Creativity Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Richard Bailey Thursday, June 17, 2010

Iconic Australian fashion photographer, Richard Bailey, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 52 after sadly losing his battle with cancer.  Bailey, most well known for his relationship with Vogue Australia - who he first started working with at age 21 - shot many magazine covers with the likes of Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman and Miranda Kerr as well as countless stories with some of the biggest names in the business including the original supermodels - Claudia, Naomi, Helena and Linda.

Richard Bailey will be remembered as one of the most respected, admired and prolific photographers in his profession and is survived by his wife Gillian and children Jasper, 13 and Billie, 10.

     

NOISE NIGHT (and Vivid Sydney fail) Wednesday, June 9, 2010

As far as Sydney festivals go, 'Vivid' has been a bit of a flop. First of all, as Anonymous pointed out to me, what's the point of a Sydney festival if the tag line is: 'Bringing downtown Manhattan to Sydney for two weeks'?

Secondly, bands were supposedly playing (free entry) each lunch time in one of the foyers of the Sydney Opera house. On Monday, I went down with Anonymous to check out said live bands. Were live bands playing? No. Staff were on hand to inform that it had been a typo, albeit appearing on several different marketing posters, programs, emails etc. Bands would be playing for free every lunch time except Monday. Rort.

Thirdly, in that same foyer, on that same Monday, Lou Reed was supposed to do a live radio show in full view of anyone wishing to observe from 2pm. Did he? No. Again the SOH staff had to explain that due the unfavourable  acoustics of the foyer  Reed would be hosting the radio show from undisclosed, closed off location in full view of no one. I particularly loved when one SOH staffer explained 'well, it's Lou Reed and that's just Rock 'n' Roll and so he can do that'. Rock on. You would think that if the King of Cool was coming to town and hosting a radio show, that you'd check the acoustics. Especially in an Opera House.

Fourth and last in my rant list, I did think it was a cool idea to project images onto the Opera House and so attended to watch the lighting of the sails on Vivid's first night. What did they project? A craft inspired image: Scissors, twine, possibly a band-aid and some cheese on a blue background - it looked like something that may have been the intro to playschool at some point. After that, leopard print, then a disco ball and feathers.  Fail.

The only redeeming experience of Vivid so far, has been 'Noise Night'.

"This is a noise-rock showcase, where walls of sound are sculpted and woven with practiced mastery into works of strange and terrifying beauty, ironic humour and adrenaline-fuelled excitement. Prepare for an assault on the senses that will leave you rocking and reeling and wondering what is music anyway... "

- Vivid LIVE website.

The first band were utterly awful. I actually fell asleep. I can't even remember their name they were so bad. Oh, that's right - Zond. The set, at least the part I was awake for, was the complete opposite of the description above. It was boring, dull and flat. Ambient? That's not exactly how I'd describe it...I did wonder if it could be labelled music. Fast forward to Japanese punk band Boris - who were FREAKING AWESOME. So good, it almost entirely made up for the epic Vivid fails above. I say almost, because the coolest part of the whole night was when Lou Reed came out on stage at the end to jam with Laurie Anderson (on an electric violin) and some of the other muso's from the night, in what truly did become a fabulous, dynamic music-scape. Even more delightful was the fact that about half of the audience thought the intermission was in fact the conclusion of the night so everyone left over got to shuffle forward, making the experience much more intimate and well, cool.

Here are some photos, they aren't great because they were taken on my iphone, but you get the gist.

 Zond. (above)

 Boris (above and below)

 Audience after the intermission (above)

 Reed jamming...

C. x

Romance Was Born at RAFW Thursday, May 6, 2010

I was trying to avoid posting pics from this the madness that is known as Fashion Week however these ones from oyster magazine of the Romance Was Born show are just too amazing to resist.  

Thanks Oyster x

Exit through the gift shop Wednesday, April 14, 2010

I was just at lunch with a work colleague and the subject of films came up.  You know how it goes, I know someone who knows someone who is related to Angelina Jolie.  Anyway, the topic of a new film yet to be released in Australia came up and it is called Exit through the gift shop.  

The interesting part of this whole story is that the film is about the street art movement and infamous artist Banksy is heavily involved.  Now, this I find puzzles me greatly because no one actually knows who Banksy is and what he looks like - so how on earth are they going to make a film documentary about him and his art?????  Watch this little clip if you are interested...It looks super cool in the September issue kind of way. 

L x

D&M Tuesday, March 9, 2010

I have been loving Jessica Hische for a while now but only just discovered her Daily Drop Cap project.  Every day she designs a new letter of the alphabet.  Gorgeous!  And you can use them on your own blog too!

L x

Chanel forever Friday, March 5, 2010

Just a few of my favourite shots from the new Chanel campaign once again staring  Freja Beha Erichsen and Baptiste Giabiconi.

Sigh

L x

Magnolia Tuesday, March 2, 2010

I have just discovered Kari Herer photography and I need some help deciding which pieces to choose for my apartment.  I am totally sold on the one below, but if you go to her Etsy shop and there are sooooo many more to choose from that I can't decide.  Please help me.

L x

A beautiful image Monday, February 1, 2010

Vogue Nippon March 2010

Vogue Nippon March 2010

The Sartorialist Monday, October 19, 2009

This is possibly my favourite photo ever from the Sartorialist.  Scott Schuman is my photographic hero. 

Laura xxx

Art and Commerce Monday, September 28, 2009

This is perhaps one of my favourite shoots of all time! OF ALL TIME! It was shot for W October in Paris and New York.  Styling was done by Inez and Vinoodh with models Raquel Zimmerman and Freja Beha Erichsen using the major art galleries - the Centre Pompidou, and MOMA.  I am obsessed.  Art and Fashion perfection... Source: Fashion Gone Rogue

Laura xxx

Steve McCurry Portraits

Steve McCurry's blog is a favourite of mine and he happens to be one of the most inspiring photographers.  He travels the globe and conveys in his pictures what is essentially the most sincere parts of the human condition.  His portraits are also some of the most recognisable in recent memory.  One that particularly stands out is of a young Afgahni girl with her hair wrapped in a burgandy scarf and her bright green eyes staring back through the camera lens (below).

One of the most recent posts on his website took my breath away so i wanted to share it with you.  If you go to Steve McCurry's blog and read the post titled "thoughts on portraiture" you will indeed get a lesson not only on what good photography should be, but also on ways of seeing truth behind a persons facade.

"As human beings we are all fascinated with each other and how we look. Diane Arbus talked about the gap between intention and effect as revealed in portraiture. People put on make-up and adorn themselves because they want to create an effect and give a certain impression, but often other people look at them and say it’s tragic or comical or curious or funny or odd. Arbus photographed a woman on Park Avenue trying to make a statement with her appearance, but in fact we see through it, we see the folly. Portraiture can be that kind of sharp critique."


The images will blow you away and you will certainly want to go back time and time again.

Steve McCurry, Timbuktu, Mali, 1986

A true portrait should today and a hundred years from today, be the testimony of how this person looked and what kind of human being he was. – Philippe Halsman

Laura xxx

SOME FAVOURITE THINGS... Monday, September 7, 2009

STELLA McCARTNEY...CORNFLOWER BLUE...HERO HARMONICA...L'OCCITANE APPLE PIE CANDLE...MEXICAN POWER BEAD BRACELET.

Caity xx

Random... Sunday, September 6, 2009

When I first got my incredible Smiggle water colour markers, the first thing I felt inclined to draw were the scissors on my desk. Bizarre?

For those of you who, like me, love Bollywood. Friday, September 4, 2009