Through his artistic photography of abandoned places, Matt Emmett documents the frail beauty of once lived in spaces. Forgotten Heritage is his incredible photographic archive, which spans over 5 years of seeking out and photographing places that have been forgotten in time. Thanks to Emmett, that which is abandoned becomes art.

The adventurous photographer, who was named “Arcaid Architectural Photographer of the Year” in 2016, has seen his work featured in Architectural Digest, among other publications. Traveling throughout Europe to find deserted locations, his photography examines the spirit of each architectural ghost in detail.

Published in 2016, his book Forgotten Heritage brings together some of his favorite locations and the stories behind them. From abandoned mines to crumbling villas, Emmett's work has made him one of the leading photographers in the genre. Recently, we had a chance to ask him a bit about his work, what inspired him about abandoned places, and what location he'd love to photograph. Read on for our exclusive interview.

What first intrigued you about abandoned spaces and how did this come together with your photography?

My introduction to the abandoned world happened totally by accident! Near the start of 2012, a friend asked me to give him a practical lesson or two on his newly bought DSLR and said that we should go somewhere with a specific focus to practice the skills. It just so happened he picked a long-abandoned industrial location, about half an hour drive from where we lived, for the second lesson.

I was very nervous about going there and entering a place that we were not supposed to be, but after looking online at the imagery of other photographers who had already been inside, I felt compelled to at least give it a try. So that is how I found myself at 6 am in early February with my heart pounding at the fence line of an ex-jet engine testing establishment.

What was that experience like?

Once inside the huge hanger-like structures, we were confronted by scenes straight out of a science-fiction film; subterranean metallic tunnels where the engines were tested in supersonic airflow, giant turbine halls, and workshops with strange machinery everywhere. It was at this point that my future direction as a photographer was decided. I have been hooked on the buzz of discovering, capturing and bringing fascinating history into peoples homes ever since.

I think the reason I am so addicted to it is down to the fact I am quite an introspective and retrospective person. If you have any kind of interest in history, architecture, industrial processes and generally like taking a look into places that would otherwise be closed off, then this hobby will enrich and fulfill you.

Your website is called “Forgotten Heritage,” which is a very deliberate choice in wording. What does heritage mean to you and why do you think it's important to document it?

I chose the name Forgotten Heritage because it perfectly summed up the plight of the amazing places I go to create the images. Initially, the project was simply about enjoying the fun of exploring and the fascination I experienced whilst shooting these places. As the catalog of photographed locations started growing, people would tell me through my social media channels what an important and much-needed service I was fulfilling.

In time, I have come to the realization that preservation through visual documentation is often the only form of conservation that can occur prior to the building being redeveloped or demolished. Putting the images on a website or social media page creates a publicly accessible record of these places. Don't get me wrong, I shoot these places because I love doing it but the byproduct is often something that can be useful to society too.

I have photographed several historically significant places now that have since been demolished with nothing preserved or saved for future generations to enjoy, the photographic record created by a dedicated community are often the only things we have to remember them by.

How do you typically find the places you visit?

I would like this answer to be a little more enterprising or exciting but the honest answer is it's mostly info shared by other photographers who have already been to the location or know where it is. Some of the time you can discover places by simply keeping your eyes open as you drive around or by researching specific places on the internet which can yield good results.

Can you take us through the sort of preparation you go through when preparing for a shoot?

It's always good to get a feel for the location and its surrounding area before you go—Google Maps and Street View are invaluable tools for this kind of familiarization. Knowing where it's good to park and having an idea of the best direction to approach a location from is also a good idea.

I often look up the location prior to a visit to see how other photographers have photographed it, not to copy the shots but to get a feel for each room and try and find gaps in the photo where I could shoot something in a different way or from a different angle. The obvious “money-shots” are always going to be popular and it's hard not to take them but I think when a location has been photographed a lot, then you need to find ways of showing something new.

What is the most memorable site you've photographed and why?

