Marissa Elman | Fashion & Photography

Marissa Elman is a lifelong lover of fashion and photography.

Why House Dresses Are Making A Comeback

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When most people think of a house dress, they usually picture their mothers and grandmothers wearing oversized, ankle-length dresses with bold floral patterns as they make breakfast for their families or clean their homes. Sitcoms from the ‘60s and ’70’s era often presented several examples of women in old fashioned house dresses. Considering the fact that no one really looks or feels attractive cleaning their bathtub, house dresses have always seemed to be a way to choose comfort over fashion when tackling household chores. Despite their less than appealing history, house dresses are making a comeback, and it’s not hard to see why.

 

The year 2020 has confined most people to their homes with minimal or no options for keeping up with their grooming, which further discourages most from even bothering to put any effort into their appearance. As a result, most women who are used to getting up extra early to make sure they are a little more than presentable for the workplace have found themselves hanging around the house all day makeup-free and wearing things they wouldn’t even wear on a quick store run. Wearing old t-shirts and sweats every day can become a drag over time and requires a change of wardrobe when it’s time to get down to business, which is why modern house dresses have captured the attention of women everywhere. There are finally house dresses comfortable enough for mopping floors and at the same time stylish enough for work zoom meetings sitting in your living room.

 

The old images of mothers and grandmothers in their old fashioned house dresses eating snacks and watching soap operas on the couch are being replaced with images of women who are doing it all and looking great while doing it. There is now an array of different fabrics and patterns of house dresses for women to choose from. Popular styles of house dresses include tie waisted, smocks, and shirt dresses, and most women are able to find options they love.

 

Everyone is attempting to return to their idea of normal everyday life, and modern house dresses are offering women a way to find a happy medium in fashion for their quarantined lives in the meantime.

How COVID Saved Kodak

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Kodak was a household name back in the days when laying your hands on a photograph meant taking out the roll of film in your camera and having it developed. Kodak attained a powerful market position in the 70s, accounting for 85% of the camera and 90% of film sales in the US. However, the firm’s failure to capitalize on digital photography, which was one of its many inventions, led to a downward spiral trend. So devastating were the effects of the digital era on Kodak that the company declared bankruptcy in 2012. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has saved Kodak as President Trump’s Government promised to loan the company capital to venture into the production of pharmaceutical ingredients for combating the virus.

Kodak’s Jump From a Fallen Photography Giant to a Pharmaceutical Producer

Kodak’s fear of hurting their film sales, if they capitalized on the newly invented digital camera, was a fatal mistake that came with adverse repercussions – the company exited the digital camera industry in 2012.

Over the last several years, Kodak has focused on the production of advanced chemicals. However, there has not been much to show for the effort. Until a few days ago, Kodak was another household name heading down the drain.

In an unexpected turn of events, the Trump administration has summoned Kodak and awarded the organization a contract to make ingredients for the production of generic drugs for COVID-19. The firm is a beneficiary of a government program to reduce the country’s foreign dependence on medical supplies. Nothing has made the implications of this foreign dependency clearer than the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kodak’s Failure to Adapt to the Digital Era Made It a Relic; Will the COVID-19 Pandemic Change That

Trump’s administration has given Kodak $765 million to produce ingredients for COVID-19 drugs. Many are heralding this as a big comeback by Kodak. However, some critics think that Kodak will be hard-pressed to manufacture these ingredients at a price that will compete with the offshore supplies. Only time will tell whether this is a comeback for Kodak or another opportunity to continue ‘surviving.’ Nevertheless if the immediate response to this news is anything to go by, better days lie ahead for Kodak.

Kodak Gains From COVID

Since winning a government loan to produce pharmaceutical ingredients, Kodak’s market valuation and the share price has risen consistently. In just a few days, the firm’s shares had more than tripled.

Kodak began the production of drug ingredients about four years ago. With the recent government loan, the firm is set to expand the production of medical elements in their facilities.

How Will the Fashion Industry Continue to Adapt in 2020?

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Everyone knows that 2020 has not been an ordinary year. Coronavirus has changed society and people’s daily routines. Considering that many people have been working from home, going out less, and spending less time in groups, people have been dressing differently. Here are some predictions regarding how fashion will continue to adapt in 2020.

One prominent example of how the Coronavirus could shape fashion choices is the normalization of face masks. While masks were not commonly seen in American society before, they are now essential for entering most businesses and stores due to social distancing protocols. Instead of plain disposable masks, popular fashion designers will be likely to continue making stylish, washable masks until the pandemic is over. Beards and long nails are also going to be less popular because beards make it harder to breathe in masks and long nails do not always feel comfortable under latex gloves.

