Words cannot describe how amazing these photographs from Lori Nix are. She creates these intricate little miniature scenes that are somehow a tiny bit sinister, and photographs them so beautifully you’d swear that it was a real place.
She’s got other collections that are interesting as well, but there’s something so sad about these that draws me in.
I cannot even communicate how beautiful I find these well-composed and lit still lifes from Kari Herer.
Something about them is so magical and transcendent. Simply gorgeous. You can purchase a print for yourself at her etsy shop.
My friend Laurent just came back with a new series of gorgeous photos. I cannot get over these – the lighting, the ability to capture a bit of the person’s personality and soul in the photograph. You have to pop over to his site and check them all out.
In case you missed them, here’s an earlier post I did about his work, as well as an interesting interview.
I aspire to take pictures like this.
David Maisel photographs history. You might think that that’s impossible, but he has developed a technique that produces such astonishing results it’s hard not to sit back and take notice. He photographs x-rays taken of objects of antiquity. This may seem like a simple process but the images that are produced are ghostly and yet familiar. His explanation of his work, along with more photographs, can be found here.
I’m always astounded by the amount of talent on flickr. Whereas lots of good photographers have always existed over the years, unless they were shooting for a magazine their pictures just went unappreciated except by family members and close friends. With the internet, all of that talent is available for the world to see.
Sure, there’s lots of great digital stuff but I really like all of the film that pops up. DocZork has gorgeous, grainy real film photos for anyone to persuse. Make sure to check him out if you’re into the real deal.
I’ve fallen in love with this blog, and I don’t even live in there! Portland Loves: local is what every city should have – a website dedicated to great food, local businesses and everything that makes a place unique. If I ever get the chance to spend some time in Portland, I’m going only armed with the information contained in this fantastic blog. The lovely writers, Misha and Amy, subjected themselves to a barrage of questions for my lovely readers. Here’s what they had to say!
1. What did you have for breakfast this morning?
misha// a voodoo doll donut from our fabulous local donut shop, VOODOO Donuts. They were left over from my birthday breakfast! YUM!
amy// Stoneyfield vanilla yogurt, vanilla almond granola, and local wildflower honey.
2. Are you both originally from Portland? If not, where did you come from and what brought you to Oregon?
misha// I am kind of from all over the US. Born in Pensacola, Florida, grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana, a few years in Seattle, Washington and finally the Portland area since high school. We moved around alot for my mothers job! I tried moving away after high school only to miss Portland too much and move back after only two years. I will probably still live in other places from time to time, but will ALWAYS come back to Portland, it is my home!
amy// I am originally from Portland, but only lived here until I was five, then spent the rest of my formative years in the Seattle/Tacoma area. When I was able to move away from home, I moved to Bellingham, WA, which I loved and lived there for almost a decade. While living there, I met my husband and with him, I moved to Boston so that he could go to grad school. We lived in Boston for two years before returning to my original home (and where we’ll stay!), Portland, OR. We’ve been here for a year now and we love it!
3.. How did you two meet?
Amy and I met at a art/craft show put on by Handmade NW in fall 2008. She and her husband had just moved here from Boston and we were both interested in trading our art work for each others. We’ve been friends ever since, hanging out, talking art and business, coming up with new ideas to keep doing what we love most.
4. What was your inspiration for starting the Portland Loves: local project?
misha// For me it was just my love of Portland and how tied to the community we all are.
amy// One thing I’ve noticed about people who live in Portland is that they love it here! So when Misha approached me with the concept, I immediately felt that it was a great idea!
5. How do you decide which businesses to feature? Do they contact you or do you just go around town writing about your favorite places?
misha// Currently we are just writing about our favorite places. Also, I rarely leave home without my camera and if I happen upon a place that I think would be perfect for the blog, I ask if I can take pictures and then send Amy there to do a write up and vise versa.
amy// We also try to be mindful of what we feature in that we don’t want too much of the same thing. We like to mix it up a bit.