There are quite a few that I could mention but if I had to narrow it down, it would be a large abandoned psychiatric hospital that closed its doors in the 1980s. It's a large sprawling building that dominates a small and sleepy town just to the south of Turin in Italy.

Inside it is breathtakingly beautiful with crumbling plasterwork, broken tiled floors, shuttered windows that let in a wonderful filtered light and lots of the medical equipment they use to treat the patient still in-situ. Whilst we spent a good five hours inside, the town outside slowly woke up and disconnected sounds of an hourly clanging church bell or a moped drifted in the windows. It had a magical atmosphere and I think that is the reason why these places are so addictive to photograph.

From a technical standpoint, what are some of the difficulties of this type of photography?

You are often shooting in dark and gloomy environments that require long exposures and thus a tripod to keep the camera steady. The interiors of abandoned places are often damp and grimy so a camera and lens setup that can keep out water and dust are also considerations. I use Pentax gear and the weather sealing and build quality are great, making it the perfect choice for me. Additional portable lighting often comes in handy, so maybe a torch with a wide spread of light.

 

Obviously, I imagine that safety can be an issue with these type of places. What type of precautions do you typically take when entering an abandoned space?

Environmental hazards such as structural weakness, rotting floors, dangerous materials, glass, and nails underfoot are all things you need to be prepared for. The most important thing to go armed with is common sense, if something feels like it could be dangerous then trust your instincts and don't do it.

 

What advice would you give to anyone looking to begin photographing these types of places?

If you know who to ask then request permission to photograph. Don't do it alone and cause no damage entering or leaving a site—if you are asked to leave, then do so. Don't take anything from the location as a keepsake, basically treat anywhere you go with respect.

Build the beginnings of a portfolio of shots from these kinds of places and then use that to form ties with other photographers. If people can see you have a genuine interest in the subject, they are much more likely to share information with you. Enjoy it, it's a fascinating photo genre that will teach you lots too.

 

Is there anywhere you have on your list to visit, but haven't gotten the chance yet? What intrigues you about it?

There are a series of Titan 1 ICBM nuclear launch sites dotted around various US states. The kind of nuclear launch site where a hatch would swing open in the ground and a large missile rises on a column of smoke out of a subterranean silo. The bunkers contain living areas, control rooms, radar tracking stations, mini power plants, and the large missile launch tubes.

They have not been operational since 1965, the interiors are pitch black and full of nasty chemicals and hazardous materials. Shooting inside them requires portable lighting and specialist safety equipment, but the images they provide are like a scene straight out of hell, totally unique and something quite fascinating and terrifying to behold. The kind of unusual place I love to photograph!

What do you hope people take away from your work?

That our historic built environment is special and needs preserving. With land on which we can build becoming a much more precious commodity, it's important to properly document a site before it is gone for good. Not every building out there can be restored and preserved but certainly, there are many once important locations that are bulldozed to make way for new developments. The more ways we cut ties with the past the more we diminish our future. Even if the only way we preserve the memory of a building is through images then that is worth something.

Matt Emmett: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Matt Emmett.

Related Articles:

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Beautiful Kaleidoscopic Photos of Abandoned Buildings in 360 Degrees

Photos Capture Beauty of Abandoned Buildings After an Earthquake

The post Interview: Photographer Preserves the Frail and Forgotten Beauty of Abandoned Places appeared first on My Modern Met.

ink-splotch:

Any artists in the house?

So… I have the first draft of a novella.

One Stormy Day in New Providence [title subject to change ;)]

story by Kat Sundberg @improbabledragon and E. Jade Lomax @ink-splotch

written by E. Jade Lomax

“An heiress, a diplomat’s daughter, an undercover agent, a corporate spy, an ex-detective, and a fraud walk into the small field office of a major insulation conglomerate. Half are there under their proper names. Only one is there to do the job they were hired for. The punchline is friendship.

This selfsame cast could also be described as five liars and one truth-teller; or four employees and two interlopers; or a thief, three people trying to solve the same conspiracy from different angles, an ex-boyfriend, and a woman who desperately deserves a nap.

