It's all in the detail

Totally into the mood of this image!!

The white, the blue, the fabrics, the jewels, the tea pot...
I could make up a whole story around this interesting image :)

Natasha

Image by Line Thit Klein

That moment...

I want to share a cool thing that just happened... You know, THAT moment, when you find exactly what you have been looking for.

I came across this image above, the room is designed by Samantha Pynn Inc, and I just could not get that feather image out of my head....

To make a short story looooong, my feather "obsession" has been cultivated for years. Let me explain... While growing up in Denmark, long walks have always been part of the "routine", and often we would find feathers form all kind of different birds. Ranging from the really long skinny pheasant feathers, to the tiny little fluffy dotted and bright blue ones. My mother would often bring the really decorative ones home, they would become a piece of artwork in a windowsill or on a pin board.

This past September, I helped my mother look for artwork with feathers for a design project. We found a lot of different watercolor versions, but I had to leave before the project was finished, so I am not sure exactly what ended up on the walls...

SO, I do have a point, I promise :)
When I saw this beautiful photograph above the sofa, I just HAD to do some research. A colleague of mine also fell in love, and we just absolutely had to find it. Tonight I did! Via Pinterest (thank you very much for those back links) and here you go.... Photograph by Virginia Macdonald.

We are working on a project where this piece of artwork will be PERFECT, but even if the client nixes it, at least I know where to find it for next time...

Don't you just love when the stars align?

Natasha

Image #1via Samantha Pynn Inc, Image #2 Photograph by Virginia Macdonald, via Art Interiors

Art work

Inspired by this great photograph of peeling paint, framed and positioned above a bed, acting as a giant headboard, I went searching for a version of this for a client...

The only request was to incorporate blue, so this was my first choice. I really like how the small areas of ocher show through, yet the overall feel of the piece is still "blue"!

This was my second choice...

The room has bamboo flooring, but otherwise its white, our accent will be pulled from the artwork. What do you think??

Natasha

Image #1 unknown, sorry. Image #2 & #3 via a trade resource, email me for info if interested.

Life's a beach...

While browsing through the December / January 2011 issue of Elle DECOR a little while back, I spotted (as I am sure many of you did) the Manhattan home of Australian Kiane von Mueffling, particularly the image from her dining room.... Who is the photographer behind that huge beach photograph? It looked vaguely familiar....

Well, his name is Christian Chaize, a Frenchman who has fallen in love with a small beach in Portugal! He lives and work in Lyon, France, each year Christian travels to the southern coast of Portugal, to a small beach called Praia Piquinia....

Christian Chaize is a self taught photographer who has won several awards for his photography. His commitment to this small stretch of sand has not only resulted in exhibitions, but also a series of work; Same beach, different years, different times.
The series is available here, and has been chosen for its cohesiveness as a group.

It's hard to pick a favorite from this collection , but I like the images chosen for this post (there are MANY more). However... the Yellow Beach Umbrella image wins out... I think... And I will tell you why; check out this link, from Jen Bekmans Gallery (via Flickr), you can really see the vibrant colors!

And how about this for a nice surprise? Totally different, and very dramatic!

Christian Chaize explains on his website that while nature photography is typically done horizontally, his series is done vertically, creating real depth in his images.

If you would like to see more, Christian Chaize has a website. He is represented by Jen Bekman Gallery in The States, and his prints are also available via The Jen Bekman Project 20x200, where art is made more affordable for "the rest of us" :)

See you at the beach!!

Natasha

Image # 1 via Elle DECOR, Image # 2 - 5 Christian Chaize

Interview: Line Thit Klein (II)

Now that you have been introduced to LTK the person (see previous post) let me share a little more of our interview, along with some of her (mouth watering) work. ENJOY!

Northern Light: I am fascinated by your food photography! I can almost taste what I am seeing, what's the secret?

Line Thit Klein: I just love food, I love everything about it. Looking at it, tasting it, smelling it... For me it's not just food but art, and it's my passion and job to present it to the world in the most amazing way I can.

The light is the secret!! If you know how to control and work with daylight, then you have come a long way.

