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PRO INSIGHT
Public Transportation for Photographers
INSPIRATION
Photography’s Ongoing Affair with Nature Carrie’s Collage Paintings Wed Retro with Fantasy
PICSART IN ACTION
PicsArt Effects Offer a Range of Subtle Changes
TUTORIALS
Capture the Beauty of Dusk in 5 Easy Steps This Editing Tutorial Will Blow Your Mind… Literally How to Draw a Castle, Using PicsArt Drawing Tools Design Your Own Thanksgiving Card with PicsArt
WHAT'S NEW
Building the Largest Network of Creatives The Mistake Makes the Art: Glitch Photography
INTERVIEW
Kirsty Mitchell's Photos Inspired by Fairy Tales
FEATURE Down the Road of Anticipation DIY PicsArt Pillow A Wonderland of Inspiration Marco Giussani Captures the Lives of Strangers
TABLE OF
CON TEN
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@dloved4e Cover photo by Kirsty Mitchell
PUBLISHER: PICSART
Editor-in-Chief | Arusiak Kanetsyan Art Editor | Cristina Gevorg Art Director | Vahan Balasanyan Designer | Ina Sarko Copy Editor | Madlene Minassian Editorial Contributors | Arto Vaun, Ani Mouradian, Mark Gargarian Special Contributors | Chris Corradino, Garine Tcholakian, Lou Jones In-House Photographer | ma_lina Address: PicsArt Inc.,
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Copyright of Socialln Inc. ( PicsArt Photo Studio ) 2013. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be re-used without the written permission of the publisher. The content of this magazine is for informational purposes only and is, to the best of our knowledge, correct at the time of publication. PicsArt Photo Studio does not claim any ownership right for the photos in the Magazine. All photos,if not mentioned otherwise, are the property of respective PicsArt users. The PicsArt username or photo owner is cited on each photo. PicsArt Photo Studio has a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, limited licence to use, modify, add to, publicly perform, publicly display, and reproduce PicsArt users’ photos, including without limitation distributing part or all of the Magazine in any media formats through any media channels.
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The leaves are golden and red, the air is chilled, and there’s a sense of wondrous change as winter approaches. In this issue of PicsArt Monthly there’s a superb collection of articles, photo galleries, and tutorials for you to curl up with and enjoy on a cold evening while sipping some hot tea or a cappuccino. Black and white photos capture the mystery of everyday life, the tension between intimacy and detachment. Marco Giussani’s photos crystalize the transient moments in public places that strangers share, where they aren’t strangers for a moment. Garine Tcholakian visits Yves Rocher’s hometown of La Gacilly in France and immerses herself in the environment, culture, and scenery that inspired the entrepreneur in so many ways. The transition from autumn to winter has an element of strangeness that British photographer Kirsty Mitchell taps into with her beguiling photos based on fairy tales from her
childhood. Her work is a mind-bending combination of theatre, film sets, and paintings, all within her masterful photographic techniques. Our interview with her sheds much light on how she creates such fascinating photos. Some of you might remember when photography involved more chance, before digital took over analog. At times, photographers would end up keeping and even focusing on the random “mistakes” in their photos. Now this has re-emerged as glitch photography, an interesting trend in which digital artists are again using “mistakes” or other interferences in their work to add layers of texture to photos. There’s much more in the November issue, including new tutorials and a special message by our PicsArt CEO in honor of PicsArt's third birthday. So make sure to sit back and enjoy. As always, feel free to write to us with comments and feedback. PicsArt Monthly |7
by Lou Jones
First off, public transportation is a misnomer. In order to work for the greatest good, public transportation has to be designed for the least common denominator. So it is always inconvenient, under construction, inadequate, crowded, and slow. For photographers, this sort of uncertainty can be devastating to critical planning. Great cities have elaborate public transportation systems. They maintain subways, bus routes, taxis and unique alternatives like dala dalas (Tanzania), tap taps (Haiti)--some 8 | PicsArt Monthly
legal, some not. Throngs of people have to be moved around a city for work, for commerce, for pleasure and other nefarious reasons. In some urban areas the streets are so overcrowded that mass transit moves faster than private cars. On assignment in Tokyo, Japan, I tried to go from one appointment to the next using their very efficient, very clean taxis. I soon learned that traffic was so bad that their very efficient, very clean subways were faster.