They are a single mom (and grandma!), a bodyguard playing hooky, the victim of a coercion campaign, a veritable genius with debilitating anxiety and attention disorders, a man trying very hard not to be in love, and a young woman who packs her girlfriend peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every day because it’s the only thing she can reliably make edible.

When a magical storm falls over the city– a storm that freezes not your flesh from your bones, but fries the circuits in your brain– our crew of technicians and liars must set out to fix all that’s gone wrong.”

I’m hoping to commission art for the book– a full or partial color piece for the title page of each chapter, and possibly some black-and-white line drawings for some additional chapter interiors. As each chapter focuses on a different character, and as this book deals somewhat with first impressions, bias, and how where you came from affects how you see things, I’m hoping to have a different artist for each chapter. Style to match content, you know?

If you’re an artist who might be interested in working with me here, send me an ask or email me at ejadelomax@gmail.com.

Ideally, link me to some examples of your work and whatever your rates are. At minimum, I’d be asking for a single, color artwork from each of seven artists. The images I’m planning on commissioning mostly include a single character (some bust, some full-body). Some contain backgrounds, and at least one is mostly abstract/color/looks like the Northern Lights. Any style– hoping to mix and match artists to character!

Note: I’m mostly interested in color pieces for the chapter title pages; however, if you don’t do color but do want to be part of this, I’m potentially interested in doing additional black and white drawings or sketches to illustrate the chapter interiors. Contact me with your rates!

If you’ve ever wandered around Tokyo on foot you’ll know that it can sometimes be like a spider web of side streets and back alleys. It’s one of the things that makes Tokyo so unique and therein lies the allure of exploring the massive city. Now, one designer has brought that magic to bookshelves by […]

cinemagorgeous:

Dragon Bones by artist Stefan Koidl.

Russian artist Anastasia Bulgakova draws fantasy characters, including a series of countries in superhuman form. They are mostly warriors armed and armored with their international reputations, and a lot of symbolism. Above you see the UK as a futuristic super punk with his sidekick English bulldog. Germany gets a mech suit to show their pride in engineering.

"I had this idea for quite a while, but maybe the whole recent political situation in the world has pushed me to actually do it," Bulgakova told BuzzFeed. "I wanted to add some humor into the mix, to lighten up the mood of the real-world situations."  

As you can probably guess, the United States has a cowboy hat, way too many guns, and breast implants. My favorite in the series is Canada -or maybe France. See a selection from Bulgakova's nation series at Buzzfeed and others at DeviantART.

undeadm0nkeys:

plants that think “yeah, I’ll just grow here”

he's quoting coyote peterson and if you don't know who that is then WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR LIFE honestly go watch his youtube channel NOW

sadfishkid:

teen mako hanging out in the k-sci lab with her weird science uncles is my favourite pacrim headcanon tbh

(on twitter)

caffeinewitchcraft:

writing-prompt-s:

You are an anonymous professional assassin with a perfect reputation. You lead an ordinary life outside of your work. You’ve just been hired to kill yourself.

My first thought is that the middle man I use–calls himself ‘Leader’, real name Brett Thompson, 46, balding, lives in PA–has uncovered my identity. Why else would I be staring down at a picture of my own face? I think it’s a warning, that he knows about the Sanchez job, and I nearly reach for my go bag.

Then I see the client’s name.

Vi Larson, the file tells me, male, 32, computer analyst.

I close the manila folder, tossing it away from me. The whiskey sour’s gone warm in my hand, but I drink it down anyway, eyes distant. I don’t need to read any more of the file. I can fill in the gaps well enough.

Funnily enough, this betrayal is just as sharp and unpleasant as the first one, the one that got me into this business in the first place.

“You at least owe me a crime of passion, you bastard,” I mutter into my drink. I close my eyes and sigh, willing away the stinging in my heart. I knew that my relationship was in trouble, but this is just cold. 

