Showing posts with label Odd Bits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Odd Bits. Show all posts

Caffeine & Umbrella's....The Grant Barnett shoot....

There is something about driving through London at 5.45am in the morning that although insanely early, is also somewhat invigorating.  Our early start was to be blamed on the needs of a commercial fashion shoot, a team of 9 arriving at The Rag Factory in Brick Lane at 7am to dance, prance and generally get out and about with designer Brolli's.

Caffeine was in high demand and after some excellent work from the team, a few 'is that rain' moments and  some rush changes in the back of taxi's we finished tired but happy...oh and all with a small crush on a certain pink, punched lace umbrella.





I chose these images to post as these are the ones I am likely to put in my portfolio, they are the one's either often passed off as 'mistakes' or images that for some reason, speak to me! Plus a little behind the scenes at the Rag Factory - with thanks to: The Rag Factory, Tim, Tom, Ilona from IE Makeup, Rachel West Wardrobe stylist, Jo from Nicholas Hair and fantastic models Emily and Louise. 

Final images approved and passed to campaign to be posted soon...watch this space!


Say "Hi"....the Loreal crew...


Lucy, Edie, Julia these are your questions....are you ready...
L - Like or dislike Marmite?
O - Oh really...tell us something you you which you haven't already told someone else, or wish you hadn't!
R - Recommend a product in your profession
E - Early rise and early to bed or late riser and late to bed?
A - Alexander McQueen...comments please?
L - Last words?


Julia - The hair Stylist
L - Dislike big time!
O - I'm often a but blunt, might be my german nature and then I wish I wouldn't have said things the way in which I did!
R - I couldn't live without beach-spray or surf-spray from Trevor Sorbie.  Oh or Bumble and Bumble
E  - Up early and Late to bed!  Life is too short.
A - What a tragedy, a big talent and inspiration for every artist.
L - "Enjoy the beauty of life, whatever!"

Edie - The Model
L - I don't like I LOVE!
O - I have a phobia of things being thrown around me....tip, NEVER tell that to a group of boys as things will get pelted at you!
R - Magnifeyes mascara, the best.
E - Late to bed most nights therefore late awake most mornings
A - Anyone unique, were not ALL sheep!
L - "I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair."

Lucy - The Make Up Artist
L - Neither, I have never tried it...I heard it sucks though!
O - I have never told anyone that I am scared of failure.
R - I recommend Illamasqua Eyebrow cake in 'Thunder' because I can't live without my eyebrows!
E - Late riser and late to bed, my schedule is far too mental to have a normal body clock.
A - A hugh force of inspiration in fashion, he always flew the flag of Britain with his designs and passion.
L - "Frankly me dear I don't give a damn."


Model Look Books...


Some new pics of some wonderful Models!
Twon Allen / Elle Colman


Ooops.....sore feet & raging teens....

I know...i missed the Friday Foto tip, and i was doing so well, two whole weeks in a row! The tip will be coming later though, so a delayed Foto tip. If you want to check it out it'll be posted at some point after 7pm and will be about the liquify tool in Photoshop.

For now I stepped out of my comfort zone last night and braved The Underworld in Camden. My cousin is part of a band called Diminished Fifth which are a heavy metal group complete with tattoos, piercing and head banging and yes of course, screaming rage into the mic. So off I went to offer my support of the family kind and had an ace time!! I personally wouldn't know good Death Metal from bad but it sounded great and technically it was brilliant I was also impressed that there seemed to be a melody rather than JUST shouting profanities at people. I was slightly disappointed that you couldn't dance to the music but after realizing that no one danced just tapped their feet and bobbed their head I realized I wasn't going to be doing any bum shaking to Prodigy or DJ Hype. We didn't stay for the whole evening so I wander if it was left with people crowd surfing and extending the head bop to a whole body bang?

Gig was followed by a few bevs and food so all in all a good evening, bar the sore feet from my new shoes. But hey, I've got to moan about something.


"i want to be.....a shiny pound coin"

Metallics in fashion were something I thought strictly stayed within the lines of jewelry but as we have experienced over the past few months and as seen on the catwalks, this is not the case.  I have nothing against a bit of high shine but metallic look leggings, vest tops, skirts, scarves and shoes - its just a bit much.  Where do you stop?!

Yes, it certainly is a show stopping statement & the faint hearted should steer clear.  This is fashion liberation at its best and I personally think is up there with tartan, midi skirts, crop tops and jelly shoes.

Fashion is a statement about who we are & if you want to fall into the trap of consumerism, not just for us but where we are within society and possibly where we want to be in the future......does this mean we all want to walk around looking like pound coins or huge ten pence pieces?!  Wow, maybe the credit crunch really has hit home, we now feel the need to dress like money.

The secret Diary of Damien Hirst.....