PRO INSIGHT
AXIOM NUMBER ONE: IT DOESN’T WORK
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Even under the best conditions getting around on mass transportation is confusing. Reading subway maps, transferring from one bus to another,
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understanding timetables in foreign languages can bring you to your knees. Public transport alters the pace of daily life. My pet peeve is that these systems
should always be designed with non natives, elderly and illiterate riders in mind. With experience you get better at second guessing the engineers’ logic.
AXIOM NUMBER TWO: NAVIGATION IS HARD
Rushing to a job, I once traveled in the wrong direction on a subway because of one letter misplaced on a subway map. After waiting for
hours, my subjects were not amused and did not believe my excuse when I finally showed up. You may need help deciphering
each countries peccadilloes. On the other hand, getting lost can also develop into some exciting photographic adventures. PicsArt Monthly |11
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Safety is a big consideration. In large crowds tourists are targets for pickpockets and gangs. Don’t carry large amounts of cash or display valuable equipment. In some towns cab drivers can be predators. Even flagging a cab on the street can be dangerous. Without prior vetting by your hotel concierge or a friend, fares may be in dispute. Always get your luggage out of the trunk before you pay.
AXIOM NUMBER THREE: NOT EVERYONE IS SAVORY
Even on the local cars, vans and buses that natives depend on, you may find yourself being charged a different rate. Non-accredited drivers prey on people at train stations and airports. You have to be ever vigilant. A competent taxi driver is worth his/her weight in gold. Good ones know everything. PicsArt Monthly |13
Subways are to cities what the six gun was to the Old West—the “Great Equalizer”. In the crush of rush hour they transport teeming masses under metropolises all over the world. They distill the various strata of humanity, rich/poor, majority/minority, intellectuals/crazies— no one gets there any faster. From the window seat of a bus you can see a city displayed in front of you. I used to take long bus rides with a city map in hand and marked my route so I could return later to photograph something I liked. It was cheap. Anyone with “coin of the realm” can flag 14 | PicsArt Monthly
down a taxi. But there are intermediate conveyances that service many municipalities. They are fun, unique and bizarre. In Tanzania, for short money, you can ride on the back of a motorcycle called boda boda in order to bypass traffic. I have sat in the middle seat of Philippines’ Jeepneys crushed between other riders, chickens on my shoulders, camera bag on my lap and my luggage tied to the roof. Conversation was brisk, lively and unintelligible. The three-stroke engines of tuk-tuks in India are ubiquitous, toxic and highly regulated. I went everywhere in them.
AXIOM NUMBER FOUR: ANYONE CAN DO IT
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To show up for a proper assignment on a bus might be very dĂŠclassĂŠ. But for editorial, fine art, travel or street photography, it may be the perfect vehicle. Anyone can rent cars or hire drivers. However public transportation lets you rub shoulders with the hoi polloi makes for shared experiences and is part of the fabric of a civilization. Better to see the unadorned, backside and insider favorites. Greater opportunities for photographs. Be a good ambassador. Put yourself out there. You just might like it. 16 | PicsArt Monthly
AXIOM NUMBER FIVE: THEY MAKE GREAT PICTURES PicsArt Monthly |17
@dengosfotoecke
INSPIRATION : Photo
Its Current Lover, Autumn
PHOTOGRAPHY’S ONGOING AFFAIR WITH NATURE
The season of change, the year’s final and loveliest smile. Autumn is a dynamic season full of character that is always interpreted by authors and artists in different ways. Photographers are always bound, guided and inspired by nature and its seasons. Autumn’s influence on the way photographers perceive and embrace the world around them is no less significant and captivating. It has its unique charm, that seeps into photography visually and aesthetically. PicsArt Monthly |19
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Seasons determine lighting and the range of scenes one can capture or depict. Autumn is unique and beautiful in that it flaunts its assets, making it impossible to ignore its scenic endowments. As a result we find ourselves exposed to photography that is perhaps more sensitive and perceptive to the details that become apparent this time of year. These leaves are a symbol of change as they evolve into a mesmerizing array of colors and textures- a treat to experience through crisp camera lenses. These images are a treasure chest of visually detailed and warm realities. Autumn leaves and their changes also speak with the natural cycles existent in life. Renewal, growth, change, and distinct characters all depict autumn and its photographers. PicsArt Monthly |23
