spotlight: photographer max wanger

Last Friday's image has been stored in my files for some time. The day after Valentines day seemed like perfect day to share that image with you. I found it on tumblr and when I dug for the photographer credit I got lost on his website for a nice long time looking at beautiful images.  I then decided I needed to share it with you today.

I hope it gives you a little spring in your step to help you start the week off right. 

Start with his blog and poke around the rest of the site.  You can see his full portfolio here.

He sells prints too!  

Canadian photographer: Michael Graydon

It is amazing what a journey one image can take you on.  I fell in love with this kitchen on Pinterest. I love everything about it most of all the white and light.  Not to mention the fireplace.

Tracing the photographer source I found Michael Graydon. First I looked at his images which are soulful, rich, thoughtful and quiet. I wanted to know more. Then I read his bio. Another Toronto trip down memory lane for me. (Those new to the blog, I am from Toronto and delight in tripping over the amazing and creative threads that lead me back to my hometown). Michael grew up in Unionville, where my dear Aunt B. and Uncle B. have lived forever. Many a memory for me in Unionville. In looking back through his images I recognize signs of Northern Ontario. A canoe on a quiet lake, a dusting of snow at a farm in Creemore much like the one we had growing up. Webers. Oh heavens Webers. The best most amazing burger place on earth. I dream about it. What a sweet surprise Michael Graydon was for me today. And a reminder of the power of photography to take you places in your imagination and your memory that are a comfort.  That's what happened to me today with Michael's work.  

If you look back to the post I wrote before the Thanksgiving weekend, it was about KINFOLK magazine.  Looks like Michael and Kinfolk are acquainted... which makes perfect sense. 

So all in all, to sum it up:

Michael is an amazing photographer and his work is worth spending time enjoying.

He is from Toronto as am I. Not only that but Unionville where I have strong family ties which was a sweet bonus after deciding I loved his work. 

He shoots things I recognize, like Creemore. Not many folks know Creemore outside of Toronto.

It made me very happy to spend time looking at his images for all of the above-mentioned reasons.  

I encourage you to do the same. Especially ad-land friends. 

It is a broad range of work from soulful and rich to light and crisp.  

Not many people do both of those things well.  

You can see more of Michael's work here.  

It is a lovely portfolio and I encourage you to take a peek. 

all images: Michael Graydon 

spotlight: from me to you

I fell in love over the weekend. With another blog. So today I spotlight again. So soon you ask?  But this one I had to share.  It is the amazingly lovely blog where I found last Friday's 'amour' image. I have seen the blog before while cruising around the web waves, but not spent the time on it that it deserves.  Once I did that I was hooked.

So I thought, why wait? Here is another incredibly inspiring blog for you to add to your reading list.

Jamie Beck and her husband Kevin Burg have created a body of work I could spend hours enjoying. And as a veteran Art Buyer (a person who sources and produces photography for an ad agency) with a very picky eye, the photography stands out in a sea of blogs. Ad friends take a look. I especially love her current entry about New York.  

I highly encourage you to check out From Me to You when you have time to really explore it.  It is special.

Jamie and Kevin

fashion 

collaboration with amazing stylist and blogger Kelly Framel

I covet this dress btw...

heartfelt images from their travels

a little bit of this

a little bit of that

and romance

They have captured a sweetness and sense of adventure that is very endearing. 

Then there is this amazing thing they do:

cinemagraphs

This is done really well.  Just enough.  Not over the top. Very cool.  

Their work is such a lovely marriage between old school and future thinking. Beautiful and current fashion photography. Romantic and personal old school film photography from their travels. Film in this digital age is rare to see and in my opinion still incredibly beautiful. Kevin has a background in traditional art and a passion for digital art which brings future thinking and innovation to the mix. 