(Pic courtesy of toonpool.com)

6am: Aaaaahhhh, soft cuddly toys, fur throw and silk sheets; this is the way to wake up every morning.
6.10am: Well I gotta eat so I am feeling meat, yup meat.  Think I'll take a wonder out to the deer fridge and pick myself a beauty.  Should go down very well with an egg & some pepper.
8am: Time to get the brain going, not feeling the cows heads today so I'll give nana a call.  The cross stitch is going really well so maybe I could have a go at making that 'Cat in a vase' image we so loved.
12pm: My fingers are killing me, definitely take Nana's advise in the future and get myself a thimble.  
1.30pm: '.....come and enjoy tea & coffee surrounded by friends at the Church's annual Mothers Union meeting.'  Better grab my coat, oooo mustn't forget that Pirex dish for Maud. 
4pm: Time for a spot of hunting, where are those plus fours.  Arnold, grab me the bucket I have mushrooms and buttercups to find.
6pm: Exhausted, however dinner tonight is with David Bailey, Turner and good ole Viv Westwood.  Thinking we might crack open a bottle of red and play some drinking games.  Yes, we can have the new dare as eating some of that meat out of the deer fridge raw.  Viv got the eye last time, hilarious.
2am: Ah the smell of lavender and lots of warm bubbles, bath then bed for sure.

D x

Too may Krispy Kream's & some disinfectant.....


I can confirm a few things today.

1) I am motivated by other people and their love of photography.  Following a monthly meeting with some other photographers there was too much wine (them not me!) and all of us were definitely motivated, some more than others.
2) If photography fails I could become a burglar.  Really people, there is a lot of shite left lying around which can be used for 'prying open' and that little window you didn't think you could fit through......well just try.  (Ok before I start a debate or break some health and safety rule, I am thinking you wont be fitting through that window if you weigh like 25 stone, it just ain't gonna happen.  Sit yourself down and have another Krispy Kream)
3) I am not a cleaner for a reason.  Being a mum and clearing up poo - wow scary stuff.  Now dog plus poo, really runny diarrhea poo, words fail me and bleach seemed to as well. Yup, I am not a cleaner.

C x

Where have all the posts gone.....

(Ooooold skool pics!)

Well it has been a while...too long in fact.   There I was today raving on about how I loved to blog and thought that facebook, blogging and twitter was a really important part of my business and I am rejecting them!!  Boo hiss to me.  

Lots of little bits to catch up on I suppose.......First things first PR shoot went ok and even though it was food photography which tends to be a bit yawn friendly it was actually a good shoot and I was relatively pleased with the images.  Look out for the pics in magazines such as Sunday Telegraph supplement, Women's Own and some others I am not sure of the name of, but generally that kind of market and where recipe features may appear!  

On the more exciting or rather poop my pants front today a friend (fellow photographer as well) went into our old Uni and had a chat to some lively students about how we had found the transition from baked bean eating twenty something to a baked bean eating twenty something and a bit older also calling themselves a professional photographer.  It was really interesting actually to hear the types of questions being asked and questions I have myself all the time.  It also made me think about my student life and how I have started.  Not sure if you guys are aware of where I have come from (no not the bird and the bee's edition) but thinking a history lesson over the next couple of days may be in order.  I will post random facts about my student and 'becoming professional' life before I started this dear blog and it was all here for you to read at your own leisure.  Photography at Uni was my way of expressing a lot of emotion I was feeling then and things that have impacted heavily on my future and I still think about now so be interesting to see where that gets us.

Oh, noticed the sponsor bar at the top of the page?!  YES crazy me is doing a 120ft abseil down the side of an office block (in Reading - oh the views!) to raise money for charity.  All the cash goes to British Red Cross and will supply more ambulances for the South so get donating and allowing those lovely docs and nurses to treat us quicker.

More interesting pic, fashion and 'me me me updates to follow.... this weekend I am making an effort to blog every day/night!  (Not sure how the gentleman I am seeing at the weekend will feel about that but he has been pre-warned about my love affair with my laptop so time to test those waters.)

Night crazy kids x

DM's, Care Bears and Hypercolour handprints....


Oh, sitting back, sipping my martini, smoking my vogue cigarettes and reminiscing, the "good ole days" I hear myself mutter.  

So without getting too carried away and aging myself another 40 years I shall introduce you to exactly that, the days of old.  

I grew up in the 80's and 90's and was having an excited conversation the other day with a friend about those colour changing t-shirts you used to be able to get.  I had a collection I must admit and loved my pink or purple tie dyed version.  Of course, there were many worn in school and inappropriate hand prints all over the place but they were awesome!  So awesome they seem to have made a slight come back (well OK not really cos I haven't seen any but hey give me a chance here) with American Apparel and Brooklyn Royalty introducing them to the catwalk earlier this year.  Those crazy Americans.

