Artwork day.

I thought Friday would be a good day something creative I've produced myself throughout the week. Here's the silhouetted tree card I promised, a long with some experiments I created in making it. Hope you like them.

Its time for more fashion photography!

I've chosen this Photo by Cecil Beaton as it's not one of his typical flowery and romantic photos, which I also admire, but a bold and striking image ahead of its time.

http://www.chrisbeetles.com/gallery/picture.php?pic=64532

What I like- Whilst the dress in this photo is very much a dress of its time, with a tight waist and a skirt full of volume,  and yet the photo makes me think more of the 60's. The straight black lines, which create diagonals in the foreground, make you think of Piet Mondrian  and Yves St. Laurent's designs of the mid 60's (Below). I think overall it is a very impressive and forward looking photo and at the time would have seemed even bolder and more effective, than its is for us in our current period. 

What I'd change- I think it's a highly successful image, and the only things I can think I might try would be the tone of the models skin, which for me is a bit grey/lilacy, and a less forced pose (although i do like the diagonal her back creates.)

YSL dress

Mondrain image

And the modern photos. These come from Chanel's A/W campaign and were taken by Karl Lagerfeld. 

What I like- I find this photo intriguing. I really like the way the brick pattern in the background fits in with the 70's/  Red Indian  theme, reminiscent of hand woven .  I like the original spacing of the photo and how both the models line up with one of the vertical lines of the building.

What I would change- From this photo I've discovered I'm a woman of symmetry. Something about the symmetry of this photo really annoys me. The foreground is so nearly isoperimetrical but some of the angles are not quite there, and the background would be symmetrical but not through the way it lines up with the rooftop. This is clearly just a personal preference but maybe I'd experiment  how effective half the shot could be by itself.

I love this photo, they way the model look so out of place, her fur outfit contrasting hugely with the straight urban lines of her setting. Again I also like her placing in the photo , as well as how her leg is the only diagonal draws your eye again to her. They way the tones all blend together with the dappled brick work and shadow greys is also very effective.  

It's hard to see in a small image but the rust and lichen on the stair well compliments perfectly the texture of the models jumpsuit- this is my favourite thing about this image.

Design wish list- part 2

I found more items for my design wish list. First this eco-friendly, reusable, coffee/tea cup.

Rocket St George
I think you can also buy this and some lovely variations at urban outfitters.

I really like this, especially the blue china like pattern, I guess the teapot makes it a it more tea orientated but as a coffee drinker that's not stopping me wanting it. I only wish it  was sealable-then it would be perfect. 

Secondly these cards are inspiring me to have a go with some coloured tree silhouettes from my own pictures- so watch this space.

Rocket St George cards

Winter Wonderland

We practically had a white Christmas here in Guildford. Here are a couple of pictures from a boxing day walk I went on, I hope you like them. 

Near the silent pool

View over Newlands corner

Snow covered field against snow coloured clouds

I love the effect of the frost on these frozen leaves

Fashion wish list- part 2

Here are some more of my favourite items. I wonder if my Christmas money will stretch to any of them?

Seeing as this is by an obscure Japanese designer the likelihood of me getting it is very slim 

but I love the innovative bow. I've seen a few variations of this in shops a magazines now 

and would really like to try one out. Slightly worried I would just look like I was drowning 

in a  a knit sack though...

Check it out a polyvore, my favourite sight for finding beautiful clothes and discovering new 

(all be it often foreign) designers.Polyvore eruca jumper

And just to add on the end here I would also really like these...

I think these cute shoe boots would also go really well with the jumper above. You can

find them at http://www.frenchconnection.com/product/Woman+Collections+Shoes+B

oots/SFCQ4/Jack+Bootie.htm-they're in the sale!

Time for some more inspiring fashion photographs.

OK, I said Thursdays I would post fashion photographers, so here's my second post.

As my first photograph  I've chosen this Lillian Bassman photo, because i fell in love with her photos in the books I've been researching.

Lillian Bassman- Harpers Bazaar, May 1949, Piguet Dress
(From the book-Harrison M, Appearances)

What I like- I think this one is my favourite of them all, Its not as dramatic as many of them, but I love the dress, the tones, and  the quiet elegance of it all. I like how the pillar silhouette of the dress is reflected by the receding pillars of the background, how how this in turn give an architectural interpretation to the drapes and folds of the fabric.  

If I was to change anything- I think it would be the models pose. I like how the light highlights the lifted up skirt but can't help but feel it creates a very unnatural stance- It doesn't appear she's lifting it to walk or dance, but rather abstractly to her side whilst she takes in the view. I also like how the model faces out to, presumabley, the quad, but i think perhaps the same look could have been achieved without creating such a strong angle in her chin, as the rest of the image is so soft.

