Love at first sight : Lykke Li's new video clip

It took me more than a year to come across this stunning video but wow, what an effect it got on me !

Made by Swedish director Tarik Saleh, it is the quintessence of Lykke Li's intense song I Follow Rivers. 

It all started when I got really really annoyed at the radio version we are served with, with Irish radio stations, the "magician mix"...I hate it, I think it destroys the beautiful depth of the song. In photographic terms, it's as if a retoucher went on and worked on a stunning picture that had a huge tonal range, vibrant colours, and just pushed the levels up, the contrast flat and added a 10% grey fill on top of the picture. 

Went on to Youtube, check if I had dreamt another - lovely- version out of this radio version, discovered an interesting cover from Belgian band Triggerfinger along the way (oh this Ruben is so sexyyy), except they really need to get interesting videos going to match with their cool band pics. Never tried a music video before but I sure would give it a shot with them !

I have to say what Saleh came up with, in terms of aesthetics and storytelling is just unique and ... actually quite powerful, it just talks to you, regardless of what your own story is. It's just as raw, pure but not a pretty pure, a rough, brutal pure and it really feels as if he successfully managed to turn Lykke Li's words into a whole visual universe, a story with just as many connotations as her text. There's also something equally intriguing, mysterious about his vision, that I feel translates quite well her odd sounding words... it's like nothing quite make sense but our heart and soul get it anyway. Favorite moment : just past the 2nd minute : beautiful close up of her face finally revealed (I mean, she's pretty, right ? it was a long wait, 2 minutes, to see her face !) and then oh so stunning scene of her long black skirt and her long black scarf and her long black sleeves floating in the air as she starts running with thick high boots against the snow backdrop... and her gloved hands desperately trying to reach out to the man she chases...wow...

Fuschia rock chick !

My beloved Vegas just decided to sit on my laps as I was about to edit this week's shoot with Justyna and looked at me as if to say "aren't you forgetting something?" Well yes, my 2 hands need to be solely focused on giving you the best head massage a cat ever had indeed, so long graphic pen and keyboard shortcuts ! This time, Vegas meant that I actually forgot to put the other shots we took last week, just before the sun blasted on the lane. I loved Miss Style Skin's outfit and she was pretty brave to pose in front of so many onlookers !

Glizzy Style Skin

Eehemm when I chose the back alley of Christchurch for the latest shoot of sublime Style Skin, I really hadn't made my homework...it was just the right time and place for tourists and Dubliners to get out and enjoy the Dublin Culture Night ! Doh !
Ah well, not too worry, show-stopper Justyna pulled it off, and gave the illusion that she was in another time zone than everyone around her !
Have a look at her blog for details on what she was wearing.

Aisling & Dave's wedding

Fantastic PR & wedding photographer Andres Poveda let me assist him on a stunning wedding last Saturday. We used to work together when I was still in PR photography and while I've always been impressed with how he managed to make great pictures out of anything for newspapers, I was yet to see this magic operate on someone's wedding day. I learnt a lot from him, and mostly how experience matters, how it is reassuring to the bride and groom and how important it is for them to show that you very much care about every second of that day. I hope to get this opportunity to follow him soon, what a thorough pro !

We got a real treat with the weather, marvellous all day long. And thank goodness  because despite this the church was pretty dark, but that's only the photographer's concern ! 

After a lovely pick-nick in St Stephens Green park where dozens of American (and European) tourists gave their best wishes to the bride and groom one after the other, the party were then spoilt at the Cliff House. I am looking forward to dining there one day, the staff were amazing, the room, dressed in ray of sunshine and all the tasteful details of decoration, put together by the bride, was only making this day even more heavenly, not to mention the divine smells coming out of the kitchen !

Here's my little story of this marvellous day.

Style Skin gets ready for winter...

Justyna from Style Skin is just not done surprising me with her outfits ! I am told French people are conservative in their fashion style. I gracefully accept that as a fact, while she brought fiercely colourful leggings to the studio, I couldn't resist bringing my own opinion on the table !
Here are the details of what she was wearing :
http://style-skin.com/2012/09/18/rainbow-winters/

Irish craft

Every year  we get hundreds of products of all sorts of shapes and styles for the Craft Council of Ireland / Showcase catalogue...I just love the beautiful colours and textures that we get from these pieces of art.
Here are just a few examples ... Pottery by Colm De Ris and glass work by Tipperary Crystal.

Poncho & sparkles...Part 2 of the Style Skin Shoot

Justyna shown me her unique and eclectic style with a warmer and equally more playful outfit that just featured in her blog.
I loved playing with the shapes and the different textures that she was wearing...We ll meet again for another interesting collaboration !

Part 1 of StyleSkin shoot

About 2 years ago I had done a series of portraits of this young lady called Justyna and we had a lot of fun, she is a creative woman and had lots of ideas on the day. We shot it on Leeson Street and at the side of Stephens Green.

Both now more mature of 2 years, and still as equally playful, we just did a shoot in studio. Part 1 revealed here. Her blog is only 6 months old, quite impressed at what she achieved in this length of time on her own !