[PRETTY PICTURES] ‘My Tangerine’ Shot By Renee Carey for Oyster

If there’s anyone who knows how to capture the essence of youth, girl culture, and burgeoning sexuality all in one series of summery, psychedelic and lightly erotic photographs, it’s our main Aussie, Cultist pal and occasional contributor Renee Carey (see the Postcard From Australia she once sent us as proof of our internet friendship). I don’t want you to misunderstand me when I say erotic, because this series is by no means overtly or offensively pornographic or sexual. In fact, it’s appeal actually lies in it being quite the opposite; and that’s not meant to imply that I’m fetishizing innocence here, either, because her photos consistently achieve the perfect balance of hard/soft and you always kind of feel like the model could kick your ass, despite her perceived fragility.

What I’m trying to articulate, perhaps inarticulately, is that there is a certain lightless, carefree naiveté, and DGAFness to model and mega-babe Astrid Holler (with her goddess-like angular yet cherubic facial features). It’s as if we’re watching her taste freedom for the very first time, sucking it out from the root like a juicy watermelon that smears all over your face and clothes when you eat it. This visceral quality is manifested through sweet but not saccharine visual cues like funny mushrooms and ice cream cones and strawberries and the proverbial sticking of the tongue out. It’s not voyeuristic in a creepy way, but more like we’re watching her metamorphosis through a kaleidoscope. For the full entire, visit Oystermag.com.