get back on the plane and find myself in my old apartment. But the apartment is gone. I miss ashabeta. :(

Elegy Iberica #2

2006-05-05T01:57:39Z

I am so glad to finally get this one on the cover - everyone on the team that brought this image to fruition truly deserves it!
This is my 6th magazine cover to date, but I'm not resting on my laurels - I hope to produce more interesting and complex work in the years to come.

Model: Elva
Makeup Artist: Ande Yung
Hairpiece: Peacock Blue Design Studio
Additional Hairstylng: Bill Schrlau

Old Self Portrait

2006-04-12T08:15:44Z

Here is an old self-portrait I did a year ago for school. Show on B&W film with a tripod.

By the way, thanks for everyone's advice with the taxes. I am filing an extension. Evelyn, thenk you so much to you especially. I will email you ASAP.

Anachronaut

2006-03-30T08:13:54Z

Kit is the hottest creature alive. He's also amazingly talented; he created the coat, vest and hair falls in this shoot from scratch. Here he is in all his steampunk glory!

nadya_lev @ 2006-03-09T23:07:00

2006-03-10T04:17:38Z

Model & Makeup: Scar
Clothing: Atsuko Kudo
Hair: Bill Schrlau

Scar is super-stunning. Talented, sultry, creative and energetic, I thought she was the perfect model for this decadent suit by Atsuko Kudo. She seemed to channel the spirit of Marlene Dietrich during this early-morning shoot to great result!

Feisty Diva

2006-02-09T06:22:26Z

Model: The inimitable Feisty Diva
Transparent lace-printed latex dress (!!!) by Vex
Umbrella, gloves, hair/makeup by Feisty Diva

Pictures from London

2005-11-28T10:25:44Z

The London photos from September are DONE! Finally. I worked on these night and day, and something always kept me from posting them - I always felt like I had to choose one more picture, perfect one more detail, before I pulled it all together and put it up online. Sometimes you have to say, "I've done the best that I can - it's time to move on" and tonight I say that - the night I turn 23 (2 + 3 = 5).

Click on the picture below to see the London Gallery.

The amazing models, from left to right on the site (not in the picture above! on the site), are: Mildred, Aconite, Atropa, DJ Darlin' Grave, Mildred, Industrial Bitch, Amalthea & Ulorin, Silver AJ, Amaranth, Morgana, Atropa, Rae, Morrigan Hel, Ulorin, and Lily. Clothing by: Atsuko Kudo, Yungfuktoi, Bondinage, Girlarmour and L'Escarpolette. Thank you all.

Big THANK YOU to photographers Bex and Lily for opening their studios to me. Thanks to Russell for the phone - in the mail this week! Special thanks to Samantha for lodging, leopard-print umbrella and reindeer-flavored cheese.

Absinthe

2005-11-08T09:15:51Z

The night before this absinthe-themed shoot with Rachel Huntington, I conducted some diligent, pain-staking research by consuming different types of absinthe while watching Sin City. Before my research partners and I passed out, I could swear I saw a green sylph wandering through the footage on screen. I didn't see her again until yesterday, when I found her in just one of the many pictures I took of Rae that day. She was hiding in the absinthe bottle.

And now, on a more serious note, I want to thank all my London models for so patiently waiting for your pictures to be finished. THANK YOU! (And thank you to my Swedish and American models for waiting up also).

Also: if you emailed me and haven't received a reply, it's because unfortunately I am very backed-up with my email. I plan to just take a day and go through all my emails and answer them all one day soon. Apologies for the delay!

Survivalist

2005-10-31T08:04:12Z

I am excited to finally post this picture of Mildred _yungfuktoi_, a London-based fashion designer, model, artist and sole survivor of a catastrophic blast:

There is a bigger version on my site - check it out!

Morrigan Hel

2005-10-06T16:11:45Z

Widow

2005-09-06T05:01:26Z

Model: Black Widow
Bodypaint: Paul Komoda

The most beautiful, the most talented - I hope I get to work with you again.
(Viruses deleted, computer fixed.)

Lilah

2005-07-22T03:28:37Z

One of my best friends and one of my favorite models.

Black Widow

2005-07-18T05:24:39Z

Last weekend I had the honor of working with one of my favorite models, Black Widow blackwidowsweb. Here is the first image in a series I hope to gradually unveil in the next few weeks.

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Elva

2005-06-19T09:51:28Z

Model: Elva
Makeup:AndeYung
Hair: Bill Schrlau

Elva is one of my favorite fetish models and I'm so happy that we finally got the chance to work together. In addition to modelling, Elva runs a fetish night in Stockholm called Dekadance.

Updated my website to add this and one image of Apnea & Aprella.

Someone needs to take the Gallery Serpentine skirt away from me because I keep shooting it.

Apnea

2005-03-12T10:37:06Z

Hi guys! Sorry I haven't updated in a while. The past month has been hectic and crazy! I've been shooting, shooting, shooting nonstop. Apologies if I let my email correspondences slide.

Here is the beautiful Apnea. She rocks. Hair by her sister Jess, who also rocks!

There are more on my site, including images of Apnea and my other favorite hottie Aprella together!

Gangland

2004-12-31T05:59:01Z

Had a great time working with Joy the_killjoy this Tuesday. In addition to being a great model Joy is also a talented fashion designer, and created the haute gangster look you see here. What a hottie and a cool girl! We also saw Phantom of the Opera that night - fantastic movie which I reccomend to everyone. Also I'm looking for driving lessons in Philly - please read my post about that if you think you can help!

Laylah

2004-12-27T01:05:16Z

Laylah is Melanie's Hebrew name - it means "night". Both a's in the name are pronounced "ah." This is going to be Mel's model name from now on. Her model site is coming soon - her OMP portfolio is here. She is an awesome model, and a great friend!

So, here are some from our shoot last week. Outfit: Midnight Bustle by Kambriel. Hair by Caryn Pressman. Model: Laylah.

For anyone who wants to see my newest images: I update my website more frequently than LJ, just to let you know.

Skin Two Cover

2004-12-14T21:09:52Z

Clothing: HW Design.
Model: Feisty Diva.

These are the real colors of the magazine. The colors on their website appear slightly different.
New photos soon! Thanks to everyone for their support.

Melanie

2004-11-13T09:25:34Z

From yesterday, looking very doll-like on the week of her birthday.