Oh my. These lovely images by London based photographer Laura Blight make me want to cry. They are so pretty, but so lonely at the same time. I can’t help but wonder what happened to the people who used to live there… maybe I don’t want to know.

‘Using house clearances as the primary subject, I have produced a series of photographs exploring ‘human trace’. In the majority of cases the owner/tenant of the property has passed away, leaving only traces of human occupation behind. Indeed it is the very absence of human activity that provokes our curiosity, intrigue and a strong sense of narrative.’ ~Laura Blight

{via feature shoot}

That’s it… as soon as I finish writing this, I’m taking all of my books and lamps out into the backyard where they clearly belong! Sigh. These beautiful {and let’s face it, quite magical} installations are assembled and then photographed by Norwegian artist Rune Guneriussen. Since 2005, he’s been creating these engaging narratives using man-made objects {like tables, chairs, telephones, globes, and of course, lamps & books} placed into the natural landscape of Norway. Ok, I better go open the back door… my lamps need a bit of fresh air.

Victoria Smith {aka, blogger extraordinaire, sfgirlbybay} is taking a well-deserved staycation in her home town of San Francisco for the next two weeks… and I could not be more excited! Why? Am I going with her? Nope. I get to fill in for her today! So, while she is off sipping lattes in cute little coffee shops, riding her bike {up lots of big hills!}, and taking gorgeous photographs all over the Bay area*, I will be adding my own little touch of jealousy to her beautiful blog. Come on over!

*{These lovely photographs are the latest images from Victoria’s Sunday in the City series, which I was jealous of last year. If you can believe it, she didn’t use an old Polaroid to get these shots, she used ShakeIt on her iPhone. Jealousy… there’s an app for that.}

New York based artist Marlo Pascual might start with found imagery, but that’s not where she stops. Nope, after that she enlarges, crops and alters the images until they’re just right. Just right for what? Well, for adding pins, rocks, plants and candles to, of course. But even then, she’s still not done. She plays with the placement of the work within the gallery space creating new relationships, and allowing the images to tell stories that they have never told before… and then she calls it a day.

{More of her work can be seen at Casey Kaplan Gallery in New York.}

Ahhh… there’s nothin’ like clean, crisp, cut & collaged mountain air to make you feel ridiculously jealous. Melbourne based artist Liesl Pfeffer snips photographs {which I believe are her own} into precise geometric shapes to create these gorgeous mountains. Now, if I could just get someone to make me a s’more, I’d be all set!

I love this, because I do this… and, whether you realize it or not, you do it too! Mirrorface, a series by Canadian photographer Angela Fama, is beautiful, hilarious, and true. Here’s how it works. Each of her subjects were photographed twice. The first shot was taken straight on, like a passport photo. For the second shot however, Angela revealed a mirror below the camera, and left the room. She asked each person to look at themselves the way they would in that final check {that we all do} before heading out the door. When they thought they looked their best, they gave her a signal and, from the other room, she took the photo. The result… Mirrorface! What I find so interesting is that every single person in the series turned their head slightly to the side in order to look ‘just right’. Hmm, perhaps we’ve all seen one too many covers of Vogue!

{My ‘mirrorface’ consists of a head tilt/pout. Why? I have absolutely no idea… but clearly, I’m not alone.}

These photographs are from a series, titled Women, by Toronto based photographer Daryl Banks. I chose my favourite four, and then played with the order I wanted to show them in. Maybe it’s because they look so much like film stills, but as the order changed, so did the narrative. It was almost like reading one of those ‘choose your own adventure’ books from childhood… of course with the one glaring difference being all of the topless women. I wasn’t allowed to read that kind of adventure book.

I don’t know if I’m hungry, or slightly grossed-out? Oh well, either way I end up jealous of photographer Jeff Vespa, and here’s detailed list to explain why:

1) His work has appeared in LIFE, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Rolling Stone, GQ… you get the idea.  2) He is the official photographer for the Sundance and Toronto Film festivals, taking portraits of every fancy celebrity that shows up.  3) In 2008 he made a short film called Nosebleed starring David Arquette that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.  4) He shot, and probably ate, all of the burgers shown above. Mmm.

{Some of his work, I’m assuming these burgers, will be shown in Palate at Scion Space, May 22nd – June 12 in Culver City California. Bon Appetit!}

I seem to have a portrait theme going this week, so I’ll just roll with it… although, does the back of someone’s head count as a portrait?  These beautifully layered photographs are from a series titled Inside the View by British artist Helen Sear. The landscape and the portrait are taken at different times, at different locations and then superimposed over each other. Through a technique {that I don’t even pretend to understand} she hand-draws/digitally erases parts of the image, revealing the other underneath. I don’t know how she does it, but the final result is lovely… almost like a delicate veil over the entire photograph.

{Helen currently has a new show titled ‘Beyond The View’, featuring work similar to the pieces shown above, at the KLOMPCHING GALLERY in Brooklyn until June 11th. There is an artist reception next Thursday, May 13th from 6 ~ 8pm}

Oh, Matthew Robert Hughes, I love pretty much everything about your, um… paintings? No, wait. They’re photographs. Beautiful, gauzy, totally engaging photographs from a series titled, This-Has-Them 2008. I love the colour palette, the softness, and how quiet they seem to be. And you know what… I even love that guy’s moustache.