Photo Love: A Kiss with Attitude via Lillian Bassmen

I am so jealous of Southern Californians right now.  Besides the enviable weather right now, they can easily visit the "Lillian Bassman: Women" exhibit through March 10 at the Peter Fetterman Gallery.

I think I stumbled upon Lillian Bassman's work when stalking another photographer's blog.  Bassman's photography is undoubtedly fashion photography, but the dreamy black and white images also hint at aspects of abstract paintings; this sassy 93 year-old came out of a 20+ year retirement and uses Photoshop to play with lighting in some pictures now.  I also love the powerful femininity in many of the portraits in the Women collection.

This woman is giving a kiss.  But it is her call, her choice, and she will give that kiss on her own terms.  While she is not oozing of warmth, she is full of stylish attitude.  While I'm not sure it's me, it's a very Holly Golightly kind of moment - a woman vying to live and love according to her own rules.

"You musn't give your heart to a wild thing. The more you do, the stronger they get, until they're strong enough to run into the woods or fly into a tree. And then to a higher tree and then to the sky."