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PICSART EFFECTS OFFER A RANGE OF SUBTLE CHANGES
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PICSART IN ACTION
Ye s , w i t h P i c s A rt yo u c a n t ra n s f o rm yo u r p h o t o s i n t o eve r y t h i n g f r o m a c ar t o o n t o a 100- ye a r - o l d D ag u e r r e o t yp e ph o t o gra p h . B u t Pic s Art e f f e c t s als o o f f e r a ra n g e of more subtle c h an g e s t h a t gi ve t h e d is c r i mi n a t i ng eye a l o t o f o p t i ons t o c h oo s e f r o m. T h is v a r i e t y m a kes t h e exp e r i e n c e wo r k ing w i t h yo u r ph o t o s r i c h a n d expe r i m e n t a . H e re yo u c a n s e e o n e ph o t o d o n e f o u r way s : wi t h t h e C in e ra m a , D o d ge r, F ilm, a n d V i n t a ge Ivo r y e f f e c t s . T hese
are more su btle tweaks in tone, tint, lightin g, an d f ocus. Wheth er it’s the so ft focus and m at co lo rs o f th e F ilm effect, o r the crisp and bold lighting of th e Dodger effect, P icsArt gives you a wide dial with a di verse range of visual co mbin atio n s. If you ’re someone who likes to p erfect your p ho to s down to the smallest detail, or if you loo k f o r a variety in your visu al exp eri ences, P icsA rt allows you to easily switch from option to option until you f ind on e that gets your visio n exactly right. PicsArt Monthly |31
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TUTORIAL : Shooting
CAPTURE THE BEAUTY OF DUSK IN 5 EASY STEPS by Chris Corradino
Don’t Leave Before the Show Is Over A glorious sunset will always attract a crowd. Yet, the moment the sun dips behind the horizon, most everyone departs in a hurry. What they don’t realize, is how exceptional the light can be at dusk. The 15-20 minute window following sunset is actually the ideal time to shoot scenic and landscape photos. Postpone your dinner plans as the results are well worth the delay. PicsArt Monthly |33
Pack a Flashlight In extremely low light, small camera buttons and dials become difficult to see. A small flashlight, or even your smartphone can provide the proper amount of illumination. This also comes in handy for navigating dark trails and rocks. To keep it from getting lost, I prefer the key ring type that can be attached to a camera bag. While this seems like a common sense item, don’t underestimate its usefulness. Hiking back to your car after dusk can be dangerous without artificial light to lead the way.
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Make Silhouettes Work for You The silhouette is a most effective exposure tool that works especially well at dusk. The trick is to set up your exposure based on the sky. In the shot, I wanted to emphasize the crimson colors over Cape May. By doing so, the figures are simplified to shape and form. Without properly exposed faces, the theme becomes less personal, and more universally recognized. A moment between a father and son is something most people can relate to.
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No Tripod? No Problem! It’s true, a tripod is a landscape photographer’s best friend, especially in near darkness. Yet, there are definitely occasions where carrying one is just not possible. With a bit of ingenuity, you can still create sharp photographs. The key is to set your camera to the two second timer. Compose your shot with the camera resting on a rock or bag and press the shutter release. The timer will count down for two seconds. This is enough time to eliminate any camera shake before firing. Using this technique, you can still use very long shutter speeds even without a tripod.
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Wait for It It’s easy to be mesmerized by the bold colors of dusk. Yet, the photographer who works to add more visual interest will ultimately create a better image. This can include anything from a large wave to a flock of birds, or people strolling along the coast. These types of moments pass in a hurry so keep your attention focused on your viewfinder. By expecting these situations to arise, you can have your exposure set, and then simply wait for it. As you can see, this type of low light photography takes a different skill set to succeed. With these five tips though, anyone can improve their magic hour images. Once you experience this amazing quality of light, there’s no doubt you’ll time your shoots at dusk more often. Just about any type of camera can be used to capture these kinds of shots. All of the images in this post were created with a small Mirrorless model.
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TUTORIAL : Editing
THIS EDITING TUTORIAL WILL BLOW YOUR MIND… LITERALLY Ready to have your mind blown? Well on PicsArt that’s easy to do. This step-by-step tutorial will show you how to replace your head with a flurry of sparks. All you’ll need is a photo of yourself and a photo of fireworks in a dark-sky. The rest is elementary once you know how it’s done.
