Kat McDonald

It is rare and just a tad touching to find such a high pedigree of talent on your doorstop. Enter Kat McDonald, photographer extraordinaire...

http://www.facebook.com/KatMcDonaldPhotography

With the flair and unflinching eye for detail akin to the haute fashion pack, Testino, Meisel and Von Unwerth and aesthetic styling paralleling with the worlds of Yanick Dery, Akif Halkn Celebi, Amanda de Cadenet and Gyslain Yarhi.

This said upon meandering through Kat's finely tailored folders of images you soon realise she interprets each "scenario" in her own unique way.

Hats off, she always astounds with her choice/sourcing of impeccable models and locations.

Within her portfolio of work you will discover an entire spectrum of works ranging from a daily "365" project,

high fashion,

shots of musical "royalty" (Bryan Ferry......)

 as well as a collection of creative iPhone snaps of everyday objects and experiences endured on a daily basis

Like all great artists its evident that Kat has her muses or more appropriately a select handful of Femme Fatales..... utterly ravishing to say the least.

Aside from her acclaimed photographic work K. McDonald is also the voice of notable  electronic outfit Little Buddha. Which in itself is an entire different post.

http://katmcdonald.daportfolio.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ktimages
http://www.reverbnation.com/littlebuddha
kat@littlebuddha.com

Ex

ECA

Today I ventured across to the capital, Edinburgh. The reason... I had to go check out two newly graduated students of the Edinburgh College of Art. One, a fine artists just completing a 7 year course in combined studies (a broad study of painting, glass, jewellery, drawing, photography, printmaking and soft sculpture).

I particularly  loved a blurry b&w photo of an abandoned run down house that had been developed with a subtle silk screening in one corner.

Annes work was titled "New Life PNK"

http://www.eca.ac.uk/degreeshow2011/showcase.php5?id=933

Also had to see an old colleague's work in the Fashion and design arena. (the only menswear collection that I noticed) His work was stellar, stand out from the rest of the somewhat garish "college" output that to my untrained eye looked a little rushed and in some places unfinished. Felix's designs could easily have been sold in Oki-ni or Liberty's among the racks of Margiela and Raf Simons. Truly one to watch. Easily have bought his entire collection. 

The clothes spoke for themselves but the drawings and concept presented in his folio was what really blew me away.

The collection was names "Kin"

http://www.eca.ac.uk/degreeshow2011/showcase.php5?id=1259

The final project that I really liked was this, right here... check check check this out -

http://www.eca.ac.uk/degreeshow2011/showcase.php5?id=1064

Most of the other displays on show were for me a touch sterile and what I consider art students work to turn out like. Especially the performance costume students.... dire.

David Sims

another talented photo-maker Im enjoying today as the rain pitter patters against the window is David Sims. Enjoy a few snaps of his.

 (ps. a lot of his work is collaborated with hair stylists No. 1 Guido Palau)

August.

Sander. Todays inspiration. Have some...

Sorry son, have you seen my cow?

Ohh the delights of walking along a cycle track in the middle of nowhere.

The super wealthy farmer nearby tearing down the "cycle/walk path" linking Dunfermline and Alloa (and the villages in between) in his near 100k Porsche Cayenne 4x4 looking for his lost prized cow.

Asking for my help after he told me to get of his land with my mutt before he calls the police. Same one who shoots all my beloved foxes and deer............ >:-(











Sorry no can do... a$$-hole.

Candy, anyone for candy?

There are a few exciting fragrance launches on the horizon.

Cant wait to try the new Prada "Candy" hitting us in August. Conceptually and on paper it ticks all of my "Olfactive needs", Benzoin, sweet notes (caramel...) and wispy plumes of white musks. Sounds rather ravishing if not a little tarty good good and good. Personally I was a fan of Prada's take on iris from the infusion collection but found the rest of the collection rather withered. The amber series became super addictive many years ago but now smells quite cheap (to my nose...) and unfortunately I havent tried any of the high end fragrances which are available at Liberty's, but I am led to believe they are somewhat astonishing.

Another rather interesting fragrance approaching the market is the new Chanel No. 19 Poudré which is said to incorporate a spanking new musk molecule and seemingly (according to Marie-Helene Wagner over at The Scented Salamander) reducing the galbanum content hoorayyy! I think this may be a personal winner for the winter...

Also, a new intense version of "Love" by Chloé which in the non intense concentration has been an addiction of mine for sometime now. According to the released "ingredients" list not much has changed... still very blue, warm and powdered (I notice a theme occurring.)
-Orange Blossom and pink Peppercorn (a usual pairing)
-Iris, Lilac, Wisteria, hyacinth, Synthetic heliotrope molecule "Heliotropin"
-White musks.

Finally, my good friends over at Penhaligon's are set to launch another astounding fragrance. "Juniper Sling" taking its inspiration from......... you guessed it, London Gin's. After smelling an unfinished draft all i can say is this is a must, cant quite place it in a specific fragrance family. Will have to wait and smell the final dose and read the contents list to make an educated guess.

The perfumer behind "Juniper Sling" is Olivier Cresp the heralded master of gourmands (Thierry Mugler's Angel, Cacharels Noa amongst an entire roster of others.) and after smelling the fragrance midway through it was a bit of a departure from his usual signature "smell".