#130: Donna.

Last post of 2011 with the last pictures from this year. I met Donna (also known as Bad Lay-Dee; check out a recent ska project she's a part of @ Soundcloud ) a few month ago in a pub in East London and she happened to be looking for someone to do a shoot for her. On one beautiful November afternoon we wandered the streets of Hoxton taking pictures. These are just a couple of my favourite photographs from the shoot:

Model: Donna / Bad Lay-Dee
Make Up: Neil Young
Hair: Eri @ Salon496
London, 2011.

On a completely different note, I want to say thanks to everyone who followed my blog this year. Also, big thank you to everyone who I collaborated with and who in any way contributed to the existence of this blog (and especially all the people involved in the creation of my Degree Show project). You guys are great and I wish you all a delightfully drunken New Years weekend and a creative, productive and inspiring 2012. Happy New Year!

Love,
Maria

#129: Man who flew away.

John.
London, 2011.

#128: True Skills.

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to document one of the initial events for the KX True Skills campaign that is fully launching in 2012. The project is providing young people with an opportunity to try and learn new hobbies, such as capoeira, boxing, street dancing and street illustration/graffiti. I thought it was a great idea so last Saturday I packed my gear and caught a train to Chelmsford, where the third KX True Skills event was taking place.
The Chelmsford event included music, boxing, street dancing and street illustration workshops all led by experienced mentors.  It was rather inspiring seeing participants (who surprisingly were mostly boys) so engaged into activities that they seemed to barely notice a fair number of cameras pointed at them. I think my favourite part was street dancing workshop as it really brought people together and looked like a lot of fun (to be perfectly honest, it made me wish I could just join in and dance instead of taking pictures!) I believe that this kind of events, encouraging young people to get involved into sports, music, arts and other activities, are extremely valuable and I hope the KX True Skills project will continue inspiring the youth on even bigger scale. Now onto the pictures!..

Chelmsford, 2011.

More info @ www.facebook.com/KXenergy 

#127: Escapism.

Berlin, 2011.

#126: Clean.

Last month I was lucky enough to take behind the scenes photos of The First Fleet recording their EP on a boat. No, your eyes aren't lying, I really said boat. The EP 'Clean' was recorded in a studio on an actual ship, LightShip95. It was an interesting eye-opening experience; made me realize just how much hard work and effort it takes to record an album, especially when you have to do a few months worth of work in only a week. Being around this bunch of amazingly talented, beautiful and friendly individuals so passionate about what they're doing was also truly inspiring. Heaps fun and heaps of pictures at the end of the day... After what was probably the longest time it ever took me to edit a shoot, I'm finally sharing it with you guys.

MORE PICTURES @ FACEBOOK.

Tristan, Rae & Michael.
London, 2011.