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CLONE From the Tools menu, select the Clone Tool. Select an area of background near your head, then brush over your head to disappear it from your body.
UPLOAD Upload a photo of yourself in a field, where there’s lots of space for some serious fireworks.
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FINAL TOUCHES Position the fireworks over where your head used to be and select the Eraser to erase undesired parts of the firework image. Add an effect, like Dodger, to give your end product its own character.
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ADD PHOTO Select the Add Photo icon. Adjust the opacity of the added photo and select the Screen mode for it. This will eliminate the black in your photo to seamlessly integrate the fireworks!
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TUTORIAL : Drawing
HOW TO DRAW A CASTLE, USING PICSART DRAWING TOOLS The month of November: the air is cooler, crisper, almost mysterious, and change is all around. You could say it has an element of fantasy that can be inspiring to the artist in us all. PicsArt holds the doors wide open to that world of fantasy and creation, and anyone can enter. This step-by-step tutorial on drawing a whimsical castle, a home to fantasy, is an ideal way to feed and spark your creativity. You’ll find it doesn’t take a professional to make art. Draw this castle and make it a home for your royal world of imagination. Follow the steps below and learn how to draw an extravagant fortress. PicsArt Monthly |51
ADD SHADING Add shading in separate layers with a black brush. Areas closer to the foreground need lighter shading, so reduce the opacity to around 10%, while darker shades for shadows and areas in the back should be reduced to around 55%. Adjust for layers in between.
DRAW AN OUTLINE Create a very rough outline of your castle. Reduce its opacity, add a new layer, and trace a more precise outline. Repeat this process, and delete rougher outlines when you have traced a clean and precise final outline.
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ADVANCED LIGHTING/SHADING Add advanced lighting and shading by using translucent spray brushes of white, black, and also blue to reflect the sky. Create two layers in the back to draw a blue sky and the clouds on top of it.
ADD COLORS In a layer between your shading and outline, color in your castle, deciding the color for walls, windows, roofs, etc. You may want to hide shading layers while you do this.
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DRAW THE FINAL DETAILS In a final new layer, use a thin black brush to draw details like the stones in the walls of your castle or lines along the roofs. Save and confirm when done. 56 | PicsArt Monthly
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TUTORIAL : DESIGN
Design Your Own Thanksgiving Card with PicsArt This Thanksgiving, make a personalized holiday card using these simple steps and the PicsArt’s Photo Studio. It’s always very difficult to think of what to give your friends and loved ones on the holidays. The card is sure to be more intimate, thoughtful, and telling of your creativity. It’s a hand/heart-made gesture for those near and far to show how grateful you are to have them in your life. PicsArt Monthly |59
Add Your Card Choose to Add a Shape. For a traditional card, go with the square, but feel free to choose any shape. Place the shape onto the area of your background image that you want your text to be in. 60 | PicsArt Monthly
Choose Your Background In PicsArt’s Studio, choose Photo, and pick the photo you’d like to use as the background of your Thanksgiving card. Afterwards, click the brush to enter Drawing mode.
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Integrate Your Card in Your Background Select Eraser tool to erase parts of your background that you don’t want covered by the card, in this case, leaving the impression that the card is actually amidst the leaves. Bring the card’s Opacity back to 100% and save your progress. 62 | PicsArt Monthly
Adjust Opacity Click Layers and decrease the Opacity of your selected area to be able to see the background.
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Final Touches You can change the color of your clipart message. Choose the Multiply mode for the clipart. Finally, give your image an effect. In this card, we used the Dodger effect. 64 | PicsArt Monthly
Choose Your Thanksgiving Message Enter Clipart and choose your favorite messages from the Thanksgiving Wishes clipart package.
