An Le is on a roll. After last week’s lucky shamrock, we are getting another set of four (outtakes). Well, strictly speaking the set contains six images, but two of which we already know.
Just to be sure:
I am now reminded of the drip feed of photos by Robert Ascroft that we were treated to in 2013. 2013? *eeek* My cod, I can’t believe it’s seven years ago. From that perspective, it’s high time that we get a new no-purpose shoot. No purpose other than to provide some candy for the eyes. I also feel vaguely reminded of Sarah Dunn, although An Le’s style of photography is very different. But I see the same contrived poses that usually turn me off a photograph, no matter how much I like the subject. Well, maybe that is finally a theme that I could riff on in an *ooof*. Having said that, I am quite enamoured with the third image. It’s such a typical Armitage gesture, gives some nice thumb porn for those who are into that, and delights me because it hides the beard 😂. Jokes aside – it’s the smile, of course, that gets me, and I like the soft waves in the hair and the crinkles around his eye. Well, maybe I have just found the picture that is *ooof*worthy of the lot… 😉
In other news: A big massive thank you to you wonderful fandom friends. My quick and spontaneous face mask sale went down a storm. The initially posted 21 face masks from Saturday were sold out within a couple of hours. I added 6 more which sold out immediately, too. That’s when I ran out of elastic band 😂. The good news is that I have just received in the post my order of new elastic. I cut the rest of my Armitage fabrics yesterday and managed to get 12 more masks out of it. The masks are pre-sewn at this point, so I will finish the masks today for further sales.
Depending on the postage – I am off to the post office after writing this blog – the sale of the face masks will have generated between 270 and 320 Euro for the auction’s postage fund. That is fantastic, and I cannot thank you enough for your support!
Speaking of going to the post office. I have another errand this morning, and it is one that amuses and horrifies me in equal measure. You won’t believe what I have been tasked to do. I am picking up a decommissioned rocket propelled grenade. 😱 😬 🤮 Rest assured that I am “rocket REpelled” myself, and was half ready to decline this request for a favour on the grounds of general principles of being anti-war and pacifist. But the item was bought by one of my favourite friends who just recently did us the favour of letting my son and his band stay in his country farm to record their first EP, so I owe him one. (He lives abroad and can’t pick it up himself.) Needless to say that my friend is not going to make use of this horrific item. On the contrary, he is a historian and political scientist and is thus interested in it for the sake of local history. Anyway, the auction house where the item is currently waiting to be picked up, is in walking distance from my home. I have just researched the weight of the thing and in the process probably ruined my search history forever *waves at the Irish secret police* – and it apparently weighs less than 10kg. Well, it better, because I have no car at my disposal and will have to carry it home. I am hoping that the auction house has wrapped it up and concealed it. I mean, can you imagine someone walking down the street with a discernible weapon – in this day and age. 😱 I am going to bring a big Ikea bag and a blanket to wrap and conceal that horrible instrument in. So cross your fingers that there will be no incidents. Grrrrrrr.
Off to the post office now to send the masks on their way. Hooray! 😘
Guylty Pleasure 
That has to be one of the strangest requests you have ever gotten!!!. You would look very suspect carrying said item and wearing your mask. The Armed Response Unit would be knocking on your door !.
I agree with you on the picture, it’s my favorite because of his wonderful smile and the laughter lines around his eyes.
Hope it’s a nice lady at the post office and not your usual crank.
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Mission accomplished. The item was actually smaller than I had thought, and the auction house had bubble wrapped it and put it in a large plastic bag. 😓
And the masks are in the post and on their way now 🥳. Luckily my old post office has reopened so I don’t depend on the rude post mistress anymore 👍🏻
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I agree with you that the smiley one is the best of this set. Absolutely stunning and such a treat to see that smile. I do love the profile shot, inside in front of the bookcase. Maybe that is his own luscious grey sweater? I desperately want that to be his own flat but am assuming that it is An Le’s studio. All I know is that I desperately want to climb inside that sweater with him, or at least pet it until it falls apart. And the eyelash porn is strong with that image!
