January Skies

I could spend hours scrolling through my Instagram feed, seeing snaps from friends, bloggers and people I've simply stumbled upon. Recently I saw people hashtagging vscocam and wondered what it's all about. Like Instragram it has a selection of filters however it maintains the resolution of the original image, rather than compressing them. Read more here. So I gave VSCO a go in these photos of London that I have taken this month. The colours make the images feel like they could have been taken maybe 30 years ago, especially the last one of Dan in Brockwell Park. Last week we visited Brixton Windmill, hidden away off Brixton Hill and open in Spring for a look around inside. Plus what can beat sights of water in the city, the vast River Thames and the lock in Camden on a lunchtime stroll.

Everything was Moving

On New Years Eve, Lauren and I visited the Everything was Moving exhibition at the Barbican. We spent over 2 hours there looking at various series of photojournalism recording the changes in social time during the 60s and 70s. We commented alot on the quality of the photography - so sharp and crisp - and I found a lot of the work very poignant. I would definitely recommend catching it before it finishes on the 13th Jan!

Image by Malick Sidib via The Telegraph

Mad Dog

Gaging from his facial expression, this is one dopey dog. I know our Puck would never have the patience to stay in any of these positions. Dissertation writing is slowly coming to a close, and Maddie the Coonhound is the greatest of distractions.

Images from Maddie on Things

Woodland Wander

This morning Ben and I went for a wander in Nonsuch Park and round the Mansion house gardens. At the back there is this beautiful glade, so we got snapping in the Sunday sunshine.

Roof Tops

I love being able to jump on a train and head up to Landan Town. The other evening Steph and I had dinner at Hush, and it was lush! On the way up I got snapping my Instagram, photographing the cities skyline.

That Life

This evening I watched a BBC4 documentary America in Pictures: The Story of Life Magazine, a story told by the photographer Rankin. They were the ones to coin the "photo essay" - the telling of a narrative with pictures and minimal words. As well as showing the public what was going on overseas, the importance of the magazine remains with the tales of ordinary Americans and the issues that effect them. After all a picture paints a thousand words.

Images from Life

Film Fun

I got snapping away with my old Praktica film camera when we were away in Fez. Embarrassingly I'm still a complete novice when it come to old school technology. First I thought there was already a film in so some images dissolved into nothingness, next I couldn't work out why the camera wouldn't take with a new film in (the shutter lock was on) and lastly when the film was finished I forgot to wind it back and opened the back up and exposed the film. Phew! Nevertheless I got a few good snaps, most importantly the ones of site for our project. Here's a few of the others.

Insta Gram

Clockwise from top left: inside/outside warehouse/striplight; choco pud from our dinner party; sunrise in Hulme; Delilah the orchid; tonight's fish pie; funky lampshade. Life in Manchester is good, especially with Instagram in tow!

Roof Tops

Jaisalmer roof tops. We've been studying the courtyard house and the organic, yet organised, urban forms of North Africa, the Middle East and India. This time next week we'll be on the way to Fez, so I can get get snapping too. As well as my DSLR and film camera, last night I discovered the joys of Instagram - so much better than Hipstamatic and free too!

Image by Doctor Casino

En Pointe

I haven't danced for about 6 years but I've recently taken in up again. There is something about prancing about that makes you feel so good! On at the moment at the Royal Academy is an exhibition of Degas' fascination with movement of dancers.

Images: 1. Edweard Muybridge from RA 2. Dane Shitagi

Leek Soup

There's quite a bit to eat up from the veg box so I thought I'd have look for a leek soup recipe. This one from 101 cookbooks - which always has such mouthwatering photography - looked pretty quick and easy. So as I type the leeks are sweating away! Will have to see how it tastes...
Image from 101 cookbooks

How Retro

I've joined the real world... and got me an iPhone! Gone are the days of the camera-less brick (having said that, this phone is certainly bigger!) Here are some snaps from my Hipstamatic, including my newly completed cushion covers!

Muted Tones

I think I'd like to get some succulents or cacti to have as plants which perhaps need less care and can be left to their own devices? I love the pale colours of these ones. I've also been having a play around with iPhoto, getting my Brighton photos looking a bit old and faded.

Top image from Old Brand New

Funky Field

My book [on farming] arrived last week and since I have been reading up on poplar farms in Oregon, food matrixes, landgrab cities and art farms. I'm not sure if it's the food cultivation, sustainability or land preservation which evokes the most in me but I feel like I'm starting some good research before I head back to uni in September.

Images from Ruche

Style Influence

When I'm having my hair cut I always take a picture of this lady because she's always had such a cute short crop. I love the colours in this image; the clashing patterns of her outfit. I've never seen an image of her on The Sartorialist wearing heels which is another reason as to why for me Eva Fontanelli is a style influence!

Image from The Sartorialist

Oz Oz Oz

The last two books I have read are to do with Australia. A Town Like Alice gave a really interesting insight into the life in the outback after WWII and so following that I decided to read Down Under by one of my favourites, Bill Bryson. I have to be careful not to laugh out loud on the train when I read one of his. I came across on Flickr the State Library of New South Wales collection, showing photographs of life during the gold rush, cattle and sheep farming as well as more urban life in the 20th Century. 

Images from Flickr 1: Grape pickers 1930s  2: Knitting for "Our Boys" c1914  3: Cherry pickers c1900  4: Royal Agricultural Show 1937  5: Sheep shearers c1896

Early Summer

There's the warmth of summer in the air but a fresh breeze in these photographs taken by Mark Borthwick for LyricsM, a clothes brand in Japan. I think that images are magical, especially because of my love for wild flowers.

Via butter and brass

Flickr Find

This afternoon I came across the top image at Color Collective. The colours are great. Then I saw even more of Sarita Lolita's snaps on Flickr. They capture the subject at unusual shots and views. It really gets me wanting to get snapping away myself!

Images by Sarita Lolita

Disposible Camera

 

 

 

I've finally got my Bestival pictures back and uploaded and I'm really happy how they came out! A world of the mad and crazy for one weekend... where to go next year?