Regarding popular fashion choices, athleisure happened to be growing in popularity before the pandemic. The fashion industry and society as a whole will be likely to embrace this trend now because it is more comfortable than dressier options but still can be styled in a fashion-forward way. People have been comfortable wearing athleisure during the pandemic and will continue to wear this type of clothing for a while. For this reason, the fashion industry will probably continue to produce more athleisure throughout 2020.

With all the new technological advancements in today’s modern society, people have the option to shop online through their computers, laptops, phones, and tablets. Online shopping has become popular in recent years and especially now because of Covid-19. Brands and clothing companies have been adapting to the pandemic by advertising their websites because the industry knows that some customers are not comfortable going into stores.

Another way that the Covid-19 lockdown will affect fashion trends is a strong increase in sustainability. The fashion industry will have to adapt by slowing down production and prioritizing quality over quantity. Durability is more important than excessive trendiness during a pandemic. Rather than obsessing over whatever trends are hottest at the moment resulting in fast fashion, the industry will have to produce quality clothing that will last longer.

The Best Digital Cameras of 2020

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Photography is a great hobby, passion, or career to get involved in as there are so many ways to enjoy photography and make art with it. While photography is wonderful, one of the most difficult aspects of it has to be the camera itself. There are so many types of cameras out there, all specializing in different things depending on the type of photos you’re trying to take. This can make choosing a camera extremely difficult for both beginners and seasoned photographers. That’s where this list comes in. Read on to learn about some of the best cameras currently on the market.

 

Sony A6100

If you’re a brand new photographer just beginning on their photography journey, the Sony A6100 is great for you. This compact camera is quite impressive, featuring Sony’s 425-point  hybrid autofocus system, a 24-megapixel APS-C sensor, the ability to shoot video in 4K, and much more. If you’re looking to upgrade to a Sony full-frame camera one day, this camera will go far due to having the same Sony E mount as the A7, meaning you can use all of the same lenses without having to get new ones. One of the biggest perks of this camera for beginners is the price, which usually falls around $750 – $800. While this may seem expensive, it’s actually quite tame for what a camera price can be.

 

Fujifilm X-T4

If you’re looking for the best digital camera overall, it’s hard to go wrong with the X-T4.  While it might not have the “biggest” or “best” of some of its overall quality is what really makes this camera shine. It sports a very classic design but has all of the modern features built-in, such as 4K video, a fully articulating monitor, and 5-axis sensor-shift stabilization, among other features. While many prior Fujifilm X-series cameras have been great, there’s almost always something that just isn’t right. With the X-T4, you don’t have to worry about that. Everything it does, it does great. It does come in at a whopping $1,700 though, so be prepared to spend a pretty penny if you’re thinking of getting it. 

 

Sony RX100 VII

If you’re someone who travels a lot and wants to bring home superior quality photos to remember your trip by, the Sony RX100 VII is the camera for you. This camera is tight and compact but packs a punch by having an awesome roster of features such as fast autofocus, a 3.5mm microphone port, no-blackout viewfinder, and much more. The RX100 has plenty of more advanced features as well, but the truly great thing about this camera is that you’re not forced to use them in order to get a great picture, making this a great camera for pros and just plain old enthusiasts. Price-wise, this camera falls right in between the other two cameras mentioned in this blog – right at $1,200.

Introduction to Contrast in Photography

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The use of contrast in photography is one of the most critical aspects of art. Knowing how to manipulate contrast will help improve your technique and photography overall. 

Contrast, simply put, means different. In photography, some of the most usual differences are changed by actually altering the changes in color or tone in the composition. Lowering or heightening the contrast in the photo can significantly alter the story your picture is telling. 

Creating an exciting color scheme involves some knowledge of color. You don’t need to have the eye for the color of Vincent Van Gogh; knowledge of or an on hand color wheel will suffice. A color wheel is a tool involved in a vast medium of art. It merely consists of the relationship between different colors. Using color schemes, you can play around with what colors provide. It’s easy to find complementary colors because they are located on the opposite side of the wheel.

An easy example is the juxtaposition of the colors green and red. They both compliment each other and cause their counterpart to pop or “stick out.” You can also classify colors into two categories, warm or cold. Combining a cold color with a warm color will provide contrast in your photo. 

The most popular form of contrast is called tonal contrast. Tonal contrast refers to the balance of brightness in different elements of an image. Those contrasting hues are very noticeable in black and white imagery. If the photo is both very dark and contains very bright tones, it has a high tonal contrast. If the image has a far range of tones from pure white to pure black, it is classified as a medium tonal interest. 

As you work on your photography and image editing sills, pay attention to your usage of contrast in both pre and post. Variation can change your story as much the actual image does. Play around with colors, tone, and brightness and, most importantly, have fun!