 In a way, I can’t believe it. Is a divorce really that hard?  But, no, I know Vi. He’s methodical, analytical, and competent. If anything, hiring an assassin with a reputation like mine is right in line with his personality. Nothing but the best, even in the murder game.

I should be flattered, really. My rates aren’t cheap. Whatever I did to make him send this in–and he did, there’s his social security, his fingerprint, everything–it must have been killer.

I set my glass down on the counter and tuck the folder under my arm. I need to think and I do my best thinking in the tub. Vi won’t be back from his “business” trip for another three days, during which I’m supposed to kill myself.

As I head up the stairs, I can’t help but laugh. Finally, after three years of marriage, my husband does something interesting. And it breaks my fucking heart.

——————————————

He wants me to make it painless but horrific. There’s a script in the document, something that’s more common than people think, and it’s hard to read it, even surrounded by bubbles and soothing music.

“Your husband sent me. Said he needed to shed some dead weight.” I snort at the pun and close my eyes, resting the file against my face so it doesn’t get wet. Unfortunately, the tears do that anyway.

“Fuck,” I say. “You bastard.”

Keep reading

hatingongodot:

Before she learns about his secret identity, Lois Lane thinks Clark Kent is a goddamn mess

She goes to his place to work on a joint article and it takes her like half an hour to find out that Clark lives in an absolutely nonfunctional house

She has to change a lightbulb but there are no stools, no sufficiently high chairs, no way of reaching the ceiling unless you find a way to climb the walls. “How the hell do you change your bulbs?” she asks. Clark mutters something about misplacing the footstool and helps her drag the table from the kitchen to the living room.

Lois watches Clark make lasagna and has to physically restrain him from pulling the tray out of the oven with his bare hands. “Are you out of your goddamn MIND?” she yells, scrambling to pull him away on time. “What are you DOING? WHERE ARE THE OVEN MITTS?” and Clark is just like “Right…..oven mitts…….. I think I lost them with the uh. footstool” both he and Lois pause for a moment to engage in a riveting game of Mentally Punch Clark

Lois runs into the bathroom to put on a disguise and yells out, “Where do you keep your razor?” There’s a gust of wind and Clark comes back with slightly windswept hair. “I got it!” he says with unwarranted triumph. “It’s right here. The razor I use.” Lois looks at it and it is CLEARLY recently purchased and never used and she’s just like. I don’t even care anymore

For weeks she just assumes Clark is missing some crucial element in his home and starts stacking her own things all over the place. Lois thinking Clark has no clue how to take care of himself while Clark is Eternally Tormented and has to find ways to keep his identity a secret while living in close quarters, and the slow burn mutual pining roommates AU of my dreams begins

The Weeki Wachee mermaids were magical creatures to me as a child, even though I was old enough to know they were real women. Women with awesome jobs, in my eyes. Like many little girls, I wanted to grow up to be a mermaid. But not badly enough to move to Florida as an adult. I had no idea they were still putting on shows three times a day in 2018!

(YouTube link)

Tom Scott takes us on a tour of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park in Florida, and gives us a bit of the history of the famous -and now gloriously retro- mermaid show.

Artist Jeremy Winborg is known for his expressive paintings that pair palette knife backdrops with lifelike subjects. Rendered in a distinctive style, these energetic portrayals feature iconography that ranges from local landscapes to religious figures. In addition to reimagining these regularly revisited themes, Winborg has recently turned his attention toward creating eye-catching Native American portraits.

This ongoing series of oils features portrayals of young women and girls in traditional Native American dress. While the backgrounds are composed of colorful abstractions, the subjects are painted in realistic detail that draws attention to their spirited faces and exquisite clothing.

When creating each piece, Winborg pays particular attention to the figure's regalia, conducting in-depth research to ensure that his representations are as authentic as possible. This approach has culminated in a collection of awe-inspiring paintings that “preserve a bit of history on each canvas.”