NL: Besides being an AMAZING photographer, what else do you like to do?

LTK: I read a lot of magazines and I love to cook. I'm very lucky to learn a lot of tricks, all the cooks that visit my studio have showed me wonderful dishes and all the tricks to make it easy. Besides that (cooking) I love to take a long walk by the ocean, it clears my mind.

NL: What are you currently working on?

LTK: A new cookbook and I promise you - it's going to be fab!! It's very me and so are all the recipes. They are simple and easy for those who don't have five hours to bake a cake. We even have a chapter called "5 ingredients". There will be bits and pieces from the book on my blog.

NL: I truly love your portraits! (discover them here) What do you do to "connect" with the person? - to bring out their best side...

LTK: Luckily I find it very easy to be around all kind(s) of people. We need to (be) comfortable in each others company. Usually it takes some time, but after a while, and after we have talked some, the shoot comes alive and we create the world and atmosphere that fits the case.

Actress Tuva Novotny

Tuva Novotny

NL: Do you exhibit your work anywhere?

LTK: I just photographed a cookbook for famous Danish Chef, Paul Cunningham. So at the moment my pictures are on exhibit in Copenhagen. It's such a thrill to see my work in a big scale, it becomes art pieces in a whole new way.

NL: Do you sell your art pieces?

LTK: Yes, I do, but only on request.

NL: Do you book work in the US?

LTK: Yes, I love to work in the US. I have just finished a shoot in the Hampton's where I did a series on fashion. Next time I would like to visit Miami.

Line Thit Klein to the far right...

NL: How often do you travel for work and pleasure?

LTK: I think I travel a lot. In the next 6 months I'm going to Egypt, Turkey, Napoli and Dubai. I have two small girls, so I'm only away 1 - 2 weeks at a time, or else I bring them along.

NL: What is your favorite travel destination?

LTK: It must be Cote d'azur. I love going there most because of the French mentality. Things take time, have an espresso and relax. The decadence, I love it! Their temper... their wine, baguettes, (the) shopping center Carrefour, the food.. the smell of the warm air mixed with perfume.

NL:  Doing a little research for this interview, I noticed you are "everywhere"... Face Book, Website, Blog. You also have a young family... How do you keep up?

LTK: I don't! BUT, I love to blog and I try to find time every day, even though I'm busy. I try not to answer the phone and check my email when I am home with my kids, but when they are asleep, I open up to the world again (online wise).

I hope you have enjoyed reading this interview as much as I did doing it! I encourage you to check out Line's website, and check in on her blog from time to time!!

A HUGE Thank You to Line for participating, it's been a pleasure, and I hope to see much more of your work!

Let me know when you are booked for Miami ;) !

Natasha

Interview by Natasha for Northern Light Blog

All images Line Thit Klein

Interview: Line Thit Klein (I)

When on vacation this past fall, I came across some fantastic food images... I was curious to find out a little more about the photographer, and this led me to an interview with Line Thit Klein. I am absolutely sure you will love her work, but first let's get to know her!

Northern Light: I have been looking at your blog and your website. You cast a wide net; Food, Interiors, Fashion, Travel, Books and last but not least Photography. On a daily basis what inspires you?

Line Thit Klein: Actually blogging is a good way to be inspired. You stumble upon very creative people, beautiful ideas (and) passionate souls. Besides that, I have a very skilled assistant and we often have long creative talks in a visual world where there are no boundaries, and that really opens up to new thoughts.

NL: I noticed you have an inspiration board in your office, how often do you ad to that? Change it?

LTK: I don't really change it, by changing it all. (But) Everyday I find something interesting and (I) ad it, so it's constantly evolving. My mood board takes me in (a) new direction all the time, I need to be inspired on a daily basis.

NL: What made you fall in love with photography in the first place? Do you remember your first camera? The first time you thought about making photography your trade?

LTK: My dad introduced me to photography when I was quite young and I fell in love with some of his old B /W pictures. He was a skilled photographer in his young days and he gave me my first dark chamber when I was 14. That just did it for me. Our entire house was a mess filled with copies all over the place. I had an old Nikomat Camera, simple and beautiful. It's so fun to think about; so much has happened since. I have almost forgotten my early work...