Together they travel, they create, I think I love them.  

all images: ©annstreetstudio

Tuesday's girl

Hello!  The day is moving along and I am just now getting a post up. I do try to have fresh things up by 9am but lately it seems to happen later in the day. I started to feel a little stress about that, and then realized that when I rush I don't enjoy this process as much. I always want to stay in the headspace of pure creativity, and not 'deadline' while working on this blog. I worked in advertising for 20 years in heavy deadline mode and I am trying to remember I don't have to put that kind of pressure on myself when creating this blog.  Phew. 

I guess what I am trying to say, is thank you for reading. Thank you for checking in. I hope its ok if new posts hit the wires a little later some days than others. I enjoy this process and I hope you enjoy reading ... even if it is later in the day. 

Here are a few images catching my eye this week... 

Here are a few shopping links... I know, lots of shopping this week and no, I don't shop this much but you never know when you see something you simply must have. I would be remiss if I shared images with you and didn't at least source a few links for you right?

So if you have the urge...

leopard pumps

brown motorcycle boots

faux shearling coat

faux leather jeans

And thank you again for reading... I really do hope you enjoy.

images collected: here

lookbook: SF

I am headed to San Francisco in a few weeks to visit my westies (besties in the west) and am inspired by these images. When I lived there I had pretty much a black head to toe wardrobe. I arrived in FLA with a small handful of summer clothes (if you have been to SF in the summer you will know you don't need a whole lot of tank tops). I think this trip I am going to mix it up and ditch the noir uniform. All this FLA sunshine has gone to my head. 

It will be a challenge but I know I can do it.  Just look at these images all together. I was going to post them one by one but really, they say so much when edited together for an overall feeling.  I am going to dive into my closet and rethink how I put pieces together (like that sweater over the floaty sea foam top below) and come out with a whole new perspective.  

Cream, sea foam, grey with a dash of navy.

And of course I may have to do a

teeny tiny bit of shopping while I'm there

to complet the look.

Right?

images found: here

tumble time

TUMBLE TIME... some things catching my eye this week on tumblr...

...because I am in a visual frame of mind today

delicate gold

end of summer light

peplum

city streets in the fall

delicate winter white

breton

baubles

all images found:  here

dispatch: Harbour Island

Hello and welcome to Harbour Island.  I am going to share a few images and give you a little tour today.  The beautiful island and its incredibly happy vibe have welcomed us back with open arms.  

arrive

eat

the beautiful Coral Sands Hotel

swim

morning

collecting

on the way to dinner

happy trails

the commute to dinner

the dinner spot

Tomorrow I will take you on a tour of a few of my favorite places on the island.

 And tune in Wednesday for a giveaway!  

Toronto photographer Virginia MacDonald

I was born and raised in Toronto and have had a bunch of random encounters and conversations about my hometown lately. It makes me miss it and want to get back for a visit. It is such a vibrant and creative city. There are so many new restaurants and shops to explore since I was there last and I am feeling a very big itch to take Mr. K there this fall and show him where I come from. We've never been together and I think it would be an inspiring adventure.  

So it is no surprise that one of my favorite mags is Canadian House and Home. One of the photographers who shoots for them often is Virginia MacDonald and I thought I would share some of her images with you today.  She always delivers such beautiful work for C H&H and it is a treat to look at. 

Her work is so well edited in-camera.  I love how she brings out the detail in a room by keeping the overall framing and subject simple.  Natural light and a keen eye for detail create a calm place for your eye.  It is statement-making work without being too fussy.  Simple, graphic and fresh.  

In my past life as an Art Buyer (one who sources photographers and produces photo shoots) 

her work is the promo piece that would catch my eye if it landed on my desk.  

Check out her website (especially her personal work) here.  

It is full of beautiful work to feed your creative side.

Read her bio too - very charming and funny.

I'll be looking into flights today.  

I can picture the whole trip right now...

Perhaps a Toronto tour on the blog in the fall?

And maybe a glass of wine with Virginia... 

I just received the nicest email from her and I have a feeling we would have a lot to talk about.