Hi everyone,
This is Apnea with some not-so-happy news.
As a result of the ongoing pressure and financial losses incurred from defending against Sean Suhl of SuicideGirl's $100,000 lawsuit against Philip for shooting me for my site apneatic and the emotional stress and damage this has done to his business, Philip is taking the Lithium Picnic site offline until further notice.
I've taken it over for now so he can focus his time and resources on his case and raising funds. Please contact him at lithiumpicnic at gmail dot com if you have a paid project that you would like to discuss with him.
SG is now making the preposterous claims that they taught him photography and web design and they are going after the profits of my site.
You can read my response to their recent public statement HERE.
Someone scanned and posted the public legal documents related to the case which included his contract HERE for those of you interested in reading it.
His SG contract very specifically defined single girl sites like mine as an exception to the competition rules but now SG claims my single girl site is a competitor to their empire of over one thousand girls, books, DVDs, radio shows, merchandise, a magazine and television syndication. Entering into litigation over this is costly and takes a lot of time, thousands of dollars a month. SG knows they can outspend him 100 times over and this is likely more about breaking him and locking him into a permanent non-compete than any truth about their claims.
His studio at 1602 Ovid Street Houston TX 77007 and much of his photography gear is for sale, if you are interested in discussing a purchase please contact him at lithiumpicnic at gmail dot com.
If you have recently sent in a model application or contacted him about a shoot please be patient it's unlikely he will be shooting or working on new projects for the next several months.
If you would like to help support his defense, here are a few links:
LP Fundraiser Prints for Sale
LP Fundraiser Shirts for Sale
Apnea's Auctions and Paypal Donation Link
If nothing else please help spread the word, post and link to this page.
Stay tuned for more links to auctions - we're auctioning off more clothing and props from our published and well known shoots as well as more photography gear very soon.
Philip still makes frequent posts and updates on his LiveJournal page. Thanks to everyone who has shown support over the years, especially those that have recently donated or supported us through these rocky times.
We know we are in the right and we won't give up or go away until we are able to live our lives freely and unmolested.
Stay Tuned. Spread the Truth.
Apnea
More Reading/Links of Interest:
Another SG Photographer Tells her Story
Legal Documents Related to the Case
SG Resells My Photos (and other SG's Photos) to Other Porn Sites
More SG Stories
SG WatchGroup
Fetishistas Article
My First Interview
Michael Hussar Supports Lithium Picnic
Happy DeviantNation Day!
AVN Online Featured Story
DeviantNation Donates July Revenue from Joins to Support LP
SG's Public Statement
THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE SOURCE OF SG INFORMATION ON THE WEB
Those muther fuckers. They put you two through hell then in their latest shit spread they use a outfit from Halo the video game. Talk about copyright violations. FUCK SG.
Contact me if I can help. There are options.
Published by:
GIULIO Sciorio (Phoenix265)
- September 25th 2007, 9:53:27 AM
it was sad to see the site is offline. Hope you'll be back soon
Published by:
NamelessOne (Ukraine263)
- September 24th 2007, 1:52:39 AM
Good luck in your battle. I just canceled my membership to "that site". Fuck them.
Published by:
e-boogie (los angeles261)
- September 15th 2007, 8:43:25 PM
Your photography is awesome!!!
Published by:
Miss Ambiguous (The Big Apple260)
- September 14th 2007, 9:22:17 AM
Hey!! I saw you at the Manson/Slayer concert and My friend and I were talking to you... I was on your friends list but got deleted
It's ok... you still have a beautiful girl and I love your work!! Its very inspiring...
Published by:
melissa (Texas City256)
- September 10th 2007, 7:12:30 PM
god, i freaking mis your site. you were such a source of inspiration for my own work.