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INSPIRATION : COLLAGE
CARRIE’S COLLAGE PAINTINGS WED RETRO WITH FANTASY PicsArt Drawing Tools are an artistic resource that go way beyond custom brushes. With the ability to work in layers, they allow you to spin a lot of plates at the same time in your drawing space, working on different pieces separately and deciding precisely how you want them to come together. No user embodies the potential of working in layers better than carrie delgadillo (@cdelgadillo), who cleverly uses layers to create art that has loads of imagination and energy. She pulls photos, borders, frames, and masks into different layers, where she alters and tweaks them. She controls what she brings to the front or hides at the back, and uses shapes and brushes to paint and spray on colors and patterns that glue it all together. 66 | PicsArt Monthly
@cdelgadillo
Her work has a hint of retro, with antique themes that use all kinds of images, creating a zany and vaudevillian feel. Each painting has a wild mix of characters, props and scenery. It’s crazy, it’s powerful, and it’s beautiful. PicsArt Monthly |67
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What's New
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PICSART CEO: BUILDING THE LARGEST NETWORK OF CREATIVES This month we celebrate PicsArt’s third birthday and thanks to you, our loyal community, we have a lot of great memories to look back on as we continue to build the largest network for creatives. New tools in our toolkit and a larger collection of amazing images have made us one of the most downloaded photo editing and drawing apps in the world, with over 175 million installs across all platforms. The key to our success is our community-driven approach. The changes and improvements we make are often the result of your feedback. For example, you asked us to revisit our contest rules, pointing out issues that affected fairness. Revamping the contests led to a 10-20% increase in participation and a fairer playing ground for all. To highlight what our community likes most, we have added a Popular feed and have made improvements to our Featured feed. Moving forward, these will be just two of many dynamic feeds, which we believe will make PicsArt better than ever as a place for discovery and collaboration, resulting in millions of viral images. To inspire fair collaboration and to restrict image editing and sharing without
permission, we recently expanded the #freetoedit tag to iOS, giving everyone a seat at the creative table. This launch is a big effort in promoting collaboration and protecting your images by limiting illegal borrowing. Consider the cooperative spirit of #freetoedit as the first step in introducing new modes of teamwork and shared resources among our community. There is so much more to come, as we work tirelessly to improve the app and keep up with your creative needs. A couple of things coming your way, based on your requests, are a new and improved interface and greater resolution for images. Additionally, we are working on a Reputation System, which promises recognition for our most loyal and talented PicsArtists. We’ve already taken the first step and gone live with official accounts. Look out for our new validation mark that confirms the official accounts of celebrities, companies, and featured users. Just like any growing app, we have had our fair share of growing pains and we thank you for sticking with us through them. The PicsArt team is grateful that you have helped us recognize and overcome them. Our organization works hard to ensure that you continue to enjoy creating and sharing with us. Thank you for your continued support. From ideas for new features to suggestions for contests, we love hearing from you. Kind Regards, Hovhannes Avoyan PicsArt CEO and Founder PicsArt Monthly |81
@alinnaart
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THE MISTAKE MAKES THE ART:
GLITCHPHOTOGRAPHY Before digital photography, it was normal to see imperfections in photos: specs of dust, glare, blur, fingerprints, or chemical effects from the darkroom. Indeed, there were many ways to manipulate photos right after developing them. So the final outcome of how a photo looked during the analog era could go in many directions. The digital era ushered in “clean� photography. Digital cameras reproduce amazingly clear, precise images, generally without blemishes. While it is a powerful method that has widened the world of photography, it also takes away the element of chance and surprise that existed in the analog age. Digital photography is highly dependable and stable, even for those who are amateurs.
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In the past few years, a number of photographers and artists have been finding ways to reintroduce “mistakes” in their work through digital interference. Enter the rise of “glitch” art. By using digital forms of interference, artists are manipulating their work in new ways. Instead of the physical manipulations and chance mistakes in analog photography, these artists are manipulating pixilation, colors, stripes, and other digital factors to renew glitch photography, establishing it as a solid new trend. PicsArt Monthly |87
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One can find a number of interesting, unique artists’ feeds on PicsArt, Instagram, and Tumblr which explore glitch art in fascinating ways. The trend has gone beyond photography, entering the works of video artists, filmmakers, and painters. It’s a form to definitely look out for and possibly explore in your own work.