6. If you had to describe Portland with three words, which would you choose?
misha// beautiful, green + friendly
amy// charming, creative, vibrant
7. Everyone’s always going on about how awesome Portland is – tell me, what’s one thing that you don’t like about it?
misha// Well everyone expects us Portlanders to say the rain, but really I LOVE the rain and its a little secret of ours that it doesn’t rain as much as people think. Oh wait, you asked what I don’t like, well…I would have to say the amount of available jobs and the quality of pay. But that is another great thing about Portland is that you don’t live here for the quality of pay, you live here for the quality of LIFE!!!
amy// well, I totally agree with Misha on this one, but I would have to say also that after living in Boston for two years, one thing that I miss is the diversity. Portland just isn’t as diverse as I would like it to be.
8. If you can, please walk us through your dream day in Portland. Where would you eat, where would you stay, what would you do, etc.
misha// I live in the SE neighborhood of Portland, it is a great balance of beautiful houses and local businesses. Each morning the smell of Stumptown Coffee wakes me and draws me into the local coffee shop a block away. After a nice STRONG cup of jo, I ride my awesome red bike to my favorite breakfast shop, Cup N Saucer on Hawthorne, for the #7 Sour Cream and Chives tofu scramble with home fries and spelt toast. Then I would probably do a bit of vintage clothes shopping, maybe hit up the antique mall’s in Sellwood. Lunch would have to be at the Bonfire Lounge for happy hour. They have great food and stiff drinks for uber cheap!! Then I would take a short hike up to Mt. Tabor Park and sit to watch the sun set over the city. For dinner it would be a toss up between The Farm and Pok Pok.
amy// For my dream day, I would wake up early and watch the sunrise. then I would head to my favorite neighborhood cafe, Dragonfly (in NW Portland) and grab a mate chai before heading to my studio/boutique (someday!) where I would work on jewelry for a few hours. then I would head out to meet a friend for brunch at the Tin Shed and have my favorite breakfast, the Everything Naughty. after brunch, I would do a little vintage shopping and spend some time in my favorite boutiques, Flutter, Moxie, Tumbleweed, and Pistils Nursery. in the afternoon, I would work some more in my studio, then head to a yoga class. for dinner, I would dine at the amazing Veritable Quandary with my wonderful husband. he would probably have sea scallops and I would have Chilean sea bass. mmmm….. delicious! oh, and of course, I would enjoy a glass of wine or two!
9. What do you both do when you’re not writing for the blog?
misha// Goodness, what don’t I do?! I am a full-time photographer and graphic designer. I started my business called Ashton Photography + Design [www.mishaashton.com] in 2001. Mainly I do abstract film photography that I sell at art shows, craft fairs and boutiques.. When I’m not doing that, I am a full time wedding photographer. I have also started to get into pregnancy, new born and kid photography as well. I am always working to perfect every avenue in photography.
amy// well, I am a jewelry designer and have a full-time business called Amy Olson Jewelry. I sell my work online (http://amyolsonjewelry.etsy.com) as well as at shows and in boutiques. I also work at a darling boutique that sells my work called MInk in SE Portland. All of these things keep me quite busy!
10. When you’re buying products online, do you look for something that’s made locally first?
misha// Online, I always buy from independent designers and artist from all over the world. I buy my local items from locally owned businesses or directly from the artist/designer themselves. I completely gave up shopping at stores like Wal-mart, the mall and other such places over 10 years ago.
amy// typically, when I buy online, I go straight to websites like Etsy where I can look for handmade items. I also like to buy locally, which I can usually find at shows around town. like Misha, I don’t remember the last time I shopped at Wal-mart or the mall and that is because I made a decision long ago not to shop at these kinds of stores~ Wal-mart especially!
11. What is the biggest local trend you guys have gotten into – for instance, do you have backyard chickens?
misha// Oh man, I would LOVE to have chickens and my own little garden, but sadly I do not…yet! I ride my bike every chance I get, whether its just for fun or to run errands or meet up with the ladies at a bar for girls night. I do as much of my grocery shopping from the local food co-op, and I recycle practically everything I can. To me though these don’t really feel like a trend, just part of everyday life that everyone should be doing around the world.
amy// well, I think that what I have gotten into the most is spending less time in my car and doing more walking and bike riding. Portland is great about promoting alternative forms of transportation and I try to make the most of that! I also do my best to support local farm stands and picking my own produce. I hope to one day have a farm where I can garden and keep chickens, but for now, I do what I can!