Published by:
Onnie Koski (NYC254)
- September 8th 2007, 10:07:35 PM
When I first found out about SG a few years ago, it was supposed to be a new, young, honest approach to sexuality and eroticism. Well, apparently that was bullshit. Seems that as the money flowed, they became just like so many back street nudie/porno garages out of Van Nuys. Eating up people like LP and Apnea, sucking out the creativity and getting fat on the profits. Sad, sad, sad to see. Your work is great man, and Apnea is an artist as well. Good luck. and Missy; I thought better of you.
Published by:
Dex (Los Angeles, CA252)
- September 5th 2007, 12:02:15 AM
This is so horrible to see, and completely outrageous! Your an amazing photographer and I know for a fact many inspiring photographers look up and admire the work you do, your images always seem to come out flawless and absolutely amazing. I never liked SG but this only now furthers it. As an artist/photographer I hope this doesnt stop you but only pressures you to work harder and when the decision is said and done you can come back with a bang of new images making the idiots at SG only jealous they lost one of the (as I think) most talented photographers in the world.
I truly hope everything goes in favor of you.
Published by:
Patricia (Florida250)
- September 3rd 2007, 5:49:55 PM
I read the article and do believe that Philip could counter claim for breach of contract in that pay was withheld on multiple occasions.
Know that I am rooting for you both and really hope that, if karma both exists and applies to corporate bodies, that it has some justice in store for all concerned.
Published by:
Australie (Australia248)
- September 2nd 2007, 12:11:56 AM
Dear Philip
having met you ages before you started working for Suicide Girls, and having had your work on my website's online gallery since the very beginning of my project, I feel compelled to show some support:
I will be posting a link to this page on Channel 83 right away.
I hope you will be able to come out of this dispute without too many troubles. A hug to you and Apnea.
Albert - Channel 83
Published by:
Channel83 (Berlin247)
- August 25th 2007, 8:40:26 AM
Apnea & Philip: I wish you the best of luck in this terrible situation. You're both such wonderful artists who don't deserve this!
Hope you know that even in Holland support you guys! Hope to see you up and about in short notice!
Love, Nadya
Published by:
Nadya (The Netherlands245)
- August 24th 2007, 11:51:14 AM
when the lp's site is back?!
Published by:
gabs - August 23rd 2007, 1:34:26 PM
Hey, if you guys are interested, I would be more than happy to shoot a few sets on my own dime in support of Lithium Picnic and you wouldn't have to worry about paying me. Hot model for free yo!
xoxo
Chandra (formerly known as Ruby Suicide)
Published by:
Chandra/ aka Ruby (Portland242)
- August 21st 2007, 3:41:38 PM
Good luck! I've been spreading the word that SG is corrupt for a while now, your story has helped.
I hope all goes well and in the end you come out on top and laughing. Someday SG won't be destroy the lives of models and photographers anymore!
Published by:
Shelby (california240)
- August 17th 2007, 1:50:18 AM
All the best for both of you... Love your work very much!
Published by:
Lacrisa (Hamburg/Germany239)
- August 14th 2007, 5:56:04 AM
I hadn't paid attention to this whole drama in a long time, but when I came to the site to look for an old photo of his, and read this...I think I was even more stunned than from the accusations they were making in the past!! All the best luck to Philip on winning the case. This whole scenario is even making me fearful of shooting SG girls on NON SG shoots (I would never shoot for SG as I've always been opposed to them; but scaring off more work for the other girls is bad too!) Best of luck to you both. I'm positive this will turn out in Phil's favor.
Published by:
Vara (San Francisco235236237)
- August 13th 2007, 12:42:39 AM
Stay strong, hopefully all goes well. Your work was the best
Published by:
Connor - August 12th 2007, 8:28:33 PM
Lithium Picnic...Legend and Inspiration
Keep Fighting against the oppression and wrongdoing!!!!
Freedom of expression is sacred
Published by:
Akasha (Glasgow232)
- August 10th 2007, 12:38:12 PM
damn, them SG folks are really fucking pushing it.
It's a bitch that in the US of A a contract doesn't seem to be worth much if you ain't got the high-priced lawyers to back it up.
