Zoë Celesta West!

17h Shared with Zoë’s friends

The #sockmonkey hat is kind of my signature look these days.
Shot today by @harryconnorii who photographed me for my feature in @penthouse a few years ago. Although Harry has retired from photography he will sometimes pick up the camera again to take my picture when I come to town. ❤

— in Houston, Texas

harrymartin

Getting ready for the big chill tonight around here. We may have to chop through the ice to get to the leaves in the pool for another shoot.

8thrulephoto-blog

She might look sweetly innocent but Zoë can melt your heart in an instant…Living you with a burning tornado inside you visiting all of your feelings one by one

harrymartin

Arrest + Halloween Costume = Magic

First off “Guitar Girl” has a name. I hate when we don’t give credit to people in front of the camera (see bio, you’ll understand). “Guitar Girl” is famous Penthouse Model, Zoë West. And — I never would have met Zoë if it weren’t for her arrest.

In September of 2012, Zoë was arrested in Times Square for being part of a body painting project. She was nude and then she sued. Through the help of Super-Civil-Rights-Lawyer Ron Kuby, she sued the city of New York for false arrest and won a $15-thousand settlement. I knew that anyone with this kind of guts would bring something special to the underwater shoot I was planning. But Zoë brought more than that: she brought her Halloween costume. I brought a pink guitar.

We did some great shots in the studio but what I was looking for was an underwater Steam Punk theme. Something really, really different. Zoë was able to rock a steam punk look and really sold the shot, but my concept and wardrobe was a bit weak.

And then… into the pool where we worked for about a half hour on the steam punk thing. It really wasn’t working. Finally we tried the bubble gum outfit and the pink wig. That’s when the colors really started to pop. Color chart in hand, Zoë popped into the water, tugging at the sides of the wig to keep it from falling off.

I knew I would have to sacrifice the pink guitar and put it in the water — it would never play a note again. The musician in me cringed, the photographer in me said “do it”. The first few poses were tough — hey try to handle a guitar, tug at a wig, hold your breath, wear heels, and look amazing — all underwater. Shot after shot, we kept on going for the perfect pose. I saw that Zoë had the most graceful motion and best body position when she first ducked underwater. That’s the shot i kept trying to get — until — “Guitar Girl” emerged. A shot that’s been blowing up on social media. Actually there are two versions. The one below never seen before, anyone want to weigh in on which one they like best?

I am so proud that Zoë is a friend of mine. She is awesome. What a fabulous spirit she has. She credits much of her amazing spirit and gumption to her late, great father, who was a dear friend and mentor to me.