a photographer's life

I spent an hour or so wondering around an exhibition at the MCA Sydney the other day. While I'm a fan of photography, I must admit I was pretty surprised by how moving Annie Leibovitz's work is.

Annie doesn't make a distinction between her work and her life. Her photography is her life and while she's created many a famous creations featuring famous celebrities on front pages (such as Demi Moore on Vanity Fair), politicians and royalty; she also captured some of the most celebrated and devastating moments in life; life and death.

Famously on December 8, 1980, Leibovitz had a photo shoot with John Lennon for Rolling Stone, promising him he would make the cover. After she had initially tried to get a picture with just Lennon alone, which is what Rolling Stone wanted, Lennon insisted that both he and Yoko Ono be on the cover. Leibovitz re-created something like the kissing scene from the Double Fantasy album cover, a picture that she loved. John removed his clothes and curled up next to Yoko.

Leibovitz recalls, "What is interesting is she said she'd take her top off and I said, 'Leave everything on' — not really preconceiving the picture at all. Then he curled up next to her and it was very, very strong. You couldn't help but feel that she was cold and he looked like he was clinging on to her. I think it was amazing to look at the first Polaroid and they were both very excited. John said, 'You've captured our relationship exactly. Promise me it'll be on the cover.' I looked him in the eye and we shook on it."

Leibovitz was the last person to professionally photograph Lennon - he was shot and killed five hours later.

This exhibition really takes you on the fabulous photographic journey that Annie has had - which knows no barriers - naked so to speak. You meet her professional work, her family and her best friend 'companion' Susan Suntag (below) and learn that her work means much more than what meets the eye.

'twiggy' - when dreams & art combine.

Some things and people blow my mind in this world and I feel blessed to have the pleasure in meeting them, their work and inspiration. Whether they create, write, talk or think - I have such admiration for those who can articulate an idea and see it through to fruition no matter how bold or controversial with the adage 'If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it' (Einstein).

Meghan Byrne, known as Twiggy is one of those people. She's a Sydney based artist who creates a breadth of wonderful dreamlike images, using old traditional oil/acrylic painting techniques to create interesting colourful canvases. She doesn't conform and yet has such attention to detail and quality (I know for a fact that she makes her own canvases and sources the best and most premium quality oil paints for example) that shows how much respect she has for art and her work. The effect is one that reminds you to dream. To question. To open up somehow.

So I invested in a piece I couldn't resist.

Here are some other beauties.

bloom's taxonomy

Bloom's Taxonomy is a classification of learning objectives within education. The theory is based on the following "levels". Its an interesting concept if you consider how you may wish to communicate something based on what the expectation of response is.

Remember - Recalling the information

Understand - Explain the ideas and/or concepts

Apply - Using the newly acquired knowledge in another familiar situation

Analyse - Comparing and differentiating between constituent parts.

Evaluate - Justifying a decision or course of action

Create - Generating new new ways of creating products, ideas or ways of viewing things

Or better yet, here it is according to Pirates of the Caribbean:

being a princess

"Such a princess" - a term we throw around in admiration and abhorrence - but what does it actually mean?

Well, I thought I'd take the liberty to define, in my mind, what equates to "princess-ness". A concept sometimes easily misconstrued to having associations with regal and blue blood qualities. I can understand the confusion and hence, why I've broken the term "Such a princess" in to 3 distinct pillars.

1. Spoiled & over indulged.

I'm talking ponies, cake, fairies, shopping chauffeurs and champaign. This goes well beyond wanting nice things. This is expecting that if I don't get a Tiffany bracelet/Gucci dress/a puppy for my birthday - I will not forgive you. Ever. Basically the provision of excessive material gifts.

Some great examples (thanks to tips from fellow co-workers): Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Mariah Carey.

2. Self-righteous indignation.

Essentially being filled with or showing conviction of being morally superior, or more righteous than others, smugly virtuous. "Everyone listen to me" syndrome.

Perhaps in line with: Bono, Naomi Campbell or Madonna (for the record I have nothing against these talented celebrities, except perhaps that they're talented).

3. Over obsession with beauty & general vanity.

This is where it goes as far as plastic surgery. Or bags of make up, nail varnish, pamper kits. Mirrors everywhere even transported with you in your designer handbag. Fake tan. Air brushed photographs. Looking exceptional - all of the time. Imagine going for runs with make up on.

Of all the elements that create your princess, this is the hardest to maintain, I mean who can look really, really, really good looking all of the time?! Not to mention expense. Its not cheap to look so hot... without aging, putting on weight, bags under the eyes, frizzy hair... etc. Phew!

And so here you have the facets to your oh so typical modern day princess. If you meet someone, who ticks all the boxes, call them "such a princess" before giving them a great big hug.

That concludes my very intellectually stimulating cultural assessment. With that I will leave you with my favourite epitome of your perfect princess.

Next up: being a hipster.

IKEA's charming cook book

Very cool idea. Owning the media that demonstrates the message. In a very stunning act of brand communication Swedish furniture giant created a very slick cook book called 'Hembakat Ar Bast' - translating to 'Homemade is Best'.

A gorgeous collaboration which has taken a step away from the heavily styled food shots (you know the one's that your food never ends up looking like) to a design approach, featuring stunning, minimalistic photography where the ingredients and finished products become art pieces themselves. It gives you an appreciation of process. Here are the pieces, bring them together, there is the remarkable result. Much like building a chest of drawers.

Pretty original. Making me hungry.

Mandelmusslor (almond shells) - Ingredients

Mandelmusslor (almond shells)

Fina Kanelbullar (cinnamon buns) - ingredients

Fina Kanelbullar (cinnamon buns)

Schwarzaldtarta (black forest cake) - ingredients

Schwarzaldtarta (black forest cake)

being a misfit

I have just finished reading a great book called "Thinque Funky" by a funkadelic Swede named Anders Sorman-Nilsson, a futurist, a trend spotter and inspiring speaker. His book asks us to look and prepare for the future, with an understanding of what is needed to progress to the next chapter. The world of web 3.0, digilogue technology, androgynous culture and creative commons.

At the TEDx talk on Friday, Anders presented his perspective on the minds we need to evangelise this movement; the misfits. The misfits who are willing to push new thinking, who drive positive change, forward-looking innovation, and solve problems creatively, and that without them your organisation really cannot compete.

Obviously as a misfit myself, I am 100% on board, but despite my bias I welcome you to take a look for yourself at his blog and appreciate the below ;)