Touching Strangers

I love when photographers come up with new creative ideas for photo series. Richard Renaldi's idea of photographing strangers touching each other in an intimate way is so...touching I suppose. I guess it stemmed from the idea that are all humans and should show love and compassion towards one another no matter stranger or friend.

Here's Richard Renaldi's website

To be honest, this blog explains the project much better and clearer than I ever could, so I suggest you go read it!

These are all the Touching Strangers Pictures

Rallies and Demonstrations

Throughout the course of human history there have been so many demonstrations that just amaze me. It amazes me because of the creativity and it amazes me because of the capacity of humans to care so deeply about something.

Most recently, my friend Hanbin Cho went to Munich and witnessed a gay pride parade. Masses of people showed up at the city square in Marienplatz to proudly hold up their signs, display their outfits, and have their voices be known.

Today I heard about demonstration in NY where women went topless to try and change the laws about public nudity. Well, at least for going topless. Because men are seen without their shirts all the time but women aren't afforded the same "luxury". My friend Sheila Borkar described it as "changing a double standard and desexualizing women's body parts"

As much as I agree with that, and support women who need to breastfeed their children in public. I don't there to be a reason for women to parade around topless and make a huge commotion as 20 men take pictures of them and grab at them.

But read the article and watch the video here for yourself. Apparently this law is also a thing in San Francisco according to friend Charles Yeh.

Yet another demonstration I found today....well it shocked me when I first saw it. So I won't say anything until you see the pictures first:

 

These people are protesting bullfighting in Spain. I believe it's still legal. This form of entertainment and spectacle is rooted in history and culture. I always thought that bull fighting was dangerous only for the man and nothing actually happened but the man waved a red flag, the bull got angry for a bit, and thus ends the show.

But clearly that is not that case as you examine the bodies of these protestors. I am baffled by the coordination for them all wearing the same outfit. The goal is to be semi naked to simulate an animal and the fake blood...it terrified me upon first sight. With them laying on the ground, I actually thought some sort of massacre happened. It just sends such a powerful message. It looks too similar to the bodies of hunted animals, lying there and dying upon the ground.

This is an article by the NY times on this demonstration

And last but not least, this demonstration really touched me personally because it hit so close to home. Last semester I took a class all about Taiwan, the country of my birth.

I've tried to understand exactly what the 228 incident was, and while I still have a bit of a hard time figuring out the details, essentially what happened was the Kuomingtang (KMT) party in Taiwan violently crushed an anti-government uprising. It resulted in the massacre of tens of thousands of civilians.

So the 228 hand-in-hand rally was a gathering of Taiwanese citizens on the 57th anniversary of the incident. The people of the Taiwan formed a sort of "human chain" 500km long, from Keelung in the most northern part of Taiwan to Eluanbi on the southern tip of the Taiwan Island. The demonstration was a call for peace and for commemoration of the citizens who died that day.

There aren't very many good pictures online for this, but instead here are two very short videos taped on the day of the rally. They show a very good idea of the personality of the island and the pride Taiwanese people have for their country.

Video 1 actual rally
Video 2 preparation beforehand

There must be others out there, but for now these are the four that I have found that really interest me.

Most Prize Posessions

Italian photographer Gabriele Galimberti has embarked on a project to photograph the prized possessions of kids around the world. Regardless of the amount and type of toys, having something you truly love as a kid is something that's universal. That's the beauty about being a youngster, whatever IT is (it could be a rock), that child will love it dearly. It's their treasure and theirs alone. And there's beauty and love in that.

All the Pictures

 

 

The Elegance and Masculinity

 

I am fascinated by the interplay of masculinity and femininity in fashion. I always joke that I wish I were a guy so I can dress in suits and all the other fancy clothes that exude power and money. Words like sophisticated, suave, smooth, sexy, sensual, sharp, sleek, and chic all come to mind.
Also makes me wonder why all those words have the "s" or "sh" sound.

Business clothes is where a woman can really choose to embody the dominant swagger that men can have with their belt buckles, leather shoes, nicely ironed button downs, cuff links, and pocket squares. But it' also where they can choose to show off an elegant and alluring side of them. Dresses with flattering cuts, good length, a little bit of collar bones showing, bright colored heels, fancy accessories.

So I think business women are blessed in that sense. They can have the best of both worlds. And to illustrate what I mean:

 

This look is just so effortless. It's just made of such classic pieces, white pants, blue button down, black blazer. Pair it with a purse, sandals/heels, sunglasses, and some other accessories and she looks like she is ready to sign some multi-million contracts.

 

But then you have these gorgeous dresses. So classy and so feminine but also shows that the lady wearing it is ready to take on the world with a smile and confidence in stride.

 

I love the way this woman is sitting. It's all so manly, the entire outfit, her expression, her posture. But at the same time it's all so sexy in the most feminine way. What man wouldn't gladly take her to bed and have intelligent conversation between kisses until daybreak?

 

I've once worn an all yellow outfit to school and I got called a banana. But look at this daring masterpiece. First of all I was wearing sweats, and this is a sleek and polished suit. Bold, but she still look extremely successful and wealthy...far from a banana.

This blazer...it just gets me. That gold connecting chain, the black on white border, the popped up collar. This whole outfit is just so chic. I don't know what to say except I wish I had that blazer.

 

Temperley London Pre Fall 2013

 

Andddd it's that of year again where store and collections are gearing up for the next season even though this season is not yet over. Here are some pieces worth noting in ALICE by Temperley:

 

I love this collection because all the pieces feel like royalty mixed with a girly flair. It's like that quirky princess who loves the arts and books.

 

 

I love when gold and navy are paired together. The graphic is very expensive looking as well.

 

Nude and Black is another great pairing. Particularly digging the slit down the front middle of the dress, you don't see the slit there that often.

 

That emerald green is beautiful, especially with red lipstick. Although I do have to say, it's hard to pull off a jumpsuit like this.

 

This one is super girly and I love the print. It's flattering on a lot of different body types too.

Check out the rest of the collection here