#freshnetworks

[bymaryam]

Followers pls ignore, thanks x

HEY GUYS! Sooo i'm Maryam, 16 years young, from the netherlands.. So first of all i love both of your blogs!! And yeah, i would love to join this network because i want to meet new people and make new friends. I also want to help people with voting, promos, html, etc. If i get chosen, it will be my first network since i've changed from tropical to gypsy/indie! Well good luck with choosing people for this awesome network! LOVE xxxx

[unswear]

hi! i just reblogged your post about the fresh network by which i discovered your blog, and i wanted to say that i absolutely looove your blog! xx

aw thanks xx your blog is fab too and nice url ^_^ it’s very refreshing hahahahahah see what i did there 

[unswear]

hi i just saw the fresh networks thing and you should choose me cause im from Strya too and i need friends so please think about choosing me and i saw you like teen wolf and im obsessed the end xx

Aw this is so cute idek!! We’ll definitely consider you AND OH MY GOD HOW HOT IS DYLAN OBRIEN hahahah. thanks so much for messaging me xoxo

[freshnetworks]

DONT DELETE TEXT IT WONT SHOW UP ON YOUR BLOG AND WE WILL TORTURE YOU IF YOU DO.

✌ FRESHNETWORKS ✌

Choosing about 20 people to be in our new network!!! 

✺ Rules:

Must Be Following the admins Adeleine & Chloe

Reblog this post for a chance to be picked!! (likes will not be counted)

Any blog type!!! Preferably: on of these blog types: (Fresh/Indie/Gypsie/Fashion/Models/Beach/Vertical)

Must be willing to put a cool badge on your blog for our network/A link to the network on your blog

✺ Perks:

You will gain more followers !! and the admins will follow you :)

You will get some friends (hopefully us, the admins ;) )

Help with your html

Blog advice and advice in general

We can do promos together :D 

✺We will be picking based on the amazingness of your blog 

✺Don't have to have heaps of followers

✺ We will have lots of fun too!!! Yay

✺We will check out every blog !!!

*network blog is still under construction*

*You can also tag a post about why you want to be in this network with #freshnetworks

+We will pick when we're happy with the notes and hopefully this actually gets notes :) 

[matsmithphotography]

Wish You Were At Topshop

Whilst the iPad 2 is probably one of the bluntest photographic tools imaginable (even my out-of-date iPhone fares better in terms of image quality), I have always believed the quality of a photograph depends not on the lens itself, but what happens in front of it. And of course the light.

One of the joys of the sorely-missed Polaroid era was its instant gratification appeal; where friends could see the image straight away, burst out laughing, and take another. As a photographer who adored working with Polaroid SLR, it makes my heart flutter just thinking about it.

Even just working with a single model, Polaroid SLR created this incredible synthesis between photographer and subject that has so far not been recreated even in the digital age we now live in. Just take a look at the excellent work of Lou O' Bedlam, one of the superstars of Polaroid for example. Or take a look through my own little love affair with Polaroid.

This week I'm photographing for Topshop in Dublin, and next week the same in the Broadway store in New York. It's for Topshop's "Wish You Were Here" promotion. This is one of those inspired ideas of the digital age which you only really 'get' once you see it in action. But within a matter of minutes of greeting shoppers who agree to step-in to the studio, they are induced into fits of giggles and delight - and handed a gorgeous postcard print-out of their shot. With their permission, the photo may optionally be uploaded to their Facebook profile as well.

The concept features an interactive style of photography using an iPad 2 connected wirelessly to a nearby table of iMacs.

[caption id="attachment_714" align="alignnone" width="620" caption="Topshop Dublin Floor Setup"][/caption]

Shoppers are invited into the mini-studio which has been set up on the shop floor, and they are allowed to dress up using a rail of clothing and accessories. Promotional staff, personal shoppers, and stylists are on-hand to help out. Mirrors and a makeup station are provided. In special cases where shoppers have their eye on a particular outfit they have seen in the store, they can change into it and come for the shoot.

We then work with the models to get the very best out of them for the few minutes they have in front of the lighting, suggesting poses and offering encouraging words. The studio lighting is adjusted for each model so as to get the best catchlight in the eyes and offer the best level of diffusion for the skin tones. This takes a matter of seconds during which time models can get themselves ready in front of the lights and prepare.

A couple of test shots are taken on the iPad which allow the models to check they are happy with their poses and expressions.

Then we hand over the iPad 2, and let models choose their preferred Instagram filter.

[caption id="attachment_711" align="alignnone" width="620" caption="Dress-up"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_720" align="alignnone" width="620" caption="Taking the shot"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_719" align="alignnone" width="620" caption="Taking the shot"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_718" align="alignnone" width="620" caption="Previewing the shot"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_712" align="alignnone" width="620" caption="Choosing the Instagram Filter"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_713" align="alignnone" width="620" caption="Choosing the photo style"][/caption]

In many cases, we have a filter in mind when we take the shot. Sometimes you see a face and you just know what works...

[caption id="attachment_722" align="alignnone" width="294" caption="The Instagram Result - Day 2 @ Topshop Dublin"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_724" align="alignnone" width="294" caption="The Instagram Result - Day 2 @ Dublin Topshop"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_723" align="alignnone" width="294" caption="The Instagram Result - Day 2 @ Dublin Topshop"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_725" align="alignnone" width="294" caption="The Instagram Result - Day 2 @ Dublin Topshop"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_741" align="alignnone" width="294" caption="The Instagram Result - Day 1 @ Dublin Topshop"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_739" align="alignnone" width="294" caption="The Instagram Result - Day 2 @ Dublin Topshop"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_742" align="alignnone" width="294" caption="The Instagram Result - Day 1 @ Dublin Topshop"][/caption]

Even after the first two days of shooting - as I write - the overall concept of the 'Wish You Were At Topshop' promotion has been a huge success. For me it somehow captures that same cult spirit of Polaroid.

It's one of those projects where the technology becomes a little bit transparent, allowing the visual and kinesthetic pleasures of making photographs to take the stage again. This is mostly thanks to the great system design by FreshNetworks which automates the entire process and packages it beautifully.

And the concept itself? The combination of the grabbable iPad, the playable Instagram, the ubiquitous Facebook, the gleaming iMacs, and plain-old good quality 6x4 instant printing is clearly one that has already won a number of hearts.

I'd be surprised if the whole thing didn't turn into a craze in itself.

In fact, at times, it makes you want to throw away your 5D and use an iPhone to take photos for the rest of your life.

Okay - maybe I'm not ready for that quite yet ...