Oh Wolfie

We finally went and saw the Wolfgang Tillmans show at the Serpentine Gallery this weekend, and really enjoyed it - something about his photos is very satisfying and engaging... he just seems to notice everything - it's that moment when you're walking down an empty street and see something small happen and realise you're the only person to see it - he records those moments... when you feel you're seeing something in a way that no-one else will... also on show his more abstract installations of prints of pure colour. On until 29 August.

Kate Moss vs Mario Testino

We popped into Phillips de Pury in Victoria to check out this collection of photos of Kate Moss by Mario Testino. The collaboration between the two over I guess the 2000s, was billed as on a par with the relationship between David Bailey and Jean Shrimpton, though this was certainly not the case of innocent model and up and coming photographer at this point - but rather two people at the top of their respective games. Our favourite appeared to be a self portrait on toy camera by Moss herself. The cute guy working there said to us 'it's a snip at 35 grand'. 'What a cheek', I said. 'Testino didn't even take this one'. Sadly my words were lost to history, our cute friend having left the room before he could be impressed by our wit. Oh well. The auction is on today at Phillips de Pury on Howick Place, the photos will be on display at the Saatchi Gallery from tomorrow.

Sally Mann

The Family and The Land, at the Photographers Gallery until 19 September.

Coming Up For Air

We're very proud of our copy of Stephen Gill's beautiful new book, launched last night at the Photographer's Gallery.

Stephen Gill

From old junk for sale at a market in Hackney Wick to deserted half-cleared spaces destined to become London 2012 Olympic sites, Stephen Gill is there with his camera to record it all. One of our favourites, A Series of Disappointments, is a collection of photos of discarded betting slips, each one twisted, folded or screwed up in different ways by frustrated punters at the William Hill. In his photos the essence of life is to be found in what we have left behind. Stephen Gill self-publishes collections of his own work, the latest of which, Coming Up for Air, of photos taken in 2008 and 2009 while in Japan, will be launching at Photographers Gallery with a signing on 1 July from 6pm. We are officially excited.

From Hackney Flowers


From Hackney Wick


From A Series of Disappointments


All photos Stephen Gill

Italian Hand Gestures

Our favourite souvenir from Milan had to be this beautiful little book, originally written and designed in 1963 by Bruno Munari and recently republished. Some classics and some new ones to confound your non Italian friends. Especially good for drivers stuck in traffic.

Lightning and Kinglyface : Narcissus

Lovely Lightning and Kinglyface have created an installation in the basement of ad agency Fallon's offices on Great Titchfield St, based on the myth of Narcissus, in collaboration with photographer Thomas Brown. 'A photoshoot that grew into something completely different' was how Anna of the Lightnings described it to us - they created mirrored structures for a project with Brown, which evolved into this room sized piece. Meanwhile at the front of the space four exquisite prints of Browns photos take pride of place. Lightning and Kinglyface are going from strength to strength just now, having recently showcased work in Selfridges windows, and soon temporarily relocating to Milan to install some giant foam mushrooms and deliver some lectures in Italian to their lucky Italian fans on their practise.

Despina Curtis

Despina Curtis, we like you! Such lovely styling work, lovely, clean, utilitarian and simultaneously glossy. Not on her site was work with Korner Union for Wallpaper* magazine which we've had on our noticeboard for ages - you might not be able to tell but the block of colour around the arrangement of furniture is all coloured paper taped to the interiors in such a way that it looks like a square from where the photographer is.




She also does the windows for Cos on Regent Street by Liberty which we'ved always liked, but didn't realise it was her. All images from Wallpaper* and Despina's own site.

The Girls : Paper Eaters at Selfridges

We really really like the show on now at Selfridges (so many shows on there these days) of The Girls! They've set up a photo studio specifically for making photo love story type magazines - which will always have a special place in our hearts for their brutal honesty/naffness/charm - some of yopu might know what I mean.





They've created a kind of fantasy playground with lots of argos disco traffic lights and neon pink hurricane fencing I guess to inspire people to new heights of romantic brilliance. Also on show short films, self portraits and lots and lots of paper cranes. Lots of them.






Illamasqua are doing make up trials as well, and of course there's always the chance to be in a photostory yourself - which will be published and on sale in magazine form at Selfridges too while the exhibition is on - until 29 April. Nice one, The Girls!

Anna Fox at Deutsche Borse

The annual Deutsche Borse Prize show has launched at the Photographers Gallery - it's a group show, split between four photographers. We especially liked the work of Anna Fox with her take on things we see everyday which are actually, on reflection, quite surreal.