Last minute gift ideas :: LOMOs {from £35}

The countdown to Xmas is on: -7. Yesterday it was my niece's 6th birthday, and today my younger cousin turned 19. Two Christmas angels!

Because I am pretty sure that my older niece {who is only 7} won't be browsing my blog, I feel free to post the present we bought her: a Lomo camera. I would be so excited to be getting one and I hope she will equally appreciate this gift, aimed at stimulating her creativity, sense of space, visual sense. I have explained in another post how Lomos are all about framing the subject creatively and let the camera surprise you. The real surprise for her will indeed be the unexpected end-result: 

 

Photo found here

Re-birth of Polaroid?

Polaroid camera is defunct and Atlas Gallery is hosting an exhibition homaging the end of instant photography:

Polaroid: EXP.09.10.2009 

9th October is the date the polaroid films expired. The exhibition features prints from legendary artists such as Andy Wharol and Helmut Newton.

But just when we thought this was the end, we got the news that Polaroid will re-launch the legendary Polaroid One Step Camera in 2010. To this end, Polaroid have commissioned *The Impossible Project* to develop and produce a limited edition of Polaroid^® branded Instant Films. CAN'T WAIT. 

Click here for the source article: THE IMPOSSIBLE PROJECT INSPIRES POLAROID^® TO RELAUNCH INSTANT CAMERAS.

The last glimpse to the world before you die

Death Drive** Exhibition by Dean Rogers @ the Wapping Project in London

"Photograph that show the places where nine of our cultural heroes were killed in car crashes... Rogers took the images on the anniversary of the deaths, at the exact time of day they occurred, and in the precise position the car was before impact. Whereas some of the final photographs are rendered atmospheric by darkness, many reveal the rather banal landscape witnessed by the subjects in the final seconds before their deaths."

Creative Review

Jackson Pollock, August 11, 1956

James Dean, September 30, 1955

Marc Bolan, September 16, 1977

Princess Diana, August 31, 1997 

"Rogers is inviting you to a haunting, but I assure you that the effect is unexpectedly moving and life-affirming."

Kenn Russell, TIMESONLINE

** "In classical Freudian psychoanalytic theory, the death drive ("Todestrieb") is the drive towards death, destruction and forgetfulness." Wikipedia

Meet Holga...

Holga is a lomography camera from the sixties. Virginia, who proudly owns one, explained that it was born as a faulty camera: light filters through, ruining the photos. But instead of withdrawing the product from the market, the manufacturers reinvented the concept of art photography with an element of surprise. The camera comes with black sellotape to try and prevent light from coming through, a rudimentary device which not always works. To make things *messier*, the viewfinder is dislocated from the lens, and there is no interruption when switching from photo 1 to photo 2, 3, etc., so if you don't centre the film's margins correctly. photos may come up overlapped. Their format is squared, the flash is colourful and the lens is fixed. The idea is that you don't spend time worrying about the technicalities, such as exposure, light or zoom, but concentrate on the subject. Their motto is: DON'T THINK, JUST SHOOT. The result? CRAZY and FUN:

(c) nadrocks

To learn more about the philosophy of Lomography, read here.

Holga is available here. Straight into my Wish List.

Shining Star

Did I say that I spent the night awake watching the Oscars on Monday? And even if I had watched only one of the nominated (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) I enjoyed every minute of it, from the red carpet to the show to the awards - all well deserved, even though I didn't watch their performances. Some fashion bloggers have commented that this year the red carpet was nothing special, and maybe with some exceptions is true, but then the recession had to play a role of image as well. Kate Winslet was the star of the night. What better way of shining next to a legend and a French rose:

@ Vanity Fair

san francisco 2007 ~ la ciliegina sulla torta!

de young museum

naked cyclist

seaplane

to be continued...