We recently had the chance to speak with Winborg about this ongoing series of oils and his celebrated practice in general. Read on to learn about the inspiration behind his signature aesthetic, choice in subject matter, diligent research methods, and more.

As a lifelong painter, how has your work changed over time? Have portraits always been your speciality?

My dad was an illustrator and he worked from home so I was constantly around artwork during my childhood. I painted whenever I wasn’t playing with toys or climbing trees.

I started painting seriously when I was 15 years old. I painted a large, wild acrylic of the Smithsonian castle. The state of Utah education department saw it and bought it. It ended up hanging in the Capitol Building in Washington DC for a month and every teacher in Utah was given a print of it. That was the first painting I made. It was a huge success. So, I continued to paint large, wild acrylics during my teen years.

At 22, I got married and started a family that I had to support so I began to paint what I thought people wanted. My dad had an art show in a gallery in Washington DC and the owner of that gallery told me that portraits don’t sell and that I should continue with landscapes. My landscapes were well-received and I was able to support my wife and five kids for over a decade painting local scenes in Utah and historic pieces.  I liked to paint landscapes, but wasn’t super excited about them. I really wanted to do something different, and I was drawn to portraiture.

Your portraits feature a unique blend of realism and abstraction. How did you develop this aesthetic?

To tell you the truth, I just got super bored of creating the realistic backgrounds. I seemed to spend more time on those and stressed out about them more than the actual figures and it wasn’t fun. Now, I have fun with what I’m doing and I really enjoy it. I really love the juxtaposition of the realism with the abstraction.

In what ways do your paintings of Native Americans “preserve a bit of history?”

All of my paintings feature Native Americans wearing traditional, authentic native clothing. I do a lot of research and consult historians to make sure I get it right.

Is it difficult to assure that the dress is as genuine as possible? What research goes into each painting?

I have a great source for the clothing. It is a couple that dedicates their whole life to the history of the American West. I consult them with any questions I have. They actually make all of their own museum-quality replica clothing. They make them the traditional ways with traditional materials; when they use a buckskin, they’ll actually tan the leather themselves. They do all their own beadwork, they use real animal sinew and shells and hooves and pelts. They do really incredible work and you can see that authenticity in my paintings.

In addition to Native American subjects, what else inspires your work?

I live in a really beautiful part of the country. I am close to Grand Teton Park and Yellowstone and also southern Utah and all the national parks there in the desert. I get a lot of inspiration from those scenes. Often times I’ll be driving down the road and have to pull over and photograph a house or a building or a cloud or the way the light is hitting a tree. I always have my camera with me and I’m constantly inspired by nature.

Plus, I’m always on the lookout for potential models that have a lot of character in their faces. I try not to be too awkward but, I’ve had many instances where I’ve gone up to people and said “hey, I’m an artist, would you be interested in modeling for me?”  I actually photographed an eighty-year-old man on a beach while on vacation in Hawaii. I find inspiration everywhere.

We look forward to seeing more of your paintings! Any upcoming plans or projects?

I will be at The Collector’s Rendezvous in Montana in May. It’s a three-day event where collectors and artists meet together for painting demos, a forum to speak with the artists, and information for collectors about auctions, buying, and collecting. They only invite four artists and I’m honored to be invited.

I also plan on continuing to paint, have art in galleries, and enter different shows throughout the nation. The best way to stay up to date is to sign up for my newsletter on my website.

Jeremy Winborg: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Jeremy Winborg.

Related Articles:

Early 20th Century Portraits Preserve the Heritage of Native Americans

Nigerian Artist Creates Realistic Oil Portraits Incorporating Colorful Local Fabrics

Colorful Paper Quilled Portraits Explore the Stories Told Through Faces of the Elderly

Vibrant Palette Knife Portraits Radiate Raw Emotions

The post Interview: Expressive Paintings of Native Americans in Authentic Dress appeared first on My Modern Met.

michaelsbjordans:

Then, as a psychologist, I think you’re confusing suicide with self-destruction, and they’re very different. Almost none of us commit suicide, whereas almost all of us self-destruct. Somehow. In some part of our lives. We drink, or take drugs, or destabilize the happy job… or happy marriage. But these aren’t decisions. They’re impulses. And in fact, as a biologist, you’re better placed to explain them than me. What do you mean? Isn’t the self-destruction coded into us? Imprinted into each cell.

into-the-weeds:

liberty-flight:

I’m reading up on chocolate frog cards in the Harry Potter universe, for reasons, and-

“Came up with the ever changing floor plan.” 

