Moodboard

Visit my Tumblr for a huge online mood board of some of my favourite fashion, style and photography.

William Klein & Daido Moriyama

So this extremely late post actually comes from the 20th Decemeber 2012 informing you of my Tate Modern visit. However due to christmas time, mistletoe and wine, I have been somewhat distracted.

So on my journey home I did a half way stop at my nanny Pamela's in Islington, who took me to see this exhibition, and the only thing she told people about was the image of a vagina!

 I will be honest that I did not know of William Klein or Daido Moriyama much before this visit. I came across it as my Grandad Tony told me of the William Klein documentary on the tele, as he knows too well my love of photography. AFter researching Klein on the internet I was intrigued and adamant to visit the Tate.

Expensive to view (especially for the Tate & even with our student and OAP rights for price reduction) the exhibition was quite expensive, but with such a detailed and rather large amount of content I could partially forgive.

Klein and Moriyama's work is so close in terms of subject matter with their candid shots capturing reality on the streets. The sometimes blurred, grainy images taken sometimes too close give a rawness to their photographs. I am shocked that it has taken me this long to come across both of these amazing photographers, who took such iconic images, that broke the conventions of the art form of that time.
Especially Klein who's talent does not just stop at photography, but also art and graphic design. Creative and ahead of his time he experimented with mixing these medias and even exploring the world of film and fashion.

I am inspired by Klein most notably after watching the documentary on him. Some of my favourite images are the ones with blur, agreeing with him that it "added an element to photography". Klein also loved that it created more of a painting aesthetic, the blurs appearing like brush strokes.

With a lot of todays photography being staged, set-up, story boarded and directed it was refreshing to see such honest and truthful imagery. The documentary also showed me how every image Klein took held a story or a meaning, giving a true depth to them.

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Explore modern urban life in New York and Tokyo through the photographs of William Klein and Daido Moriyama. This is the first exhibition to look at the relationship between the work of influential photographer and filmmaker Klein, and that of Moriyama, the most celebrated photographer to emerge from the Japanese Provoke movement of the 1960s.

With work from the 1950s to the present day, the exhibition demonstrates the visual affinity between their urgent, blurred and grainy style of photography and also their shared desire to convey street life and political protest, from anti-war demonstrations and gay pride marches to the effects of globalisation and urban deprivation.

The exhibition also considers the medium and dissemination of photography itself, exploring the central role of the photo-book in avant-garde photography and the pioneering use of graphic design within these publications. As well the issues ofProvoke magazine in which Moriyama and his contemporaries showcased their work, the exhibition will include fashion photography from Klein’s work with Vogueand installations relating to his satirical films Mister Freedom and Who Are You Polly Maggoo?                                  http://www.tate.org.uk/

Moriyama

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Moriyama's small room of polaroids (shown in the images above) was so striking, I spent ages in the room gob smacked by how the images were placed together to make up a bigger picture. I already love polaroids period, however the detail and the vast amount of them was truly a piece of art. Again this showed a move of creatively pushing the boundaries of art and photography.

His take on Tokyo held slightly more gritty images. One of my favourites is the women wearing the netted sun hat, which Moriyama has composed so perfectly. His explorations of buildings  with his experimentations with turning the photos and framing different angles of the same building next to each other is another few of his works that caught my attention a lot.

This exhibition has most definitely made me want to take the streets myself and capture such images, (as i had done in one of my a level projects). I too want to celebrate the diverse range of people and classes within our society today. And I hope that people would be as forthcoming to be pictured as they are in the images of Klein and Moriyama.

Desert Flower.

Really can't wait to buy an Issue of 1883 magazine, as well as Volt. These are two new magazine whose online sites I have been stalking for this past week. Their shoots and general content is right up my street. Unique and high quality images and layouts. 

This shoot I fell in love with from the off. The colour, lighting and styling matched with the composition and angles shot by photographer Mireia Grau is awesome. And those nails!! ... Just wow.

Stylist - Olivia Montardit

Makeup, hair& nails - Ruben Marmol

Model - Asia (blow models)

images curtesy of 1883magazine.com

Chris Nicholls for Flare. January issue.

Photographer Chris Nicholls shoots model Ashtyn Franklin for Flare, Janurary 2013 issue. Each image inspired by each of the different astrological signs.

Styled by Elizabeth Cabral, makeup by Simone Otis and hair by Nicolas Blanchet.

Images courtousy of fashiongonerougue.com

David Griffin: How photography connects us

Last night I was research random stuff on the internet and came across this video.

