Lizette Bell is an Australian photographer that I recently came across via lovely Lucy and I like her work and think that you will too. Lizette's diverse portfolio features two of my favorites: still life product shots and interior photography. You can also find fashion and portrait work too -- here is just a peek into her portfolio pages.

The pale green with cream looks very nice, I imagine it would be a new and interesting palette for winter if you felt like going off the path a bit and trying something new amidst all the pine green and white we typically find during this time of year. I think the pale green, along with gray and cream and soft caramel could be a really warm and rustic palette.

Next, look at the photo above the two green/cream images... What do you think? I like the assemblage of natural wonders set against a white background. I'm not sure if that is a fireplace mantle or a rugged table, but it is very nice to just stare at for a moment... it gives a sense of relaxation, a feeling of rest mixed with curiosity, if that even makes sense? To me, it does. ;) I like to examine all of the details, for instance notice the 3 books with two pages facing outwards, one with only the spine. Perhaps the stylist and photographer thought that having all three blue spines showing would give a weighted affect to the left side of the image, causing lack of balance or maybe it would create a focal point in the wrong place? With the pages turned outwards, their grain and color speaks to the tall vase, which creates a sense of balance but also allows the eye to travel.

It's so interesting to consider these things when you're looking at the work of a photographer and important if you want to learn for your own work or even when it comes to decorating or creating stylish vignettes in your home -- be curious, ask why, take notes, pay attention to the details. One warning though... be careful not to get into the habit of collecting hundreds of images without really asking yourself WHY you like the photo, what in it speaks to you, what you can learn from it to apply in your own lifestyle, etc. When I started asking myself real questions like that, I got so much more out of the photos I found in some of my favorite publications and it really helps you to train your eye and fine tune your sense of style. :)

To see more of Lizette's work, please visit her website. It's a nice way to begin the week!

(photos: Lizette Bell Photography)