I'VE MOVED

Come and join me at my new home. I'm still settling in, so excuse the mess... but head over to www.lucyolive.co.nz and check it out!

See you there kids.

INSTAGRAM :: SUMMER MOMENTS

The summer break was, quite frankly, awesome. Even though a quarter of my holiday was shaved off (I was called into work early, which is all good!) the summer break was exactly as it should be – jam-packed with adventures and happy moments. So much so that when selecting images from my Instagram account to feature as my holiday wrap-up, I had trouble selecting which ones summed up my break best... and that's just from Instagram pics! Part of the trouble is that New Zealand is probably the most beautiful country ever, I wish I was just as photogenic. Did you have a nice time welcoming in the new year? Without further ado (and in no particular order), here is my collection of summer bliss:

WEEKENDS :: RUFFLED FEATHERS

Aside from eating cake, there's little more fun than being a fly on the wall and watching seven cakes being beautifully decorated. That's exactly what happened at Made From Scratch's ruffle cake class on the weekend – I was trying not to drool as I took a few snaps! Don't they look so cute? I highly recommend going along and learning how to do it from Rachael, it's a bit of a skill getting the ruffling right.

PHOTOSHOP MANIPULATION

Click to view before and after transition

Billboards, magazines, catalogues... don't trust 'em! We all know that Photoshop is a powerful tool; a tool that can be used for good or for evil. But where is the balance? I don't trust that any printed image I see these days is the 'original'. I use Photoshop daily, and it really is amazing how much an image can be transformed. Just for kicks, I got Ben to take my photo. I then spent about 20 minutes adjusting myself – colourings, face shape, eyebrow plucking, lip plumping, hair smoothing; the works!

WEDDING DAY :: EXTENDED

I gave you a little peek of my wedding day, but here is the extended post filled with photos and the little details that made our day so wonderful. I mean, you only get married once (hopefully!) so I want to keep the day going for as long as I can, haha!

WEEKENDS :: PUPPY DAYS

Now what? How do I follow that photo up with some words? There's nothing in my vocabulary suitable for captioning baby Juno. All I can do is coo and flail my limp-wristed hands. The same goes for the photos below... wait, did I just hear myself squeal? Or was that you?

WEEKENDS :: FOGGY AUCKLAND

While most people shy away at the idea of getting up early on a weekend, I adore flagging the sleep in and making the most of time off. Ben and I got up early for a spot of fishing with my Dad. As we drove along the motorway and over the harbour bridge, we were baffled by the spookily foggy Auckland morning.

HELLO WEATHER

Design and innovation – two things that are slowly but surely taking over the world and making every day just that little bit better. Even something as banal as checking the weather has become charming and sweet! Introducing Hello Weather – the cute way to see your local forecast. Through low-fi photos featuring lightbulbs, water and cardboard cut outs, Hello Weather shows that even the mundane tasks can be inviting and fun. Check it out!

OLIVER MORRIS

This beautifully haunting photography makes you want to whisper. Oliver Morris, an 18 year old guy from England, specialises in double exposures. His style mixes "fine art and some elements of fashion", with his overlapping subjects never seeming out of place. These images tell me to take off my shoes and tread around lightly in a calm forest. Check out more stunning photography below!

NATURE + PORTRAIT COLLAGE

There's something about the work of Matt Wisniewski that is very special. The concept of his digital collages are simple enough – find striking fashion portraits and mix them with textures and elements of nature. The end result is truly striking... I especially love the pieces infused with clouds and water, how gorgeously ethereal are they? Check out more of his awesome work below.