shopping at castiglione/

It is hard to avoid. When I am shooting all these wonderful houses, in my mind I am kind of shopping. That lamp would be really nice in my living room, I will think. Or a sofa, painting, wall covering - you name it. I have a little (ok, it is big) laundry list of desired objects. Sometimes I even play the "If I could have one thing in this house what would it be?" At Achille Castiglione's studio, I would probably choose these packing crates. I know, this sounds crazy, but I just freaking love them! They are so sturdy and who knows what is in them! I would use them as a headboard for my bed - yes, they are that big. To be honest there are quite a few more things at Castiglione I would love to have, but my love for these crates knows no bounds...

gae aulenti/milan

I edited all the images from Gae Aulenti's home and I am bit in love with this one. It isn't from her home, though. I shot this in her architecture office which is attached to her apartment. There is something gorgeous with that reflection...so pretty!

gae aulenti/today!

I have been pouring over the scouting images I shot last April of Gae Aulenti's apartment trying to get a strategy for the shoot today and tomorrow. There are so many layers! So much detail! I am excited and wonder how the heck I am going to adequately shoot it all in just 2 days! Here is just one of the scouting shots. I'll tweet more as I shoot, internet willing.
@lwillphoto if you want to follow along.

rest/villa necchi

I find myself thinking about this couch in the sunroom at Villa Necchi a lot lately. I've had the flu - it is going on 5 days now - and to be perfectly honest, I am absolutely awful at being sick. Just the worst! I am never completely convinced I am actually sick enough to not work. So I keep trying to...
I imagine that if I was here, on this couch, I would be inclined to just stop. It seems like the perfect place to do that and maybe listen to the wind rustle in the trees. And rest.

piero portoluppi/pt. 2

I have been meaning to share part 2 of Piero Portoluppi since I was in Italy but there just has not been time! So much to post lately! But today I finally share some more favorites from the building that housed his office.
Just back in San Francisco for a day and then I am heading out to shoot a barn raising in the redwoods! Should be amazing!!!

note from london/the realities of travel

I've been thinking about this post for awhile. Some of you have asked about the daily things that go on on the road and how I manage such a long trip so today I'll talk about that. It is funny, but it is the little things...
First of all, I am a bit shy about portraits of me so I posted this image first, which I took somewhere in Milan, because the thought of a picture of me right there on everyone's Facebook feeds was not my favorite thought. The second shot is me with all my gear at the Torino train station. This was shot by my host in Torino, Maurizio Beucci, who is a Leica toting photographer himself. I asked him to shoot this because it is hard to explain what the reality of this kind of traveling is. Well this is what it looks like. My gear is heavy. This is the part that is not incredibly fun, but necessary. Trains are the most challenging because getting on and off take a bit of wrangling. I can do it though. but I am bruised on my shoulders and all over my legs (bruising easy doesn't make the situation better...) The other things that are necessary are the following. Staying in apartments, with friends or with hosts. This is key because you can cook for yourself and sometimes that is the only way to get grounded. On this trip for some reason my comfort meal have been scrambled eggs, toast and OJ. It started in Milan that first week and has carried over throughout the trip. The second key to travel for me is the "comfort kit". This consists of my cashmere wrap and my music, and honestly, if I have my music I can be OK anywhere. What else...texting helps...and Skype. But all in all, this travel has not had as huge an effect on me as I though it would. It has in the great ways. I have seen some of the most amazing places and met the most wonderful people! But no longing for home or anything. I used to be someone who could not be away from my nest very long and this trip, at a month, I was sitting there scratching my head and wondering how long I had been away. So I guess this is my life for the next few months. Heading to NY on Sunday, SF on Tuesday, Ukiah on Friday and then a bit of a rest back in SF. Of course there is plenty to do for the next trip in late June...

travel day/ milano > vienna

Just arrived in Vienna and I thought I would take this opportunity to respond to a couple questions from the feedback post a few days ago. But first the images! When I was in Milan, I fell in love with the Milan subway. I love the primary colors and the simplicity of it compared to so many other cities I have traveled to. Three lines - red, yellow, green. Simple. The design is pretty nice too as you can see. As it was designed by Franco Albini/Studio Albini, that makes sense.

So what I haven't talked too much about is the realities of traveling like this but I'm happy to share. Maureen wanted to know how I stay comfy during a long flight. My secret to that is a cashmere scarf that doubles as a blanket/pillow/whatever I need. I am blessed that I can sleep on a plane, so that is what I do. Todays flight I only woke up on the rather hard landing. As for where I have been eating, restaurant recommendations, I have to be honest, I have no idea. I usually just tag along with friends and never note the name of the place. There were two fantastic meals in Milan during the Salone and I have no idea where they were! But great food and lovely people and I forget the rest... What I have found most interesting about this trip is that I have lost track of how long I have been gone. It turns out I have been gone one month as of yesterday. It doesn't seem like it at all and that is startling to me. I have always been such a nester. During the first book, three weeks was the outside of how long I could be away. But clearly I have changed quite a bit since then. I feel pretty comfortable any where I go. I do have a bumpy entry day, so that was today in Vienna. I was speaking to everyone in Italian and the internet wouldn't work. Just those little frustrations of traveling to a new place. But tomorrow I am researching a wonderful workshop for the Craftsman Project. And that passion and excitement makes all the little annoyances go away. Tomorrow is going to be good!

note from milano/look up

Today was one of those days where life felt sublime. I shot Achille Castiglione's Studio for the new book. On the cab ride over this morning I was so excited I was spontaneously giggling in the back of the taxi. (The driver was not so amused.) I wish I could show you everything (I tweeted a couple, so sign up for that and see @lwillphoto ), but I definitely wanted to share these with you all. I spent a lot of time looking up because there were glorious things going on with the light on the ceiling. Isn't it just beautiful?!?! These reflections kept dancing around all day.

