Photo Love {Inspiration}: Dreaming together

When we are dreaming alone, it is only a dream.  When we are dreaming with others, it is the beginning of reality.

Dom Helder Camara

Photo from here

I love the ethereal quality of this photo - the muted darkness, star-like splotched spots of light, and bright rays in the background make it appear as if these two lovers met in a dream.

Dreams can involve anything from owning a coveted bag you first saw on an icon's arm to spending  the rest of your life with the person you love to getting the job you always wanted to do, but never thought possible.

Isn't it interesting that if you share the dream and find the place/meet the person/make a new connection - it may make your dreams even more possible?

It's early to say but a friend and I were talking about a fashion related idea for fun, and now are thinking of turning it into a business.  We'll see what happens, but it is fun to dream and think about the possibilities!

Dream with another and make it a reality my dears.

Have a lovely week!

Photo Love {Inspiration}: A touch of xoxo

Take time to enjoy some love, hugs, and kisses every day.

Photo from Elizabeth Messina

I know I for one am quite a huggy person.  To me, there is nothing quite like enveloping a new friend or loved one in an embrace.

It can mean...
hello,
I miss you,
it's ok,
great to see you,
I'm here for you,
I love you.

Remember to give and get your dose of xoxo.

Have a lovely week!

Photo Love: Utter calm and happiness (in Bali)

If you can attain repose and calm, believe that you have seized happiness.

Julie-Jeanne-Eleanore de Lespinasse

Dead Sea, Paolo Pellegrin via Design Crush

To live the world through the eyes of a child again...the utter enjoyment, bliss, and relaxation from simple things like lying in the ocean.  I miss that.
Of course an amazing backdrop doesn't hurt either.

I'm currently flying to Bali for my husband's birthday and our anniversary.  While I'm usually one that likes to plan my trips a bit more, he likes to keep an open mind and simply relax.  I suppose I'll have to agree with him on this one.  But scheduling massages will certainly be on good preplanned activity right?

I have some lovely guest posts scheduled for you of course from some lovely blogger buddies.  Though I won't be able to comment on your blogs this week, I'll miss you and your fashion, style, and random thoughts.

Have a lovely week!

Styling about town: Jazz party in NYC

The truest expression of a people is in its dance and music.

- Agnes de Mille

All photos from the Sartorialist.

Oh to have partied it up on Governor's Island with my flapper dress, long strings of pearls, and my feathered fascinator...
Jumping, jiving, and styling seem like a perfect way to spend a summer's day.

Fun Finds/{Wedding Look}: Cutest Programs and decor - Shining Happy People everywhere

Something about these cute little faces on the programs kinda melts my heart.  I wonder what my little head would have looked like if I had used this for my wedding?  I probably would have had my feather fascinator drawn in and my cheshire cat grin painted on.  My husband's shaven head and friend's dark glasses would have made an appearance too.

 Great Programs Tiffe & Leo - they have my vote for cutest programs!

 Of course I love how these happy faces appear elsewhere in the stationary...

...and in the table number holders.

I love how one small and adorable detail can tie an entire party's theme together!
"Shining happy people holding hands..."

Pictures taken by the lovely Erin Hearts Court

Photo Love {Inspiration}: Standing still, but going forward

Do you ever feel stuck or overwhelmed and come to a standstill?

Perhaps we are or perhaps we are just in between floors like the little girl below. 

Or at least that's what I hope as I keep searching for my place here.  We're pretty settled in our new home, but I feel like I'm not quite settled either.  I'm neither quite here nor there.

But I'll keep on going.  After all, you never know what will await you if you don't go forward and explore the other possibilities.

Photo from here

Here's hoping some great things await you at the next level.

Have a lovely week!

Photo Love: Jump with no reservations

The artist Philippe Halsman said that when you ask someone to jump for the camera "the mask falls, so the real person appears."

I love the girly and playful jump by the always lovely Audrey Hepburn above.  The lady is still there, but she is leaping without a care in the world - no poses, no thoughts about the perfect angle. 

Life isn't always picture perfect, but it can still be beautiful.  Here's to celebrating those candid and true moments...

Lucky New Yorkers, there is an exhibit of famous figures jumping photographed by Philippe Halsman.  “Philippe Halsman: Jump” continues through Friday, May 28th at the Laurence Miller Gallery, 20 West 57th Street, Manhattan; , laurencemillergallery.com.

Photo Love: Standing apart from the crowd and finding that special someone

Among the many people in this world you'll meet, there are only a few (unless you're lucky enough to have skipped all that), and ultimately one you'll call your own.

It may take some time, but there is one that will be your partner, your anchor, the one in the crowd that belongs with you.  I had no idea that the guy I talked to for 2 minutes at a Superbowl party would be the one I'd marry (over 280 days of marriage, 2 countries, and going strong!)  You never know...

From Kenny Pang 

Here's to finding that special someone in the crowd...

Photo Love: Feminine and fashionable but not perfect

Irving Penn

A polka-dot suit with a perfect sheen, gorgeous hat, and a chewable strand of classic pearls (I'm more of a twirler myself).  You can be perfectly fashionable and put together and still let your little quirks come out.  You'll still be stylish and you.  I love that and hope I can accomplish that wherever I am (well I did do some funny things in my wedding gown after all).

What are your little habits?

I didn't have time to see the Irving Penn exhibit at the National Gallery in London (until 6 June, 10 pounds if you're not a member or eligible for other discounts). But if you're in the area, check out 140 prints of one of the world's most famous photographers and make me jealous.

