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Drayton family tomb. Crack from the 1886 earthquake.

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I dream.

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Charleston from the Cooper River en route to Fort Sumter

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Thank you Jamie drake! Never cease to amaze

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The mens room at the 21 Club. Yes its a man wizzing into a fish bowl and a flapper enjoying the spray on her fanny. Can you see the surprise on the face of the fish? Or the dog wizzing on the mans pant leg. I'm telling ya. They knew how to do it back then. Sure beats tile.

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DV stationary from Connor.  I'm swooning. It will go perfectly in my Vreeland inspired office. 

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wehadfacesthen:

-via my-ear-trumpet from unwords:

Musical stars Madge Elliott and Cyril Ritchard’s wedding, St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, 16 September 1935 / photograph by Sam Hood by State Library of New South Wales collection on Flickr.

Where did names like Madge and Cyril go?

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Galadrial and the Elf Warrior storm the Boom Boom Room. What a NIGHT!

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The always inspiring Heidi Rosenau and my favorite Frick friend!

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Here is my look tonight for the Brooklyn Museum 1920's exhibit opening. Soumanjoy instantly emailed that I am the spitting image of the great Indian Freedom Fighter Bhagat Singh. One day in the ole tanning salon and hey ho!

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Last year Rose came a calling to shoot me for a book on Dandies she is working on. We had a blast and they are still some of my favorite pictures of the house and clothes. Fingers crossed for her that the book comes to glittering life.

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Happy Diwali everyone! Here is what India looks like from space during the celebrations. I'll be there one day (nudge, nudge to Soumanjoy)

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And on another drag note.... one of my favorite videos from the olden days.

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A little peak from Arias with a Twist. I had chills...!

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One of the most magical shows I have seen in New York in many years. I cried from the sheer genius and beauty of it. Congrats Joey. 

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michelleviolyharper:

CECIL BEATON

 “I SEE, I COLLECT, THEREFORE I AM” 

Assouline produced one of the greatest books I have seen in ages, “Cecil Beaton: The Art of The Scrapbook” - a true object of beauty filled with content one can pour over for hours … and now The Museum of The City of New York will open an exhibition Oct. 25-Feb. 20 focusing on Cecil Beaton’s New York years along with a catalog which I’m sure will be superlatively informative and beautiful.

Why do I find Cecil Beaton so interesting? Not for his stunning photographic work alone, placing him on the list of the world’s most important photographers, but also for his understanding that the social circles he ran in, success, and persona he created were examples of the artifice of living theater. This spectacle, a brand that he had to create in order for him to get certain images and get them out there, is something I think we can all identify with…

His friend Truman Capote quoted him as calling it “self-creation” and mentioned it was something Beaton knew could never let up.

This is no way depreciates or diminishes Mr. Beaton’s talent which shone not only in the realization and frank understanding of this social condition, but also in his photos many of which one could say were created in part due to this.

Less interesting to me are those posh slick portraits of famous wives, royalty, and actresses, so graceful and perfect … a signature of his work, where the client was sliced and reworked until she reached a state of idealism that would bring her much joy and bring him much praise, acceptance, and further commissions.

Far more interesting for me, are his photos incorporating greater elements of reality in detail, glittering fantasy, and experimental lighting set design & composition.

Beaton, a somewhat outsider hell-bent on climbing to the top, achieved a typical outsider’s manner that indicated mutual affinity and loathing towards his subjects. Once accepted, celebrated and at the top of his game, beautiful photos kept flowing, and so did his cut-throat bitterness.

No one can ever take Beaton’s brilliance or talent away, a legacy to photographic excellency - however there another lesson to take away while looking at his life and work - the life story of the

INSIDER OUTSIDER

Perhaps in, but always outside.

Beautiful & Ugly dancing together

A duality making Beaton’s work & life all the more ruminant & interesting.

X

M.

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I click on this probably once a week to take myself back to Mozambique and that perfect week with Price and Max. Enjoy.