If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, is cool in the eye of the cohort? And if it is a cohort who are responsible for deciding what’s cool – who are these people? Artists? Designers? Fashionistas? Media? Corporate bigwigs?
Writer, poet, philosopher and artist Suzy Kassem has this to say about being ‘cool’.
“Coolness is not an image that can be bought or worn. True cool is an attitude that is projected from a person who is extremely comfortable in their own skin.”
So if this is you (or someone you aspire to be), get the edge and check out some of this cool photography.
Feed your monochromic desires
There’s something quintessentially cool about black and white photography.
The absence of colour brings other elements to the fore: composition, lighting, tone, shape, form, pattern, emotion, connection, detail and that special sense of timeless quality.
Whether your passion is the human form, an artefact or something from nature, monochrome art photography will feed your desire.
STRIKING POSE: Create a window to the world with this divine ‘Dancer In The City’ art print.
ROCK ON: Nothing screams cool more than this ‘Guitar Rock’ monochrome photo print.
RELAX: This ‘Closed Eyes’ artwork is perfect for the bedroom, a space to truly unwind.
ALL HEART: Raise a toast to Mother Nature with this ‘The Solitary Tree’ monochrome print.
Take a walk down an urban alley
We may not want to walk down all of them on our own, but that just makes these urban alleys all the more enigmatic.
Here we feature some alley prints from the USA and Europe, but even Australia makes it into our cool collection. Thank you Melbourne.
CITY OF ANGELS: Take yourself to the place you love with this ‘Under The Chicago City Bridge’ print.
EXCITING: Brighten your interior with this ‘Hosier Lane In Melbourne’ print, a fierce collection of street art.
THRILLING: For something truly wild bring the hustle and bustle of Melbourne home with this funky ‘Degraves Street’ photo.
BELLISSIMO: Italians are the masters of cool and this print ‘The Canals Of Venice’ will add the glamour your home is begging for.
Lean into the whimsy
Thanks to the vintage revival, we’ve seen the return of a softer, more subtle expression of coolness.
It’s thought-provoking, full of character and a little bit quirky. If this describes your personality then you’ll love these photographic gems.
I HEART RED: How stylish is this red and brown decor combined with this fantastical ‘Children Under Love-heart Tree’ wall art print?
UP, UP AND AWAY: Release your inner child with this ‘Carefree Days’ retro photo print.
CHIMERICAL: Put friendship front and centre with this ‘Together On The Beach’ contemporary photo art print.
Turn and live with animals
“I think I could turn and live with animals … Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.” – Walt Whitman
Now THAT’S cool.
ALL SHOW: Bring colour and life to a room with this bright ‘Lilac Breasted Roller Bird’ print.
REEF MAGIC: Think outside the aquarium with this enchanting ‘Yellow Coral Fish’ photo art.
LIVE IT UP: Ewe will love seeing this ‘Inquisitive Lambs’ print everyday.
PLAYFUL: This ‘Grumpy Gorilla’ print will turn your office into somewhere you simply have to be.
