We made a deal with our letting company: if somebody rents out our place in the next couple of weeks, we don't have to pay September's rent, which is nigh on $1000, PLUS (and this is just a bonus) we don't have to pay council tax, which is approximately $500. So, all-in-all, it would be really nice to rent out our place. Excuse me, "let" out our place. They don't do rentals here.
So we had two people look at our place today. We had wanted to go out to the Leith Folk Club one last time last night, but we got a call that afternoon saying, oh, hey, people are coming to look at your place tomorrow at 10 am, so be ready. And, because we are not the cleanest people in the world, we decided to stay home and clean everything. Half packed and half clean is the way to go with less than a week left.
But today, while our flat was being modeled, we escaped to New Town and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, which was housing a Vanity Fair Portraits exhibit. Everything from the first shot they took, to the first cover, to early 2008. It was a beautiful display, and we were able to see some of the images that have become cultural icons. Plus, because I'm getting more into photography, Jonmikel and had discussions about shadows and light and poses and lines and exposure and all those fun things you learn about when you pick up a real camera for the first time.
I also saw an interesting shot of President W and his cabinet as it stood right after 9/11. In it, Bush looks cocky and confident, but more like an oil executive who just bought out a competitor than a president. And also the placements of the figures was interesting. Bush was the one standing the tallest, but barely. And Condolezza Rice sits in the middle, her contrasting skin tone drawing the eyes to her, the lone woman among them. The men on either side of her, the president and (insert name of rich white conservative dude here), are standing but leaning slightly away, creating a kind of V-shape toward Rice (think: Jesus and Mary :::ahem::: in Leonardo's The last Supper). The effect of the placements is to give Rice a position of authority, as she is the most impressive of the bunch, the most in focus, the one in front and center and to whom your eyes are drawn. I wonder if that was the intended effect? Is there a hidden political statement? Vanity Fair photographers are certainly capable of such covert intentions...
The ceiling inside the portrait gallery
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