A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Begging for air

Sometimes a job calls on you to go above and beyond your normal routine.  For a model, this can happen quite often.  In the case of IAM: Rachietartz, her latest photoshoot pushed her to the brink of consciousness.  Using a tie to cut off her airway, Rachie was on the verge of passing out when this photo was snapped.  You can see just how intense this was not only by the look in her eyes, but also by how red her face got while she was straining for air.

Photo credit: JL Joseph Beaulieu

Comments

270 responses to “Begging for air”

  1. Eli Avatar
    Eli

    rachie what you do is your business and if you want to toe the death line, by all means, experiment to your lung’s content.

    i do however feel that it is not appropriate to post something like this on modblog because i can guarantee that there are impressionable young-uns out there who follow modblog, want to be like all the cool modders they see, and this is the only thing that is obtainable to them. kids will not try to get a tattoo, suspend, split their dick, or gauge their ears. they will however be able to choke themselves. when posting on a popular public forum, no matter how extreme, maybe the safety of those who are dangerously impressionable should be taken under consideration?

    just a thought..

  2. Eli Avatar
    Eli

    rachie what you do is your business and if you want to toe the death line, by all means, experiment to your lung’s content.

    i do however feel that it is not appropriate to post something like this on modblog because i can guarantee that there are impressionable young-uns out there who follow modblog, want to be like all the cool modders they see, and this is the only thing that is obtainable to them. kids will not try to get a tattoo, suspend, split their dick, or gauge their ears. they will however be able to choke themselves. when posting on a popular public forum, no matter how extreme, maybe the safety of those who are dangerously impressionable should be taken under consideration?

    just a thought..

  3. Zephyr*Elf Avatar

    I don’t know- I think it’s rather silly to be bent over something like breathplay + how ‘impressionable’ children are, when there are photos of people cutting their gentials off, and doing various other dangerous activities. For some, body modification is about testing your body’s physical limits + this is an excellent demonstration of just that.

    Again, for a community that is based around a more hardcore aspect of the fetish community, I think there has been a bit of an overreaction to something that is just simple + beautiful.

  4. Zephyr*Elf Avatar

    I don’t know- I think it’s rather silly to be bent over something like breathplay + how ‘impressionable’ children are, when there are photos of people cutting their gentials off, and doing various other dangerous activities. For some, body modification is about testing your body’s physical limits + this is an excellent demonstration of just that.

    Again, for a community that is based around a more hardcore aspect of the fetish community, I think there has been a bit of an overreaction to something that is just simple + beautiful.

  5. Zephyr*Elf Avatar

    I don’t know- I think it’s rather silly to be bent over something like breathplay + how ‘impressionable’ children are, when there are photos of people cutting their gentials off, and doing various other dangerous activities. For some, body modification is about testing your body’s physical limits + this is an excellent demonstration of just that.

    Again, for a community that is based around a more hardcore aspect of the fetish community, I think there has been a bit of an overreaction to something that is just simple + beautiful.

  6. cry baby Avatar
    cry baby

    Hey Kidz – Give Yoreself Brain Damage! Itz Fun!

  7. cry baby Avatar
    cry baby

    Hey Kidz – Give Yoreself Brain Damage! Itz Fun!

  8. cry baby Avatar
    cry baby

    Hey Kidz – Give Yoreself Brain Damage! Itz Fun!

  9. alibaba Avatar
    alibaba

    Rachie Tartz: I have no objection to you or any other informed adult indulging in whatever vice you choose.

    My point is that autoerotic asphyxiation is not something to be undertaken lightly and is certainly not a game, as I am sure you would agree. It’s a sad fact that impressionable children will continue to try the “fainting game” with tragic results no matter how hard we adults try to supervise/control/guide them.

    There is a place for asphyxiophilia but I don’t believe that it is here on a publicly accessible site.

    ’nuff said.

  10. alibaba Avatar
    alibaba

    Rachie Tartz: I have no objection to you or any other informed adult indulging in whatever vice you choose.

    My point is that autoerotic asphyxiation is not something to be undertaken lightly and is certainly not a game, as I am sure you would agree. It’s a sad fact that impressionable children will continue to try the “fainting game” with tragic results no matter how hard we adults try to supervise/control/guide them.

