Art Attack: Besties As Models

Procrastination ain't such a bad thing when you're busy discovering gems like I just did! While in one of my dontwannawork moods, I happened upon the work of up-and-coming photographer, Nicole Lesser. She works with photo gods like Ryan NcGinley and is currently getting her BFA at the New School, but as if that weren't enough... her photos already look like those of a seasoned photographer. What I especially like about Nicole's work is that it seems to have the same raison d'etre as the blog's! Nicole's work is based upon her relationships with her subjects, who are all her friends. Gee wizzz...

Check out more of Nicole's work at http://nicolelesser.com/

Two Wrongs That Make a Right

Russian Vogue's recent boob-tastic accessories shoot featuring Dree Hemingway in all her glory combines the two things that usually irk me the most: an it-girl by association and nudity just because. Why then, am I posting about it? Because these photos are also just beyond beyond beyond stunning, captivating, and downright magnificent. I've really never given Dree much due for being anything other than an old-moneyed rich girl, but these shots have got me changing my tune. I have never seen this season's lush, dark lip appear so powerful as on her pale and frail complexion. Nor have I seen a skinny chick with tiny tatas look so un-contrived. Feel like getting shitfaced in Key West or starring in a Woody Allen film? You go, 4th generation Hemingway. You go.

Reading Rainbow: Lillian Bassman Women

Not to take away from the death of the great Irving Penn, who died earlier this week at the age of 92, but I'd just like to obsess about the great (and still kickin' at 92 herself!) Lillian Bassman for a moment. The lovely folks at Abrams Books sent me their just-released retrospective of her work (thank you, thank you!!!!) and the massive 14x11 240 page book almost seems like too modest of a forum to reacquaint me with her ultra-glam ultra-captivating photographs.

One of the only female photographers of her time, Bassman was of the lucky few to be nurtured under Alexey Brodovitch (along with her longtime love and husband of 74 years, Paul Himmel). It was while working under the famed art director at Harper's Bazaar that Bassman started to experiment with screwing around in the darkroom, developing tricks to alter images using objects as simple as tissue paper and spatulas. "I was interested in creating a new kind of vision aside from what the camera saw," she once said.

Bassman photographed some of the most beautiful and famous glamazons of her era, including Dovima, Suzy Parker and Jean Shrimpton, but her ability to manipulate and blur beautiful faces like theirs is what transforms her work into art. Bassman may have come to age at a time when photography and art were not exactly simpatico, but it's safe to say that her work transcends both labels. What it is, is pure genius.

I Want To Live Here!

On a super random note, I just saw Sophomore's Fall '09 lookbook and rather than noticing the clothes or the absence of The Virgins' Don Cummings...I couldn't help but dieeeee over the shoot's setting! Where the eff is that place and why can't I live there forever and ever?

Art Attack: Grey Vision

Incidentally, this weekend was our first reunion in three months! Robin, along our other great friends Sam and Lauren, trekked across the border to visit my hometown digs in Toronto. What they found, however, was that my childhood bedroom was the most inticing landmark of all.

Sam, who's father was once a photojournalist for the Times and Newsweek, used this weekend to experiment with black and white photography.

I daresay the results don't look like those of a first-timer...