THE DYING SWANS

HERE IN THE FOREST DARK AND DEEP I OFFER YOU ETERNAL SLEEP

2011-12-29T16:23:00.019+01:00

photography and concept by me
hair and make up: philipp koch verheyen and liana gevorgjan

models: pauline (viva models), helena (mega models), diana

..after all that cake stuff i felt like doing something darker.
thanks go to mona, stefan, enrico and philipp for helping. and to the poor models who were shaking with cold the entire day, there was lots of teeth chattering involved.
& i'm featured in the january issue of elle girl korea, love that mag! if anyone here is able to read korean, please send me an email, i'd love to get the article translated into english/german.

COMMUNIST DAUGHTER

2011-11-17T19:18:00.017+01:00

took these of hannah during heavy rain in a small apple orchard which was behind the villa where i did my last shoot.

& i made a new mixtape here

tracklist:

chelsea wolfe - moses
xeno & oaklander - celeste
silent signals - waiting for reaction
ill winds - knut (band of one of my boyfriend's mates, pretty good no?)
daughter - love
household - desperate times
grauzone - wütendes glas
three to forgotten - frostbite
this is the kit - moon
xeno & oaklander - blue flower
cccandy - lonesome berlin

MY EYES WILL LOOK SO PRETTY, NO ONE'S GONNA KNOW I CRIED

2011-11-06T19:08:00.017+01:00

photography, concept & styling by me
set design & food by zuckermonarchie
hair & make up by philipp verheyen
creative assistant judith suer
models are hannah at modelteam and fabienne at modelwerk
special thanks to mary oh! for lending me lingerie for the shoot as well as soeur berlin for that marvelous sea green velvet dress by isabel marant & the pale blue prada shoes.

i always wanted to do a shoot with girls lolling between cakes. it actually all started when i had one of my weird low-blood-sugar-fits and thought too much about sweet things and ended up on the website of zuckermonarchie which made me even more hungry AND sad when i realized they're from hamburg. so instead of ordering cakes i asked them if they want to work together with me (our names fit perfectly together hah!) and sponsor things for a shoot and as you can see the answer was yes. model hannah was the bomb, she literally dissected all fancy cakes, there was dough all over the place!!
also, i've been to milan to shoot for vogue italia & vhernier, might be posting the results soon.

JE VOIS LA VIE EN ROSE

2011-09-24T12:00:00.000+02:00

spent a scrumptious day filled with prosecco, strawberries, cakes and judith. she's the one who often assists me during shoots. she always brings me down when i am getting sulky, sews dresses for me (see post below), helps with the make up, catches the rolls of film i throw around and and.. she looks like claudia schiffer, how could one not love her?
pictures taken at both our apartments. (the messy kitchen is hers!!)

i uploaded a new mix, i'll fall for you, i'll fall for you, i'll fall for you.

tracklist:

icarus - white hinterland
falling in love - blackbird blackbird
wicked game (chris isaak cover) - futurebirds
the spell - naomi punk
you're almost there - lanterns on the lake
i'm so tired - fugazi
destination moon - solid space
generations lost - solander
neon dove - gardens & villa
the noise - austra
with you in mind - yussuf jerusalem
quiet little voices - we were promised jetpacks

ALL THE LIGHT THAT YOU POSSESS IS SKEWED BY LAKES AND SEAS, THE SHATTERED SURFACE IS ALL THAT YOU BELIEVE

2011-09-14T15:52:00.000+02:00

like origami swans, we could be set out to sea.

louis and pauline, dresses made for me by my dear judith, sequin make up made by philipp, concept and photography by me.
i'm in this month's issue of nylon korea and vogue italia, excuse the dark eye circles, life has been a bit rough lately.

and i can't stop to listen to this by lanterns on the lake, it's just the most beautiful thing. makes me think of dark blue trembling salty seas, icy winds and mouths with dark purple blackberry stains on them, i'm waiting for winter, i want to spend a day at a snowy frozen seaside in the north wrapped up in thick fabrics, with a blanket and hot grog, breathing out little clouds of crispy warm air into the clinking cold.

HONEY SUCKLE

2011-08-16T02:35:00.000+02:00

i am back home from the u.s., sleeping during daytime, having breakfast for dinner and the other way round, being still so bleary eyed and dozy due to the time shift. rain is pouring and wind rattling at our old little window panes, i am getting my scapulas devoured with kisses from my love and our cat dinah lounges around in my suitcase and sheds all her fluffy white hair onto my things, how i missed that, feels good to be back home, waking up and having white fur tangled between your eye lashes.

those things are figs with honey, black sesame seeds and cinnamon sugar & bits of melon with lemon balm, hot water on thick ginger slices with mint leaves and maple syrup, japanese noodles with spring onions, nuts, cilantro and curcuma. things i found in our fridge and mingled into some neat dishes. i might be posting more recipes soon, in the meantime i highly recommend checking out always with butter.

