Happy Accidents.

Wanna go the exhibition in the KK Outlet in Hoxton Square. On til the 26th Feb, so I won't get to. Baaaaah.
http://www.mattstuart.com/

JSA.

Although a friend of a friend, I'm not sure how I found this site. I can only think of a click, click, click from Facebook, to blog to blog to website. You know how it goes. Anyway, I like his stuff. It's all quite cheeky yet taken very sympathetically and sensitively to the subject matter.

http://www.jonstanleyaustin.com/

Exactitudes.

Thanks to a comment on an earlier item of mine from someone on the Culture Show (?!), I now know who the artists/photographers in question are! Ari Versluis and Ellie Uyttenbroek are responsible for the documentation of the various fashion tribes throughout the world's major cities from 1994 - 2008. They have compiled the images in a book called "Exactitudes". I love the outcomes when all images are tiled together.

The website looks pretty cool too.

www.exactitudes.com

Below - one of their earlier documentations in 2004

American Apparel Ads.

I love the brazen sexuality in these ads. Sex really does sell - I have enough of their "apparel" anyway. With highly sexed poses and a tongue in cheek manner, they don't air brush their model's lumps and bumps - they stick two fingers up to convention.

Martin Parr - Last Resort.

Parr's subjects were the people and their "seaside town" of New Brighton, on the Wirral, which he later compiled in a book entitled, "Last Resort" (speaking critically of the people and the resort). Liverpool and its surrounding area had a tough time of it in the 80s and while there was this hugely deprived local society, New Brighton was somewhere close and cheap for a "fun family day out".

I personally know that many of my childhood wet weekends were spent at this local seaside town, wrapped up in a miniature shell suit, screaming on the waltzers, crabbing in the cold, buying fake "fags" and poos from the joke shop, and eating chips literally swimming in vinegar. And whilst they are some of my fondest memories, I can see how those happy days could be subject to ridicule. And it was even worse in the 80s. I don't reject Martin Parr's depiction of the town, but welcome it with warm arms, as I think New Brighton's personality is beautifully portrayed in his series: Sure! it's cheap, tacky and brash  - but it is all part of its charm. I'm proud of those days, and though Parr may be critisising my mini Blackpool (as if that isn't bad enough!), I think he documents it in a way where I can look back with sincere affection.

Steve Schofield.

I found this guy by accident, I was looking for something else. However I found some photos of come interest to me. There are two series of his photographs ('Dancers', 'Land Of The Free') which I think are really very curious - and that's exactly why I like them. And though I know it's the subjects in the photographs which really make it for me, they are so very aptly shot. He captures the personality of the people, their "Britishness" (if you know what I mean?) and their habitats very nicely indeed.

www.steveschofield.co.uk

Creamfields 07.

These are just... magnificent, striking, and... breathtaking images for Creamfields 07. (It certainly doesn't represent my time there one bit - I have vague memories of Stella Artois and queues for the free bus at 5am). But still, just opulent, gorgeous images. I love them. They really capture the unique euphoria you can experience at a festival (not always aided by narcotics, kids). I just love them!

Tim Walker.

I went to Turkey in May, and on my return was facing having to pay about £50 for excess weight on my suitcase and my hand luggage. So, first to go were the toiletries, then I put on tens of items of clothing, jewellery and accessories. Donned in every colour of the rainbow, I then contemplated getting rid of my Vogue (they weigh about the same as me, but it is blasphemy to throw a copy away). So I tore out my favourite pages to take with me - an article about Tim Walker. I love his fantastical view on life, photography, and fashion. He says in the interview, "Fashion allows fantasy, and I'm a fantasist. I love beautiful clothes - but I couldn't give a monkey's what's on the catwalks". His photography is just charming and so beautifully shot - I'm so very jealous of all those who got to see his exhibition in London recently (it's reet grim up north).