With the new semester comes…dope, new classes.  This semester I’m taking another print media class, this time specializing in books and multiples.

This includes printing (using any medium — screen print, lithography, relief, intaglio or digital) and hand binding (with linen thread, and a needle) an artist book.  I honestly haven’t had an idea that I’ve been this passionate about in a LONG time.  Inspiration comes at the weirdest times and can be about the weirdest things.  I don’t want to get too much into what I’m going to do this semester but it includes two of my favourite things in the world, people and patterns.

I’m not sure when I first became attracted to patterns, but I know I’ve always been attracted to people, in the sense that the people in my life hold a lot of meaning to them.  The females in my life right now are more incredible than they ever have been.  They are rocks in my life and regardless if they realize this — that’s exactly what I’m using.  These women hold serious weight in my life and who I am.  Regardless of how they came into my life or when they came into my life — these women are unreal.

In the past couple years, I’ve been working heavily with patterns in my work — especially my prints.  The repetition in such an aesthetically-pleasing formation attracts me.  The systematic way a pattern is created, the little idiosyncrasies that come from a hand made pattern are extremely attractive to me.  Patterns remind me of times, places, and feelings.

Previously in my work, I’ve hand made patterns and carved them in a relief medium…that’s going to change.  I’ve also mostly combined my patterning with traditional style portraiture, the subject’s bust.  That’s going to change.

I’m nervous about this coming into fruition, considering I’m going to attempt to print 3 or 4 books, using screen print and digital medium.  I’m worried about printing digitally on rag (print making) paper and the juxtaposition of screen printing with that.  I’m worried about incorporating my photography into this, I’m nervous about using patterns and a portrait in a different way.

But I’m excited as hell.

“If it’s not fun, I’m not doing it.”

An excellent documentary has recently surfaced folling creative visionary and influential fashion designer Tom Ford. The documentary follows Tom while working on his Tom Ford brand in London. The 40 minute long film was directed by Michael Bonfiglio. Watch the film at Visionaries: Inside The Creative Mind.

John Kilar is a  25-year-old, self-taught photographer and artist based in Venice, California. “Metropolis” is a photo collection that John took with a Yashica T4 (compact, 35mm point-and-shoot) during “Burning Man”. John’s work is just further proof that you don’t need a 5000 dollar DSLR to create amazing images. Check out more of John’s work at JohnKilar.com

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My favourite up-and-coming rapper, Azad Right, has just released a brand new track “Better Days”. Produced by Jonathan Marquez (who produced a fair amount of Right’s last album, The Time is Right), the track is nothing short of excellent. Azad nails is (as per usual) with silky-smooth flow and an intelligent narrative. If you’re not already following this kid from Cali, go check out his page on Facebook

www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2StZ2-q7UA

10. Victor Ginzburg’s Generation P

Likely a reflection on my sense of humour compared to popular sense of humour, but I rarely have a good-for-the-soul belly laugh during films nowadays. In this story about one man’s rise in the advertising industry in post-Soviet Russia, the whole theatre was gutting themselves with laughter, myself included. Need a pick-me-up? Do yourself a favour and find this film and enjoy the drug-inspired ads. Make sure to watch it with a crowd. High comedy.

9. Jeff Nichols’ Take Shelter

The ability to wax and wane between humanity and monstrosity makes this film beautiful as much as it is haunting. A look into mental illness and the strength of loving relationships, this film is carried by two masterful performances.

8. David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Sure this story was one-layered, but that isn’t a condemning quality. Fincher gives us a compelling story (regardless of adherence to the original material) with two likeable characters. And, given that this is dapperlifestyle.com, I think it’s high time we recognize Daniel Craig as one of the budding mens fashion icons of the time. His character, Blomkvist, is one dangerously dapper man.

7. Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life

Arguably the most polarizing film of the year. Forget that it’s Master Malick, forget the undeniable strength of its captivating cinematography, forget that some clowns booed it on opening night at Cannes and it wound up winning the Palmes D’or, this film is a must see, if only for the sake of conversation. There’s so much to say about the film; its creation of a God presence and the view of humanity, and yet I’m certain words will not come close to doing it justice. See it on the best quality screen and sound system you can, then watch it again the next day. Possibly a miracle waiting to blossom in your mind.

6. Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris

Based in a magical, fairy-tale version of Paris, the film will woo you with its charm and simplicity. Perhaps I’m just a sucker for sentimentality, but I had a huge smile on my face after this one and can’t see how you wouldn’t feel the same.

5. Steve McQueen’s Shame

I can’t say very often that I’ve left a theatre feeling sick to my stomach. This film about one man’s sex addiction will put a weight on your shoulders that you won’t soon be able to shrug. I’d love to see it again, but I think I need to psych myself up to witness the pure misery of Brandon’s life. Brandon’s anguish builds into a crescendo of impending doom that is both breathtaking and horrific. And if you didn’t already know, Michael Fassbender is the new Daniel Day Lewis in that whatever he touches turns to gold. If anything, pay to support this film to reward Sony Pictures Classics for taking such a risk on an incredible, powerful but controversial film.

4. Joe Wright’s Hanna

This is a nod to my little sister, a budding film lover in her own right. She sent me this trailer before it came to theatres and talked me into going during opening week. I was expecting mediocrity and was blown away by how much fun it ended up being. It calls to mind Tarantino if ONLY because it’s just so damn cool. Oh, and there’s Cate Blanchett.

