Black and White Human Form

 

The Space Between Us

"Art is a step away from what is obvious and well-kown, toward what is arcane and concealed."

-Kahlil Gibran

I've been wanting to start a black and white human form photography collection.  I have always liked the forms a good close up can produce in the human body. I had this picture post produced in a totally different way.  After much thought, I decided to leave it as simple as I could, and it turned out much better.

It takes a subtle yet bold approach to attempt to produce a good black and white photo.  Let's see how this experiment turns out.

Researching the Human Body

Beautiful human body photography done in a subtle and personal way...

Dans Serpentine: Beautiful Vintage Visuals

I stumbled upon this magnificent short, vintage French film and just fell in love with it.

After much research I finally understood the origin.  It is dated back to 1899 and it was shot by the Lumiere Brothers, the pioneers and creators of cinematography as we pretty much know it today.  Back in the time there was no color yet available for film, and it is said that the colors were added by hand, frame by frame.  It must have been an amazing experience to watch such visuals for the very first time, when it was first released.

The film was inspired by the work or Loie Fuller, an American dancer who made it big in France with her unusual artistry.  Fuller became at the time the image of the Art Nouveau movement.  The Lumiere Brothers heard about her art, and used it as a means to portray the wonders of cinematography.  The dancer in the film is not Fuller, though.

You can read more about all of this in Wikipedia here.

Researching Hands

Doing a little research on hand photography.  Here is a really interesting selection from Flickr.  The first hand is mine, by the way :-)

Life is like Soap

This is something I had written some time ago.  I thought it was appropriate for this week's Etsy feature...

I have come to the conclusion that life is like soap.

Every single decision counts. The ingredients, the stuff its made of, is critically important. Extra care must be exercised when deciding what stays and what goes. Career choices, partnerships, living arrangements, likes, dislikes.... it all winds up in the enormous pot that is your heart, waiting to be mixed.  If, for some reason, we rush into this selection, the consistency of the mixture does't flow. Is not right. But in reality, the true test of the ingredients comes with the lye.

The lye's job is to break down the ingredients. It melts them and transforms them into a completely new and unique element. It bounds the ingredients to such degree, that they no longer represent their original state. And so it is with life too. As we grow older, relationships bound us, tide us, and leave profound marks. When we get closer to the heat of tests, our souls transform into something we didn't know we were. And all we are left with is patience. Waiting. Letting things settle, and hope that the soap sets.

It is at this point when we decide if the choices were correct. If we got it right in the first try, or if we need to make adjustments. Go back to the ingredients and shuffle things one more time, and try again. This is the true craft of soapmaking. And I believe it is a craft that lasts a lifetime.

We will end up with a soap in our hands. We will enter our own space, in the bath, our own quiet time, and we will try the soap. It is there, you alone with the soap, where you will enjoy the results and smile. In the end, the smile is what matters. The true satisfaction of a well lived life accompanied by the small luxury of a good handmade soap.

Limoncello and Tuscan Rosemary Handmade soap, by TallulahasSoap

Turquoise Stone Glycerin Soap, by TwinDreamCreations

Mmm so sexy! Luxury Japanese Black Kimono, by TokyoFactory

Great idea for party favors-Bridal Shower listing, by DirtyDeedsSoaps

I have actually bought this seller's soaps before... Perfect Rose Vegan, by DeShawnMarie

Simply Lavender Soap, by cocoandlolabathbody

Black Raspberry and Vanilla Goat's Milk Soap, by KcSoapsnMore

For me, handmade soaps are small luxuries that anyone can afford.  Remember to follow the link below the photos and visit these wonderful seller's shops for more information.