l.o.v.e.

Pure and simple.

Forgive me, Michael's picture was our first picture, the test shot. He "shook it like a Polaroid picture". Which resulted in his face being shaken. As for my picture, the camera doesn't have a flash and it was in my living room at night, so the lighting wasn't good so it's dark.

Oh my love!

Michael and I were at a camera mini convention yesterday that was essentially a big garage sale of all things cameras. Lots of lenses, tripods, funny old cameras...

Now, I have to say that I have wanted a Polaroid camera for YEARS. Literally. Years. So when Michael spotted one across the aisle from where we were standing, I had to check it out.

It was beautiful.

I debated getting it, but when the man selling it said it was only $10, and in working condition (provided being able to find film), I couldn't say no.

There have been many models of Polaroid cameras over this years, but this is the very first. It's a SX-70 Model 1, complete with a folding body in brushed chrome and real leather.

(Isn't it cute when it's collapsed? You can tuck it into a pocket or put it in your purse.)

SX-70 cameras are also neat because they use a different type of film than the newer ones which allow the image to be manipulated up to few days after the picture has been taken.

The only downside is that film for Polaroid cameras was stopped being made in 2006. Not only that, but different models of Polaroid cameras use different Polaroid film, and the film for the SX-70 model happens to be one of the more rare types of film.

According to Wikipedia, "Because the emulsion is gelatin-based and the Mylar covering does not allow water vapor to readily pass, the emulsion stays soft for several days, allowing artists to press and manipulate the emulsion to produce effects somewhat like impressionist paintings."

There is still film available on ebay, but one pack of film (containing eight exposures) costs between $20 and $30. Also, the film available all expires this month. I'm sure it would still be usable a few months after, but apparently if it's too much older, they don't work right and can wreck the camera.

I just think I might splurge and buy several packages of film.

Pretty Neon Colors

I have a couple more pictures from fashionation to share.

These pictures are by photographer Paco Peregrin from Spain.

Paco originally studied drawing, painting, and communication before turning to photography and I love how he uses his traditional art skills in his photos!

I wish I could have hair and makeup like this everyday.

Louis Riel

My beloved fashionation is back online with new content! I am so excited to once again be seeing high-fashion campaigns from around the world.


Natalia Vodianova photographed by Craig McDean for W Magazine. Beautiful.



I am always working on my afghan. After spending about 40 hours on it, I am currently done 27 of the required 64 squares. It is exciting to see it take shape.


I was watching one of my favorite movies last night while crocheting and was once again reminded why it's a favorite. Little Miss Sunshine is so clever and cute and honest, without trying too hard to be something different. It has an all-star cast, but you wouldn't know it. There's nothing pretentious about this film, and even Steve Carell manages to reign in the drama in his role as a suicidal uncle.

Here is my favorite shot from the film. I just had to include it. Aren't the colors wonderful?




And now I'll leave you with a picture of my (almost 2 year old) nephew Ben on Valentine's day.


He had gotten his mother tulips and was quite intrigued by them. He had also been quite mischievous earlier in the week, having built a tower of pillows on the bed and then promptly fell off of it and scratched his face up on the way down.

Hair

Some days, I wish my hair were like this.


Big hair is so sexy.

Ugh, also

I must add, that when I add pictures that are larger than a certain size, it crops them here in the blog (a shame!) and so to get the full effect of the photo, click them to see the full version. The cropped ones don't do them justice! Half the photos are cut off! It's terrible.

Now, one last favorite shoot from Fashionation, for Stiletto Magazine. This is one of my absolute absolute favorites. It's such a brilliant and simple concept. The clothes are shot without any models at all, looking as though they're suspended in the air. The shapes and textures of the clothing themselves are gorgeous.

Quick!

Ah! A quick moment in time when all of Fashionation is working for me!

I'll post a few of my favorite pictures from the site while it's working. I am giving you a warning, if you are offended or afraid of nipples. For some reason, photos with some sort of nudity have the most emotional tug. Perhaps it's the vulnerability the models must show? Who knows. Anyways, enjoy.


These images are from a spread that photographer Rui Faria did for Volt Magazine. The texture works so well in black and white.



Another one of my favorite shoots features photographer Enrique Badulescu for S Magazine.


The lighting is amazing! And the clothing works so well, with gorgeous shapes being created. Fashion by Aurelio Costarella (who has a beautiful website, by the way), Alessandro Dell’Acqua and Giuseppe Zanotti.



Here's another great black and white shoot. The minimalist design and bold edges are so gorgeous!


This piece ran in Clear Magazine and was photographed by Ishi, with clothing by Yohji Yamamoto, Aurelio Costarella (again) and Burberry.

I absolutely love this photograph for Stiletto Magazine. The dress is by Armani, and the entire spread of photos are amazing. I'd like to post each one, but instead I'll just direct you to the post on fashionation. Each photo is gorgeous.


And even if she may be a little strange, Naomi Campbell is absolutely brilliant in front of the camera, and knows how to use the angles of her face and her long legs to her advantage.


This is my favorite from a shoot with her for V Magazine, but you can see all the pictures here.

The Eve of Christmas

I got the most lovely Christmas present today (among other lovely ones). I got a big Annie Liebowitz book.

This is not an Annie Liebowitz photograph, rather it is a photograph of her and her assistant, on top of the Chrysler building. I'm sure they had a good reason for being there. Anyways, I'm very excited to read this book.

I went for lunch to one of my all time favorite places in Winnipeg: Fresh Cafe. Fresh Cafe is on Corydon, right close to my house, and was named one of the Top 10 Best Canadian Restaurants of 2007.


They buy as much local and organic food as possible, and have a lot of healthy dishes, as well as a huge juice/smoothie bar, both of which they make on the spot, once you've ordered. I got my favorite dish - in-house smoked salmon eggs benedict (sans the eggs, of course, and extra hollandaise sauce, I could eat their hollandaise as soup) with hashbrowns, and a strawberry/orange/cranberry smoothie, with vanilla creme brulee for dessert. It was delicious.

Architecture designed for children is some of my favorite, because there are no rules and anything bright and crazy goes. One of the coolest stores for kids I've seen is The Kids Republic bookstore in Beijing.


I have a feeling that if more bookstores in Winnipeg were like this, there would be a lot more children reading here! The store was designed by architect Keiichiro Sako.


Sako, known for his strong attention to graphic shapes and crisp lines, has also designed subsequent The Kids Republic bookstores in Tianjin and Shanghai.

Snow is pretty on the trees outside

I bought a new Rocky Moutain Soap product yesterday. It's their foot butter and it's delicious. It smells like honey and lemons and makes my feet feel like whipped cream.
I made a painting last night. I like it. It's red and blue. I used this Grumbacher spray varnish to seal and protect the painting this afternoon. I've never used a varnish before, so I hope it works okay. The package said I was supposed to not breathe in the fumes. They smell potent. I have one more canvas left. I was originally going to do another one to match the one I did last night so that I'd have two to hang together, but I don't think I'm going to do that anymore.

It looks better in real life. I promise.

I regret to say that my favorite fashion blog website Fashionation has not had a new post since November 24. It is up for sale, and someone needs to buy it soon. I need to see more pictures. Here are just a few of my favorite pictures from Fashionation.


There is a lot more, but apparently the only page working is the homepage right now which is unfortunate. They have a beautiful archive of fashion photography.