Photography

The Swan

PeepSideshow Darkward3 Comments

I made myself a promise this week that I would head over to Le lac des cygnes (Swan Lake), home sim of blogger buddy Cougar Sangria. This sultry seductress isn’t just a pretty face (although you may argue that point when you see her header photo on her blog). She is an accomplished sim designer and landscape artist. By opening her home sim to the public, you can be fortunate enough to see her immaculate work.

I was taken by the serenity of the sim; the music soundtrack is classical tranquility and the flora and fauna are simply stunning. The manor house is beautiful, but truly, it is the grounds that held me captive. She says in her blog that over half of the prims used are for landscaping, and I will believe that. In fact, I was so taken by this lush field of flowers that the luscious lake didn’t even make it into the photo. I apologise for that…kinda. To see it, you will just need to pay a visit yourself.

I wanted a feminine background for the outfit I put together, so Le lac des cygnes and its gardens were the perfect setting. The delicate pink lingerie and stunning earrings, plus the dramatic eye makeup are all from the July round of BishBox, aptly themed, “Femme Fatale.” The lingerie from [Glitzz] comes in separate pieces with a huge array of textures to choose from, while the earrings (with matching necklace) from MINIMAL have both silver and gold options. These can easily become staple pieces.

Speaking of staple pieces, Annie Melson of *Just BECAUSE* has listened to her customers and created a lovely skirt that is designed to be worn over tight-fitting tops. With the difficulty of layering mesh, this makes this skirt a must-have. It comes with four options: sheer, sheer with panties, solid and solid with panties so you are covered (no pun intended) for any wardrobe eventuality. The “with panties” version is great for tops while the “no panties” version is perfect to wear with body suits. In fact, it was created as a request to have a complimentary skirt for the recently-released Isa bodysuit. If you don’t already have it, make sure you grab it when you stop by the main store to pick up this skirt. Oh, and you can still wear the skirt with midriff-baring tops; it just will be a bit looser around the waist.

Do visit Le lac des cygnes. It is a classic in its own right and well worth your time. Please be respectful of the rules and enjoy this idyllic setting.

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:
*Top, underbust and panties: [Glitzz] Femme Lingerie by Lissa Bohm (from BishBox July 2017)
*Skirt: JustBECAUSE~IsadoreSkirt(Sheer)~FatPack~Lara by Annie Melson (New Mainstore Release)
*Earrings: MINIMAL – Fatale Earrings – Silver by Ors Quan (from BishBox July 2017)
Hair: Sintiklia Hair Jasmine by Sintikliasims
*Eyeshadow: .Identity. Body Shop IDTTY Faces – CATWA Appliers [Fatale Eyeshadow] by Melissa Hindrabar (from BishBox July 2017)
*Mesh head: CATWA HEAD Lona v2.12 by Catwa Clip
*Eyes: CATWA RIGGED EYES Lona v1.1 by Catwa Clip
Mesh body, hands and feet: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara by Onyx LeShelle
*Mesh head applier: *Birth* 3rd Gen ‘Freya’ Catwa (Catya_bento) Applier – 03. Tone by Silent Alchemi
*Mesh body applier: *Birth* 3rd Gen Maitreya Body Skin Applier – 03. Tone v1.0 by Silent Alchemi

Pose: Le Poppycock-Truth drug by Olivia Lalonde
Location: Le lac des cygnes

Oh, So French

PeepSideshow Darkward3 Comments

Bonsoir et ooh la la, mes amis! Despite three years of high school French, that is about all you will get from me in the way of français. The title was inspired by the Paris lingerie by Salt & Pepper for the July round of Mesh Body Addicts. This lingerie has a very nostalgic feel and is uber sexy, yet demure. The tight ponytail from TETRA out of the July Luxe Box works beautifully with the look and feel and the Orangery by Scarlet Creative, also from Luxe Box, is the ideal setting.

There was a lot more to the setting of this photo, but as is so often the case, it was lost on the cutting room floor. Had I just plopped down the build, shoved in the bench and flounced onto it, I would have gotten done a lot more quickly. But then I wouldn’t have had the luxury of feeling like a French girl for an afternoon.