12. What kind of music have you been listening to lately?
misha// I am currently in love with Queens of the Stone Age, the Death Proof Soundtrack and a New Zealand band called the Eastern who I met last summer playing in front of my art booth at First Thursday in the Pearl.
Ive been kind of lame these days an not going out to local shows, which is a bad habit because we have so many great musicians.
amy// I realized recently that I must really like music that is soulful because lately I’ve really been into Cat Power and Antony and the Johnsons. I love the mixes that my husband makes, which are very diverse and fun. the latest mix, Summer 2009, consists of songs from some of my favorite artists such as Jim White, The Handsome Family, Girltalk, Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, and Neko Case. I really love music and simply can’t live without it. Portland always has amazing shows going on and the most recent ones we plan on attending are Girltalk, Daniel Johnston, and M. Ward.
13. If you were trapped on a desert island, what three items would you make sure to have with you?
misha// my nikon f100 film camera, a holga 35mm and all the expired slide film in the world!
amy// my jewelry-making supplies (can that count as one?), my camera, and a sketchbook/pencil.
14. What is your best garage sale find?
misha// Hands down, a mini seafoam green guitar amp that my boyfriend adapted for my iPod. That way when Im working in my studio, people can hear the music and not just me singing horribly out of tune.
amy// my husband I have a vintage camera collection and many of our cameras have come from garage sales~ I think these are my favorite!
15. In a perfect world, outside the constraints of reality, what would you be doing?
misha// Living and traveling all over the world taking photos, having gallery shows of my work on every continent and being able to speak the language of everyone I come into contact with, while still having a home to come back to in SE Portland.
amy// I would be living on a little farm near the river where I would have alpacas and donkeys, as well as a dog and a cat, of course! I would have my work in various boutiques throughout the U.S. and would be able to travel all over the world to look for gems and supplies. my studio would be in a converted Airstream Bambi.
16. Who in your life was a creative inspiration for you?
misha// My parents bought me my first slr camera when I was 14 years old and have always supported and encouraged my dream of being a photographer. They have purchased my art from every show they’ve been to and refuse to allow me to just give them the pieces they like best!
amy// my grandma is my inspiration. she was a professional craftsperson all her life and has taught me almost everything I know. I have definitely inherited all of her ‘creative’ genes! and I am lucky enough to be living near her again in Portland.
17. What’s the next hottest thing you think everyone should be checking out?
misha// Old school film photography!! Polaroid photos, cross processed photos, lomo cameras, twin lens cameras. FILM’S NOT DEAD!!!
amy// well, I don’t know if I’m the best person to answer this question, but I’m really excited about community supported agriculture, community gardens, and farm shares. there are so many options out there as far as price ranges, proportions, and what you would like to receive that it has become easy for everyone to either grow their own food or be able to support other local farmers in the area.
18. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
misha// Do what you love, oh and to always remember the Rule of Thirds.
amy// to be honest, I haven’t received too much advice in my life, but I’ve always believed in what Misha said- do what you love!
19. What is your most treasured possession?
misha// my 24-85mm macro lens for my nikon f100. I love abstract detail shots, especially when people cant figure out what the full images really are!
amy// oh dear, this is a hard one as I have so many lovely things that are so beautiful to me. one in particular is my great great great grandmother’s Singer sewing machine. it’s truly exquisite.
20. What’s next for Portland Loves: local?
misha// Personally, I am very excited for some of our upcoming week long reviews. Portland Fashion Week is coming up and we have so many wonderful fashion designers, make-up artist, models and fashion photographers here in Portland. It will be so hard to choose who to feature!!
amy// I’m really excited about a variety of guest bloggers that will be writing on our blog as well as promoting different events around the city.
21.If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
misha// Other than EVERYWHERE, I would have to say Malta is at the top of my list right now.
amy// you know, I haven’t been overseas yet, but I’ve always dreamed about visiting Paris as I know I’ll fall in love. but, at the same time, if I could go anywhere tomorrow I would go to Boston because I really love Autumn in New England.