Autumn/Winter Chloe ad campaign- 2010/11
(http://bagaholicboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/chloe_fw10-womens-ad1.jpg)

The Second Photo(s)
I picked the first of these Chloe ad photos because of its obvious parallels with the first image. This time the image is much more real life- less ethereal- the model walking,in a hurry to get somewhere, looking at her feet as if watching her step.

What I like about it- I love how the stonework has been chosen to the reflect the camel outfit, and the warmth of all the tones. I also love the highlights in her hair, and the use of lighting in general.

What I would change- The car wing mirror, completely unnecessary. I'm not a big fan of photoshop but surely if the car couldn't be moved it could have been edited out, correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't see it adds anything to the image-only takes away.

(http://bagaholicboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/chloe_fw10-womens-ad3.jpg)

The Second Chloe Image-

To be honest I picked this one because of the trousers. I haven't seen any other brand or model work the "leg lengthening" trouser trend better than Chloe or this photo. I love the way the whole of the  camel outfit matches the tone of the sun-kissed stone behind exactly, and how very cleverly the trousers stand out against the steps- visually lengthening the legs. 

What I would change- Again for me the car is a little distracting, however i like how the colours compliment the 70's feel of the outfit and colour palette nicely. Maybe i would experiment with showing more of the car so it looked a little less like something that got in the way. 

Design wishlist

I love these cushions, reckon with a bit of time I could make my own though! Check out the rest at http://mydeco.com/p/vintage-union-jack-cushion/GB697B96OEPEQF5ZG2EGKHY4ZMLN7KI4CNL3HMBU/

Monday is fashion wish list day.

I've decided that each Monday I'll post one more item onto my wish-list. This week it's this ADAM bead embellished silk dress. Christmas always puts you in the mood for something that will sparkle and I love the glamour of the restrained black and gold colour palette, combined with the opulence of the gold decoration. I doubt I could pull it off, nor do I have an event to wear it to come to that, but that's beside the point, I would love this dress!

It Snowed!

In Guildford we've been enjoying the snow again. Apart from causing chaos with the roads meaning we decided to walk to go and get our Christmas tree, rather an interesting experience, It has made everything very beautiful. Here are a couple of my favourite photos I took today.

This is the a view of my garden through the snow.

The snow covered Wey.

The River Wey, part frozen.

A tree shaped crack in the ice I rather liked.

Snow topped Cow parsley with Guildford Cathedral in the background.

Fashion Photography

OK, so I'm doing a project on 20th century fashion and thought you might enjoy seeing some of my favourites. Each Thursday I'll show a classic fashion photo and a modern image I found that day, and where else would i start than Richard Avedon? This is one of the most iconic fashion photographs ever taken but certainly still worth talking about. 


The Classic


Dovima with elephants, evening dress by Dior, Cirque d'Hiver, August 1955


What I like- This Photo works for so many different reasons. Firstly it encapsulates the elegance prized in the 50's. Dovima's pose imitates the raised foot of the elephant of the left and the trunk of the one on the right. The dress glows against the grey of the background, and the multiple diagonals (the chains on the elephants feet, the black trim and glove of the model, as well as her leg) draw your eye across the image. It almost mocks the elephants bulk with the models grace, and this is just one of the many contrasts that make the image great. 


If I were to change anything- It would be the third elephant which doesn't add anything to the image just distracts the eye from the central action. 


And my second image...

This photo is by the largely unknown British photographer Tim Walker. To those who do know him it is his dreamlike scenes that he is appreciated for. As a fashion photographer his clothes often appear to take second place, lost in the intriguing backgrounds or sets. However he's selling an ideal, a dream rather than just clothes, and this approach has brought many success including Ralph Lauren. in this image it might be the roses you notice first but they build up the romanticism of the flowing silk dress, the car and bike British history, but with clothes triumphing over the past with dominance of pose and placement. Overall and energetic image that draws the eye in and intrigues you to the point your not satisfied by a glance but want to uncover the story that lies behind the image. 


If i were to change anything- I might experiment with different poses for the model in the foreground, some with her more obviously sitting on the chair and some standing, so the layers of the dress can be more easily appreciated. 


Check out the link below for an article on Tim Walker and links to more of his photos. I particularlyblike the one titled "long gown, Cuba"

http://www.luxist.com/2008/06/17/the-most-brilliant-british-fashion-photographer-br-youve-never/

Holidays!!!

So I'm now back in Guildford ready for Christmas celebrations, definitely time to post again! What have people felt of the snow lately?  Beautiful and fun or something you could have done without? Well here are a couple of my favourite pictures I took of the snow in Leeds. The rest I will publish on my website when I have that up and running, so if you like them please check out the rest.

I love whoever it was who tied red ribbons round the trees in  Hyde Park when the snow came.  Ingenious and beautiful!!

.Design students definitely get the prettiest buildings at the university of Leeds. Ours looked amazing in the snow.