Introduction to White Balance

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Many photographers will start shooting in automatic mode, but once you start shooting in manual mode, you will gain so much more creative control over your images. The first three settings you should know about are the exposures settings: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. These settings are only the beginning, and your camera settings go beyond those three. Today’s blog focuses on white balance, which allows you to get the right color temperature in your photos. 

 

Color temperature is expressed in degrees Kelvin, and all sources of light have a color temperature whether you’re using natural light, fluorescents, professional speedlights, or LED panels. Color temperature works inversely to what we associate with temperature because “warm” colors fall at the lower end of the spectrum while “cool” colors are on the higher end. The lower the number, the warmer the color, and likewise, the cooler the color, the higher its color temperature. 

 

Colors that are warmer tend to read orange and fall around 2000K, and cooler colors, like that of moonlight are at the other end around 8000K-10,000K. Even the same light source can have variations of color temperature. Take the sun for example. Sunlight may look neutral at noon (within the ballpark of approximately 6000K) but can appear warm at sunrise or sunset. 

 

Our brains are remarkable and recognize colors even in different color temperatures. We understand that an apple is red whether we’re looking at it in warm light or cool light. A digital camera can approximate the color temperature of an object but doesn’t always compensate correctly. If you want to record accurate colors, you may be required to adjust your white balance settings. 

 

Your DSLR will often have white balance presets like Tungsten, Fluorescent, Daylight, Shade, and more that will help compensate for your lighting conditions. Sometimes, your camera may have even more refined controls and may let you adjust the values in Kelvins. Think of color temperature and white balance as opposites: warmer light falls lower on the Kelvin scale, so setting a lower number on your camera will cool down the image instead of warming it up. 

 

White balance is a powerful tool for accurate color correction, but it can also be used artistically. Knowing how to set your white balance settings can make a photo look natural, but they can also be used to do the opposite and make them look otherworldly.  

Buying a 35MM Camera

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The 35MM camera is the definition of vintage and class. When you think of a classic late 20th-century camera, the odds are it is the classic 35MM. 

 

If you’re looking for an affordable camera, check out secondhand sites like eBay or Craigslist for your camera needs. Some of the top brands are Canon, Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, or Pentax. They are all basic, top quality, and hardworking. Websites like Amazon have 35 mm film cases that can be bought affordably. Try to also look for a camera without the program mode in the hardware. The program mode can often make things too complicated for a beginner.

 

If you would like to get your hands on the camera before buying it, check out vintage stores. Many vintage stores have a 35MM camera in either working order, or simply for decoration and artistry. If you end up liking the camera, you can either buy it at the store or order the same make, model, and brand online or at another store. If you plan to buy the camera at a vintage store, make sure you run through all the shutter settings to make sure they aren’t sticking or damaged. 

 

It is also worth researching if replacement batteries are still available for the model you buy. Some batteries that are made with mercury are discontinued, or too expensive to buy. It doesn’t hurt to buy a camera from a store with a return policy or a warranty, just in case a cheaper 35mm comes with any challenges or damage. If you have money to spare, we recommend the Leica M series.

 

The 35MM camera is a beautiful and historical piece to use when taking pictures. Keep an eye out for our following blogs on the history and usage of the 35MM camera.

 

Photographer Spotlight: Ansel Adams

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Ansel Adams

Ansel Adams is most known for his scenic photography of the American West. He’s known for using his photographs to promote conservation of the wilderness. He’s an icon in the photography world for his black and white images.

 

Early Life

Adams was born on February 20, 1902, in San Francisco, California. He broke his nose and was injured in the San Francisco earthquake of 1906.

 

Adams made a trip in 1916 to Yosemite National Park where his love of photography was born. He began experimenting with darkroom techniques and reading photography magazines. He sold some of these photographs at Best’s Studio in Yosemite Valley.

 

He actually married the daughter of Best’s Studio proprietor, Virginia Best, in 1928. After her father’s death, the couple continued to operate the studio. It is now known as the Ansel Adams Gallery.

 

Career

Adams broke through the world of photography into fame with his publication of his first portfolio, Parmelian Prints of the High Sierras. This included one of his most famous images,“Monolith, the Face of Half Dome.”

 

From here, Adams focuses on detailed close-ups of nature. He photographed everything from farms, mountains, and factories. He studied with artists like Georgia O’Keefe and Paul Strand. He published photography art books about his work.

 

He joined other artists/photographers Walker Evans and Dorothea Lange using his fame to bring social change through art. He worked to protect the wilderness areas like Yosemite National Park. He also photographed life in camps during World War II. One of his most iconic shots was titled, “Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico.” This was a shot of a moon rising over a village weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor. He made over 1,000 prints of this at the time skyrocketing him into fame in the photography and art world.

