Being the film geek that I am, I love David Strick's Hollywood Backlot images, photographs from the sets and stages of Hollywood.  Head over here to see some. 

Pour yourself a glass of champagne and head over to Fashion.net, where you'll find links to sites about fashion, designers, art, photography, design, magazines, blogs, books, travel, shopping, music and more! 

I am so excited about Gypsy Girl Guide's new Etsy shop, featuring prints from her travels around the globe.  See that one above?  It is going soon going to have a home on my wall. 

[Elizabeth Fleming :: Life is a Series of Small Moments]

I found this photo on the beautiful photography blog called Conscientious, which is filled with enough links, entries and images to keep you occupied for a week.

"Conscientious is a blog that predominantly deals with contemporary fine-art photography (even though I also link to other topics that I might find interesting). It presents a selection of photographers, with the selection based on whether I like their work or find it interesting. It's really as simple as that. In addition to showcasing photographers I also link to articles about photography, and I post reviews of photography books and interviews with photographers, with the reviews and interviews written/conducted by me."  - Jorg M. Colberg, Conscientious website

[Modern cowpokes :: Robb Kendrick]

First order of business:  I totally stole that headline!  As you'll see, if you read this article about the work of photographer Robb Kendrick, who travels all over the US, Canada & Mexico taking tintype photographs of cowboys & cowgirls.  I would love to watch him work.

“The tendency of cowboys is to think of photographers as very demanding, high-maintenance people...And in the end I think they really respect the fact that I have to work for these pictures. They respect any kind of honest hard work.”  -Robb Kendrick

[Johanna Reed]

These are just a few images from This is That, a blog described as "...postings....about instances of beauty, intellect, hilarity, and/or oddity in my periphery."

[Estelle Hanania]

If you're in the mood to browse the websites and blogs of artists, designers, photographers and the like, this is your
one-stop shop.

[Adrien Missika]

I couldn't resist posting a couple of images from one of my weekly links:  IsPhotography.  Enjoy! 

My homegirl Susannah Conway is having a sale over at her gorgeous Etsy shop - buy two prints and receive a third FREE through March 31st!  WORD. 

The amazing, talented and very well traveled Ann Howley has a show coming up so mark your calendars!  Sunday, April 6, 2008, 1-5pm.  Visit Ann's website for more information!

*****

Apologies for such light posting yesterday - I have been totally pre-occupied with this. 

I am having the best time adding textures and filters to some of my photographs thanks to the divine Andrea Scher and one of her recent entries over at Shutter Sisters.  Her entry includes links to free textures, an instructions page  and some oh-so inspiring examples.  In addition to the examples shown above I also transformed this macro shot:

To this:

The possibilities are endless!! 

When I first saw these photos I immediately wanted to start painting...not to mention FLY.

I read an article about Jack Gescheidt's Tree Spirit Project and was blown away by his beautiful photographs.  Read the article here and browse the Tree Spirit Project website to see his gallery of images.

I have been enamored with the idea of traveling to India for a while now, and decided to get a little India inspiration by googling "India Photographs".  Through this search, I came across the Kamat's Potpourri, a personal website that celebrates "The History, Mystery and Diversity of India".  The site includes information about the history of India, temples, the arts, and countless pages of photographs.  My favorite of these was the page entitled "Old Photographs of India".  How I would love to sit down and have tea with these people and hear their stories.

It's official - I must go there someday. 

I recently wrote about teary moments on my blog, and someone sent me a link to I'm Too Sad to Tell You, and I find their gallery of images intimate and fascinating.  From their website:

"Crying is a powerful act; taking a photograph of oneself crying and putting it on the Internet is another matter entirely. It is a very specific cultural phenomenon and is in many ways much like a performance. As such, the title of this project is borrowed from a piece of the same name made by the Dutch performance artist Bas Jan Ader in 1970. His piece consisted of a silent 16mm short black and white film of himself crying uncontrollably with no explanation. Regardless of the authenticity of his tears, his grief is overwhelmingly real. It is at once hard to watch, mesmerizing, and beautiful.