Photo Love: Run Off and Enjoy your week (stylishly of course)

I'm defying Monday - just because it's the beginning of the week doesn't mean I can't enjoy it!

My new favorite Lillian Bassman, from here

 "Pick the day.  Enjoy it - to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come... The past, I think, as helped me appreciate the present, and I don't want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future." - Audrey Hepburn

We all still have places to run off to this week.  I love the motion in this picture.  She look like she's off to somewhere fabulous with her chiffon cape handy.  I'm wrapping up my time in NYC this week so while I'm sad, I know I'll get to see some lovely people, enjoy my favorite places, and have a great time.

So have a good time whatever you're doing!

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."

Photo Love: Just a peek into a picture and some peeks into my wish list

I love the innocent glimpse of a face.  It's just a peek of the eyes and profile.  What is she thinking?  What is happening as she speaks?

Photo from Jason Keefer

This was a bride on her wedding day.  I can only imagine what was going through her mind.  But I hope she had fun. :)

I've been thinking a bit about photos and how we'd like our lives remembered (in terms of being captured on film) and the productions we sometimes go through for those pictures.  I think I'll finally post about it this week.

In the mean time, here is a peek into...
...a lust item
Gorgeous Chanel earrings with rounded glass and pearl drops (a Victorian dream, sigh)

sigh, only $2500 here

... a realistic and beautiful item

$14.99 found here

...and my ponderings - would I rather live further away and have a larger space and nicer amenities or be in a smaller space in the city within a few blocks of restaurants?  It's kinda a tough decision but we have to decide soon!  What are your preferences for your living space?

Photo Love: Holga appreciation with Jagger Photography

I don't admit to knowing much about classic film cameras.  But I've learning a little more in my photographer blog stalking.

The Holga gives a timeless, soft feel to the photos.  It's like instant vintage photos - love that.  According to Wikipedia, this affordable toy camera is known for its lens that "displays vignetting, blur, light leaks, and other distortions."  These imperfections are actually highly sought after by photographers.

I don't know what film camera our photographer used, but I loved the grainy, classic quality.

 

I love picture of bridges or roads.  Where will the road go?  What will happen when we get there?  What waits for us on the other side?  We may not know but life is all about finding out.

 

Until then, sit back and enjoy the view.

And man, I have a lot of shopping and decorating to do!

All images taken from Jagger Photography, except for the first one from David Burnham

Photo Love: Chris Craymer and Stripped down love

I recently came across Chris Craymer's photography and some of his stills really caught my eye.

I love how it depicts love in a quirky and very basic fashion (and the lampshade is super adorable of course).  Love when no one else is looking and we're in our "house clothes" with each other.

Or really stripped down love (not necessarily in a literal clothing sense) when we're really comfortable with our partners and can brush our teeth next to each other and just let it all hang out.

It goes to show that our partners really love us as we are and those are the kind of people we want to spend the rest of our lives with.  Awesome.

Photo Love: Statuesque stills and Irving Penn

I came across this article about Irving Penn's work and was struck by this picture of his wife Lisa Fonssagrives.  His portraits of women were "perfectly, pristinely, imagined and arranged – the representation of a mind’s eye."  He would have his models stand in still poses for hours with only slight movements.  Then he could really capture them as something more than a person in a picture.

I also liked that he had portraits like the one of Truman Capote below.

Sometimes you depict someone by studying the person for a while and sometimes you portray someone just by capturing a moment.

Next...decor and shopping recaps!

Photo Love: Catching a favorite view (High line NYC)

Parks are a prized commodity in Manhattan.  It's no wonder they started building parks above the streets of NYC.  The High Line opened earlier this year to provide a bit of refuge from the bustling streets of the Meatpacking district.  Constructed in the 1930s to elevate freight traffic off the streets, the High Line was unused for several decades as the neighborhood battled over its future.  After some high profile lobbying (Ms. DVF herself is an advocate), the High Line is set to be preserved as a public space and has foliage interspersed with the railroad tracks.

One of my best friends and I visited the High Line in July.  It's so cool because you're literally sitting on top of the bustle of the streets.

Taken from here.

This is a great picture spot (I know I wanted pictures here after the wedding reception, but alas ran out of time) and also catches great views of midtown.  Most importantly, it captures the essence of the area and the city, which is so key to the setting of pictures.  See you in a few months NYC!

 

Taken from Kimberly Salem Photography.

Photo Love: Gritty, grimey, lovely New York City in photos

I do miss it.

I came across Kenny Pang's blog and saw 2 photos I wanted to take but never did because we ran out of time. graffiti of Marilyn Monroe and Angelina Jolie in the Meatpacking District

high-line view from around 18th street - only glass section with full direct view of the street

Then some day maybe I'll have a photo like this.
I really like Kenny Pang btw. Photographers are such awesome artists.

Ian Villaceran $150 Photography package for non-Chicago residents

$150 was what I paid for 10 drinks at my wedding. That was also probably just one person. *Sigh*

Or I could have hired Ian Villaceran to take my pictures.
Ian e-mailed me to highlight this special deal (which I think was covered in Wedzilla too):

I am offering a special package for destination weddings (out of Chicago) of 2009 and 2010s if booked this year.

SPECIAL PACKAGE - $150

8 Hour Coverage

Online Proof Gallery

High Resolution Proof Disc

Engagement Session (if possible)

It is only $150 + Airfare. The couples are to provide the airfare, accommodations and signed release for future publishing. That's it! :-)

Please let me know if you are interested. I will also appreciate if you can share this information to others who are planning a wedding in a budget. You may email me or call at 847-454-6590.

Thank you and I look forward to hear from you.

Cheers,

Ian Villaceran