    There is a place for asphyxiophilia but I don’t believe that it is here on a publicly accessible site.

    ’nuff said.

  11. alibaba Avatar
    alibaba

    Rachie Tartz: I have no objection to you or any other informed adult indulging in whatever vice you choose.

    My point is that autoerotic asphyxiation is not something to be undertaken lightly and is certainly not a game, as I am sure you would agree. It’s a sad fact that impressionable children will continue to try the “fainting game” with tragic results no matter how hard we adults try to supervise/control/guide them.

    There is a place for asphyxiophilia but I don’t believe that it is here on a publicly accessible site.

    ’nuff said.

  12. Stormchaser Avatar

    It is Ok to have, live, and picture a fetish. But if its not body-mod, than here on the body-mod showcase it is not Ok, due to being off topic. Forced breathplay has an pretty violent look (the picture resembels some nice mafia ideas about how to threat people)… Simply holding the breath voluntarily has the same effect, looking much less aggressive… and beeing way less dangerous. If you’d faint during apnoe the body starts to breath again. If you go for apnoe diving: Maybe don’t go to that last second, play safe.

  13. Stormchaser Avatar

    It is Ok to have, live, and picture a fetish. But if its not body-mod, than here on the body-mod showcase it is not Ok, due to being off topic. Forced breathplay has an pretty violent look (the picture resembels some nice mafia ideas about how to threat people)… Simply holding the breath voluntarily has the same effect, looking much less aggressive… and beeing way less dangerous. If you’d faint during apnoe the body starts to breath again. If you go for apnoe diving: Maybe don’t go to that last second, play safe.

  14. Stormchaser Avatar

    It is Ok to have, live, and picture a fetish. But if its not body-mod, than here on the body-mod showcase it is not Ok, due to being off topic. Forced breathplay has an pretty violent look (the picture resembels some nice mafia ideas about how to threat people)… Simply holding the breath voluntarily has the same effect, looking much less aggressive… and beeing way less dangerous. If you’d faint during apnoe the body starts to breath again. If you go for apnoe diving: Maybe don’t go to that last second, play safe.

  15. Rachie Tartz Avatar

    My motto for autoerotic asphyxiation, “Masturbate with a friend!” Plain and simple.

  16. Rachie Tartz Avatar

    My motto for autoerotic asphyxiation, “Masturbate with a friend!” Plain and simple.

  17. Rachie Tartz Avatar

    My motto for autoerotic asphyxiation, “Masturbate with a friend!” Plain and simple.

  18. Luke Avatar
    Luke

    Why is everybody going on about ‘impressionable kids’ seeing this picture on a sight that clearly states you need to be over 18 to view?

  19. Luke Avatar
    Luke

    Why is everybody going on about ‘impressionable kids’ seeing this picture on a sight that clearly states you need to be over 18 to view?

  20. Luke Avatar
    Luke

    Why is everybody going on about ‘impressionable kids’ seeing this picture on a sight that clearly states you need to be over 18 to view?

  21. Colleen Avatar
    Colleen

    Whether or not someone likes autoerotic is not my fucking business. When you publicly disseminate the image and it’s featured on a website for body modifications, then you’re taking something that is off-topic, but more importantly hot button, and moving the focus off of why people come to this site. There is a ton of debate about this sexual proclivity in fetish communities–WHERE IT BELONGS. Sexuality and mods intersect in a ton of interesting ways, and on this site these are ways that compliment each other. The “hey let me choke myself almost to death and give myself brain damage because it makes me wet” overshadows the 16g Hot Topic jewelry to a point that renders them almost irrelevant.

  22. Colleen Avatar
    Colleen

    Whether or not someone likes autoerotic is not my fucking business. When you publicly disseminate the image and it’s featured on a website for body modifications, then you’re taking something that is off-topic, but more importantly hot button, and moving the focus off of why people come to this site. There is a ton of debate about this sexual proclivity in fetish communities–WHERE IT BELONGS. Sexuality and mods intersect in a ton of interesting ways, and on this site these are ways that compliment each other. The “hey let me choke myself almost to death and give myself brain damage because it makes me wet” overshadows the 16g Hot Topic jewelry to a point that renders them almost irrelevant.