"I'm Too Sad To Tell You (after Bas Jan Ader)" was originally conceived as a project to create an archive of self-portraits taken while crying. The images were to be displayed online on a website and then later made into a book. An open call was posted on the photo sharing community Flickr.com asking people to submit their crying self-portraits over the period of one month.

The website went online containing over 100 self-portraits, a third of which were found on Flickr searching through "tags" people attached to their images. A majority of the people who independently submitted images had Flickr accounts as well. Thus, the project also deals with the phenomenon of Flickr and other similarly structured websites using photographs as a form of communication. The "I'm Too Sad" website then becomes an attempt to give the images back some of their integrity as images by placing them in a clean non-communication based gallery format."

Intolerable Beauty:  Portraits of American Mass Consumption is a series of powerful, almost overwhelming photographs by Chris Jordan.  Images of everything from oil filters to cell phones (shown above) taken all over the country make potent visual statements about the devastating effects of our consumer culture.

In Katrina's Wake:  Portraits of Loss from an Unnatural Disaster also tells a story we may all be familiar with but still don't really have a deep understanding of.  Sometimes photography makes you stop and think about things for a moment or two, and sometimes they change your entire perspective of the world in one quick instant, altering the way you see and move through your environment.  Challenging, disturbing and necessary, Jordan's photographs throw new light on seemingly unsolvable issues.  I think we should all carry one of his images in our wallet, reminding us how important it is to make careful choices every single day.       

[Piano by Broadwood by Lee Miller :: London, 1940] 

Lee Miller started out as a Vogue cover model but then went on to become "a remarkable Surrealist photographer and war correspondent" [Vanity Fair, January 2008].  An exhibit of her work opens January 26 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  I wish I could go! 

I have been a fan of My LaLa Land for a long time, and have one of her stunning photographs on my wall.  Enjoy!

Photo taken by Denise Andrade, October 20, 2007, Santa Monica, CA 

Presenting my first in a series of interviews entitled Sparkling Stories, all created especially for Sparkletopia.  I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Boho Girl herself, Denise Andrade, in August 2007 at a creative retreat in Berkeley, and then spent an extraordinary weekend with her again a few months later.  I can't wait to see what adventures await us in 2008, and I am honored to share this interview with her.  Here's where to find her words, her work and her incredible vision:

Bohemian Girl Designs Blog

Boho Photography

DeniseAndrade.com

Bohemian Girl Designs Boutique

 January 3, 2008 Interview:

Hello Doll...How are you right now?
You know…I am surprisingly calm after our long holiday trip to see my family and friends in Northern California.  I think the simple act of removing yourself from your every day environment can be so healing at times.  It seems by the time December comes around, we can all get so far into our heads when reflecting on the past year.  Getting away helped me focus on people and places that are important to me but are not with me each day.  It also rekindled a fire within in so many areas of my life:  my marriage, friendships, family relationships, my writing ideas and my art.  So, as much as I am spilling over with ideas, I also feel a calm and appreciation for all that lead me here.  

Tell everyone who is fortunate enough to be reading this interview with you about the beautiful work you do.
Oh Swirly…I am humbled by your kind words.  At this time in my life I am really nurturing the photography side of my business.  It has taken me time but I feel I am finally coming to a place where I am able to create a style that I hope people will be able to recognize and resonate with.  I am really jazzed about the connections that deepen during my photo sessions.  When I first started my company Bohemian Girl Designs, I was selling jewelry and my pastel art only.  Photography was something I was passionate about but it eventually evolved into a way of life for me.  I still sell my jewelry, a few pastels pieces and photography prints on my Etsy because they were my first love and I want that loving energy to be out in the Universe for others to enjoy.

When you are preparing for a photo shoot, what is going through your mind?
To be honest, I get a bit nervous right before a shoot.  Something that I have learned from other photographers I admire is completely normal.  I imagine it is similar to what an actor feels before going on stage.  Nerves are healthy.  It means your art is so very important to you.  I actually need at least a few hours of meditation before a photo session.  Sometimes I am fortunate enough to do this in my home.  If I am on location, I take time in my car or walking on the beach when waiting for them to arrive.  I want to be in a peaceful, Zen place so that I can help my clients to feel equally calm and connected to self.  It is important for me to spend my time giving to them in a way that creates a safe, free-flowing environment.