I WAS A DAISY FRESH GIRL AND LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME

2011-08-08T18:27:00.000+02:00

225 days under grass
and you know more than i.
they have long taken your blood,
you are a dry stick in a basket.
is this how it works?
in this room
the hours of love
still make shadows.

when you left
you took almost
everything.
i kneel in the nights
before tigers
that will not let me be.

what you were
will not happen again.
the tigers have found me
and i do not care.

(for jane, charles bukowski)

my sister took me to the prettiest little park near her house which really looked like "the secret garden" by frances hodgson burnett, or how i would have imagined it when i read the book. lush green grass and mossy trees between emerald colored ponds, a tiny rosegarden in between and deer and fireflies swirling between the trees and bushes when the sun goes to sleep.
it seems a bit deserted as there are nearly never any people around, so it's been the perfect place to do a shoot, model is taylor at wings, i did all styling and make up, unfortunately my only proper camera that i took with me to america decided to leave me hanging and died after i took like 20 percent of the pictures i actually wanted to take.

YOUR HEAD IS A LIVING FOREST FULL OF SONG BIRDS

2011-07-29T18:54:00.001+02:00

vogue italia asked me and 7 other photographers if we wanted to shoot the new lancia y (it's a car) - - the images are going to be featured in the september issue.
i felt a bit uncertain about the whole thing first because i've never really taken any pictures of a car before, i think i'm usually just not interested in these things. but i just felt really grateful that they've chosen me and that this would mean i'd be in vogue two times in quick succession as they also featured me in the june issue.

it actually didn't take long until i had an idea about what i wanted to do, i saw this picture here somewhere on the internet and thought it might be a good idea to do something bohemian. which i did. i think it looks pretty unconventional, it involves red smoke and girls lounging around on top and in the car. i guess i am not allowed to post the picture anywhere until the issue is out so i am sharing the pictures i took after we were done. model here is my beloved little muse pauline. i also took some pictures for judith as she was the one who designed and tailored these shorts for my shoot, that white dress is also designed by her. (wouldn't it be so nice to use this as a wedding dress?) my friend veronika is also one of the models in the picture for lancia and she helped with the make up when i was busy packing the car full with melons, books, candles and stuff.
so thrilled to see what the other photographers came up with and to be holding another issue of vogue in my hands with my name in it.

i have a facebook page now by the way.

LET IT SEEP THROUGH YOUR SOCKETS AND EARHOLES INTO YOUR PRECIOUS, FRACTURED SKULL

2011-07-22T15:20:00.000+02:00

i took some quick portraits of a girl named charlotte in front of a rose bush at the place where i study photography, she really was as sulky as she looks, i guess we both didn't really like each other, the thorns on the roses which were permanently pricking into her skin and the drizzle outside weren't really helpful either.
then i accidently ruined a whole roll of film when i was opening my camera for some strange reason, still don't know why i did that, maybe beacuse i felt all gloomy, too.
i'm sharing them anyway. all clothing, styling etc by me / my own.

"feels so good to be a rose."

I DRINK THE SEA

2011-07-17T12:48:00.000+02:00

(self portrait)

i've crossed the atlantic ocean and am about 4493 miles away from home, sipping pale pink grapefruit vodka with my sister.
saw the most beautiful thing out of my little plane window above the shore of greenland, there were chipped fragments of frozen water floating in the labrador sea, ice floes were shimmering in the sun and so it looked as though someone spilled a giant bag of glitter into the dark blue sea. "there is a crack in everything
that’s how the light gets in."
of course, as always, i didn't have my camera with me at that time. i nearly never have my camera with me when i see unplanned things i really want to banish on film forever.
when i was in florence, there was this old carousel and it got dark and started to rain so all the swarming tourists went back to their hotel rooms. the place was completely tranquil and silent and when i took my camera out of my little bag i realized that the roll of film was already full and i didn't have another one with me. it's like forfeiting something, i hate losing things.

i'm currently near cincinnati, ohio. it's a bit out in the pampa but i prefer my sister's cozy house between parched fields to the crowded streets of nyc. i'm thinking about doing a little shoot here, so if you know some nice models around the area or want to work with me, send me an e-mail (mariezucker at gmail.com) - we might also travel to chicago for a few days.

ps, i cannot stop listening to this: gardens & villa - neon dove.

