Steven Helmer Publications

My wife had what she referred to as a "wet" photoshoot yesterday. Basically, it consisted of her wearing several outfits, all white but made from different material, into a swimming pool and being photographed after she got the fabric wet and transparent. I did get some behind-the-scenes shots, but most aren't suitable to post on here so, instead, I'll share some photos I took of her with my phone prior to her getting into the water. Model: Cynthia Helmer ___________________________________________________________________ Here are some other photoshoot photos: Behind the Scenes at a Beach Photoshoot Backyard Photoshoot Some Behind-the-Scenes Photoshoot Photos Behind the Scenes at the Retzer Nature Center Photoshoot

Synopsis: In the early 1990s, Nintendo controlled 95 percent of the home videogame market in the United States until an aggressive marketing campaign from Sega successfully challenged that dominance. However, Sega soon learned getting to the top was easier than staying at the top. This documentary tells the story through first-hand accounts from executives of both companies. Review: My wife and youngest daughter are at a middle school production of The Spongebob Musical . Since I had the TV to myself for a bit, I decided to watch a documentary and settled on Console Wars , which has been in my library for a few weeks. It turned out to be an interesting watch. I was a teenager when Sega Genesis came out and even owned one at some point (after it ended up on a clearance rack). I did not realize, however, just how much that game system and the feud it triggered with the then-monopolistic Nintendo, changed the entire video game industry. The marketing campaign that went into Sega's l...

Project Runway is more my wife's thing than mine. However, I've been watching it with her (or at least been in the same room) for quite a few years and consider myself invested in the reality TV series. So, I feel qualified to say the show isn't anywhere near as good as it was when it first aired 22 years ago. Here are five changes I would make to try to restore it to part of its former glory: First, bring back Tim Gunn. It's not that I don't like Christian Siriano. I just think Gunn was a considerably better mentor. His critiques and suggestions just seemed more sincere, and the show hasn't been the same since he left. Siriano can still remain as a judge or co-mentor. More sewing, less drama. Look, I get it, it's reality TV and contestant drama is part of the deal, which is also probably the only reason for team challenges. However, there are times when it feels as though the contestants are cast more for that than actual skill and that hurts the show'...

The smoke coming into Wisconsin from Canada has been bad, but I promised my daughter I'd take her to the beach as part of her birthday, so I drove the family to North Beach in Port Washington during a short window when the air was reasonably breathable. While there, my wife and I ended up having an impromptu photoshoot while the birthday girl played in Lake Michigan and her sister sat on a blanket drawing in her sketchbook. This proved to be a challenge because there was enough of a haze to make the lighting unpredictable and a bit like shooting photos through the glass of a window (and my editing skills are far from expert level). However, I still managed to get a few that even she liked. Model: Cynthia Helmer ________________________________________________________________________ Here are some photos from other photoshoots: Backyard Photoshoot Another Behind the Scenes at a Photoshoot Wisconsin River Photoshoot Some Re-edited Photoshoot Pics

Synopsis: After amassing a fortune in the carnival business via less-than-honest means, Hiram Stokeley has died and learns he has just 24 hours to commit a good deed if he wants to regain his youth, get into Heaven and spend eternity with his long-dead girlfriend, Cecily. With Cecily's help, he tries to fulfill that requirement by preventing his attorney, Reginald Ripper, from stealing his heirs' inheritance. Who's in it? The movie stars Susan Hart, Boris Karloff , Basil Rathbone , Tommy Kirk, Nancy Sinatra and Quinn O'Hara. Review: I came across The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini about a month or so ago and added it to my library because it sounded somewhat interesting and because there were a lot of recognizable names I wouldn't normally expect to see in a musical comedy. I finally got around to watching it this morning and, my opinion of it was mixed. The film has an interesting premise, and I especially liked how there was a slight mystery surrounding why Sto...

 I'm trying to read an Agatha Christie mystery When my phone rings. It's pre-recorded message from a candidate Telling me what a vote for them will bring. It's only a matter of time before my mailbox Is filled with enough flyers to kill a forest full of trees. I guess it's getting to be that time again, The time when I become Mr. Popularity. I'm not the kind of guy who keeps his mouth shut. If I see something I don't like, I am quick to be argumentative. To date, I've written plenty but never received a reply. I guess I'm just not important enough to hear back from my representative. Things have changed though. I now hear from them with regularity. They care about me, at least for now, because they need my vote. Making me Mr. Popularity. _________________________________________________________________ Here are some of my other poems: The Night the Wisconsin Badger Tapped Out (A Poem) A Cat Dad (A Poem) Where the F*ck is My Phone? (A Poem) In the Way (A ...