I also remember the mood changing rings or jewelry, the Leg warmers, the Care Bears and Pob - what happened to him!?

However after this hyperactive and animated chin wag I decided to look back at some of the other things we all knew and loved from the 80's and 90's......check it out & start boasting again about how many lace holes you had in your DM's.  Wicked.

 


Shiny foil wrappers and chocolate bunnies....


Easter weekend provides us with plenty of time to do a variety of things, weather it be spending time with the family, chilling out & indulging in 10 pounds of chocolate, working, visiting some sites or running round the garden looking for shiny foil wrappers.  It certainly is nice to have a couple of extra days where you can relax without feeling guilty!  With an abundance of things to do I thought I would leave you with an assortment of events, ideas and tips and tricks.....

Working? Your CS3 tip......
Use the liquify on a large brush & a softness of around 16 to gently tuck in arms and chins.  Use the smaller brush to smooth down the areas.
Use the history brush on 'screen' to lighten images and 'multiply' to darken images.  A lot more effective than the dodge or burn tool and far more controllable.
Rather than turning your images black and white using the black and white option, just desaturate.  The tones are far more vibrant and all those colour changes and curves, levels etc can be done first to maintain control.

Entertainment or going out?  Some things to do.....
Fashion: The Frock Exchange @ The Vibe Bar in Brick Lane - Sunday.  In aid of Breast Cancer and sponsored by Fat Talent.
Art: Dan Graham @ the Lisson Gallery, Bell St London.
TV: Channel 4, 9pm - Come Dine With Me.  (I know, I know, I love this program!)
Music: Spring Bling Hip-Life n Afro Beats Edition, Aristo Wine Bar, Streatham London.  10pm -4am. 

Needing Chocolate? Pay these a visit....
Easter Egg Hunt @ Stowe Landscape Gardens, Buckinghamshire.  13th April 10am - 4pm
Rocky Road Easter Egg - yes please!! Visit http://www.hotelchocolat.co.uk/?src=cj&cid=QVQBWI9NHSYHXF241TCLDERJNQVQEE2P
Writing a letter, want to print it in chocolate!! http://deco.uk.com/chocolate/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=9

Have fun ladies and Gents!

Fan pages & Facebook....


Getting to grips with the new Facebook has been an interesting and somewhat frustrating experience but I now have a FB Fan page and would love as many of you to join as possible.  Like the blog you are subjected to random ramblings but you are also benefitting from networking opportunities, tips and tricks, interviews with other photographers and industry buffs, sneak previews of imagery and also exclusive discounts!  I have a 'gift' in the pipeline actually which I am hoping will encourage some support from good people like yourselves.

Anyway, if you would like to be a fan or just have a nosey then please take a look @

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carli-Art/155640470054?ref=nf

Handbag Heaven.....





So in a bid to break up my day of marketing & finances (mahusive yawn!) I went on a mission looking for Handbags.....of course all of which I have no chance of purchasing as they are somewhere 200 miles away from my budget.  Nice to internet window shop though and here they are all lovely and shiny for you to ogle at too!  Enjoy.

(Details of all of these lovely handbags can be found on www.stylefinder.com)

Why Friday Nights are better spent out.....


What is this?! 

I am currently watching (and why I don't know) some odd film on TV which has sucked mayonnaise out of an overweight female to make her oh so 'thin and gorgeous' in a pimp my ride style, called a small black guy 'Hitch' who then gets her together with some ginger/blonde actor attempting to be like Jim Carey.  They seem to be falling in love and I suppose, it'll be all about he prefers her real and dare I say it 'Fat' rather than stereotypically slim.  This film seems be attempting a scream style rip off and copying bits of other movies we all know and well, i wont say love.

Oh my god, now there is a cat having a serious case of the runs and actually sat on the toilet.    

Odd, really odd.

Gossip Central......



Gossip....as much as we all try to admit we aren't really gossip kings or queens or we don't get involved in that sort of thing, we have all leant a little closer to get a better listen, raised an eyebrow at the the latest "he did what" comment & sadly, all picked up a copy of Hello, Now or one of the many other hot goss mags.  

I have heard a lot of gossip this week about various office flings, white bottoms, boob exposure, Marriage break up, Sex adventures & general people stuff.  This got me on the look out for more and this is what I have found...........

  • Former 'Grey's Anatomy' Actor Jeffery D Morgan recently discovered that he has a 4 year old son with Sherrie Rose, actress and producer.  
  • Gwyneth Paltrow is said to be designing a 70's inspired clothing range, teaming up with French label ZOEtee and launching next week.
  • Alternative Theatre Company Punch Drunk have announced dates for a new show throughout June and early July
  • Andy Warhol is a computer geek http://new-art.blogspot.com/2009/03/andy-warhol-computer-geek.html
  • Man wakes up in Cheyenne to find a passed out teenager on his sofa, trousers and pants round his ankles and rather a large wet patch!! They guy had wondered in to the strangers home through an unlocked door & was clearly rather pi**ed!
  • Oxford Street is to be pedestrianized over bank holiday weekend to boost visitors to the area and encourage spending!
  • The opening of the Chloe store in LA is delayed again due to Health and Safety concerns.  It is hoped to open on Saturday should all get the go ahead.  Get a sneak preview of the new collection @ http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/show.aspx/full-length-photos/id,7669

Knowing me knowing you...






