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Monday 30 August 2010

Photographic Memories

The best kind of photograph is a moment of the past that would otherwise have been forgotten. We always like seeing parents' and grandparents' wedding photos, but the likelihood of them being taken for the purpose of showing future generations what the dress and church looked like is slim. More probably, they would have been taken as a reminder of the day, something with which to decorate the walls in the new marital home. 


My favourite photos are the ones that aren't self explanatory; they have a story that accompanies them, a story that may have other wise been lost or forgotten if a camera's shutter hadn't moved at that precise moment. These, among many others are the photos that I decorate my walls with. I could easily write a thousand words on each of three pictures alone.


 


As much as I love these photos and the idea of capturing a moment's beauty forever,  I do think that sometimes a camera inhibits actions. People seem to subconsciously become stiff and false the moment a camera is in the vicinity; they become aware of their actions. Even those who seem to look so effortlessly natural and relaxed in every photo taken of them are still aware of the camera on some level (although, perhaps, the same cannot be said of the couple walking on the beach; they had no idea their photo was being taken or indeed there was even a camera anywhere near them). 


Sometimes you just want to have fun.Just live in that moment. You may do things you regret slightly, things that are out of character but it doesn't matter too much. They are unlikely to be remembered by anyone unless there is photographic evidence or it is truly terrible. And it is this threat of an image that makes me always err on the side of caution when there is a camera near me. Sometimes photographs contain the most amazing memories, but sometimes, just sometimes they can take the edge off what could have been a moment of complete inhibition. 

Thursday 26 August 2010

Where Did the Fairies Go?

They used to live in my garden

Shirt; Abercrombie&Fitch
Skirt; Warehouse
Sandals; Lotus
Belt; Vintage


Monday 23 August 2010

These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things

I firmly believe that the best way to get to know someone is through their opinions, how they react in unusual situations and their favourite objects. Unfortunately people rarely divulge their full opinions, especially to people they are unfamiliar with and it can be difficult to contrive unusual situations. Mercifully it is fairly simple to provide a list of favourite objects so here is mine.
  • My Doll’s House. I remember my father building it for me when I was about 6. he spent hours painstakingly measuring and glueing everything. My mother and I decorated it together. 
  • A hunting knife in a leather sheath that I think was my father’s. I sort of adopted it a few months ago. I love the weight of it and how beautiful the embossed leather stag is. 
  • My leather holdall; I take it everywhere. My grandma helped me persuade my mother to buy it for my 19th birthday present. I simply adore it. It makes me want to travel and go on long train journey adventures. 
  • A pendant that my grandma gave me when I was younger. It is a vibrant blue butterfly wing in a silver and glass case. She used to let me wear it when I visited her house and one day gave it to me. It was a gift that she received when she was a child and I love the idea that it’s so old.
  • The swan pendant that my Grandpa gave me. He chose it himself and I always have good luck when I wear it. 
  • My sketchbook contains some drawings I’m really rather proud of and is such a good way to relax.
  • My books. All of them. I wanted to choose one or two but I couldn’t, I love them all. Some I have good memories of reading, some have sentimental value and others are just damn good reads.
  • The fur coat that I bought in Hull on one of the hottest days earlier this summer. It’s gorgeous and I love to wonder about its previous owner. 
  • Each charm on all of my charm bracelets has its own special meaning. One is made entirely of charms that have a significance to me, another is a collection of entirely Orcadian charms. One charm (that is ironically bracelet-less) is a spider and was the first thing my Grannie ever bought in an antique shop. 
This list is actually a lot longer than I intended it to be. It was supposed to be eclectic, brief and…I’m not sure actually. 
Oh, and I love the sky. And the sea.