Thursday 22 March 2012

wood nymph

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Landscape plays an interesting role in blog photography. So often I end up in places that look to be deserted; like I'm the only girl on the street, or here, as though I'm in the country somewhere. Frequently this is just a logistical issue: for those who take their own pictures, there are few things more uncomfortable than having an audience, and even for those of us who have photographer-slaves (at least sometimes), there's generally the issue of people wandering un-scenically through the background. It can also create a sense that we're all country lasses however! I actually love urban backdrops on blogs, but maybe just because I love cities in general (my Masters was in Urban Studies).

Anyway, although it looks like I'm a tree-nymph in a country churchyard here, it's actually just outside a church in a residential neighbourhood of Bonn. There was no issue of people wandering into the shot on this particular day, because everyone who wasn't a style blogger or her long-suffering boyfriend was sensible enough to stay indoors (and we sensibly went and stuffed ourselves with Wiener Schnitzel in a warm restaurant immediately afterwards).

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Perspective is everything..
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Photos by Albert

dress: Nadinoo, tights: Betsey Johnson (via the Christmas sales at Winners), shoes: Camper

29 comments:

Tess Atkinson said...

that dress is gorgeous! x

Miss Tallulah Porkchop said...

God I love that dress and I love it with those tights. This time of the year I find our seasons (and outfits) are similar on different sides of the world.

Emily, Ruby Slipper Journeys said...

@Miss Porkchop: True! We meet awhile in the in-between seasons, and then go our separate ways!

Closet Fashionista said...

I loooove that dress!!
And yea...that's why I always have the same backdrop...I don't like looking like a weirdo with my tripod unless someone is with me. XD
http://www.closet-fashionista.com/

Raquel said...

Love this post! This is so true, perspective changes everything.
Well, the dress really matches the backdrop, that's certain!

Nina said...

What a lovely outfit Emily and such a gorgeous location. I've never been to Bonn before so may have to try and visit sometime soon. Also very jealous of your Schnitzel!
xxx
Nina

Meli said...

Love the outfit and the location!

Emily, Resplendent Tranquility said...

Gah, this dress is so darn-near-perfect. It's good to see it again :)

Anonymous said...

This business about landscapes and backgrounds is so true. I know when I watched the film The September Issue, I was far more interested in how Grace Coddington scouted her locations than in anything Anna Wintour was doing! I try to look at my city through those peculiar lenses too.

Laura said...

I was actually thinking of this issue today when I was taking my outfit shots! Each shot is always so carefully crafted...I think often they turn out looking like they were taken somewhere different entirely. Not necessarily a bad thing :)

Also, I love that dress and these shots are beautiful!

thejoyfulfox.blogspot.com

Monique said...

Emily, these photos are beautiful and blend with the dress quite well. I've enjoyed the backdrops on your blog... a bunch of tiny specks of the world I haven't seen just yet.

Katie Burry said...

I love that dress + tights! <3

I always try to get out in a country setting to take my photos as often as possible, just because I think they look so much better! <3

Loren said...

You look really lovely. That dress is fantastic on you. I take my own photos and even though I usually take my photos in relatively public places I always crop out cars & people & point my camera away from the roads & buildings.
I'm a fan of the more rural photography too though.

Valerie Enríquez said...

Love the landscape, your dress and hair! I think it's interesting how sometimes photos don't tell the whole story, but that's what makes it fascinating, in terms of what people decide to show. It certainly provides space for a unique narrative such as yours! x

Anonymous said...

One of the reasons I love your blog so much aside from you being super cute and dressing so feminine and unique, is of course the photography! You always show us a great variaty of amazing places, and beautiful views, this is no exception and I have to say you look breath taking on the first picture! Kind of reminds me to Alice in Wonderland!

Cess O. <3 The Outfit Diaries

welldressedmaker said...

you DO look like an enchanted being! I love these photos and always WISH I could look as good as you always do in all your posts! I adore that dress-- the little bow is so cute!

♥ laura
the blog of worldly delights

C.G. Koens said...

"Perspective is everything" - isn't that the truth?! Not just when you're taking pictures, but in life in general. Looks like you had fun, but glad to hear you warmed up as well. ;-)

Amber said...

I often pick secluded spots in the country as well so as to avoid onlookers. I mean I get why people would be interested to see whats going on with the weird girl and her camera but many times people will stop and stare....for a long time...so weird. Anyhoo, you look lovely in your country backdrop.

Annalise said...

Aww...these photos are lovely. You look just perfect in your Nadinoo dress. This was one of my favorite prints and I like that you paired it with the polka dot tights, totally unexpected! I hope you're staying warm and having a fantastic weekend.
XOXO

Celia said...

What a gorgeous dress! And I love the setting, it really looks like some little town in the countryside. I am guilty of not working too hard on my backgrounds, but it just makes more sense to me to snap my outfit photos wherever I am with little to no planning. Or maybe I'm a bit lazy!

Emily, Ruby Slipper Journeys said...

@Celia: I wouldn't say I do too much "planning" most of the time... it's more a case of taking advantage of good places as we're walking by, and trying to match the colours reasonably to the outfits!

Unknown said...

Ha, it's pretty magical what a setting can add to a photo! Lately I've been trying harder to get scenic backgrounds going on in my outfit photos every now and then, but mostly I settle for a brick building or something. I love these photos! That dress is so great :)

his_girl_friday said...

Love that change of perspective (and those polka-dot tights)!

Rebecca said...

So right about the background. I hate it so much when someone wanders past giving me that why are taking photos of yourself look. The Nadinoo dress is beautiful and I think you chose a very fitting backdrop for it.

Annebeth said...

I love you and your overthinking, I have been thinking about what our selective photography tells readers as well.

This dress is even more amazing than the first time I saw it on this blog, the colors are stunning and sophisticated and blend into the background beautifully.

caitlin said...

this is so lovely :) i have become increasingly frustrated with photo-taking lately, mostly because my usual spot is along a road and people are not shy about swinging their heads out the window while driving to figure out what the heck i'm doing. and then they are not afraid to ask. it's amazing to me that i can live basically in the middle of nowhere and i can't find a good spot to myself...

maybe i just need to tempt k into taking my photos by offering him wiener schnitzel..

Virginie said...

Is that the December dress?

It's absolutely beautiful and so is the scenery my dear :)

Virginie xo

Monsterchen said...

oh this dress is really really adorable darling! i love the print, the bow and how you paired it with dotted tights and well of course the setting of your pictures is great!
kiss,mary
http://maryloucinnamon.blogspot.com

Cat said...

Emily, that dress was made for you, you look stunning! And I love how you've paired it up with polka dot tights...really gorgeous.

I often end up with photo gatecrashers - because, as you know, there's barely an inch of London which isn't filled with people - but I'm slowly learning to ignore them and crop them out of my photos... I really wish I'd started blogging when I lived in Strasbourg - not only was it super pretty, it was practically deserted in comparison and would have made for some amazing tree nymph-inspired photos! Oh well, at least I can achieve that vicariously through your pretty pictures in Bonn...

Cat xxx
http://www.takecourageblog.com/