The Fat Mix evening promised good music and a vibe to part to, well it did just that! Although there to take pictures I was also in a social mood & thought a bit of getting to know your peers and so forth was in order.  Plus I was enjoying my stripy blue top (straight from my sis's wardrobe!!) and thought it deserved a shimmy on the dance-floor.

The evening saw DJ Chef (Lets Move Forward Productions) VS Run DJ's, both giving excellent performances and ensuring there was some booty shaking and foot tapping on the dance floor.  
The event was @ The Blag Club in London, Russell Gardens and although not the best sound system in the world it was a quirky setting which apart from the issues I had with the sheer amount of red in the images, was an interesting venue to get some images.  It was a Asian style venue with lots of big comfy seating, incense and real thick wooden tables.  The highlight of the evening I have to say was the live percussion, the bongo dude and the saxophonist.  Both excellent performers and really added a special touch to the evening.   One other thing I saw and like lots, was the gold dress being sported by a lovely lady called Vicky, suited her down to the ground & teamed with some wet look leggings and nice shoes, the gal pulled off the bling dress with pure style!!

See the pics @ www.carli-art.co.uk/login - FATMIXRUN gallery.


Mix it up a little, Fat Style......


Tonight Carli-Art (ie Me!) will be @ the oh so swanky Blag Club in Russell Gardens in London.  The Fat Mix are putting on a club night which not only offers a good mix of funky house, hip hop, dance and live percussion beats but also is a relaxed environment to network in and get to meet a whole bunch of hand picked creatives from various practices!

This is a guest list only event and places are going fast so if you want to join us then get your dancing shoes on, grab your business cards and email info@fattalent.com

See you there! x

Fear, Goals, Money & Marketing....


The last couple of days I have spent time in fear, actual fear.  Why you ask, because money is tight and I am honestly wondering if I will be able to survive this year.  I know I should keep going and nothing gets results like being a little scared.  I am pushing my marketing to the limit and investing a lot of time in trying to contact new and existing clients.  One of the things I have also decided to embark on is a monthly newsletter.  This will go to the 'artsy' clients and the corproate clients so coming up with something that fulfills all those needs was a toughey but hopefully....I have managed to achieve it!  It launches on the 28th so naturally darlings...you will have the first peak of it!  

So with the corporate side covered just still very much in progress it is onwards and upwards with the fashion side of things.  

A gallery in Denmark has expressed interest in some of my images, I am in talks with Monica Din n AKA Chocolcate Blonde about an up and coming shoot which will fuse in a giant messy train crash music, fashion and her wild personality and in the next couple of weeks I am meeting the editor of Blah Blah magazine.  This magazine is Reading born and bred and I am very excited, I hope that we get on, I don't end up spilling my classic Earl Grey or Mocha Latte over the poor man and that he finds my ramblings and work interesting enough so that I can somehow get involved.

So this post has turned into another random assortment of thoughts but I am trying to spread the love at the moment.  Encourage people to get together as a community and support small business' and each other in these tough times.  Community and support of each other I think is the winner here and I for sure will be using this as my marketing tool!

Good luck to you all I say and if I can possibly make any recommendations then the below websites / tips may be useful:

- Website Evaluation.  Does yours offer your clients what it should?  Does it sell your services or products?  
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2007/10/how-to-create-1.html  (I have recommended Seth's Blog before, it is a great place to stop)
- Cold Calling and getting it right:
http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/resources/marketing/customer-service-acquisition/7-tips-for-turning-cold-calls-into-hot-leads.aspx#tipsforturningcoldcallsintohotleads
- Excellent Small Business support, literally everything is here!
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk

To be noted.....


1) I might just possibly be able to squeeze in some kind of a social life as well as run my own business.
2) My financial planning definitely needs to get better
3) The world is fashion crazy at the moment & I am jealous I am not at New York Fashion week trying to invade the back stage area or at least get the telephoto lens in there
4) Networking is great, it really is great. 
5) Re point above, its also hard work.  Talk about regular updating
6) Lack of Money = Even bigger yearning for clothes
7) Too many Haribo tend to make you feel a little sick for at least 24 hours
8) Keep it local
9) Reading Town Centre really, really, really does not have a decent selection of bars
10) Stiletto heels and driving are a bad combination if you actually want to be able to drive to work without an over enthusiastic OAP waving their fist at you.

Dusting off the old files....