Best of luck with the case.
Robin
Published by:
WithdrawalFX - August 10th 2007, 11:23:17 AM
Hello,
I wish you goodluck in this struggle.
love
MisTique
Published by:
MisTique (Netherlands230)
- August 6th 2007, 3:32:36 PM
Suprise?....well thats the most we can say....fuck we have been "naughty!" hehe, we did a story on...well YOUR story, with this whole SG bullshit. We hope that we can help in anyway! We released a test issue August 1st and are most likely going to be allowing the general public to purchase it. We hope we can raise some cash-ola for you guys!
Hell, we will even send a free issue to SG, so they can wipe their aids infested asses with it....yea, we just dont give a fuck!
Published by:
Nectoxic Magazine (Rhode Island227)
- August 5th 2007, 8:18:49 PM
My friends mentioned the destress you suffer. I'm a libra so I can see both sides although dropped out of Law school because of such rediculous feats as taking away someone else's life. It's a sad way to make a claim, but it's the only way some people know how to survive. Take care and good luck.
Published by:
Exxxile (Hollywood221)
- July 31st 2007, 5:52:36 PM
Best of luck, LP. If it weren't for you, I would have starting shooting for SG and foolishly been cought in their bear trap as well.
The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
When do you do seminars? I'm very interested in attending one.
Nikolai
Published by:
Nikolai Ferris (San Antonio, TX219)
- July 31st 2007, 1:01:06 PM
Lithium Picnic has my full respect and support over this matter.
I really hope that he manages to beat SG into the ground. I think any thoughts i've ever had about SG are now completely changed.
Adam Robertson Photography
Published by:
Adam Robertson (UK217)
- July 30th 2007, 1:38:04 PM
I know I'm only one voice among many, but Suicide Girls is/was the most pathetic organization ever. I canceled my membership 2 years ago, the organization was over flowing with a sense of elitism and biased towards everything. The CEO is the meaning of cock face, anyone who works for Suicide Girls is a cock face. I give my full support to Lithium Picnic, your work blows SG.com out of the water, seriously! We're on your side.
~ Dave
PS: as a side note, did anyone else also feel Suicide Girls never lived up to their name?
They always thought they were this "MTV" rebellious site, yet got so politically correct over everything, over sensitive, and banned anyone who spoke anything negative about them on the site. If you're gonna make a business called "Suicide Girls" at least live up to your own damn name in some essence or another.
Published by:
Dave Palmacci (Boston, MA216)
- July 29th 2007, 6:59:40 PM
I sincerely hope everyone that's even marginally interested in this style and genre of photography (on every level, photographers, models, MUAs, and fans) take notice of this as a very good example of why not to do business with SG.
They're effectively censoring you guys through frivolous litigation, but in the end I suspect this sort of dipshittery will end up backfiring, and I do hope it ends up censoring SG out of a paycheck.
Photographers, models, make up artists, fashion designers... you need to be very aware of whom you do business with.
Good luck with this, I wish you nothing but the best of luck!
Published by:
Dan (Longview, Texas214)
- July 28th 2007, 12:48:14 AM
I hadn't been to your site for a while, and I am sorry it had been so long. I can't believe this, can't believe suicidegirls would try to tear you down like this. I wish you luck and will wait impatiently to be able to browse your work for inspiration soon.
Published by:
David (Carlsbad, Calif213)
- July 26th 2007, 1:13:00 AM
if he needs an extra eye, let me know.
Published by:
Zim? :. (temecula ca211)
- July 23rd 2007, 2:13:35 PM
I canceled my SG account after seeing this.
Published by:
Hamtax - July 21st 2007, 6:53:18 PM
you have my support. i hope i can save enough money to give you some money :/
Published by:
kari - July 9th 2007, 11:44:45 PM
How is that SG, that makes thousands of dollars a day thought its web and media presence, tries to take a man's livelihood away from because they feel threaten by his presence and the support that he has behind him? Its sad and childish to see a bunch of grow people act like kids. I remember seeing Phillip's work before he even join SG. So how can a person be trained in his work when he already knew how to do this before joining them? I would think it would least be an requirement before being hired. Some jobs out there require you to have some kind of formal training in the field you are working in.