  23. Colleen Avatar
    Colleen

    Whether or not someone likes autoerotic is not my fucking business. When you publicly disseminate the image and it’s featured on a website for body modifications, then you’re taking something that is off-topic, but more importantly hot button, and moving the focus off of why people come to this site. There is a ton of debate about this sexual proclivity in fetish communities–WHERE IT BELONGS. Sexuality and mods intersect in a ton of interesting ways, and on this site these are ways that compliment each other. The “hey let me choke myself almost to death and give myself brain damage because it makes me wet” overshadows the 16g Hot Topic jewelry to a point that renders them almost irrelevant.

  24. Toots Avatar
    Toots

    I have to admit I enjoy being choked etc but I found this picture disturbing on first glance. Mostly down to my body automatically feeling like it was me that was gasping for air.

    However, this is an adult site and although I find certain aspects of the modification content disturbing sometimes too (Heavy Mods like amputations etc) I don’t think it shouldn’t be posted here.

  25. Toots Avatar
    Toots

    I have to admit I enjoy being choked etc but I found this picture disturbing on first glance. Mostly down to my body automatically feeling like it was me that was gasping for air.

    However, this is an adult site and although I find certain aspects of the modification content disturbing sometimes too (Heavy Mods like amputations etc) I don’t think it shouldn’t be posted here.

  26. Toots Avatar
    Toots

    I have to admit I enjoy being choked etc but I found this picture disturbing on first glance. Mostly down to my body automatically feeling like it was me that was gasping for air.

    However, this is an adult site and although I find certain aspects of the modification content disturbing sometimes too (Heavy Mods like amputations etc) I don’t think it shouldn’t be posted here.

  27. Rachie Tartz Avatar

    Colleen- LOL I don’t buy body jewelry from Hot Topic. And it’s a 14g not a 16g. 😉
    Like stated before. IT’S FETISH PHOTOGRAPHY. I am an alternative/fetish model. I didn’t try to “choke myself to death.” No one seems to understand the fact that I was NOT trying to put myself even out for that matter.

  28. Rachie Tartz Avatar

    Colleen- LOL I don’t buy body jewelry from Hot Topic. And it’s a 14g not a 16g. 😉
    Like stated before. IT’S FETISH PHOTOGRAPHY. I am an alternative/fetish model. I didn’t try to “choke myself to death.” No one seems to understand the fact that I was NOT trying to put myself even out for that matter.

  29. Rachie Tartz Avatar

    Colleen- LOL I don’t buy body jewelry from Hot Topic. And it’s a 14g not a 16g. 😉
    Like stated before. IT’S FETISH PHOTOGRAPHY. I am an alternative/fetish model. I didn’t try to “choke myself to death.” No one seems to understand the fact that I was NOT trying to put myself even out for that matter.

  30. Lauren Avatar
    Lauren

    I started reading modblog just under 10 years ago when I was about 13-14 and there was a vast amount of extreme body mods which Shannon ALWAYS gave warnings for. I was extremely impressionable because this was a world I had no other access to but there was always annotation to the background of the photo and if necessary, a warning. Where is that for this?

    I’m not even old-fashioned yet I found myself surprised to see this on here, just another flippantly described photo. Take some responsibility and explain why you found this photo so compelling to post and why people should NOT endeavor to replicate. I mean, Jesus, it’s so damn dangerous!

  31. Lauren Avatar
    Lauren

    I started reading modblog just under 10 years ago when I was about 13-14 and there was a vast amount of extreme body mods which Shannon ALWAYS gave warnings for. I was extremely impressionable because this was a world I had no other access to but there was always annotation to the background of the photo and if necessary, a warning. Where is that for this?

    I’m not even old-fashioned yet I found myself surprised to see this on here, just another flippantly described photo. Take some responsibility and explain why you found this photo so compelling to post and why people should NOT endeavor to replicate. I mean, Jesus, it’s so damn dangerous!

