Photojournalism

Just wanted to post this...I'm coming up to my 3rd year at uni and for my final project (the big important one!!) I'm doing photojournalism. Just been doing some research and looking for inspiration and came across this, a photo blog post on the BBC website on the theme of fashion. Its interesting how different people define fashion differently...what does fashion mean to you?

Summer dreams are made of these...

I can be so fickle...one week I'm wanting it to be Autumn soon and the next I'm lamenting the end of summer. To be completely honest I would happily have both in one go! This summer does seem to have passed by in a bit of a blur, its been never ending, having finished uni early June and not really having had much uni before then has made the summer seem longer but now we're fast heading for September. Exam results season is upon us (good luck to anyone getting A Level results tomorrow and GCSEs next week, good luck too to anyone else expecting exam results shortly). August ends in a few weeks and the September magazine issues are now out, filled with the new season collections. I don't know about you but I have a very very long wish list of boots (regular readers will probably realise I am quite obsessed, can't wait to go shopping for some new ones), cosy knits and pretty much anything else that catches my eye. My wardrobe is in such a bad state right now, it needs some serious reinvention- kind of difficult on a student budget but I shall attempt it!!

For today though, I've been going through my magazines for hazy summer inspired fashion photography. Perhaps I expect too much from my summers, but I want adventure and excitement. Instead I've spent the last few weeks working and there has been little excitement. Maybe next summer will be "the" summer...for now my dreams will be held in images such as these.








The top two images are from an editorial in Elle UK June 2008, the next three are from 125 Magazine (SS09) and the last two are from Plastique Magazine (SS09).

This text came with the images from 125 and I think it goes perfectly...

"The Last Rays of Sun - Our world is kind; our environment is a luxury we all have access to. Luxury is not excess, but the tiny moments that can go unnoticed which are accessible to anyone. Subtle sensory experiences, like lying in woodland on the moist mossy ground under a dancing canopy cover....feeling the last rays of the sun on your face as you float in and out of dreamtime and let yourself be transported somewhere else, just for a moment of Luxury".

This particular shoot by photographer Venetia Dearden, was absolutely beautiful and definately captures the idea of a fading summer day. I would seriously recommend getting this magazine! May summer days live forever ♥

Fashion Photography: Diana Koenigsberg

How fun are these photographs by Diana Koenigsberg? I was browsing Cyanatrendland and the bright colours of these images caught my eye. I like things that are pretty and vintagey, and I like things that are quirky but I also like photographs with a sense of humour. The playful nature of these photographs just stands out so much and I love that. Lets hear it for fun fashion!






Thanks to Cyanatrendland for the images. For more information on Diana Koenigsberg click here.

Edward Steichen

It seems that whenever inspiration fails you, all you need to do is look back. People often talk of things not being as good today as they were in the past. I don't know how true that is, maybe we are just inclined to put a rose-tinted perspective on the past and things in the past weren't necessarily better, just different. Nevertheless, it is interesting to look at how life, fashion par exemple was compared to now. Before popular culture invaded life in the sixties, people really seemed to know how to dress. Hollywood cinema of the thirties wasn't called the Golden Age for nothing, it was glamour in the true sense of the word and not the page 3 kind that exists now. Anna Wintour reckons fashion is about going forward, and in a sense she is right but that doesn't mean we can't take a little slice of the past with us and mix it up to create something contemporary.

Anyway, all this rambling does have a point. I came across the photographer Edward Steichen, a name I think I've come across before but actually really looked at recently (today!). He began his career in fashion photography in the early 1900's in Paris and became the photographer of Paul Poiret's collection. However he was more interested in fine art photography. It wasn't until the 1920's and a meeting with Frank Crowninshield, editor of Vanity Fair, and Conde Nast that he was offerered job as chief photographer for Vanity Fair and his career as fashion photographer restarted.

His photographs capture that whole glamourous side of life that is often associated with the twenties and thirties. He photographed a number of actresses at the time including Gloria Swanson, Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford. Although clearly placed within their time I think they are as interesting and inspirational as ever...you can see his influence in fashion photography today, and I think setting the style of modern day Vanity Fair fashion editorials.

