liquidnight:Julia Margaret Cameron
The Gardener’s Daughter (Mary Ryan), 1870
Albumen print
From Julia Margaret Cameron’s Women
“The Loveliest Girl in the World is a stunningly beautiful book.
In these fantasy-like pictures young women reveal the most hidden and fragile sides of themselves. There are no problem children in foster homes, but fairies.”
I walked into a book store today looking for a graduation present for my cousin, when I ran by chance into Miina Savolainen, the author/photographer of The Loveliest Girl in the World, an art book full of foster home girls photographed as the heroines of their own internal fantasies.
Already familiar with the book and the photos, I knew the photographs are a kind of therapy for the girls. This combined with the fairy tale theme and my short talk with the author ended up with me buying myself a fairly pricey art book for Christmas. She wrote such a wonderful, beautiful and personal dedication to me and gave me a hug, I was quite overwhelmed.
Press photos of the book:
In recent years, biologists have recognized that birds engage in play. Juvenile Common Ravens are among the most playful of bird species. They have been observed to slide down snowbanks, apparently purely for fun. They even engage in games with other species, such as playing catch-me-if-you-can with wolves, otters and dogs.[77] Common Ravens are known for spectacular aerobatic displays, such as flying in loops or interlocking talons with each other in flight.[78][79]
They are also one of only a few wild animals who make their own toys. They have been observed breaking off twigs to play with socially.
Quoth the Raven, “WHEEEEEEE!!!”