C’est tellement français
[subtitle] It is oh, so French

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:
*Lingerie/stockings: Salt & Pepper S&P lingerie Paris by xxSaltandPepperxx (available at Mesh Body Addicts through August 1st)
Necklace & Earrings: ERSCH – Stephy Set by AkaneRini
Hair: TETRA – Lemon Hair by NataPortolo (Luxe Box July 2017)
Shoes: AZOURY – Naito high heel shoe Turquoise [Maitreya] by Aniki Seetan (available at Souled Out July 2017)
*Lipstick: Zibska Pasha Catwa Applier by Zib Scaggs (available at The Liaison Collaborative through July 30)
*Eyeshadow: Zibska Tamia Omega Applier by Zib Scaggs (available at The Liaison Collaborative through July 30)
*Mesh head: CATWA HEAD Lona v2.12 by Catwa Clip
*Eyes: CATWA RIGGED EYES Lona v1.1 by Catwa Clip
Mesh body, hands and feet: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara by Onyx LeShelle
*Mesh head applier: *Birth* 3rd Gen ‘Freya’ Catwa (Catya_bento) Applier – 03. Tone by Silent Alchemi
*Mesh body applier: *Birth* 3rd Gen Maitreya Body Skin Applier – 03. Tone v1.0 by Silent Alchemi

Bench/pose: Stockholm&Lima: Little Victorian Sitting Bench by Surrealia Anatine (former Deco(c)rate item)
Build: Scarlet Creative Imogen Orangery by Charlotte Bartlett (Luxe Box July 2017)

Photo taken with LUMIPro 2017 by Stefan Buscaylet

The Garden of Nowhere

PeepSideshow Darkward6 Comments

I gave this post this title because so many of the scenes you see in my photos no longer exist. It is wonderful being able to create a setting on a whim, inventory and prim allowance withstanding. While the vast majority of the items I use still lay languishing in the depths of inventory, they may never again see the light of day, or they may be brought out, dusted off and used another day.

I have a home in Second Life. I spent about two months working on the current version, getting it just right. But I rarely ever go there. Instead, I tend to hang out on a bare platform until a new bauble or structure or plant inspires me to bring a scene to life. Unlike a lot of bloggers, my workspace is uncluttered. Once the credits have been captured, the items disappear, one by one, until I am back on my simple prim platform once again.

One designer whose work who frequents my posts – and also my permanent home – is [ keke ]. Delicate, detailed and delightful are the first words that come to my mind when I think of Kean Kelly’s creations. I am sure (if you look closely at the photo) you will recognise the butterflies, which have flittered their way through several of my recent posts. She has just released the lovely allium flowers for the July round of Collabor88 and in her mainstore, you can find the lovely garden gate and fence. If you were a subscriber of Deco(c)rate a couple of months ago when she contributed the Neverland Gate, you can now pick up the add-ons at the mainstore, as well. As ever, they are a lovely example of her talent and craft.

Close your eyes, imagine you can hear the breeze as it plays through the grass, feel the flutter of the butterfly’s wings against your cheek and feel the warmth of the late afternoon sun. It is all there, in the Garden of Nowhere. But do hurry; it will disappear before the sunset fades to grey.

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:
*Gate and fence: [ keke ] garden gate & fence set . gold by Kean Kelly (new release at the main store)
*Allium plants: [ keke ] wild allium (blush, purpur and white) by Kean Kelly available at Collabor88 July 2017)
*Gate and fence: [ keke ] butterflies dancing – blue by Kean Kelly (available at the main store)
Garden by anc slight wildgrass {flash green} by aki69
[we’re CLOSED] grass field lush by Wendy Xeno
*alirium* ItchyGrass [Brown] by Alir Flow
KIDD GRASS*Wild Bush*Colza by doP Kidd
Mesh Plants – Full Perm Ruins Wall Pack by Reid Parkin
*The Little Branch LB_BloomingTree{Lavender} by Cari McKeenan
The Little Branch LB_AppleTree*Dark{With Apples Menu} by Cari McKeenan