Black Witch

It pains me to say that this is the only reasonable outfit post I've managed to metaphorically bring to the table in six weeks of university attendance in which I'm not totally ravaged by hunger. An hour each way on public transport can do mighty funny things to a person when they just want to sit down and have a big hot bowl of food. The lighting isn't it's best but I kinda like wearing black band shirts with dark images and something utterly feminine such as a long and trailing pleated skirt. Trailing comet tails of eyeliner have been my speciality as of late and while the pose of my left arm isn't flattering I kind of like the shy expression on my face. There are three outfits waiting to be photographer in my wardrobe and some other that are sure to be dreamed up during the rest of my mid-semester break.

Forest

Everything seems to artificial today and there's nothing green and luscious at all in my environment- needless to say it's driving my slightly paranoid and worried about the effects of urbanisation and the lack of trees and forests. I can't wait to talk off on my holiday to Canada next year, from my older brother's photographs and experience he indulged in doing mountain walks and absorbing in natural forest full of green leaves and wide trunked trees.

 

I suppose many days I'm quite happy not to leave the comfort of my home but today feels particularly lonely and absent of living creatures. I'm surrounded by things that are neither living nor dead- I'd love to instead feel the warmth of the sun and see luscious green grass and forest all around me. Maybe having a pet in my room such as a cat and something living and companionate would make me feel better about the little activity I participate in everyday. Next week is the start of many activities for orientation of university including scavengers hunts as well as an outdoor music festival. Finally then I'll stop feeling like a recluse and get some face-to-face interaction with new and exciting people.

  I wonder exactly how many American footballers enjoy meeting in the clearings of forests, fully dressed in shoulder pads and the like. I have the opportunity to maybe create my own photographs in this style and image in the coming months if I'm lucky enough. On the weekend I will be fixing up applications and cover letters for volunteer positions- one includes acting as a promotional photographer in order to advertise the sporting groups and clubs at my new university. While it may be a task a little over the knowledge of a simple lowly first-year, I'm keen to at least apply for such an opportunity but sourcing my own models as well as props may be another problem in itself.

My mother says that I'll love the trees and large suspended bridges of Canada when we go- the views are amazing and I'd love to see the forest shrouded in a veil of heavy trees. I just have to ensure that I have the discipline to save my money and keep working as many available opportunities as I can despite the fact I'm not loving my job at the moment. I'm sure when I'm holding a Canon 50D or something similar with a few thousand dollars in hand for a long holiday next year it will all have been worthwhile.

On returning to Melbourne after a semester of study in Canada, my brother was quick to criticise the landscape I had always viewed as on occasion hilly. He despaired at the lack of mountains and the flatness of the ground (just as well he never went to California, flat city). My mother plans for us to visit Canada in Summer which will still be chillier than our Melbourne Winter and I'm keen so see some mysterious cloud and fog banks engulfing rugged mountain terrain and trees.

I heard many a wonderful story about whole groups of raccoons raiding garbage cans at night but in my three weeks in America not once did I see these creatures- a pity really considering how seemingly domesticated they've become due to the encroaching of man into animal territory. I guess I'm just a sucker for any animal with large expressive eyes, unusual fur markings and a twitching nose expressing an inquisitive nature and a soul hungry to learn more socially.

I have a distinct policy about crosses and avoiding them being drawn on my body and especially on my forehead in the place of a bindi but I do rather admire the floral wreath and loose, sheer shirt situation and field of tall grass. Just my luck that there's no fields or parks where no one bothers to go in my area- I wouldn't mind giving the tumble in the tall grass a go but there is no doubt in my mind that my hair would become a horrible tangled mess.

Ah Melbourne, although there is a wealth of activities within the city and revolving around Federation Square for young bored people such as myself- there's definitely a lack in the culture of nature walks as well as interesting environmental scenery. Once you've been enough times, Melbourne Zoo can also be a lonely trip and tiresome although the grounds are so large and there's always animals you never get to see after an entire circuit of trawling around the place.

I wonder what a cat would think of a long and romantic walk around a well kept park full of beautiful plants and a noticeable absence of mice and rats. I can't say that I know the feline personality quite well but in my experiences they are wriggling jelly beans smothered in fur and do not enjoy long periods of being held and carried around. Also- cat leashes and walking around one's neighbourhood with cat in tow is a laughable matter.

This year I am determined to make a visit to my city's Royal Botanical Garden as well as Royal Flower Show as a photographic aesthetic experience and something fun to do with my mother- should we not be feuding at that instance and point in time. I haven't been in years and it certainly would be nice to feel inspired and also a bit ashamed about the state of affairs for my own garden. The last thing I remember about the show I last attended was engraving things on smooth looking river stones.

Sometime in the future I do plan to take a bit of a trek around modern Japan as well as contrasting the life between village and big city.

Green

All this year I'll be travelling to and from university using public transport, a combination of train and bus. So in the spirit of things I thought I would show off a few pictures of serene green settings? I just wanted to share with you my readers some of the photographs that have been inspiring me and similar things that I hope to see and explore. I've decided to study Geosciences and possibly major in it if I never make it to veterinary sciences and I'm enticed by a six digit annual paycheck. It's not just that though- I love the Earth as well.