In the back room I couldn't help myself, I just had to lay down on the floor under the Taraxacum light. I had wanted to do this since I went on the studio tour during the Salone a couple of weeks ago. Of course the tour was packed so I resisted, knowing I would get my chance. I just layed there and looked around. It is amazing how you see things differently when you lay down on the floor in a room. I noticed all the beautiful old hardware underneath the desks and marveled at just how much they have stored to the ceiling. I also got a splinter in my jeans from the floor, but no one said there were no hazards to this kind of behaviour. Soooo worth it! 

Tomorrow I head for Vienna!

note from milano/salone del mobile 2012

At this point in my travels (it will be one month tomorrow), I am feeling like I have a mountain of editing to do. If not Everest, a modest Mt. Kilimanjaro. I finally edited through all my favorites from the Salone a couple of weeks ago. So here it goes...
The first three are from the Studio Nendo show I loved so much at Palazzo Visconti. As you can see it was soooo well done.
And the next couple were from up/market. That first of the door I was just in love with the door knob...how good is that? And the second is work by Simone Berti, and Italian artist and sculptor. And the last two by a couple of favorite designers of mine - Lindsey Adelman's candlesticks and chandelier at the Wallpaper show and Paul Loebach's vertical chandelier at the Carwan Gallery.

note from milano/chairs

Someone needs to do a chair intervention on me. I've been looking through my images and these are just my favorites from the past two days. The first is my favorite place to sit in the apartment I am renting - a heavenly little perch. Then a couple from my trip to the Museo del Novecento to visit the Giorgio Morandi paintings.
But I don't see chairs so much. I see people, personalities, moods. Chairs never fail to fascinate me with what they can convey given their setting, design and light. They say so much.
Have a lovely weekend friends. more soon.

note from milano/piero portoluppi

Last Friday, I was lazing by the pool at the Villa Necchi again. I was supposed to shoot it with my proper camera, but just sat in the sun by the pool instead (guess I needed a breather). Anyhow, I was looking through my pictures on my phone and ran across a picture I took  of a bike tour of Piero Portoluppi's work around Milan that was in the newspaper. Portoluppi is the architect of Villa Necchi. I happened to notice that his office was still there so I jumped on the Metro and I was there! It was in the aftermath of the Salone (read: half cleared for a party) as most interesting venues were (and still are) right now, but wow...I have a new crush. Here are just a couple of images. The first is of the elevator, with brass and marble walls. No idea about that fine statue, but it is working for me. And take special note of the floor - patchwork marble and it gradates from pink to grey! yes!

note from milano/OEN Q&A

The thing about traveling solo is that these are the only pictures of myself I ever have. This is my self portrait from today at the Central train station in Milan. An amazing fascist building that I did not shoot because I was so tired. But I have this self portrait.
btw, I did a Q&A with the guys over at the OEN and it posted yesterday. They asked some questions that I really had to think about. Click here to check it out.
Have a fantastic weekend friends! I am off to Torino tomorrow to shoot a house I have wanted to shoot for 10 years...just a touch excited.  ; )

note from milano/museo poldi pezzoli

I went to an opening the other night at Museo Poldi Pezzoli and made a mental note to go back because the collection looked oddly diverse and amazing. Today I found myself outside its gates by accident and saw it as a sign. I love it! Here are a few of my favorites. The last image, of sun rings, made me cry for some reason. The guard thought I was cuckoo, but there is just something so moving about these instruments that were used so long ago. I end up imagining people sitting outside using them in the 17th century and it fills me with a wistful joy.

note from milano/villa necchi

My absolute favorite image from the Villa Necchi plus one more that seemed like its mate somehow. I still haven't gone through them all. More to come tomorrow!! xx

note from milan/triennale

I spent some time at the Triennale Design Museum yesterday. It was nice to have a day to just see some stuff. there was a little bit of work in there, but overall, just pleasure. It was much needed. The first shot was just me lazing in the park. This woman is fantastic with her Italian greyhounds. The last two are from in the Triennale. The first of the architecture in the Italian graphic design exhibit (which is really worth a visit.) and the other from some weird little exhibit of miniatures...didn't read about the details on that one actually. Sorry bout that!
Have a great weekend friends.  ; )

note from milano/

Two quick notes for today. My favorite experience at this Salone thus far has been the Studio Nendo show at the Palazzo Visconti. Such a beautiful, well thought out presentation as you can see. Really stunning...
And my favorite person, who I just photographed a couple of hours ago, is Rossana Orlandi - a complete sweetheart. Can't share that one with you but I will when it is published. I love the portrait I just shot of her, though. Spazio Orlandi another good place to visit...