Portrait exchange

Shot and edited by Cristina Massagué and Natasha Schubert.

A photograph says many things. They say it's worth a thousand words. 

However, it is the monochromatic portraits that embark upon ones imagination. They show less than those pictures flooded by saturated colours, but, at the same time, they manage to show both flaws and virtues equally as well. It may even be the lack of chromaticism that gives free rein to the spectators most ambiguous thoughts but, what I think is most intriguing, are the thoughts rushing through the one who is portrayed. It's easy to get one's brains tangled up by thousands of assumptions. But who is ever right, and who is ever wrong?  A fierce gaze has the power to reach up to the spectator - as if realities barriers were nothing but a transparent veil- but maybe the fierceness of it,of the gaze, is a simple force of telepathy trying to hum a soothing lullaby.  

This post is a compilation of two sets of portraits. The first shots are the ones I took of Cristina Massagué, a friend with whom I share many interests, one of which is Photography. The second lot were taken by Cris and it was my time to pose. Aiming to enhance attitude and dynamism, I secured Cris in her comfort zone, encouraging her to give me her best dance moves - as she is also a great 'Funky' and Ballet performer- And these pictures are the result.

Natasha Schubert.

xoxoxoxo      

ps: video coming soon! 

A Twin-Tale.

Featuring Alice and Gabriela from Fashion Oxygen 

Only few have randomly found that place for which no map is designed and no path will guide. Hidden amongst yawning valleys and across those tormented seas, lies a remote, but magical resort, only discretely revealed in the most well known fairy tales.

In that previously mentioned hidden corner of an unknown continent, where nutcrackers had a life of their own , lived a couple of bubbly girls who spent their days together doing anything they pleased.  A day for them had nothing to do with the Occidental conception of time. A day was a simple recession of countless hours ticked-tocked down by the arrhythmic needles of large wooden clocks.  Those who knew them well would realize they were twins and, only once this was revealed would other secrets be unravelled. Not the kind of secret whispered in a humming but impish manner into one’s ear though, as those are the least clandestine! Like sprinkling magic powders onto cupcake icing: everyone knew that. I’m referring to the kind of secrets unriddled by the much carefully picked words Charles Perrault, the Grimm Brothers and Mr Andersen -only to mention a few- used to build their tales. They managed to hitch-hike the mentioned valleys and cross those fierce seas to discover what then became the heart of their own creations. Some did dare to ask, thus they swore secrecy to never give away the coordinates, a fact that resolves the present question of why succeeding fairy-tales haven’t been as fantastic and utopian.

This hidden corner of that unknown continent where rocking horses gallop across the seven skies, where never-to-be-seen creatures mooch around and live amongst the thickest tree-roots, where living soft toys gather at tea parties  (who also eat the magic-powdered cupcakes) is, what I call, Wonderland.

  

Hugs and Kisses to you all

NS

xxx

A preppy and sweet look will always work when assisting a garden tea party. Gabs is wearing a pale pink Zara dress and, right before her is Alice whom, by sitting in my navy blue vintage dress, nibbles at our home-made cupcakes. Perfect for sweet-tooth twins!

Gabriella's personally hand-made jumpsuits have been put together with a vintage white lace body, worn by Gabs, and an Urban Outfitters top. Playful and simple, adore it!

What better than a navy inspired outfit to complete this setting? Alice's outfits consists of a French Connection short sleeved shirt together  with a hand-made skirt by Gabs. Playing along and teasing back, Gabs matched up a HM shirt with yet another own created skirt. Both swinging their feet in Topshop socks, they looked like a pair of cheeky twins!

resting in a garden cart, Alice put on a simple navy blue American Apparel skirt whilst Gabriella wore a pair of high waisted with scalop hems shorts that I made last summer. As for their tops, we combined these outfits with an Urban Outfitters top for Alice and a personal vintage purchased top for Gabs.

Whilst enjoying the sun strays before jumping into the pool, Gabriella wore for this set of pictures an American Apparel swimsuit and a Brandy Melville skirt and Alice flung on my vintage one-piece swimsuit. 

A little glimpse to further collaboration with Fashion Oxygen.
Enjoy <3 

Cast Away.

"And cast your words away upon the waves, sail them home with acquiesce on a ship of hope today" Oasis

The Sun did wonders that afternoon on the Barcelona beach whilst slowly  submerging its self behind the horizon. Every sun kissed inch of the surface reflected a nuance of contrasting shades making it seem as a never-ending chromatic metamorphosis. Celia’s dazzling skin tone made the striking colours of Clara’s stylism work wonders. Seeming as if the saturated tones diverged with the golden sun strays, one could figure that that mid -summer afternoon was soon to be subdued by eve.  The pressure of the sun light fading was cheered by the roaring waves which broke, softly, onto the sparkly shore. Soon after having fulfilled our mission, we realized that what was actually about to happen had little to do with lacking time before the sun had disappeared, but that the Heavens were about to open and plunging rain drops were about to soothe the scorching Barcelona beach. 

The following pictures are thoughtfully ordered as so to resemble the approaching eve. Never forgetting it is summer, Clara Ripollès put several unique and lively outfits together: simply perfect for the occasion. 

Big Kiss to all of you!

NS

Ps: I've added some descriptions of clothes down below! Plus I attached bits and pieaces of my inspirational board!  

 

1. In this threesome set of pics above, Celia is wearing a red striped blouse from Shana, together with an American Apparel high-waisted black bikini bottom. To give it a clashy touch, we used Clara's denim jacket exquisitely accessorized by her (see in the video).

2. The Red Polka dot Zara dress suited the yellow & Other Stories top perfectly resulting in a striking contrast.

3. This look is quite simple yet particular on its own. Clara pulled out a neon-pink coloured H&M jumper, and paired it up with these Polka dot shorts -originally skinny trousers from Top Shop- which, as a matter of fact, could do perfectly as beach wear. The dots together with the knitted jumper make the different textures quite riveting to my taste, as well as giving it a fun touch.

4. Perfect to wear when having spent enough time under the flattering sun, this fine yet casual Maracuyá blazer adds some spice to the classic cut American Apparel swim wear. Simply adore it!

5. Does this pic look familiar? Well, I couldn't take the drawing I posted three days ago out of my head, so, as soon as I saw this vintage, lively coloured one-piece swimsuit, I new I just had to go for it and make the bidimensional sketch become part of my reality. So, are there any border lines between fantasy and reality?

6. For when the sun strays were limping and stretching out their last bit of light before being harassed my grey clouds,  we decided to finish off the shoot with this outfit: bohemian printed & Other Stories bikini top and a long white skirt, making Celia perfectly resemble a stranded mermaid.