I don't wear a lot of green in my usual routine but I do have two skirts in green that I love to death- one's American Apparel and long and pleated and the other has a print of leaves in black and white that usually wins compliments. At one stage of my past life, being an awkward and embarrassing teenager I bought some fluorescent green nail polish but only used it once. I don't think I'm brave enough to try and wear the shade again.

At my parent's house we have a few separate climbing vine plants and when we first bought the place my mother ordered everyone to pull them all off. She feared they would eventually ruin the strength and integrity of the bricks but when you think about it, the compression strength of a brick can't be harmed very much by small anchoring roots. To think, I could be sitting on a veranda swarming with vines on the walls and ceiling if she hadn't thrown a monkey wrench into those plans.

It's not often you see such large and tall pine trees but I remember when the house on the street corner had these amazing large pine trees bordering a small fence and house and the fence was inch deep in brown needles. At my father's old work place there were also tall pine trees taller than a second storey building and the lunch room had a small balcony which backed out onto the trees. I've lost all the lovely pine trees in my life but maybe my future of collecting research data in the field and maybe in forests will reunite me with them once more.

Neon

After posting something about pink cigarettes, I think I'll stick to something I actually know about such as photographing ones face close-up on the macro setting as well as light pink and wildly bright yellow fluroescent colours. I'd love to find a lipstick that looked as good on me as this bright pink and pastel coloured shade- but I've got a different complexion and if anyone saw me wearing such a shade I think I'd be laugh out of whatever building I was in.

Coming soon to Alice Euphemia, one of my favourite boutiques within the CBD of Melbourne is a neon yellow dress with pleats at the back as well as a neat and prim collar at the top. I have no idea when I would ever wear such an eye-catching dress and maybe it's more suited for blonds and red-heads but the shoes have nailed me and I'd love a dress like this to layer up in Winter and really show off my legs. It's by a brand by the name of Ellison and is available now to pre-order when it launches in preparation for Autumn/ Winter 2012 collections in Australia. I can't wait to see it in store.

I don't know the identity of the model shown here but I dig her style- matching pink hair with matching pink lipstick, as well as rocking bare legs (possibly hidden under a pait or tiny shorts or dress), Dr Marten boots and a Beavis and Butthead sweatshirt. I don't even mind the dark regrowth at the top of her head, it adds character as well as the thinned out and uneven shades of pink in her hair created by the gentle curls.

I got inspired by this photograph of thick chained jewellery in hot pink and yellow and it all sort of got-out-of-hand from there. I don't regret anything though because although the jewellery shown here may be cheap and plastic looking but at least I have something to amuse myself, write about as well as a theme to collect photographs of. I'm quite envious of the pink chain wrapped continously around her neckline in a gorgeous nu wave draping style. It really brightens up her dark her and black jumper- I could do with such a necklace when I want to wear all black as well. I love the model's long hair tied down in two plaits and while the syle to me seems too much like a school girl I think the look can be then dressed down with a beanie or a cap over the top.

I've been lusting after various Polaroid 600 cameras and I think if I managed to get my hands on one of these bad boys I would blow a gasket. I can only think of some vague and dark looking film photographs of this camera behind glass cases. I'm glad I've finally seen a closer photograph of this rare Polaroid camera- but I really want to know where I can buy it as well! The Impossible Project which heave breathed new life into Polaroid cameras and film may sell a boxed set but at a hefty price as well.

Despite the sheer kooky nature of this photograph and everything in it- I love it. There's pink hair in a soft, candy cotton hue as well as a pink faux fur fox tail used as her bag charm. I wish Australia celebrated Halloween more so I could wear some costumes and take interesting photographs! This is the best photograph I could find that used neon green as well as fluorescent pink, as tastefully as possible. That is actually a lot harder than you first might think.

Green with Envy

I'm probably going to put a paper crown on my head crookedly and start telling bad jokes like someones drunken uncle at anytime now... But the green hair is slightly festive. In fact for my second last shift of work in the lead up to Christmas I wore my long green American Apparel skirt to work which I got some compliments on too. One of my fellow co-workers dip-dyed her hair with peroxide bleach as a precursor and now it's bright sea weed green! Although that's not what she had in mind really... it's still becoming and charming for the festive season. I love the use of cheap plastic beads and a blue hair tie in the close up of these dyed green locks. The use of the flower against what looks to be a yellow knitted jumper is very sweet too. If I had common mouse brown hair I would be more inclined to dye it but since my hair is a dark brown colour- the kind that other girls dye their hair to look like I think I'll stick with that I've got.

Just what every girl wants for Christmas... a bright green shower cap in the shape of a cartoon frog. I love the candid shot of the girl with tongue waggling to the side as well as the mismatched lengths of the vintage, floral overalls and her bright dip-dyed ends. I really do firmly believe that bright green dip-dyed hair looks great with a dirty blond and natural beachy hair- I'm more inclined towards pinks and purple myself but we'll see how sick of my hair I get over the Summer and the culmination of my restlessness towards my own physical appearance. 

Life in Color: Green