sort of coal

I haven't been that excited about a product in a long time... especially as I'm getting more and more disgusted by consumerism in general.
I discovered this water purifier bottle (on the table of some very good friends of mine) that makes you want to ditch your old BRITA - even though that wouldn't be very environment friendly - and its disposable filters full of plastic and cheap coal...
This is a whole different level, the coal is in the bottle, the design is impeccable.
There's a whole philosophy behind the products from SORT OF COAL, read about it on their website. It's just the most inspiring company I've heard of in a long long time.

>> the bottle with the piece of coal is 68 euros + shipping from Denmark (35 euros to the US). A lot more irresistible products on their website...

I'm in love!

my holga

Remember my post about lomography? Well, I did buy a Holga, and I did test it. Here's my very first roll (after the one which came out blank). You like?

learning about sustainable living

Ever dreamed of building a solar oven, an air conditioner, a refrigerator, a wind generator or a lemon battery?
This brilliant little house can teach you (and maybe your 12+ year old kid/cousin/nephew) the basics of alternative energy and sustainable living. Plenty of little experiments to heat the house with the sun's energy, using evaporation for cooling, cook with the sun, using wind energy, etc. Great gift.
Sold at uncommon goods for $90

highlighter portrait

I thought it was so smart I almost* bought one... These are the lyrics of these hip hop legends with their "highlighter style" portraits. There's a small STABILO highlighter in the back.
Sorry the images aren't great, I couldn't find any that gave it justice. The green portrait isn't the best... the yellow one was, if you go there.
Reed Space 151 orchard st in nyc (212) 253 0588 ($36)

* no offense to the designer for the "almost", I just don't wear tee-shirts

sunprint

I remember my mother always finding the cool toys for my sister and I to play outside. The sunprint kit was one of them and I was thrilled to find it again at the DWR soho store ($18). The exact same kit!! (see below for other places to buy)
Last Saturday was beautiful and we had friends over for a barbecue, so with the help of my little friend Clara 3, I re-discovered the pleasure of sunprinting. Here's the first round of a summer long serie!

1- You place objects on the sheet (I cut it in pieces so we'd get more prints in the end). They recommend finding flat objects and they provide an acrylic sheet to keep everything flat, but we did use 3D objects to play with the shadows.

2- You wait (that's the hardest part) from 1 min to 5 min depending on the sun, the blue paper starts to turn white.
3- You rinse and voila!

We decided to create frames for our works of art. The paper being very thin, it also gives some structure without having to properly frame it. I cut a cardboard box, and Clara and I decorated them with blue only pencils and markers (to stick with the blue theme) and I double-side-taped the prints. See the final product below.
Better priced at the Laurence Hall of Science ($14.95 and many options - refills only etc), and great examples there.
Right now on sale on Amazon.com for $11.95

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Have fun!

homemade look

We all know the American Apparel ads. Forget the porn aspect for a second, just look at the "homemade" feel: like you could have shot it yourself with your point-and-shoot.
Well, I've been noticing more and more of this style of photography in magazines and billboard lately.

Spring break editorial in ELLE US May09Marc by Marc Jacobs and Vans adds

American Apparel images from their website

Some might think it's because of the economy: no elaborate lighting and expensive digital equipment, maybe just get an HOLGA (see my hello lomo! post) and the accountant can shoot it right here in the office!
Well, no offense to the accountant, but that's really not the best choice: there's a real difference between a "homemade look" which is controlled, tasteful (sometimes),consistent and plain homemade.
So yes, we still need professional photographers and mostly art directors (wink wink) by the way, check out my portfolio if you haven't in a while.

poladroid

I just discovered Poladroid -a polaroid making software- in Ready Made's blog.
You drag a jpg on the polaroid camera on your desktop and it transforms it into a polaroid, with the darker edges, the color shifts (even from one pola to the next with the same image).
It's as realistic as can be, it makes the oh-so-familiar noise, and you have to wait for the image to appear... You even have to reload the software after 10 photos!! Download it here, it's free.



I know it's cheating, it doesn't replace the real thing, but that said, it's fun.

all photos by me !

hello lomo!

I love love love my digital cameras, including my iphone for more low-tech looking images, but right now I'm absolutely craving a lomographic camera. These "toy" cameras that allow you to control close to nothing, with their very limited settings (click here for more info). They've been around for many years, but they're exploding right now.
I wish it had just magically come to me and that I was the first to share it with the world but no, it's already a huge phenomenon, and the Moma store, Urban Outfitters and Colette in Paris already caught the wave, they all carry the Holga, the fish eye or the Diane F, and many fun accessories...
Here's a mini gallery of lomo images:

Here's a short ad with the golden rules: the main one "don't think, just shoot"



To get your own: Momastore, Lomographic Society, Urban Outfitters, Colette. Starting at $59.
I'm still debating whether to get a Holga or a Diane F, I'll keep you posted maybe with a little gallery of images...

Look: I used a Holga as a prop 2 years ago for a Two's Company shoot. Maybe I did catch the wave early after all!

photography: Arthur Belebeau

play it bright !

A little taste of the 80's without the nostalgia (who needs it).

1 Gum necklace - areaware ($100), or do it yourself?
2 Rollerskate door stop - areaware ($95), also in silver or white
3 Charms - Tarina Tarantino for kidrobot
4 Multi zip bag - moma store ($10)
5 Comme des garcons wallet - flight001 ($200)
6 Clockwork Beethoven bust - kidrobot ($200)
7 Turntable - conran shop ($350)
8 Plastic birds water whistles - kioskkiosk ($15 / 5 pces)
9 Clay side table by Marteen Bass - moss ($4,100)
10 Pink piggy - areaware ($95), cast from a pig that died from natural causes. Holds up to $10,000 in $1 bills. Also in silver and gold (we knew these for a while) but also copper, white or black
11 latest nike for Brooklyn Projects