  32. Lauren Avatar
    Lauren

    I started reading modblog just under 10 years ago when I was about 13-14 and there was a vast amount of extreme body mods which Shannon ALWAYS gave warnings for. I was extremely impressionable because this was a world I had no other access to but there was always annotation to the background of the photo and if necessary, a warning. Where is that for this?

    I’m not even old-fashioned yet I found myself surprised to see this on here, just another flippantly described photo. Take some responsibility and explain why you found this photo so compelling to post and why people should NOT endeavor to replicate. I mean, Jesus, it’s so damn dangerous!

  33. San Avatar

    I see it as an artistic piece. BME does have BME Hard, which is an adult site and does have various fetishes on it. I’ve been choked during sex play before (and hated it, won’t do it again) and doing it in a fetish area is probably a lot safer than some stupid 14 year old kid doing it for kicks.
    Hell, people pay for stuff like that.
    And I mean, this is hardly the most dangerous thing ever featured on Modblog..

  34. San Avatar

    I see it as an artistic piece. BME does have BME Hard, which is an adult site and does have various fetishes on it. I’ve been choked during sex play before (and hated it, won’t do it again) and doing it in a fetish area is probably a lot safer than some stupid 14 year old kid doing it for kicks.
    Hell, people pay for stuff like that.
    And I mean, this is hardly the most dangerous thing ever featured on Modblog..

  35. San Avatar

    I see it as an artistic piece. BME does have BME Hard, which is an adult site and does have various fetishes on it. I’ve been choked during sex play before (and hated it, won’t do it again) and doing it in a fetish area is probably a lot safer than some stupid 14 year old kid doing it for kicks.
    Hell, people pay for stuff like that.
    And I mean, this is hardly the most dangerous thing ever featured on Modblog..

  36. Alice.white Avatar
    Alice.white

    Good lord, when did we become such a community of pussies?!
    Every single thing on the interweb doesn’t need to have a warning OMG DON’T LOOK IF YOU’RE IMPRESSIONABLE!! Has anyone else paid a bit of attention to anything else dangerous put on modblog? Like this is the sole example.

    Using an object like that restricts blood flow as well as the airway, so whoever said “holdin breath” works just as well..yer doing it wrong.

    I know for myself even brief – I mean 10 seconds and less – of being choked like that can result in that exact look. When did we all become so afraid of minor risks? Jesus.

  37. Alice.white Avatar
    Alice.white

    Good lord, when did we become such a community of pussies?!
    Every single thing on the interweb doesn’t need to have a warning OMG DON’T LOOK IF YOU’RE IMPRESSIONABLE!! Has anyone else paid a bit of attention to anything else dangerous put on modblog? Like this is the sole example.

    Using an object like that restricts blood flow as well as the airway, so whoever said “holdin breath” works just as well..yer doing it wrong.

    I know for myself even brief – I mean 10 seconds and less – of being choked like that can result in that exact look. When did we all become so afraid of minor risks? Jesus.

  38. Alice.white Avatar
    Alice.white

    Good lord, when did we become such a community of pussies?!
    Every single thing on the interweb doesn’t need to have a warning OMG DON’T LOOK IF YOU’RE IMPRESSIONABLE!! Has anyone else paid a bit of attention to anything else dangerous put on modblog? Like this is the sole example.

    Using an object like that restricts blood flow as well as the airway, so whoever said “holdin breath” works just as well..yer doing it wrong.

    I know for myself even brief – I mean 10 seconds and less – of being choked like that can result in that exact look. When did we all become so afraid of minor risks? Jesus.

  39. Eli Avatar
    Eli

    @ zeyphr*elf
    my point was that a young kid is NOT going to try to chop his dick off. he may on the other hand try to choke himself. thats why exposing this type of “modification” (?) has more dangerous possibilities than exposing any other modification on this site. young impressionable viewers will observe, and some will try to replicate. deny that all you want, but i can assure that will happen.

  40. Eli Avatar
    Eli

    @ zeyphr*elf
    my point was that a young kid is NOT going to try to chop his dick off. he may on the other hand try to choke himself. thats why exposing this type of “modification” (?) has more dangerous possibilities than exposing any other modification on this site. young impressionable viewers will observe, and some will try to replicate. deny that all you want, but i can assure that will happen.