SG lost my support and my respect in how they treat the models and people who work for them.
Good luck to the both of you! I hope to see the day that LP returns back
Published by:
Ruka (Chicago, IL) - July 9th 2007, 10:20:52 PM
good luck,... the fuckers!
they owe me money too
Published by:
mth - July 9th 2007, 5:21:38 PM
That is very sad. Both of your work is amazing. It is very intersting to hear the other side of this story as it seems SG has more money and influence to make their side more prominent. You two are very well known in the photography/modeling world and I wish you all the best in getting out of this relatively unscathed. Remember that you are admired for sticking to your convictions. I agree that you two are very much in the right.
Published by:
carly claire (UK)
- July 9th 2007, 7:32:29 AM
The fact of the matter is, and based on reading most of the entries. It will be very hard for LP to win this, even if justified and in the right. I do agree its the person with the most money wins. And has been the case in many things. It would take a miracle for LP to come out on top. Not being rude or anything, just realistic. And to this I really hope for. Though all it is, is hope. I don't add many of my works to DA, for a similar concept. People I've worked for might just go off on the same. So the ones I add are just personal designs and arts, that I did just to pass the time. LP has some very amazing works. And love how he captures his subjects. For me I don't do photography well, but I love to do art, designs, and digital touch-ups ... and what I wouldn't give to help LP in some way. Even if I wasn't paid for it. Just the chance would be worth it. And it really sucks that people are trying to do him in, just because they can. Too bad you can't just take them out like in the old west, and be done with it .. heh. Best of luck with this.
Published by:
AtomicAngelMedia (flagstaff,az)
- July 9th 2007, 3:28:20 AM
Alla this so sukks Phillip. Im so sorry to hear this happened.
Published by:
justice Howard (CITY OF ANGELS)
- July 7th 2007, 3:53:40 PM
i'm really sorry for everything both of you are going thru rite now...I WAS a fan of SG but i had no idea that they would pull that kind of bullshit. javascript:change('
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Apnea your pictures are really amazing javascript:change('
')...i'm actually hoping to be a model at some point and i hope i will be able to create beautiful photos like you have...i wish you both the best and i help in any way i can. good luck with your law suit, I hope u guys win!!
InDusTrA DoLLiE
Published by:
InDusTrA DoLLiE (Omaha, NE)
- July 6th 2007, 8:30:41 PM
I was told by Krs Hauskie that i could still find a photographer here that could help me make a portfolio. Im desperate for help. Please contact me at
[email protected]
Published by:
Dahlia D'Onofrio (Houston, Texas)
- July 6th 2007, 6:20:03 PM
I first found your work last summer when I searched for anything and everything concerning Apnea. I found your website and instantly fell in love with everything I saw. I added you on DeviantART some time after that.
There are no words to describe what level of talent you have. I am poor as hell, but I've been telling people about your case whenever I can. I do hope you kick some ass! Good luck!!
Published by:
Luna Sea (Carver, MN)
- July 6th 2007, 1:51:03 PM
Let the man work....
Published by:
Nuno Condeço (Lisbon - Portug)
- July 6th 2007, 7:10:38 AM
Apnea-
I have kept up with you since you started as a suicide girl and I am sorry to hear about the lawsuit. It is pathetic on SG's part since they are now a gigantic corporate punkneonpiercedgirlslutmodelstudent machine, making money off of the boredom of pretty girls in exchange for underwear and a fleeting sense of internet fame and sexual value based on camera angles. Honestly, you have a distinct face and art about you and SG wanted you as poster child and is greedily eyeing the artistry that Lithium has brought out of you. I am really sorry and I wish I had answers. Know that both of you are talented. I suggest going to the nearest law library and researching how to debunk their claim, because it doesn't seem to make sense. It seems like you were off of SG long before Lithium brought you to such great heights, and the terms of your agreement with SG probably would not qualify after you left the site. Review the contract. Find someone who specializes in the rights of an artist/producer/ or model. A person will find more sympathy with the court than will a gigantic teenage candystore like SG.
