classic film noir

So I'm feeling a bit of classic, fashion photography today.

I absolutely love the old school 1940s-1950s almost classic film noir fashion style and trend.

Focusing on the femme fatale's from classic film noir movies is a great place to start;

Kim Basinger who plays Lynne from the Hollywood Blockbuster 'LA CONFIDENTIAL' completes and lives up to the whole classical 1950s 'look.'

The wavey hair, the pale white skin contrasting strongly to the vibrant red lipstick just sums up the look.

Here are a few artists for you-

EVE ARNOLD



I am steaming with envy over the fact she worked with and took many photos of one person who I admire so very much.. obviously the beautiful, Marilyn Monroe

She was just one of a kind.

CLARENCE SINCLAIR BULL

LOUISE DAHL WOLFE

George Hurrell

BOB WILLOUGHBY

Audrey Hepburn, another mesmerising role model.

those little perks

              Meet my new friend.

 Ahh I was so excited when I saw it. It's a camera lens but it's a flask too!

A combination of photography and tea, two of my most favourite things.

ALSO

If any of you are mildly into photography; I recommend purchasing some photography books.
The amount of inspirational artists and captivating art crammed into the many books is never ending.
I especially love 'The Photo Book' PHAIDON pictured below

They are going for around 10-20pound on ebay, but the money is definitely worth it.
You can probably buy them in places like Waterstones, WHSmiths too.

One of my many favourite photographs from this book is by an artist called Eddie Adams.

It's called 'STREET EXECUTION OF A VIETCONG PRISONER'

Although this photograph may send shivers down your spine, I find the more you look at it, the more you don't want to look away.

This photograph was taken at the exact time the bullet entered this prisoners head.

Adams captured this as more of a reflex action but it quickly became the most acclaimed photo from the Vietnam war.

A similar photo is by Robert Capa-

'FALLING SOLDIER'

A few more of my favourites;

Alfred Eisenstaedt -'V-J DAY in Times Square'

Donna Ferrato - 'LISA- MOMENTS AFTER HER HUSBAND BEAT HER'

TONI FRISSELL- 'UNDERWATER MODEL'

ARTHUR F.KALES- 'THE THIRTY-NINE STEPS'

MICHAEL WELLS - 'HANDS'

Some of these photos may indeed be quite numbing to the heart and mind however they are all marvellous photographs. The photos that do startle you the most have some kind of overwhelming power to make you really sit there and think.

Agenda Photography.

I couldn't write a blog on photography without mentioning this guy. I've had the pleasure of assisting him on a couple of shoots & also being the subject in one of his shoots! Both situations equally as inspiring as one another. Agenda has taught me a lot technically, for example, a lot to do with lighting but perhaps more importantly opened my eyes towards the grace and charm of the art. 

Agenda's work incorporates a lot of the surrounding location; to me this helps tell the story of the photograph and the concept behind it. It could even exercise your imagination into making up it's own concept of the photo! Graciousness comes into Agenda's work as I find this word resembles the way I portray his work; people may have different opinions and views but I look at his work and find it all very, enchanting. The background works as a composite, the lighting defines and justifies everything his work entails.

Just for the record, he is such a cool guy too. I highly recommend Agenda Photography for those who are looking for some edgy, fun photographs!

Here is some of his work...

This is a friend of mine, Pat. These pictures are also from the first shoot I assisted Agenda on. As I've just said about location; do you see what I mean? The location fits the model, the model fits the location, they are the perfect marriage.

Another shoot with Pat.

This photograph is probably my favourite; the lighting and the worms-eye camera angle

This photo is beautiful too. High exposed lighting is somewhat underrated these days yet a few here and there doesn't hurt! I find high contrasted photographs very effective (especially when working with children) perhaps creating a more angelic approach?

I helped assist Agenda on this shoot too; the weather was dull, rainy and just plain dreary that day yet he managed to pull these out of the bag.

These images are just a few of the selection Agenda has on his website.

http://www.agendaphotography.co.uk/

Please, please do take a look. His work is so influential.

I'm hoping to assist him on some upcoming shoots in the near future; keep checking back to my blog to see if I've added anymore!

Inked

Here are some photos I've taken...

This is Lindsay Gorman. One of my best friends Mummy!  Her tattoos consist of a collaboration of oriental themes.

Vik Muniz.

VIK MUNIZ

feast your eyesss

                                                      Che Guevara made from beans

Marlene Deitrich made from diamonds.

Muniz basically makes portraits and images from materials and objects; although the images may seem quite irrelevant, this work- like most photography, have pragmatics awaiting to be unfolded.

 This picture is of a 'garbage man' lit made from garbage. Muniz shows the effects of how poverty can override you. Does this man who lives his life removing garbage, become the garbage itself?

                                                  bloody marilyn monroe

          'Chocolate Medusa'

The fact this picture is made from chocolate already portrays Muniz's artistic skills and talent however the irony is quite staggering, especially for those chocolate lovers out there!

The mythical fable of the Raft of Medusa shows how she turns people into stone just by looking at them. & chocolate, many people love it and want it but can't have it, when you do have it, you wish you didn't!

     & this one is mine... obvs not Muniz standard but I gave it a good go.

I drew out a template of a 'glamorous' woman and then made her from crisps. The concept was junk food and how some people may look stunning on the outside yet may not be in the inside.

The difference in my image to Muniz's is that I made a photogram. Which means I worked in the dark room. I did come up with this though, I used a 'feathering' technique with my hands to produce the dark and light blemishes. I'm quite pleased with the result although it may not be a Muniz masterpiece.