David Griffin is the photo director of National Geographics magazine. My Grandad used to have subscription to the magazine so have seen it's content and it does include some amazing imagery. In this  video David Griffin explores the story telling power of photography, especially photo journalism.

The stories, images and things he says within this presentation are inspiring and made me want to work in the realms of photography even more. 

The image he shows at the beginning of the presentation, shot by Steve McCurry as he says is an great image. I went to a Steve McCurry exhibition in Birmingham with my A level photography classes and out of all the photographs this is the one that stands out most vividly. As soon as it popped up on the screen of his presentation I remembered it. 

I also love the images which go with the last story Griffin tells, the amazing images summing up an amazing experience.

See the video larger and in better quality by clicking here.

"Photography carries a power that holds up under the relentless swirl that todays saturated media world. Because photographs emulates the way that our mind freezes a significant moment."

"This flash bulb memory as it's called is when all elements came together to define not just the event but my emotional connection to it. And this is what a photograph taps into when it makes its own powerful connection to a viewer."

"Every one of us has at least one or two great photographs in them."

Quotes all from David Griffin

Vogue China. December.

Inspired by Byzantine, the Roman Empire of the Middle Ages. This beauty shoot for the December Issue of Vogue China is a brilliant twist on the era. I love the blur of the background, which further strengthens the focus on the makeup.
The soft candle lighting and movement sets the mood and feel of the medieval, the makeup adding a theatrical and modern take on the period.

My favourite image.

Second fave.

Vogue China December Issue
Modeled by Tao Okamoto
Photographed by Lachlan Bailey
Styled by Claire Richardson
Make-up by Yadim
Hair by Rudi Lewis


Images taken from fashiongonerogue.com

Tim Walker. Sommerset House.

So yesterday me and Bethy hit Landan town. We got into London around 12ish thinking we had plenty of time to shop and lunchin before heading down to the Hackney Picture House for 6:30 for the Company Magazine Fashion forum evening. However time seriously flies when your having fun.

We headed straight down to Sommerset House for the Tim Walker Exhibition which again has left me with another Photographer crush. Walkers images are like a mad brighter version of a Tim Burton Film. Mixing fashion with this weird and slightly disturbing essence of Walt Disney.

Although some of his strange and random fairy tale images were beautiful, most of my favourites were his portraits which still remained quirky and fun, as well as there being some more eerie shots.

The lighting within every shot was perfect, and Walker knows how to carry through an emotion through all aspects of his direction.

One of my favourite images from the whole exhibition.

As well as props from the different shoots lurking in every room, quotes from both Walker himself and those commenting on his work were placed on the walls.

Walker's quotes were inspirational and passionate, this resounded through the images.

The slight blur of movement in this image, as well as being unable to see the models face was un-nerving yet truly beautiful.

"Sometimes when you're taking a picture an extraordinary sense of luck and chance takes over and propels you to make pictures that you couldn't in your wildest dreams have imagined. This is the magic of photography." Tim Walker

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  After a lunchin at Bella Italia, and a quick stop off at the Chanel make-up shop in Covent Garden, we went straight to hit Oxford Street. Zara was our first stop and tempted us with all its beauties, yet surprisingly we got out of there with out pulling out the purses. However when my foot stepped through the double doors at Selfridges I knew temptation would definitely takeover.

Only an hour later a bright yellow bag ended up hung on my arm.

Topshop £34

H&M £29.99

H&M £12.99

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After Selfridges it was time to get moving to the Company Magazine Forum event for a mingle with some fashionistas and a glass of Prosecco. (Thank god really as I didn't need to spend anymore money!)

Editor of Comapany mag, Buyer at Oasis, Freelance Stylist

It was great to chat to other girls who are also wanting to get into the world of fashion, and the talk was really educational. It was great hearing the advice and thoughts from people working in the industry right now. It was interesting learning all the different ways they got to where they are, as well as their advice on CVs and what you need to do to make yourself heard.

I learnt so much and typed out a whole list of notes from the talk.

After the talk there was more time to Mingle where I got the chance to talk to Victoria White the Editor!   It was a privilege to talk to someone so successful and to hear her advice and answers from my questions.

To top off the entire day we got a Company goodybag to take home with us, with all manor of food and beauty products as well as the latest edition of the magazine.

Even ended up on Company's Website!
Top - Jaegar (also owned by Victoria White!), Trousers - Gap, Boots River Island, Bag-Topshop, Scarf- a present

All in all was a fab and inspiring day.