Thank you to Misha and Amy for the great interview! And make sure to check out Portland Loves: local!
I stumbled across this blog some time ago and I was instantly hooked. All of her pictures (in addition to being simply fantastic) are so full of joy and love. And I’m a little bit jealous of her life – cute kids, out in the country, growing and eating, generally having a good time. She was nice enough to be subjected to some of my questions – and here are her answers. Make sure to check out her blog, Kids + Other Pets to see what I’m talking about.
1. What did you have for breakfast this morning?
Goat Cheese + Eggs
2. What do you find most inspiring about where you live?
The River! It’s part of our daily lives, we are constantly checking on it. Always comparing how it looks today as to from yesterday, is it high or low, is the color green or brown or glacier green.
3. What kind of music are you into lately?
I like all forms of quirky folk music.
4. Are you a professional photographer, or do you just take pictures for fun?
Just for fun! Although I do have a BFA so I’m sure that helps.
5. What is your favorite photography subject?
Kids, for sure. They are non self-conscious and will do (almost) anything you ask them to. And their skin is always amazing.
6. Was there someone in your life who was a creative inspiration for you?
My Mom. She’s the handiest person with a pair of scissors that you ever did see. She can craft anything. I remember when I was a kid she once made a Christmas card collage out of hundreds of torn bits of paper that was a montage of our family skiing. It was crazy.
7. What else do you make other than art that you’re great at?
I’m pretty handy in the garden and I love to cook. I guess I’m sort of a homebody!
8. What is your favorite thing about your kids?
Leif is insightful and Io is full of joy.
9. What is your creative process like?
It used to be more of a process (pre-kids) involving spontaneity. Now I just squeeze in some computer time after the kids are in bed and hope the mood strikes. I try to take pictures all the time, although I have found that sometimes I take little breaks and other times I’m glued to the camera.
10. What’s a cool thing that you think everyone should know about?
Eating locally has been huge for our family this summer. We’ve managed to eat about 90% of our fruits & veggies from our garden, but when we’ve ventured out I’ve used the website http://www.localharvest.org/ to help find sources for meat, dairy, and flour. It’s amazing!
11. What’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened to you?
Arriving at a local meeting for a “spiritual group” only to find out it was a swingers club. A W K W A R D.
12. Where’s your dream vacation spot?
Right now I’m in perpetual fantasy about taking a winter trip to Vietnam for some beach time and noodles.
13. What’s the last thing you bought online?
A medlar tree. raintreenursery.com – hours of fun!
14. In a perfect world without the constraints of reality, what would you be doing?
I would have my midwifery practice down the street, I’d have time for yoga every day, farm dinner dates with my husband on Saturday night, and my kids would running around the neighborhood happy and busy.
15. Do you make a signature dish? What is it?
I like to make cloufouti with cherries and almond flour.
16. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I don’t remember.
17. What’s your most treasured possession?
My daughter Luna’s first and only dress. It is a smocked gown donated by a woman named Anne to the hospital. Luna only wore it for a brief time, but I’ll always treasure it. My Nana made a beautiful replica of it that she donated to our local hospital should someone else be in our same situation.
18. Do you have any other pets?
2 Singapura cats and 9 hens and a big, dumb rooster.
19. What’s your best garage sale find?
A set of mid-century bird sketches done by two local illustrators. I’m in the middle of getting them framed!
20. What are you most passionate about?
Birth. It’s the confluence of my favorite things: health, science, spirituality, feminism, and wonder.
You may remember Laurent from a piece that I did on his ethnic photography a little while ago. He was kind enough to answer some of my questions and allow them to be shared here with my readers.
1. What did you have for breakfast this morning?
Nothing exciting to tell you the truth, plain rice and a banana. I’d rather keep it safe especially in a country like India.
I know this is going to sound patriotic, but everything inspires me in Paris. I could never get tired of the place. I was born and raised in this city, it’s home! But strangely I don’t really find any particular inspiration in terms of street portraits, unlike I would in exotic countries for instance. Life is strange, or maybe it’s just me.
