Monday, January 31, 2011

Bubble







Modernism, surrealism, grace and absurdity...I love these photographs by Melvin Sokolsky.
From a 1963 Bazaar fashion spread, shot in Paris.


Sunday, January 30, 2011

Proof




For every published photograph, there are usually many images taken before or after, omitted for lacking light or shadow or crispness or magic. The Contact Sheet, edited by Steve Crist, examines over forty iconic photographs and their respective contact sheets, complete with details of the photo sessions and short interviews.



Aretha Franklin by Art Kane




Kiss by the Hotel De Ville by Robert Doisneau


Saturday, January 29, 2011

Super-speed







I've worked with several people who possess mad typing skills. At one point, after hearing hours of rapid fire clicking, with swells, crescendos even, I had to ask, "What's your speed?" H. answered, "Oh, I'm not that fast, really. 110-120 words, maybe?" I guess that isn't so fast if you consider the World's fastest typist clocks 285 words per minute.

The vintage typing charts make the keyboard look so elementary!

Friday, January 28, 2011

Unseen






The Academy Award nominations have been announced and a few independent films have made it on the list of top honors. Jennifer Lawrence received a well-deserved Best Actress nod for her portrayal of a teenager searching for her drug-dealing father in Winter's Bone. The film played in a few small art house theaters in Los Angeles, but is so well written, with such strong performances, I hope the nomination sparks new interest in viewers.

Missing any attention but also released in smaller theaters for a nanosecond were Nowhere Boy and Get Low. Nowhere Boy depicts a small slice of the life of John Lennon before he was a Beatle, before he was even a musician. Get Low tells the story of a mysterious hermit (played by Robert Duvall), who has resurfaced to plan his funeral with the nonjudgmental town funeral director (played by Bill Murray). These three films are among the handful/short list for 2010 that have lasting appeal through superb storytelling.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Still life with flowers







I purchased some lovely spring flowers and in placing them I fell in love all over again with my vintage painting of a window with Winged Victory. In the background, a city (New York?) building saturated by afternoon sunlight.


Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Model partner



Rebecca Strand by Paul Strand

Georgia O'Keefe by Alfred Stieglitz

Jean Shrimpton by David Bailey

Patti Smith by Robert Mapplethorpe


Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Photobooth





Raynal Pellicer's new book, Photobooth, presents the history of the automatic photo studio. Richly illustrated with self-portraits of both famous and unknown sitters, with some inspiring, artistic variations too.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Obstacle






Weathered, vintage British road sign. Now that's patina!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Decimal point







I love the vintage price signs I just purchased. They were formerly used at a flower stand.
The decimal point makes a plain number very appealing.




Saturday, January 22, 2011

Conversion



Diagram from Librairie Larousse, Paris 1922


From the United States Metric Conversion Act of 1975, Section 205b. (the Declaration of policy) states:

- to designate the metric system of measurement as the preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce;

- to seek out ways to increase understanding of the metric system of measurements through educational information and guidance in Government publications.


Friday, January 21, 2011

This will end in tears







Vintage romance comics. Funny. Weird.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Loose lips









WWII propaganda posters from around the globe, warning the
danger of idle chatter and the potential of espionage.




Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Saisons/Seasons











Time to pre-order Seasons, the upcoming English version of Blexbolex's Saisons. It looks gorgeous!



Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Hunter S. Thompson



I have a theory that the truth is never told
during the nine-to-five hours.

--Hunter S. Thompson







Monday, January 17, 2011

10 List: Terrible mothers






2010 films had some memorably disturbing mothers.
There's a lot of them when you think about it:



2010- Melissa Leo as Alice Ward in The Fighter.

2010-Donna Murphy as Mother Gothel in Tangled.

2010- Jacki Weaver as Grandma Smurf in Animal Kingdom.

2009- Mo'Nique as Mary Lee Johnston in Precious.

1995- Sharon Stone as Ginger McKenna in Casino.

1990- Angelica Huston as Lilly Dillon in The Grifters.

1980- Mary Tyler Moore as Beth Jarrett in Ordinary People.

1976- Piper Laurie as Margaret White in Carrie.

1967- Anne Bancroft as Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate.

1946- Leopoldine Konstantin as Madame Anna Sebastian in Notorious.


Sunday, January 16, 2011

Tie-in












Images of actors may generate a lot of book sales, but I go out of my way to avoid movie tie-in editions.