The view from here

Tate Cafe
I wanted to also post about The Laurie Anderson pieces I saw.
Performance artist Laurie Anderson's 1973 photography project, "Fully Automated Nikon," during which she realized the vengeful joys of taking pictures of street harassers. She also found that it renewed her confidence and sense of safety: "As I walked along Houston Street with my fully automated Nikon, I felt armed, ready."
What I particularly liked about the photos was the written explanation that gave the pieces are narrative. Interestingly I then found this blog whilst trying to find images to post.
Hollabacknyc
Holla Back NYC empowers New Yorkers to Holla Back at street harassers. Whether you're commuting, lunching, partying, dancing, walking, chilling, drinking, or sunning, you have the right to feel safe, confident, and sexy, without being the object of some turd's fantasy. So stop walkin' on and Holla Back: Send us pics of street harassers!
Brilliant.

Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman’s Bus Riders 1976/2000 are a series of photographs that feature the artist as a variety of meticulously observed characters. The photographs were shot in 1976 but not printed or exhibited until 2000 and are among the artist’s earliest work. Sherman uses elaborate costumes and make up to transform her identity for each image, but is photographed in a sparse, obviously staged setting with a wooden chair standing in for the bus seat.

Cindy Sherman is photography teacher gold, a real inspiration to students. This body of work was new to me and I enjoyed the images very much, I wonder however whether in this more politically correct/sensitive climate whether she would still do them in quite such a crude fashion.

Helmar Lerski

All the photos are from here

Helmar Lerski is renowned for his singular approach to portraiture. Instead of attempting to reveal the unique characteristics of his subject. Lerski translated the physiogonomy of the face into a sculptural surface onto which he projected lights and shadows to dramatic effect.

From here

I discovered a number of amazing photographers that were new to me, at the Street & Studio exhibition. This one really stood out, the images in the gallery are approx 10 inces by 8 inches and pack a tremendous punch.

Jaques Henri Lartigue

He wrote in his diary.
Far off, amongst the walkers she stands out like a golden pheasant in a hen house. She approaches I’m shy trembling a little. Twenty meters ten meters eight six and Click! The shutter of my big camera makes so much noise that the lady jumps almost as much as I do. It doesn’t matter a bit, except to the man with a loud voice accompanying her, who with a furious look starts to get hold of me. What does it matter though, all that counts is having the pleasure of a new photo.
The original Sartorialist!
Street photography can never be simple, but it is an invaluable tool for giving us a glimpse into the past. What may seem mundane today, can take on a whole new meaning tomorrow.
The Street & Studio exhibition on at the Tate Modern was a joy. To see photographs by Lartigue and many many other in the flesh is always an education. Sadly the catalogue was not and so I left disappointed.

Rachel t Robertson

green landscape detail, originally uploaded by display lady.

Via Dear Ada. It is when I see this that I wish the ENORMOUS mountain of paper work and report writing was over so I could just for once get on with my own work.. Beautiful.

The cost of youth

It has taken a very long time, but I have finally settled into a beauty routine that although may not visually work it certainly feels like it works which is as important.
Night time
I am not a fan of soap and water, in fact I struggle to clean my face with any product that needs washing off. I have tried the Liz Earle cleanse and polish but I never feel truly clean. My favourite product is a strange one. It is called Liquid Gold by Alpha H. I found it via a QVC TSV. The other products it came with were truly awful, and I only realised how incredibly good the Liquid Gold was when I finished the bottle and stopped using it. It is a very strange liquid it act like a tone but the smell is quite grim It feels like it almost burns off a layer of skin, but this is a good thing as then my skin feels truly clean. To put this in context the skin on my face is a tough as a Rhino hide. I have very olive skin that is really open pored great for aging well but not an attractive look with out make up. Sadly after children my skin has become quite patchy it does not tan evenly and without a hefty sun block I can look like a pie bald pony. So Alpha H really does minimise the pores and evens out the blotches. It cost £32 for 200mls and I managed to tip the entire contents of a new bottle all over my wash bag when I last went to Mums, I could have wept.
After this I wipe the Liz Earle Super skin concentrate over my face, which is a blend of oils. It is really lovely and my skin when I wake up is soft as a baby’s bottom ish!
Morning
Is Liz Earle Eye Repair then currently some Chanel moisturiser which cost an absolute fortune but it is lovely and light for the summer leaving shiny patches. None of it is cheap but if you have the face of an orange it works.

Verge

I have always loved meadows and roadside verges. This beautiful mix is totally random. having sprung up next to some blue hoardings where the new school is being built.

Nature at its best.