  41. Eli Avatar
    Eli

    @ zeyphr*elf
    my point was that a young kid is NOT going to try to chop his dick off. he may on the other hand try to choke himself. thats why exposing this type of “modification” (?) has more dangerous possibilities than exposing any other modification on this site. young impressionable viewers will observe, and some will try to replicate. deny that all you want, but i can assure that will happen.

  42. San Avatar

    Eli: Who says a young kid isn’t going to try to chop his dick off?

  43. San Avatar

    Eli: Who says a young kid isn’t going to try to chop his dick off?

  44. San Avatar

    Eli: Who says a young kid isn’t going to try to chop his dick off?

  45. Brittney Avatar
    Brittney

    Rachie, you are the fucking bomb.

    Kudos to you – this picture is beautiful. I posted this link on my Facebook and it’s caused a miniature shitstorm – no worries though I won HAHA.

    Fuck the squares, fetishes are FUN!

  46. Brittney Avatar
    Brittney

    Rachie, you are the fucking bomb.

    Kudos to you – this picture is beautiful. I posted this link on my Facebook and it’s caused a miniature shitstorm – no worries though I won HAHA.

    Fuck the squares, fetishes are FUN!

  47. Brittney Avatar
    Brittney

    Rachie, you are the fucking bomb.

    Kudos to you – this picture is beautiful. I posted this link on my Facebook and it’s caused a miniature shitstorm – no worries though I won HAHA.

    Fuck the squares, fetishes are FUN!

  48. Eli Avatar
    Eli

    san.
    i see there being three reasons for someone to want to remove their genitals:
    1. they are asexual and do not want to have reproductive organs
    2. they enjoy self mutilation and the standard cutting has lost its appeal
    3. they want to be something that more closely resembles the opposite sex, which i guess in this situation would only apply to males

    im guessing a typical young kid does not fully understand asexuality, and if so is still coping with what that means and if it applies to them.
    for a young kid who is interested in self mutilation, the whole cutting thing is still new to them, so why would they be more extreme?
    a young kid who wants to be the opposite sex is still worrying about the social repercussions of a sex change and would have to be quite unstable to attempt a dangerous genital change on their own.

    i think thats what it comes down to: a young kid would have to be very unstable to attempt a dangerous genital removal on their own, while choking is something that appears to be far less permanent and dangerous.

  49. Eli Avatar
    Eli

    san.
    i see there being three reasons for someone to want to remove their genitals:
    1. they are asexual and do not want to have reproductive organs
    2. they enjoy self mutilation and the standard cutting has lost its appeal
    3. they want to be something that more closely resembles the opposite sex, which i guess in this situation would only apply to males

    im guessing a typical young kid does not fully understand asexuality, and if so is still coping with what that means and if it applies to them.
    for a young kid who is interested in self mutilation, the whole cutting thing is still new to them, so why would they be more extreme?
    a young kid who wants to be the opposite sex is still worrying about the social repercussions of a sex change and would have to be quite unstable to attempt a dangerous genital change on their own.

    i think thats what it comes down to: a young kid would have to be very unstable to attempt a dangerous genital removal on their own, while choking is something that appears to be far less permanent and dangerous.

  50. Eli Avatar
    Eli

    san.
    i see there being three reasons for someone to want to remove their genitals:
    1. they are asexual and do not want to have reproductive organs
    2. they enjoy self mutilation and the standard cutting has lost its appeal
    3. they want to be something that more closely resembles the opposite sex, which i guess in this situation would only apply to males

    im guessing a typical young kid does not fully understand asexuality, and if so is still coping with what that means and if it applies to them.
    for a young kid who is interested in self mutilation, the whole cutting thing is still new to them, so why would they be more extreme?
    a young kid who wants to be the opposite sex is still worrying about the social repercussions of a sex change and would have to be quite unstable to attempt a dangerous genital change on their own.

    i think thats what it comes down to: a young kid would have to be very unstable to attempt a dangerous genital removal on their own, while choking is something that appears to be far less permanent and dangerous.

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