Came across this series by Steven Meisel and was immediately intrigued. What a strange mash up between mental rehabilitation and high fashion. Models featured are Agyness Deyn, Denisa Dvorakova, Guinevere van Seenus, Irina Kulikova, Iselin Steiro, Lara Stone, Masha Tyelna, Missy Rayder, Sasha Pivovarova and Tasha Tilberg.

I have always been blown away buy Sofia Coppola’s vision as a filmaker. Her artistic direction, and her appreciation for mood, light, and storytelling is so simple yet unbelievably impactful. After seeing H & M’s newest campaign for Marni, I felt it relevant to pull stills from some of her films, as a study of her craft and the connection she makes with the camera, the story, and her actors.

H & M. Marni 

Somewhere

Lost in Translation

The Virgin Suicides

We are enamored by the vibrant colors and imagination in this series for Elle Magazine by Indian photographer, Tarun Vishwa.

We came across Robyn ‘s work a few years ago and became fans immediately. Not only does she seem to constantly surround herself with amazing settings; British Columbia Wilderness, Hawaiian Islands, Desert Landscapes, but she also has a consistant cast of absolutely astounding people to photograph all of the time. There is a love hate relationship that takes place when looking at her images, love for the moments she captures, her relationship with her subjects, the way seems she to catch a time and place intimate and special or ferocious and powerful. There is a hate as well, or maybe to use a less strong word, envy, for the way her photography makes us long to be at the beaches, jungles, rain forests, or the Playa of Burning Man. The bottom line, Robyn Penn is a Genius, watch for her. We can’t wait to see where she goes next, who she will photograph, and what moment she’ll capture.

Without further delay we present Burning Man, through the lens of Robyn Penn.

 For the full experience click on the photos to make them larger, it’s definitely worth it.

Where you from and where do you live now?
born in New Zealand, grew up in Victoria BC, live in Maui. started taking serious photos or taking my photography seriously when i moved to maui and couldn’t work legally.
being an illegal alien turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it kind of gave me permission to take something ‘less serious’ seriously.

What got you into taking photos?

i studied biology in university… a ‘steady for sure thing’ with a promising future… and photography was just something i did on weekends. it took almost a decade, and a move to maui to admit that i was in love… passionately in love. a fleeting romance had progressed to the point where i had to make a commitment and focus (neither of which come naturally to me) and it was time to bring it home to meet my mom.

Who inspires you?
my family and friends. i am blessed with incredible parents.. they have always provided me and my siblings with the perfect balance of supportive roots and a rich environment and space to cultivate our craziest ideas/dreams.
i am surrounded by inspiring people and there is such a contagious quality to being around other people who are inspired in their own lives.

what inspires you?
sensuality… human chemistry… the way people interact with each other or their environment.

If you were going to direct a film what would it be about?
sensuality and human chemistry

Where is your special place? why?
underwater. i find it very comforting… probably because that’s where we all began. i think that its the closest my inner reality comes to matching my physical reality… i very much exist inside my mind;)

whats a typical day in the life of Robyn Penn?
that depends where i am… my typical day on maui is simplistically (or maddeningly) simple.. consists of getting up, making coffee, editing for a couple hours, getting in the ocean, surf/run/sup/bodysurf/sail/swim/snorkle.. something active… i photograph most days.. surf, wedding, portrait, or whatever creative project i am in the depths of… watch a lot of sunsets, drink a lot of wine, host a lot of canadians.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
“I have no money, no resources, no hopes. I am the happiest man alive!” – Henry Miller or “A book should be sought after even if it has only one great page in it. We must search for fragments, splinters, toenails. Anything that has ore in it. Anything that is capable of resurrecting the body mind or soul.” – Henry Rollins

Who is the person you most want to photograph in this world?
i would love to continue photographing new people.
my desire to photograph a person stems from falling in love… discovering an aspect of a personality or person that i identify with inspires me to photograph them… hope that i keep meeting people that i fall a little bit in love with.

Visit her website here.

Visit her blog here.

Tamara Lichtenstein continues to take sexy, simplistic, powerful photos. Visit more of her work here.

Hey crew, we are currently ramping up for the next year, making some renovations to the site and out on the road doing a few stories/interviews etc. We apologize for the lack of posts recently. But we’ll be picking it up in the next few days with some awesome stuff. Have a great weekend!

You all have made the best travel companions we could ever ask for. We’ve travelled once around the sun and now here we are again at the beginning of a new journey.  We can’t even begin to describe how excited we are for 2012. Thank you for your support and the love that you’ve shown us. Get excited for the new year, it’s going to be a hell of a ride…

Damn you all look good, thanks for an amazing evening. Partying for a great cause in Venice, with moments captured by Dean Bradshaw.

for tons of more photos from the night head over to our facebook page here: Witness This Facebook Page

We were turned on to this tumblr site lately and can’t get enough. Pretty much speaks for itself. Check out more from Accidental Chinese Hipsters tumblr site here.

Easy Rider inspired image compilation

via Sugarhigh + Lovestoned

This special Friday post is a quick reminder to get yourselves to The Focus Studio tomorrow night (Sat the 17th) for Witness This’s fundraiser for Time For Change Foundation which is a women’s shelter in the area.

Line up Update!  

ARTISTS:   The Art of Chase   |  Skullphone   

PHOTOGRAPHER:   Steven Walter aka WALTPHOTO

MUSIC:   The New Division   |  Kith & Kell  | DJ Freshair + 78 & Sunny

This will be a serious night of celebration, creativity, art, music, raffle, and feeling good about all proceeds going to an amazing foundation.

1999 Playboy shoot with retro enthusiast Thierry Mugler

via Treats

Directed by the infamous Cameron Crowe (the childhood version of him is portrayed in the film Almost Famous) Twenty tells the story of Pearl Jam. This documentary is up for grabs on Netflix and is well worth a watch. Especially if your youth was filled with Anthems such as Even Flow, Daugher, or Jeremy. So many iconic shots filled this film, and the style rocked by Vedder and company is an impeccable capture of the times. Enjoy some stills from special moments in Twenty, an ode to one of the greatest bands of all time.

The Human Stain is a series by Will Steacy which abstractly documents New Orleans before and after Hurricane Katrina of 2005.  For this project Steacy re-photographed photos he found around the city six weeks after the hurricane was over and the waters had receded.  The photos live on in their new state, honoring the lives of these Americans and begging the question of “where are they now?”

Will Steacy blog.

An icon of image making, Herb Ritts legacy lives beyond him.