Life Is...: 2011

Monday 5 December 2011

Picture Perfect...

I am a photographer, I don't mean I work as a photographer, its much more than that, it is what I am. I am not saying I am a perfect photographer, I still have a lot more to learn and stil get bad photos sometimes, but photography is a HUGE part of my life and I never go anywhere without a camera, just in case!.

I do think there is something very different about the brain of a photographer, who in their right mind travels towards disasters, wars, storms, wild animals and other things that most people run away from. Photographers can find beauty in a cracked window, a crumpled can on a beach or millions of other things that most people would not even notice

There is something so incredibly intriguing about an old photograph. For me, they bring such inspiration. Who are these people? What were they going through when this photo was taken? Were there tears behind those picture perfect smiles?

Here are some amazing old photographs of people that have inspired me in some way shape or form.

Great shot of The Beatles via across the page.

Chanel in one of her pieces 1937

Model Anne Theophane Graham poses in the Christian Dior Junon dress. Photo by Richard Avedon for Harper’s Bazaar in Paris, 1949. Via Leave Me Breathless.

Frida Kahlo in her studi at Casa Azul. Photo by Viicente Wolf

Carmen Dell Orefice in lace cocktail ensemble designed by Yves Saint Laurent for Christian Dior. Photo by Avedon for Harper’s Bazaar at Folies Bergere, Paris (1957) via Flickr.

‘Bubble’ series for Harper’s Bazaar by Melvin Sokolsky. (1963) via my modern met.

Twiggy via paristocrats.

The Kennedys as newlyweds via The Life of Polarn Per.

Salvador Dali with his wife Gala via trompe-loeil.

Rare early photo of Norma Jeane on the verge of superstardom. Photographed by Richard C. Miller in early 1946 via my modern met

xxx loves xxx

Monday 21 November 2011

The Power Of Words...

Written or spoken, words are continuously propelling us through life. They lift us up, drag us down, wound us deeply or heal our hearts. Words have the power to break confidences, build life long alliances or start wars.

Words can make or break us, both as individuals and as a society. What have you been saying lately?

The words you speak can have a profound effect on the people they reach. Are you encouraging or discouraging? Are you building up your children, your spouse, your friend or even the stranger you pass on the street? Or are you tearing down your own family with words of criticism, bitterness and judgment? Are you causing the destruction of your self-esteem by speaking ill suited words over yourself, your health and prosperity?

The Power of One by Bryce Courtney:"He would often use an analogy from nature. 'Ja, Peekay, always in life an idea starts small, it is only a sapling idea, but the vines will come and they will try to choke your idea so it cannot grow and it will die and you will never know you had a big idea, an idea so big it could have grown thirty metres through the dark canopy of leaves and touched the face of the sky.' He looked at me and continued, 'The vines are people who are afraid of originality, of new thinking; most people you encounter will be vines, when you are a young plant they are very dangerous.' His piercing blue eyes looked into mine. 'Always listen to yourself, Peekay. It is better to be wrong than simply to follow convention. If you are wrong, no matter, you have learned something and you will grow stronger. If you are right you have taken another step towards a fulfilling life.' "

Words are powerful.

Whether spoken or written, there is not a more powerful way to influence the minds of men and women than words. Written or oral, you can take an idea that did not exist just moments before, and create a revolution that changes the face of the earth.

With the power of words, you can turn an enemy into a friend, and create an asset out of what was previously declared as weakness.You can mend broken hearts, and create clarity and trust – you can make people say: “I trust you“

The greatest ideas in the world, are nothing without your ability to communicate those ideas to the world.

So...Which words have YOU used today?

xxx loves xxx

Tuesday 15 November 2011

Write About Love...

I have always been a firm believer in writing.
For as long as i can remember, I have always kept journals and for me the best part is reading those journal entries a few years or even months later.
I feel they help me let go, move forward and grow. Picking up the pen and putting your thoughts and feelings to paper always seems to work for me. I would even consider it as being one of the best forms of therapy but without the pricey digits attached to it.

I came across this one specific letter in one of my diaries. It practically fell out at me and i started to read it out aloud...there was a girl next to me who i didn't think was listening. She turned and said to me "I can totally relate to everything you just said"...this made me sad in a way because the letter is about my heart break so knowing that someone else has gone through that pain...i just wouldn't wish that on anybody...

Letter to you:

So here we are again.
I just don't know what to say...here you are, back in my life again.
You keep doing this to me. You keep walking in and out of my life when ever it suits you and I'm left to pick up whatever pieces are left behind.
I know one thing...i cant do this anymore. I have shed to many tears over you and spent many sleepless nights asking myself why i am not good enough for you.
I have realised that you never really loved me because the pain you have chosen to put me through is not what love is meant to feel like.
I hope that when you find someone you do love, that she loves you back because i don't wish the same pain i have felt on anyone.
Fight for what you love and for who you love.
I have been lucky enough to experience what true love does feel like.
I'm not going to lie and say i don't think about you from time to time because i do.
Letting go of you has been one of the most difficult things i have ever had to do and i still battle to this day with the idea.
I just cant put myself through this anymore, i cant keep holding onto something that will never be.
I have come to far to take those steps backwards.
I did love you and i wish you had seen it then but for whatever reasons you chose to take a different path and cant do anything other than respect that decision.
I cant give up on my idea of love for a maybe with you and all my relationship with you, was a maybe.
I am happy and even though you will always be apart of me i cant go back to how you made me feel.
You really hurt me and pray you never have to experience that kind of pain.
I truly hope you find what you looking for and when you do, i hope you hold onto it with everything you are xxx

I wrote that letter to my first love...

When i read it now (few years later) it seems that nothing has changed. My heart has been broken and mended a few times since then. So i guess this is the process we have to go through in order to move on and even though the process doesn't really change there are definitely things about each individual process that do make us stronger, wiser or more sensitive and you definitely learn. I now know that its not me thats not good enough. Instead of me blaming myself for a failed relationship, i now understand that it obviously just wasn't meant to be.

I can tell you one thing though and that is, i will never not believe in love no matter how many times it breaks me. To me, the feeling you get from being loved and loving in return, is so worth every bit of pain one goes through when mending a broken heart.

So the moral of this story is WRITE!

You wont regret it. Once those words are on that piece of paper you will feel like a weight has been lifted! You don't even have to keep what you have written.Burning it helps with the releasing of the energy built up around those written words so lets start a mini bonfire or keep journals that start to fall apart and become moth eaten. :)

just promise me this...WRITE xxx

xxx loves xxx