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INERVIEW
Kirsty Mitchell CReates Photos Inspired by her MOther’s Fairy Tales
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Wonderland is a project in which British photographer Kirsty Mitchell creates fairytales through still images. Her photos have a stunning level of detail, which is amazing considering she shoots on location with models, crafting her costumes and props by hand on a shoestring budget. Behind the fantasies, however, is a touching real-life story. Wonderland began in Kirsty’s childhood, when her mother, an English teacher, would read her favorite stories to Kirsty. “She used to read to me all the time up until my early teens, which sounds quite old, but it was simply her way of sharing the beautiful unusual books she would hunt down... they were often tales from European folklore, dark stories, with strange magical pictures that
stayed with me for the rest of my life.” Kirsty studied photography in art school, then switched to fashion design, which lead to a career that lasted 11 years, until everything suddenly changed. In 2007, she had returned to her camera to cope with a difficult period, when her mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor. “I was thrown into the trauma of her treatment and decline... I began taking self portraits, creating more and more elaborate pictures, to push the real world as far away as I possibly could.” Kirsty’s mother died in 2008, and remembering those time when her mom read to her as a girl, Kirsty thought on them as among the most special moments they had shared. PicsArt Monthly |97
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She tracked down the original 1970’s editions of her mother’s favorite books. “Holding them in my hands formed a powerful connection back to my earliest memories of my mother, which were safe and full of love... They became my starting point and my inspiration.” Photography would be her medium, but her fashion experience became invaluable as she began crafting the costumes in her Fairy Tale images. She cites her time with designer Alexander McQueen, whose work transcended fashion into ar t , as h e r gr e a t e s t in s pira t i o n , s ayi ng h e r c os t u m e s a r e mor e like sculptures than clothing. PicsArt Monthly |101
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By shooting on location, Kirsty lends her work the credibility of a real-life environment. “Sudden hailstorms in Springtime, rainbows, bursts of sunlight and black skies within minutes... this is something I can never predict and always brings an extra dimension to the work.” Kirsty’s ideas are inspired by illustrations from her favorite books and historical figures, which she blends with her own sensibilities. “The costume for ‘The White Queen’ was based on our English ‘Queen Elizabeth I’ however the twist was that I built the piece like a sculpture from 240 hand painted wooden fans, so she looked like a paper doll from a child’s pop-up book.” Wonderland has garnered international attention and fans all over the world. Kirsty plans on wrapping with a book and a tour of her photos so she can share her work in person with the people who have supported her through the years. “For me the most exciting part is to finally celebrate my mother’s life with the book and see new generations of children and adults enjoy something she has inspired. I think it will take quite a while to believe it when it is finally finished.”
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DOWN THE ROAD OF ANTICIPATION This potent shot of a solitary dog in the forest by Benjamiin Van De Grift (@benjamiin2014) is November’s photo of the month. Benjamiin’s work stands apart with his knack for capturing rare moments, gazes, if you will, between the lens and his subjects. Often, his subjects include man’s best friend, hippos, horses, and primates. His color schemes are often cool with a striking, warm element. This photo is no exception. A furry mutt looking patiently out ahead, down the road, is just that element, breathing life and mystery into the frame. Natural lighting is his friend, and the woods welcome his eye and our patient canine, gracefully. Banjamiin’s shot is very November in the way it is pensive. Moreover, it is inviting in its anticipation for what awaits us all down the road.
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@benjamiin2014
FEATURE : Photo
FEATURE : Tips & Tricks
DIY Pillow
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PLIES
2 large, white pieces of square cloth 1 orange and 1 red smaller piece of cloth 2 colors of thread (ex. white and blue) Scissors Pencil Polyfill (or any cotton-like pillow stuffing) PicsArt Monthly |113
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. Sew white cloths together on three of their
sides, leaving one side open as a pocket to fill with polyfill. After you’ve stuffed your pillow, sew the fourth side of the pillow. Optional: You can add another layer of threading around the edges of the pillow for effect.
. Draw and cut out the PicsArt logo from the
red and orange cloths. Tip : Cut out any other shape using your desired colors, depending on the design you want to give your pillow.
. Sew the stuffing onto the shapes that will
go on the pillow. Flip them over and sew them onto the pillow.
STEP BY STEP
. On the backside of the pillow, use a pencil
to write the PicsArt slogan (or any message of your choice).