TILL DEATH SHATTERS

2011-06-29T21:02:00.000+02:00

these two lovebirds here are pauline & fritz, a model couple. had some fun with them out in the woods and took my dear friend judith with me as she is always radiating good karma. all clothes from our own wardrobes, styling by judith and me.
wish models were always as chilled as them. we were listening to some shitty 80ies radio music during the shoot, judith was dancing around and at some point we were all worried that the battery of the car might be dead when we're trying to get home and will be lost with deer and woodpeckers out out oooout in the forest forever. all went well though and after a picnic with cold pasta salad and vanilla cookies we were gone.

i made a little summer playlist to drink mojitos to and lull in the sand (instrunctions are written on the page), here it is: if you fall asleep down by the water, baby i'll carry you all the way home.

tracklist:

converging in the quiet - crystal stilts
desert sand - beach fossils
cannons - youth lagoon
marathon - tennis
beach bummed - weed hounds
pizza pasta - night manager
do what you will - papercuts
floating vibes - surfer blood
a place in the sun - marine girls
l. mansion - sic alps
half life - lia ices
chinatown - wild nothing
flying canoes - lukestar
caroline - the babies

THESE VIOLETS REMIND ME I'M GOLDEN

2011-06-14T11:28:00.000+02:00

"and were you very, very sad on the day you watched forty-four sunsets?"

squealing a bit with glee as i was among the three photographers who were chosen to be featured in this month's issue of vogue italia.

those polaroids are outtakes from a series i'll be posting soon. model is my friend v, had a good time with her as she was bringing us cake & fortune cookies to munch during the shoot. there are still gold particles sticking undearneath my fingernails.

& here's a playlist i wanted to share with you swanlings.

tracklist:

amazing and wonderful - peaking lights
mouthful of diamonds - phantogram
drop - oddfuturewolfgangkillthemall
crystal ball - grimes
lofticries - purity ring
running out of you - keep shelly in athens
casual diamond - sleep ∞ over
perfection - oh land
lose it - austra
the curse - cults
paradise circus - hope sandoval

AND I WONDER WHAT YOUR SOUL LOOKS LIKE AFTER YOU'VE PLUCKED IT FROM THE FRINGE OF YOUR SPINE

2011-05-01T19:19:00.000+02:00

honey coloured mountains on our way from florence to brussels ripping milky clouds apart with their crooked little teeth - - saw them out of the plane window somewhere above the alps while i was being dazed by valium pills i took due to my aviaphobia and photographed these with trembling hands. heights make me nauseous.

(and weee, vogue italia featured me as the photographer of the day on may 1st http://www.vogue.it/en/photovogue)

FLORENCE

2011-04-24T18:12:00.001+02:00

"the times we had, oh when the wind would blow with rain and snow, were not all bad, we put our feet just where they had, had to go, never to go."

papa took me to florence.

unfortunately, all my postcards from italy seem to be lost. however, if i were a postman living in italy, i'd probably munch gelato all day instead of caring about other people's letters.
i feel ya, little postman.

I, I FOLLOW YOU DEEP SEA BABY

2011-04-02T13:33:00.000+02:00

my first fashion shoot ever.
all pictures taken by me in our apartment, model ist the beautiful swedish emma rebecka borg, all clothes designed by judith suer.
hair by judith, make up by me.
this was so much fun, thank you lovelies! it's been a pleasure to work together with such amazing creative people.

UNBUTTON YOUR SPINE

2011-03-09T15:05:00.000+01:00

we've had our 3rd anniversary yesterday. (that makes about 1095 days!!)
it involved lots of cake and dainty dishes and a trip to the big bookstore where i nearly fell asleep in one of the snug armchairs because books always make me feel so drowsy. like, i haven't read a whole book in a year or so because it's getting worse and worse, i only need to open one and read the first 4 words and my eyelids start to become so heavy that i can't resist but to slumber like a marmot.

i asked him what the best part of being together for such a long time is and he said the best thing is that you always know that there's someone waiting for you and then i said that people who are together for a month might also say that and asked what really is the best part of being together for such a long time and suddenly he said: "it's that love becomes a home."
i loved that.

GALLOWS HUNG AROUND

2011-02-01T12:11:00.000+01:00

"whenever i find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly november in my soul; whenever i find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral i meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off--then, i account it high time to get to sea as soon as i can."

i miss the sea, i keep dreaming of india.

ALL OF THE TREES WERE IN LIGHT, THEY HAD NO FACES TO SHOW

2010-12-12T20:53:00.001+01:00

shared a hot bathtub holding each others throbbing hands in the water while our stomachs rumbled with cold homemade gingerbread parfait inside.
what else is there to do when the nights are only getting longer while days are getting shorter and the snow can't decide whether to stay or to melt away and coat everything in a glaze that makes people flounder?
we will move into our first own little apartment as of january; there is still so much to do, walls need to be painted and floor boards to be swabbed. we both can't wait to have our own home together, waking up every morning with our legs and arms huddled & tangled.
not much time for picture taking, not much time for posting. apologies for the lack of updates.