In general, a fair number of the An Le portraits don’t do too much for me, although *any* new photos of our beautiful man are ravenously devoured. I love the hair length and am #TeamShrubbery all the way. But I think you were spot on when you said that An Le’s specialty as a fashion photographer is the problem. Most of the photos could be of any handsome man because they are about the clothes, poses and accessories, not about the man himself. Some of them are absolutely keepers, but the majority will not go into heavy rotation for me personally.
Would it be possible to put in a pre-order for two masks, please, as I always seem to miss the sales announcements? No worries at all if not though!
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The smiles are always the best ones. Well, when they look natural, that is. (I find the smoulders a bit too contrived tbh, so I am not that big into them.) I’d say that was shot on location – probably rented for the day, or something like that.
I think that in most of An Le’s photos the subject is slightly overpowered by either the clothes or the environment. That said – it’s possible that that is exactly what RA likes 😂
I’ll see what I can do re. the last batch of masks. I’ll collate who expressed interest and will be in touch if it’s possible to transact the whole thing outside of Etsy.
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the smile does look very genuine to me, as if he tried for another contrived smoulder but then the absurdity of the situation hit him and the laughter came bubbling out ☺️ I also like the one on the stairs very much!
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I like the scenario you are describing, Anja. That would make perfect sense to me.
The stairs picture is good, I agree. I like his slender legs.
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The smiley one is a keeper, it’s gorgeous!! I have to confess though, that every time I look at it I feel the urge to pull his jacket up and forwards so that it’s sitting on his shoulders and around his collar properly lol. When I’ve finished drinking in the sight of that beautiful smile, #handsomeherohair and eye crinkles of course. 😍
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Ha, I hadn’t noticed the jacket but you are right – it sits a bit low. Does that mean that the clothes don’t fit, or is he just slouching?
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Oof, please, yes! I like the plaid suit. Hope he kept it and we see it again sometime. As for the auction house errand, I can’t even….
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Mission accomplished. Managed to drag the thing home without incident. *phew* I’m telling you, sometimes I can’t believe the life I lead… 😂
The plaid suit looks like a classic – I wouldn’t be surprised if he did keep it 😉
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I have some fabric ( the blue ground design) left over from an crafting project so I will have to make some more face coverings, it’s amazing how many are needed, to wear one for 2 minutes to order a coffee then take it off to drink said coffee in garden ( bizarre) pop to the co-op for milk, another 4 minutes, times the number of people in the house (3) my washing machine is on every day!
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Theoretically the mask has to be washed every time it is taken off… I confess that I sometimes take it off and on between shops while on errands. We have about 10 masks in rotation. I should make a few more, I guess, but I have now run out of the RA fabrics…
BTW, I don’t put mine in the washing machine – I boil them on the stove for 10 minutes. Quicker and easier.
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The stuff you get to do!! That was one errand you just can’t make up 🙂 Glad it wasn’t as heavy and i am sure it is safe, but still..
And new photos,i agree wit you the smiley one looks like his own smile. I do like the side view one, profile one, lashes and all that but even that doesn’t look like a natural pose. And the checks .. sigh, no idea why people keep sticking checks on him. I’d keep him strictly in jeans and simple t shirts and comfy jumpers 🙂
Now to log in again, for the 4th time since i did a couple of likes too, sod u WordPress!
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Yeah, deeply unpleasant, really, to have such a thing at home. (A bit like that murderous, original WWI German bayonet that we found in a trunk in our house. I prefer to ignore that it is in our flat *meh*)
The profile pic is interesting, photography-wise. The almost-ring light effect on his profile, and I like the casual styling in that jumper. But there’s something about his facial expression around his mouth which doesn’t appeal to me. (Man, I always have something to niggle…)
Couldn’t agree more re. casual, jeans, t-shirts. I much prefer the casual look on him.
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fully agree on expression round the mouth , i liked it until i looked closer and thought, nah mouth does something strange here which kills what otherwise would have been a nice one.. too bad
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I can’t even say exactly what it is, but it just didn’t look right…
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That grenade story made me laugh out loud! Did the pick up go well?
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*giggles* It all went smoothly. No incidents on the way home. Unfortunately the thing is now sitting in my living room *meh*
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