Well I am very much into Nine Inch Nails, Baraka soundtrack, Placebo, Smashing Pumpkins and many more!
I’ve always love photography, ever since I was a little child, looking at my great grand fathers photo from the early 20th century. I just got naturally into it for traveling here and there… I came up to the point that I had to leave my mark!
Watching TV documentaries, looking at McCurry’s shots and many other reasons. I am very conscious that tribe cultures are quickly fading away meanwhile time is passing by. Nothing will ever be the same in a few years from now on. When you get to travel to some exotic places and come across extraordinary faces, you just feel like you want to freeze the moment forever, at least that’s what I feel.
The usual: Canon 5D with primes. 35mm 1.4, 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8. Lightroom and CS3.
The very same as I’m doing right now. There are so many cultures to explore and faces to shoot in this world. I want to do them all. And the good thing is that its getting better and better every time.
All the great photographers such as Avedon, McCurry, Doisneau etc. The movie Baraka was also a big shot in my photographer’s life.
I’m great at sleeping. This is something I do really well :)
I would say the movie Baraka for sure… No words needed, just watch it.
Nothing that crazy has ever happened to me, can you believe it? Dull life ehh!
Anywhere with no tourists.
A 30 Euros plane ticket from Delhi to Ahmedabad… ain’t that sweet?
Traveling all across the globe as much as I want to. Now that would be nice!
An empty bottle of water, a truck wheel and a chair.
Never judge someone at first sight.
A leather bracelet that my mama gave me when I was a child.
A cat and fishes. My place is indeed a world of antagonism.
I would just be traveling I suppose.
Take a guess… :)
Many thanks to Laurent for this interview! If you’d like to learn more about him, his blog is here, and his website, here.
The work of Nick Brandt actually stops me in my tracks. I can’t get enough of the simplicity and majesty of his images. It makes me want to buy one of his prints, yes, but it also makes me want to run off to Africa with a medium format camera and see how close I can get to the wildlife without being eaten.
He manages to get the kinds of shots and perspectives that could only come from actually being a wild animal himself. These pictures seem so intimate, amazing considering the vast space that is the Serengeti.
You can find more of his work here. You can also buy the book that encompasses many of his photographs here. I just bought it and I can’t wait.
If you’re anything like me, you’ll shell out for a nice camera and then be reluctant to dive into the technical manuals to learn how to actually use it. I have a hard time learning that way. I prefer to experiment and see what happens, but then I also get really frustrated by certain things that are hard to figure out. The best learning experience for me is one that is hands-on and a little more casual. This is the brilliance of the Pioneer Woman.
She has the same learning style (experimentation) but also has the patience to sit down and teach all of the rest of us out there how to use our cameras. There’s lots of before-and-after shots as well, so that the more visually inclined among us can get an idea of what is actually happening along the way. She’s friendly, she’s accessible, and most of all, she takes beautiful photographs.
Stop by her blog for great tutorials on a number of photography subjects. The photoshop tutorials are especially great if you have limited experience with the software (and great even if you supposedly know what you’re doing). There’s also great recipes and lots of other lovely finds.
Start taking better pictures today! She will show you how.
(all images from Pioneer Woman).
Laurent Auxietre is an astounding photographer.
Wouldn’t you just love to ride off around the world, taking interesting pictures of interesting people? His portraits exhibit a really remarkable humanity, I think. You feel like you’re just witnessing a passing moment in their lives, instead of making them stand still and pose for a tourist photo.
He’s got a beautiful website and just started a blog. Stop by to see more amazing works.
I think she probably has the greatest job in the whole world (photographing animals and cute kids) and there’s an obvious reason why. She’s EXTREMELY talented. People always say that good photography lies in capturing a moment, and she seems to capture every one just perfectly. I also love the way that she uses negative space – not something that’s taken into account too much in photography up front but she uses it in a way that’s almost painterly.
She’s done an animal series that you can purchase at her etsy shop that includes pictures of all sorts of exotic creatures, from goats to macaws and llamas. I’ve been lusting after them for some time now but I’m finding it hard to pick just one animal. You can also see more of her great photography at her blog.