YOU BROUGHT ME HERE NOW, NOW TAKE ME HOME

2010-10-11T10:41:00.000+02:00

everything looks so dead outside, the trees look sad with their withering branches, spreading rotten little yellow leaves.
the field next to our bedroom window is an opaque wall of milky haze. perfect to enjoy tranquility, spending the day inside doing nothing & going out in the evening to have a night stroll.
we recommend bear cake and chocolate soy milk on such a day, thus it's about time to share another luscious recipe:

vegan bear cake
150 g sugar
225 g plain flour
5 tsp cocoa powder
3 tsp vanilla sugar
2 tsp baking powder
pinch salt
75 ml vegetable oil (or softened margarine)
150 ml chocolate soy milk
water
100 g chocolate

mix sugar, plain flour, cocoa powder and the rest of the dry ingredients, add oil, soy mil and water until the batter seems to be smooth. add the chocolate chunks and fill into a small cake tin. bake for about 40 minutes at 170°C. we used gingerbread and chocolate coating for the face but there are probably thousands of other things to make a bear face out of.
or a cat face.
or the face of your best friend.

(and stop hotlinking pictures or we'll kick you in the knees!!)

CALL THE SURGEON, MEND THE PIECES

2010-09-15T11:16:00.000+02:00

autumn is coming and with it the desire to hide under warm bedspreads forever. eyes are still heavy in the morning when sleepy feet touch the cold ground. it's been raining nonstop day after day, the cats are unfurling and sprawling their tiny paws on the windowsills and listen to the tapping rain. while poking our noses out of the attic window, we perceived the smell of sweet herbs, wet grass and hazy air. summer's gone far too quickly. we shall have a picnic outside in thick woolen jumpers, quilts and pack thermos jugs filled with hot soup and warm chocolate milk into the basket to brave the upcoming cold.

the lovely sarah mcneil has been drawing us a blog header in exchange for some photo prints, if you don't know her go check out her doodles, she's wonderful!

HANGING ON FROM BRANCHES; LICKING HONEY FROM THE LEAVES

2010-07-28T21:32:00.000+02:00

mewithoutyou concert, two weeks ago. pushing, shoving and sweating as it felt like 70 degrees celsius inside of this little saloon. it was worth every cent though; we've been waiting so long for them to come to berlin.

CLENCHED LITTLE TEETH

2010-05-24T20:57:00.000+02:00

four days ago, we've put butterbrot and sweets in our pockets and left our bed early to pay the naturkundemuseum (natural history museum) a visit. it is filled with lots and lots of tiny little pods and glasses filled with dead things. you can go up the stairs and peek through large windows to see the area that is forbidden for the public. there are cabinets with thousands of creatures potted in alcohol and formaldehyde to be locked with a glass lid on top.

THICK STRAWBERRY MILKSHAKES TO HURT THE BRAIN

2010-05-18T18:44:00.000+02:00

lying in bed together, drinking some strawberry & chocolate milkshakes to hurt our brains while listening to some nice music that makes our little hearts hop. and we're not wearing any pants, the cats are wearing moustaches though!
if you want to have some fun as well listen to this song and look how geeky that guy plays the guitar. 80ies music is way too underrated.
or pull off your pants and dance to the drums - let's go surfing & local natives - wide eyes.

GREEN TEA MILK

2010-05-11T16:33:00.000+02:00

we love munching homecooked traditional japanese food. above is tofu fried with sesame, honey, soy sauce, red peppers, spring onions and rice. and next to it a bowl of rice pudding with sesame seeds and maple syrup.

a good thing to end a strenuous day is to sip a nice little cup of green tea milk. you need to melt a bit of butter in a saucepan for it and add matcha powder, then some vanilla sugar and stir. fill in soy/rice or normal milk and keep stirring. then add some vanilla extract & more sugar or honey, however you like it. enjoy it hot or cold.
try it, it's good for your teeth.

THE OPPOSITE OF BREATHING.

2010-04-11T16:47:00.000+02:00

those are pictures of 'WHY?', taken in berlin (volksbühne) a few days ago. we could see yoni wolf performing his elaborate dancing skills in gloomy lights as well as josiah wolf bashing drums in the most perfect way. supporting acts were josiah wolf's solo project besides 'i might be wrong'. it was all cozy & snug when josiah was opening the evening; music that could be your companion while taking a hot bath, looking through old photographs or sharing a cheese sandwich with your love in bed on sunday. we would recommend to give his new release a listen - 'the opposite of breathing' is a fine tune!