What was one of your favorite photo sessions and why?
This might sound silly because you’re the one interviewing me but in all truth, it was the one I had with you.  I was honored that you chose me to celebrate a new phase in your journey.  I felt really inspired and immediately imagined the vibe, the backgrounds and the essence I wanted to explore with you.  I kept envisioning lots of trees, grassy hills for you to walk up and a forest nymph type of vibe.  I was amazed that we discovered a place like this in the middle of Los Angeles and created exactly what we had envisioned together.  It was other worldly to watch so many beautiful parts of you unfold during that session.  It also was nourishing for our friendship.

List three words to describe how you feel when you are working (maybe these words are different for the photo sessions versus the editing and formatting.  If so, share all of your lists!)
Photo Sessions:
Inspired
Sexy
Gentle

Editing and Formatting:
Inspired
Focused
Playful
 
What is your deepest mission as an artist and photographer?
Well, the whole idea behind my brand name is what the definition of “Bohemian” is:  “Unconventional, unorthodox, avant-garde, off-beat, artistic.”  I am not a traditional photographer.  I prefer to capture moments that are unrehearsed. Those times when my clients have no idea I am capturing a special moment.  I have a deep desire to connect with each of my clients on a level that will help me draw out their roar, their sexy, their pure joy, romantic love of self and others… and their juicy~ness.  If I know that a client walks away feeling completely alive, present and beautiful…then mission accomplished.

I also want to present to them a portrait that they wouldn’t expect as far as my style and design.  Adding depth and texture is something I feel can bring out a funky side to them and the moment where they can look at it and feel like a rock star.

If you could go anywhere in the world for your next photo shoot, where would it be?
Hmmm…loaded question because there are so many places.  I would have to say Paris, France because romance really inspires me and I know I could discover it there quite easily.  I am not just talking about romance between couples.  I also mean romance with self.  I love to capture this when photographing a person alone.  I have heard most people find themselves in Paris.  Perhaps I could be part of that process for them.

Name three people - living or deceased - you would love to have a photo session with.
Stephanie Dosen
Imogen Heap
Sabrina Ward Harrison
I have a special place in my heart for musicians and visual artists.  I would love to work with more.  These three women embody a mystical, feminine, bohemian, faerie vibe that I am so attracted to.

Any advice for budding photographers out there?
Play.

With photography, it is easy to be overwhelmed or to feel intimidated. There is a huge technical part of it that if you allow it to, can feel paralyzing. I've never been the type of artist that goes from A to Z or read manuals front to back. Trust me...I've tried and I've always felt the creativity pulled from underneath me. For me it’s always been freedom and playfulness and sometimes I'll get to a place and not remember how I got there when people ask me what I did. That's how I work. There are a lot of brilliant photographers out there that are very keen on the technical bits, which I think is amazing and a gift. Perhaps this is also they way you work, which is beautiful.  I suppose I want to encourage those souls that are similar to me to just play, read manuals or tutorials when necessary but play first.  This playfulness will be key when it comes to finding your own voice.

I have also learned that fabulous lenses help.  ; )

Thank you so much my dear.  I really appreciate you taking the time to let me pester you with questions.
Thank YOU, my friend.  This was such a treat and has inspired me to remember all the reasons why I love my job so fiercely.

Jan Von Holleben's creations are simple yet wildly clever.  They make me want to fly off to Never-Neverland and be a kid again.

In an age of digital camera technology that become obsolete within minutes of taking the first picture, I find it refreshing that there is still a population of shutterbugs having fun and taking great photos with traditional film cameras.  Hello Lomography.com, a website chock full of ideas, inspiration and advice from passionate devotees of lomography.  Be sure to check out The Ten Rules under "About" on their website as well as their world archive of pictures.  Peruse their shop for compact Fisheye cameras, such as the one shown above, Holgas and, my most recent purchase, the all-plastic Diana+, one of Vanity Fair's "Hot Gifts" in their December 2007 issue.  Even if you're not in the market for a new camera, this website is inspiring, wacky and totally fun!