An example of his fine art photography

Thanks to Smithsonian for some of the images and information

Once Upon A Time...

A collection of images sourced from Getty, Sublime Magazine and photographer Eugenio Recuenco loosly based around fairytales...








Eugenio's photography is absolutely stunning, creating strong dramatic images with a hint of almost Tim Burton-esque darkness. These are a few of his fairytale based collection. I might feature more of his work on here in the future because it is so good.

It's Vintage Dahling!

Wow! Two days is a long time gone in the blogging world. I've spent literally hours just catching up on posts from various blogs and even now I'm not quite done.

I wrote about a week and a half ago that I'd bought some vintage clothes on ebay and was beginning to get worried as they hadn't turned up. Anyway, my exhausted self (one mess night out and no sleep later...) was woken by the doorbell going. My purchases had arrived :) I would love to be able to post some photos of them but...its that pesky no camera situation again. I just tried to take it on my phone but the quality is awful. I may be wearing one of my dresses in a few days so I can show you then if I get some photos done :) Both are lovely though..One dress is actually more like a tunic, its bum skimmingly short so would have to wear with leggings or thick tights etc. I adore it though, its made of white lace with dragonfly detailing in the middle down the front. I tried to find out some information about the label, "Miuse" but couldn't. The other dress is much longer, below my knees and has a gorgeous summery floral print and ties around the back. Again I love it and am so glad I took a risk and bought them. Both dresses seem to be a great condition too which is fab!

The non camera situation may be soon to change, after cursing lack of jobs and money I've bagged myself a job for 4 weeks. So very happy about that and tomorrow I have an interview for a job in term time which seems to be my perfect job (it involves social networking!) so fingers crossed. Maybe one day I will have a camera and then I can work on trying to get photoshop too!

For now I'll leave you with some random pictures that I like. Also thanks for all the comments lately, I was quite surprised to log on to my email and see so many comments had been left!




Photo credits: Can't quite remember where these are from but not my own :)

Perry Curties

Todays photography post comes courtesy of Perry Curties. After attending art college, to pursue his interest in abstract painting he became interested in photography. He worked with high profile photographers, after graduating, in both London and New York. His fantastic ability to use lighting and subtle post production combined with strong narrative themes has led to him being highly regarded. He launched my favourite magazine 125 in 2001 which showcases the work of emerging and established contemporary artists. He has also worked on a number of film posters including Kidulthood as well as other clients such as BBC, Hardy Amies and Italian Vanity Fair.

For more information click here.

Image Credit: 125 magazine on http://theofficelondon.com

Gemma Booth

Picture post today...these photographs were taken by Gemma Booth for 125 magazine, an amazing photography and fashion magazine in an editorial entitled 'Computer Love'. I love the light in these images and just the whole dreamlike quality, so gorgeous. Her other photos also have that same feel. Apart from fashion photography for magazines like 125, Vogue and i:D, she has also shot for adverts and documentaries. For more work visit her website or blog. Enjoy!






Ps. Another reminder that I'm up for link swaps if anyone is interested, give me a shout :)

A Picture Says A Thousand Words

I'm a bit short on words after a crazily busy weekend at a wedding so thought I'd just share some pictures I like. Its a bit of a mixed bag featuring fashion photography from Cecil Beaton, Lee Miller, a Vanity Fair shoot featuring Emily Blunt and a dress designed by Manish Arora which was later worn by Katy Perry....



I love how fresh the first image is by Cecil Beaton, showcasing Dior's new look from the fifties and how that style is still used today...there are so many similarities between this image and the Vanity Fair image. His influence on fashion photography is huge. I absolutely adore fashion from the 1920's and fifties...both decades were so elegant. It was a time when people really dressed up.

I love how fun the Manish Arora dress is...the detail that has gone into it is amazing. I love it when fashion branches into art. Like the scuptural shoes that have featured for the past few seasons...totally unwearable in reality but absolutely brilliant all the same. I don't think fashion should be just about practicalities.

I'm wondering if anyone can help me...there is a photo, I think it was in Vogue during the second world war of a model standing in the middle of bombed London. I can't think who did it but I know its really famous. If anyone can jog my memory that would be amazing!

Hope you've all had a good weekend :)