When I left high school, I got a job at Denmark's largest paper and that kind of opened my eyes to the possibility that I could make a happy living out of it.

NL: If you were not "in the arts", where would you have ended up?

LTK: I think I would be quite unhappy. I really love my job and I believe I'm lucky to have such an all-around everyday life. It's fun to think about, because I can't imagine doing anything else. But, perhaps, (if) anything I would have a little flower shop, or an organic food shop, or something like that....

NL: I noticed on your blog that a little while back you picked up the Domino book. What is your take on American interiors?

LTK: I really like it, because it's so different from the typical northern simple living. In America everything is very fancy and extravagant, and I see the beauty in the difference between American and Scandinavian living. You show how lovely you live by having expensive pieces on display. In Scandinavia we also like expensive things - it just can't be obvious - very strange. Here we have a tendency to simplify everything and we are also a little scared of colors. I love Domino because it represents the complete opposite style.

NL: What does your home look like? Trendy, Nordic,

Exotic?

LTK: It's Nordic and a bit ethnic, with art and lots of cookbooks on the shelves. It's very HYGGELIGT (cozy) and with natural toned walls in grey, white and caramel.

NL: Are you adventurous? Food, clothes, travel etc?

LTK: Oh so much YES! I try not to repeat my experiences and try something new all the time (Travel). My hunger for food and new tastes is big and I don't want to miss out on anything, so I try to eat new things, but not snails or weird stuff.

NL: Free time... what is your favorite "free time" filled with?

LTK: If I had 2 hours free from the studio, I would turn off my phone, go to a nice cafe by the dock and have a good salad and do nothing. Besides that; big dinners with lots of friends, long walks and of course my family!

It's been such a pleasure getting to know Line Thit Klein, the women behind the camera, and I can't hardly wait to share Part II of the interview. Stay tuned, it will leave you drooling :) !!

In the meantime, check out Line's blog.

(find her in the blog roll to your right)

Natasha

Interview by Natasha for Northern Light Blog

All images Line Thit Klein

Making waves

Spending a little time in Blog land this evening, I visited with Rhonda, over at All the Best. There I came across this great image of an almost local interior, down in Bal Harbor, designed by Frank de Biasi. I can't get my eyes of off the great images in the background... great photography!

I then remembered seeing something similar at C.Bell in Palm Beach. So, if you are interested, head over there to take a look, you won't be disappointed! (sorry, these two are a little blurry.... it's not your computer)

Natasha

Image #1 Via All the Best, Image #2 & #3 via C.Bell

Vintage Rose

While looking thru some old files, I came across these two beautiful Vintage Rose Images.



I think the photography is exquisite, and in an all white setting like this, wow, it really pops!
You can almost "dive in".... So, for all you lovers of white interiors (I'm in that group! :) ), to get a little color on the walls, this might be the way to go?!

Re-visiting the Shine by S.H.O. website, I was reminded of the very cool artwork you can find there. Check out the look book here, it is not to be missed!

T.G.I. almost F!

Natasha

Images via Shine

Daily inspiration

Where do you get your daily inspiration from??

I admit to loving a good, glossy magazine.
I admit to loving great photography!
I admit to.... nothing else ;)



Still considering myself a novice at blogging, I could spend hours (if only I had the time) reading all kinds of blogs, and often find new and interesting people, artists, photographers etc via my "travels".

It's almost like taking that turn, driving down a road you have not been on before, exploring, discovering... Well, today Caitlin Wilson Design pointed me in the direction of Ashlee Raubach, a photographer from Utah. I am so happy to have visited her site and blog!!



I just could not help but to share these images with you.
How crisp and colorful, you can almost touch the beautiful purple petals...

Who inspires you the most? Where do you look for inspiration?

Perhaps you are lucky to surround your self with creative and inspiring people...
Do tell! Different cultures, different sources of inspiration!

Natasha

All images Ashlee Raubach