 

Later Life

The 1960s brought the appreciation of art photography to life. Adams’ images were shown in many galleries and museums throughout the world. Adams printed negatives of his artwork to meet the high demand for his black and white works of art.

 

Adams died on April 22, 1984, of a heart attack, at age 82. Adams is a photography icon whose work lives on in his beautiful nature prints.

Pros and Cons of Thrift Shopping

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Thrift shops and second-hand stores offer a unique experience for shoppers looking for a bargain or a fun find. Whether you are shopping for a new outfit, an accessory, or a random household item, thrift shops are great places to look for a number of reasons. However, before venturing into a thrift shop, it is important to consider some of the potential downsides to thrift shopping.

 

PROS

One of the best things about thrift shopping is how fun it can be. Finding something unique, exciting, or even valuable at a thrift shop can be a great experience. While the items at a thrift shop can be random, a lot of individuals tend to donate items that are high quality or brand name. Even if the items are out of season or slightly worn, shopping at a thrift shop allows individuals to purchase and own items they might otherwise be unable to afford. Additionally, because thrift shops sell only items that have been previously owned, they are sold at a lower price, making the task of saving money easy.

Buying from thrift stores often means supporting a charitable organization or providing job opportunities to individuals with disabilities. Thrift shopping inherently promotes social responsibility, making the act of shopping at a thrift shop more appearing on a moral level. Similarly, donating to and buying from thrift shops can actually help the environment; more than 10 million tons of used clothing are dumped into landfills each year in the United States, so buying secondhand can be considered a kind of recycling.

 

CONS

Thrift shops are great resources, but there are a few caveats. When shopping at a thrift shop, you should be careful to carefully inspect the items you are looking to purchase. Some items may have been donated because they were damaged, so identifying if there are any major issues before making a purchase is essential. Similarly, some items such as articles of clothing, shoes, or blankets may have been donated without being washed. These items may carry germs or possess an odor; in such cases, you can consider washing fabric items with vinegar to disinfect them and remove any unpleasant smells.

Another thing to remember is that items purchased at a thrift shop may not last as long as brand new items.

You may be able to find exciting things in a thrift shop, but many shops are not as well-organized as other stores. Because of this, you may feel stressed as you shop due to blocked aisles, crowds, or the amount of time necessary to navigate around the space.

 

At times, thrift shopping may cause some stress for a number of reasons, but overall, visiting a thrift shop once in a while is a fun, productive experience. From helping your community to finding new additions to your wardrobe, thrift shopping is a great way to spend your time.

5 Trends to Avoid This Winter

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The world of fashion is increasingly fast-paced. Trends seem to change at lightning speed. Last season’s must-haves quickly become this season’s faux pas. Avoid embarrassment this winter season. Don’t be caught dead in any of these out-of-style pieces.

 

  1. Cropped Coats

Cropped coats have been popular in the past, but it’s time for a new queen bee. This season is all about dramatic, full-length coats. They are warmer as well as more mature. A camel colored coat is a classic and timeless piece that fits this trend. A fur or faux-fur choice is a more glamorous and attention-grabbing option that also aids in providing sufficient warmth.

 

  1. Over-the-knee boots

Over-the-knee and thigh-high boots seemed to be everywhere over the last few years, knocking knee-high boots out of their once-popular ranking. Fashion is always cyclical, and knee-high boots have made a comeback. Equestrian boots are among the most popular styles. However, motorcycle boots and heeled animal print boots, such as snakeskin, are bolder choices that can add extra flair to your outfit. Avoid boots that rise above the knee if you want to appear fashion-forward this season.

 

  1. Mini Dresses

Mini dresses were a unique trend for winter in the past. Perhaps they were downright inappropriate since winter is not a time for warm-weather clothing. Mini dresses are being replaced with warmer, more appropriate options such as ankle-length or midi-length dresses.

 

  1. Vinyl

The age of vinyl is gone. Say good riddance to all the clear vinyl skirts and shoes especially. Many could argue that the vinyl trend was a faux pas to begin with, but in any case, it is gone for good. Leather has risen in its place instead. Leather lasts longer and looks better than vinyl. Vegan and vegetarians may choose a faux-leather option to keep in style with this trend.

 

  1. Boxy Silhouettes

Winter doesn’t have to mean being drowned in fabric. Loose, boxy silhouettes are a thing of the past. Far too often, boxy silhouettes translate as sloppy and lazy instead of effortless. The current style is more refined, feminine, and clean-cut. Choose figure-flattering silhouettes in luxurious, quality fabrics to look put together instead of careless in shapeless clothing.