Really, Ravenclaw? Really?

“You know what this school needs? To not make any sense-”

“Rowena, I don’t think-”

“Exactly, you don’t think. I’m brilliant and this is perfect. Moving staircases, walls that think they’re doors-”

“But how will the students get to class?”

“They’ll have to figure it out.”

“…”

“Everyday. They will figure it out everyday. My students will live in a tower and navigate these stairs every time.”

“The stairs move! This doesn’t seem safe…I think I’ll put my common room in the basement, Rowena.”

“Ditto. I think the dungeons would be safer…”

“…My kids will brave these stairs. I’ll take the other tower.”

#Rowena snipes that ‘cunning’ means Salazar’s students should be able to handle the moving architecture#Salazar snipes back that ‘cunning’ means knowing when and how to avoid unnecessary bullshit#meanwhile Godric is just yelling PARKOUR! and Rowena is all That’s Not What I Meant#Helga would like her students to make it to class on time and without any broken bones#ninety percent of the reliable secret passages were a team effort by Helga and one of the others#to make sure the house elves could get around all right (via @mzminola)

there were so many shots of alicia vikander/lara flexing on tomb raider 2018 and honestly im glad that we as a society evolved from the ass shots of the jolie movies to the arm shots of this one

When Elsa stopped being a cold-hearted villain and changed her wicked ways she promised her sister Anna that she would become a chilly force for good, dropping the brooding bad girl act to become a hero.

And it appears Elsa has kept her promise to Anna and is continuing to help us mere mortals whenever she can, making an appearance in Boston during a blizzard.

A post shared by Jason Paul (@jptriplett1) on Mar 13, 2018 at 5:28pm PDT

Okay, that's obviously not the real Elsa from Frozen, it's actually 37-year-old attorney Jason Triplett out enjoying the snowfall in his Elsa costume.

Jason thought it would be entertaining to head out into the snow dressed as Elsa and film the fun, but Jason soon found himself proving he's a cosplay hero when a police wagon became stuck in a snowdrift.

Elsa, I mean Jason, helped push the police vehicle free of the snow, and thankfully the whole thing was caught on video by bystander Christopher Haynes:

A drag queen dressed as Elsa just single-handedly freed a stuck police wagon from a blizzard in the middle of March. If that sentence doesn't perfectly encapsulate the spirit of Boston, I don't know what does.

Video credit: Christopher Haynes pic.twitter.com/6IiXVWFVvw

— Sarah McGonagall (@sarahmcgbeauty) March 14, 2018

-Via WokeSloth

We love us some Taika Waititi around here, and while we are all about Thor:Ragnarok, we also know that he’s been delivering his unique brand of energy, humor, and irreverent storytelling to all sorts of films, both as a director and as an actor. Waititi also knows huge comedic talent when he sees it, which is likely why he’s a producer on an awesome-looking new sort-of-rom-com, The Breaker Upperers. Check out the trailer above!

Written, directed and starring Jackie van Beek and Madeleine Sami, The Breaker Upperers is about a pair of best friends who “run a business breaking up couples for cash, but when one develops a conscience their friendship unravels.” What’s refreshing about this movie, in addition to its wackadoodle humor, is that, while there is a romantic element for one of the protagonists, the film is ultimately about their friendship being the most important relationship they’re in, as well as the ethics surrounding their chosen business.

