American Girl In Italy

Shot in 1951 this series by Ruth Orkin was an attempt to show what it was really like for a girl traveling alone. It's a striking set of photographs that ranges from funny to disturbing.

by samuel christopher

A Great Adventure Or Nothing

These photographs by Natalie Kucken really make me feel like going on a grand adventure. I don't know if they're run to something, from something, or dancing around the flames like banshees (I hope it's the last), but it certainly makes for some magical images.

Though They Never Equal Stars In Size

Did you know fireflies communicate with each other through flashes? Sort of like Morse code. It's used primarily for mating, but some females will imitated another genus of firefly to attract males from the wrong genus for mating. Then when the male approaches she will devour him. Still, aren't these long exposure photographs of fireflies lovely?

The Girl With Seven Horses

"Once upon a time there was a girl who had 7 invisible horses. People thought she was crazy and that she in fact had 7 imaginary horses, but this was not the case. When autumn came the girl spent a whole day washing all her clothes. She hung them on a string in her garden to let the gentle autumn sun dry them. Out of nowhere, a terrible storm came and its fiercefull winds grabbed a hold of all her clothes and all seven horses (authors note: since they are invisible they obviously didn't weigh much). The girl was devestated and spent all autumn looking for each horse spread around the country, wrapped in her clothes." by Ulrika Kestere

Waste Them All

"Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow's wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go...
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!"
-Robert Frost

photographs by amamak

John Gutmann

My sister got a book of John Gutmann photographs and I was really taken with his work so I scanned a few of my favorites. He had a way of making the most ordinary scenes seem special and noticing details others might miss. Perhaps part of his unique perspective came from being a German who came to America and his fascination with America's sprawling cities and multiracial crowds. He did a number of notable photographs on automobiles and even early streetart/graffiti; I personally enjoy his candid shots of people the best--I love the way he shows them interacting with their surroundings...

all by John Gutmann

Filled Light

by Natalie Kucken

Tim Walker Pictures

My Christmas present from my sisters this year was Tim Walker Pictures, a ten pound book filled with pictures, journal pages, sketches, and quotes from Tim Walker. He's my favorite fashion photographer, so I'm super-excited to have actual copies of his work in my hands (even if it is ridiculously heavy). I could ramble on about why I love his work or how he also finds inspiration in films by the Archers, but it's better to just share the visual inspiration itself...

Derniers Beaux Jours

Eleonore Bridge photographed by Lorenzo Papace

Elsa Billgren's wedding party photographed by Anna Malmberg