. Trace your writing by threading it with a
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FEATURE : DESTINATION
A WONDERLAND OF INSPIRATION: OVER THE MOON WITH YVES ROCHER By Gariné Tcholakian Until recently, I only knew the late Yves Rocher as the man behind the chichi French beauty brand, whose endless line of skincare creams and sweet floral-scented eau de parfums were out of my budget. But on a trip to Northwestern France this summer, all of that changed. A special post-visit trip, following a travel photography presentation I was asked to deliver in the dreamy storybook town of Nantes this August, took me inland, through the majestic countryside of neighbouring Brittany,
and into a small, surreally beautiful town, brimming with enchantment and exquisite tranquility. That village, known famously to area locals as La Gacilly, happened to be none other than the hometown of Mr. Yves Rocher. It was here, amid the sweet melody of trickling streams and floral aromas lining the village’s cobblestoned walkways, that I not only came to experience the magical oasis that inspired the man’s work, but something all the more incredible. PicsArt Monthly |117
Stopping me in my tracks, starring at me in the distance across the vast expanse of soft lush foliage, with her notoriously piercing green eyes, a colossal-sized canvas of Stephen
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McCurry’s famous “Afghan Girl,” whose cover on National Geographic Magazine almost 30 years ago, would forever redefine the world of photojournalism we know today.
Around the bend, across the waterfalls, amid an alley of goldenhued vine leaves, a rare series of photos in “Far from the War,�
capturing human life in more peaceful times between wars, by another one of my favourites, war photographer and Magnum Photos founder, Robert Capa. PicsArt Monthly |119
At each turn, I found a new exhibit, each set, a rolling carpet of award-winning, jaw-dropping photojournalism by the very men who shaped my love for the craft, from Ansel Adams, to Michael Nichols, to Russell James, to Nick Brandt and many more of “The Greats,” as I like to call them. Immersed in what felt like a wonderland of inspiration, it wasn’t long before I was over the moon. As I walked around the bend, across the town bridge, I was delighted to see the sentiment serendipitously reflected back to me as a life-size photo by NASA capturing the historical moment when man first stepped foot on the moon.
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This village, as I soon learned, just so happened to also be the grounds forFrance’s largest outdoor photograhy festival, Festival Photo La Gacilly, founded, to my awe and amazement, by Yves Rocher himself. 122 | PicsArt Monthly
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At turns compelling, powerful and evocative, each exhibit — 20 in all, peppered throughout the village — was exquisitely curated, each canvas perched perfectly, almost all too naturally in fact, amid the natural setting of Nature Herself.
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Adorning the Festival Photo House entranceway, a statement that brings it all to light, by the late Yves Rocher’s son, Jacques, who now heads up the Yves Rocher Foundation: “Our vocation and our mission is to support both committed photographers and events that highlight the state of our planet.
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“Photography is an integral part of our life,” it continues. “It is the imprint of our world, and because it seizes us and amazes us, it is essential to be alongside those that witness the beauty of our planet.”
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Festival Photo La Gacilly, which is themed each year around photographers of a particular country (2014, the United States), is now in its 11th year and has to date attracted over 2 million visitors. The exhibition wraps up this month (Nov. 2nd) and will launch again in May of 2015. And you can bet I’ll be there, and this time, maybe even buy me some of that eau de parfum.
For more information, please go to www.festivalphoto-lagacilly.com
FEATURE : Artist
MARCO GIUSSANI CAPTURES THE LIVES OF STRANGERS Whether he’s roaming the cobblestone streets of Italy, his home country, strolling along the canals of Amsterdam, or making his way through a back alley of yet another busy corner of the world, Marco Giussani’s (@marcogiuss) street photography shines brightest when people in the great cities he explores. 130 | PicsArt Monthly
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his lens focuses on the
Thousands of micro-experiences are scattered throughout public spaces, coming and going in the lives of many inhabitants all at once. To many, all of this comes across as a lot of noise and movement, but a skilled street photographer like Marco is able to notice and pick out the raw personal moments that are so easy to miss. Marco shoots in black and white, the perfect palette for work as emotional as his. We like to remind our readers of the Ted Grant quote as often as possible, “When you photograph people in color, you photograph
their clothes. But when you photograph people in black and white, you photograph their souls!” Take away the colors and you’re left with a business man rising from his bicycle seat into the wind, a slouching street clown on break from performing, an old couple raising their eyes from their newspapers in surprise to an offcamera development; small moments that are indicative of the personalities that produced them. Marco’s shots are single frames pulled from the greater stories of these peoples’ lives. PicsArt Monthly |131
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