3. Sean Durkin’s Martha Marcy May Marlene

John Hawkes’ Marcy’s Song might just be the most profound scene I saw in theatres this past year. Desperate and chilling, I wept. In a film about a cult escapee, I’m under Hawkes’ spell, I can’t help myself and I hate myself for it. Detailing differences while inferring similarities and impeccably edited to confuse past and present, I hope it succeeds in achieving award attention for both the acting and filmmaking. This is Durkin’s first feature, count me in line for his next project.

2. Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive

The type of film well worth multiple visits. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’re missing out on the best action film of the year. Joyous proof that an action film can be riveting without being tailored to our ADHD society. And what a soundtrack!

1. Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Once Upon a Time in Anatolia

This one might be cheating as it came to Cannes and TIFF but officially gets limited theatre release this week – 2012. A rumination on the existential nature of man and society, the details of this piece have stuck with me like no other film last year since I saw it four months ago. People who demand a barrage of drama will need to summon their inner zen-like patience because this Turkish film is mesmerizingly unhurried. What first appears as a police procedural turns into the type of film on philosophy and perspective that affirms my passion for film as art.

Charlotte Bibby is a London-based photographer/student who has some large ambitions. We recently had the chance to connect with Charlotte and chat about photography, motivation and the power of non-verbal communication.

Name: Charlotte Bibby

Age: 19

Hometown: Nowhere I’d really call home… I’ve moved a lot.

Current Location: My bedroom in my house in North London

What’s playing on the “sound track to your life” right now?

Time to Pretend- MGMT, Skinny Love- Bon Iver, Where is my mind- Pixies, Sweep Disposition- The Temper Track and anything by the XX, Eels or Lana Del Rey

What’s better: Red or Blue?

Purple.

What are the tools of your trade?

My stubbornness, my ability to take things on the chin and being female (helps massively when any sort of nudity is involved). But if I were to talk about equipment I use a 5D Mk II with 50mm 1.4 and 85mm 1.8 lenses (hate zooms) and Bowens 1000DXs/Hensel Porty kits with a few different accessories. Trying to make my work stand out from other youngen’s by showing I actually know what I’m doing with lighting. Photography isn’t ALL about the equipment but lighting is the most important thing, as after all, it makes the images, but the lighting plays a big part in making my ideas come to life.

Did/do you study photography in school or are you self-taught?

Ugh I’m going to say yes to both of them. I am doing a degree at University (reason being so I can live in London without having to concern myself over money for the moment) but in all honesty studying photography teaches you nothing you can’t learn by just DOING, and everything I have done/learnt so far has been through trial and error and a few select people showing me basics when I first started.

I noticed you take a lot of fashion-style photos, do you do the styling yourself?

Sometimes for tests, but for editorials no as it’s one more thing I have to worry about (and I think stylists have the toughest job out of the entire team). I have one stylist I work really well with and we’re planning on working together a lot more in 2012.

How do you get motivated/ pumped up for a shoot?

Moodboarding. A lot. Lots of photographs and videos and art and reading and traveling. And of course I spend an hour doing a few laps around the block listening to the Rocky soundtrack like all photographers do pre-shoot.

There is a term in psychology called “flow”. It’s describes the feeling of being in the zone or completely in the moment when you’re doing something you love. Do you ever get that when your shooting?

When I’m shooting I find that I’ve either ‘got it’ or I don’t, so I never shoot more than 20 or so shots per look because I know I’ll have at least one good image once I’m set up correctly. I find I’m ‘in the zone’ during the short period of actually photographing and I normally know exactly what I want to do when we’re on set and if it’s not working I’ll try something else straight away. I try and keep the pace up on shoots and the models I’ve worked with recently have been pretty good at keeping up with me. I think the ‘flow’ comes down to who you’re photographing and how good they are at taking direction.

If you could photography anyone in the world, in any place in the world, who would you choose and in what setting?

Right now I’d probably take Daphne Groenveld to India during the Holi festival and dress her in amazing colourful clothes.

You can invite 5 people to a dinner party (dead or alive). Who’s coming?

Eddie Izzard because he’s hilarious, Gordon Ramsey so he can make the food because I’m pretty crap at cooking, Stephen Fry because he’s just awesome, Seth MacFarlane (ditto) and the dad from shit my dad says because he’d make witty politically incorrect comments about everything. Maybe I’d swap one of them for an unnamed friend and then I swap favours for the seat.

Have any vices or bad habits you want to share with us?

I have this bad habit of not using words when I’m directing people and will end up just making noises and moving body parts in an attempt to explain what I want. Also I can’t be wrong. Even when I’m wrong I’m right and it can really piss people off.

What advice do you have for other aspiring fashion and portrait photographers?

Constantly challenge yourself. Look at work in magazines and assess the editing and lighting and how they’ve shot editorial stories and try and take it on board for your own photography but don’t get ‘inspired’ to the point you’re copying someone else’s style. Work with subjects you feel comfortable with first whilst you develop your style and don’t get ahead of yourself before you’re ready as it’ll knock you back. And finally don’t stop shooting; even if you’re not photographing the things you want it’s very easy to get out of touch with it all. Even if you don’t have a camera try and think about lighting and poses etc. when you’re out and it will help when you are next shooting.

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Check out Charlotte’s work on her site and facebook

This weeks photo features a colourful sunset shot taken by mrspedigrew (blogger on A DSLR Fairytale). The photo was taken with a Canon Rebel T2i DSLR camera. To check out the rest of the series taken during the same sunset visit “One Fairy-tale Sky Delivered“.