How much do I love the work of Albrecht Tubke? More than I should admit, probably. There is something so disarming about his photographs – they are so straightforward, but yet seem to be hiding so much.
A German photographer, he captures images of the seemingly everyday person going about their lives. It’s hard to tell if the pictures themselves are staged, or if he just accosts people on the streets and shoots them. There’s a quality of the images that seems to leap off of the page (or screen). I especially love the images of (seemingly) disembodied heads floating in the water. His portfolio is definitely worth a look.
1. Sliced Bread Notebooks. Brilliant. I’m a collector of tiny notebooks, and I have such a weird collection, but these, they would all be the same! And fit together to make something bigger and better! Just like a transformer.
2. Helvetica Forever Tote Bags. The ultimate in nerd chic. The bags and some coordinating buttons were made from the cover of the book that bears the same name. You can also see the travelling exhibition if you’re lucky enough to be near one of the areas.
3. Form Fifty Five. Amazing. Great design, lots of inspiration, great site, no shortage of things to click on and places to see.
4. I love this dog photographer, Erin Vey. I think that she does a really great job of capturing a dog’s personality. Aside from that, she takes beautiful photos. I wish I either had a pet I could have her take pictures of, or have her skills. I think I’d take either.
5. The packaging for Waitrose Herbs. I love the simplicity of it, and the attitude that it conveys. The copy also really reflects the impressions that we have of all of these different herbs. Designed by Lewis Moberly.
Here’s what I’ve been crushing on lately.
1. Satsuma Press‘s letterpress lovelies. They make invites, stationary, calling cards, wedding invites, and just a whole lot of pretty letterpressed things. I’m a sucker for it, I know, but they have nice modern design with a bit of a natural edge that’s really appealing.
2. I know that jewelry is all over the place, but that makes the occasional item that stands out all the more interesting. I’m loving the line by Gemella Jewelry – the pieces are intricately crafted, with beautiful high-quality gemstones and a lovely approach to a traditional medium. Great for mother’s day!
3. I’m not afraid to admit it. I go to garage sales A LOT. At least I did before I moved to Arizona and discovered the wonders of one-stop flea market shopping. However, it’s been a lifetime hobby for me and I can’t imagine going much longer without returning to the futile chase. This amazing app solves the problem of “how do I hit as many garage sales as possible in one quick, efficent route?”. It uses vulcan mind-meld to work google maps into craigslist listings and creating the perfect internet use. All hail the almighty lifehacker.
4. A photographer from Boulder, Colorado is attempting to photography one million faces in just one year. She’s turned it into a great way to raise money for charity, as well as meet lots of interesting people and support lots of interesting causes. It’s fun to keep up with her progress and to see all of the amazing faces out there. Check out more about the project here.
5. Speaking of photography – wow. That’s all I can say to describe this photograph. Taken by someone called Funambula (?) you can check out here tumblr here. I love the sense of whimsy, and that color combination is just to die for.
6. Speaking of whimsical, who doesn’t want some rainbow cupcakes? I’ve been seeing them everywhere lately and I’m dying to try to make some. It looks like someone turned a leprechaun into a delicious, sweet sugary mess. That’s right, I said it. You can find a tutorial here to make your very own – if you do, I’d like to see what they look like!
7. I was always taught in art school to NEVER use typography unless it killed you, especially in painting. This lovely print makes me smile and say, screw that! Love the message, love the execution. Part of the 20×200 project (offering limited editions of awesome art prints for just $20!) I think that I need one on my wall. Unless this year happens to kill me first.
8. (not pictured) Has anyone ever heard of this blog, Decorno? I stumbled across it last weekend and did the thing where I clicked back so far, I felt a little ashamed of myself and had to stop. At some point, it just gets creepy. Anyway, the information is interesting, and the writing is FANTASTIC. I’m not sure if it’s nobel-prize worthy, but it makes me laugh, and damnit, that’s enough for me.
That’s all for now, folks. Thanks for allowing me to slowly dig through my bookmark list. I hope you find something to pique your interest.