Good luck and don't give up.
Published by:
heather - July 6th 2007, 12:01:35 AM
Totally sucks! You rock...I learned about Lithium Picnic and Apnea through being a fan of Aprella...as a makeup artist and model you guys are an inspiration even though I know I could never do what you do!
I've heard nothing but bad things about Suicide Girls...sorry to hear that they are trying to take credit for your artistic genius!
Hope this process will at least inspire something magical!
T
Published by:
Theresa (SF)
- July 5th 2007, 10:15:49 PM
i never really liked suicide girls all too much; you two were one of the main reasons i kept up with it all. i hope they get what's coming to them and you two get back on your feet, back to doing what you love most. philip's photography inspires me to no end; i strive to make my work as wonderful as his. apnea is just simply beautiful.
i've posted myspace things regarding this, and i truly hope that everything will get back together. i love what you're both doing, and i'm sure you do as well. i know that you have lots of supporters, and our hearts go out to you.
<333
Published by:
DZ - July 5th 2007, 1:44:50 PM
Hello Apnea and Philip. I'm saddened and disappointed to hear this but am not surprised as hearing negative comments about SG from former models especially is a regular occurance. What does surprise me is the effort SG is making to ruin Philip and LP. I've enjoyed seeing LP work of Apnea and others for years and I hope that you will prevail and then stick it back to SG and recover your funds.
Radio Free Abattoir is relaunching this month after finalizing a few more technical requirements and I've made a note to add this issue as one of our first blog posts. Good luck. Luv + Slaginess from RFA.
Published by:
SamSam / RFA (Miami Beach)
- July 4th 2007, 9:53:02 AM
Hi Philip i just read all this, and im sorry to hear about it, I just got your submission to raster and it look awesome.
If there's anything i can do to help with resources i can provide please let me know.
Published by:
Luis Araujo (London)
- July 3rd 2007, 7:40:43 AM
You guys are awesome. I wish you both the best. I'll spread the word as much as I can.
Published by:
Michael (New Jersey)
- July 2nd 2007, 1:49:31 AM
I love you guys. Fuck $G.
Published by:
TheStitchWitch (Houston)
- July 1st 2007, 9:00:50 PM
Apnea...my gf and I have started a myspace page that we are launching as a domain soon...PLEASE READ OUR ABOUT ME AND HAVE A LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE AIMING TO DO....
We hate what ahs happened to your husband and we are fully prepared to be suid by those bastards unjustly too....
We have posted you banner in our headline section and we're writing blogs about this stuff...we are promoting our site all summer all over online and around the scene...PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP YOU GUYS ANY FURTHER?
Gary of Sickboys
www.myspace.com/sickboyspinups
SG makes us
Published by:
GARY GRACE (Dublin/Boston)
- June 30th 2007, 3:40:00 PM
It makes me so sad that one of the best, if not best, and talented photographers related to SG has been put down in such a way. *__*
Best Wishes to Picnic and Apnea >_<
Published by:
Cybil S. (Hawaii)
- June 29th 2007, 6:33:11 PM
I've submitted this set to StumbleUpon in hopes of driving traffic. The post is accompanied with a great pic of Apnea so hopefully, it will catch the eye of many and send them your way.
I am so sorry to hear about this. This is such a shame. Down with SG!
Published by:
Phreaknurse (Florida)
- June 29th 2007, 4:11:54 PM
Unfreaking believable..
I'll post the links and help get the word out.
Published by:
Nintendoll (Olympia)
- June 29th 2007, 4:05:50 PM