Tori Preston at Pajiba was at the SXSW world premiere of the film, and loved it. She also attended a Q&A with van Beek and Sami afterwards and writes:

“They wrote the script together over 4 years and initially wanted Taika to direct, but… he was a little busy. Seeing what Jemaine Clement and Taika did with What We Do In The Shadows inspired them to try and direct this film themselves. Essentially: “If they can do it, why can’t we?””

From the looks of this trailer, I’m very glad they did! The Breaker Upperers opens in its native New Zealand in May. No info yet on a U.S. wide release date.

(image: Piki Films)

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—The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—

A post shared by 簪作家 榮 SAKAE (@sakae_kanzashi) on Jan 9, 2018 at 4:43am PST

Japanese artist Sakae creates delicate floral hair accessories using colorful resin and wire. In Japan, these ornamental hair pins are known as Kanzashi, and today they’re worn with kimonos by Japanese women on special occasions. Sakae calls her craft “dip flower,” which involves sculpting the metallic wire into floral shapes and dipping them into the liquid plastic. Once the individual petals, leaves, and buds are dry, the artist then combines them to create glassy bouquets of lifelike cherry blossoms, carnations, lotus flowers, and more.

The tradition of wearing Kanzashi began during the pre-historic Jōmon period (1000 BCE), when the Japanese believed that the pin rods held special powers and the ability to ward off evil spirits. It wasn’t until the Edo period (between 1603 and 1868), that women started wearing the ornamental hair accessories purely for fashion. During this time, hairstyles became larger, more extravagant, and required more pins and combs. Artisans then began producing a range of decorative Kanzashi, and some pieces were even designed to be used as protective weapons.

Sakae carries on the Kanzashi tradition, capturing the fragility of real life flowers with amazing detail, and invites fans of her craft to “adorn your hair with flowers, butterflies, and other subjects captured forever in their prime.”

Because each piece is so fragile, Sakae’s hair accessories are currently only available in Japan through Yahoo! auction. However, there are plans to sell abroad, so keep an eye on the artist’s Facebook page for updates.

Japanese artist Sakae creates delicate floral hair accessories using colorful liquid resin and wire.

A post shared by 簪作家 榮 SAKAE (@sakae_kanzashi) on Jan 9, 2018 at 4:46am PST

A post shared by 簪作家 榮 SAKAE (@sakae_kanzashi) on Aug 12, 2016 at 10:39pm PDT

A post shared by 簪作家 榮 SAKAE (@sakae_kanzashi) on Mar 13, 2016 at 4:04am PDT

A post shared by 簪作家 榮 SAKAE (@sakae_kanzashi) on Mar 18, 2017 at 11:10pm PDT

A post shared by 簪作家 榮 SAKAE (@sakae_kanzashi) on Mar 18, 2017 at 11:09pm PDT

A post shared by 簪作家 榮 SAKAE (@sakae_kanzashi) on Apr 26, 2017 at 9:54pm PDT

A post shared by 簪作家 榮 SAKAE (@sakae_kanzashi) on Apr 26, 2017 at 9:55pm PDT

A post shared by 簪作家 榮 SAKAE (@sakae_kanzashi) on Nov 19, 2016 at 10:25pm PST

A post shared by 簪作家 榮 SAKAE (@sakae_kanzashi) on Dec 22, 2017 at 8:02pm PST

A post shared by 簪作家 榮 SAKAE (@sakae_kanzashi) on Nov 22, 2014 at 8:44pm PST

A post shared by 簪作家 榮 SAKAE (@sakae_kanzashi) on Aug 12, 2016 at 10:40pm PDT

A post shared by 簪作家 榮 SAKAE (@sakae_kanzashi) on Sep 21, 2016 at 11:03pm PDT

A post shared by 簪作家 榮 SAKAE (@sakae_kanzashi) on Dec 26, 2016 at 4:53am PST

A post shared by 簪作家 榮 SAKAE (@sakae_kanzashi) on Dec 26, 2016 at 4:54am PST

A post shared by 簪作家 榮 SAKAE (@sakae_kanzashi) on Nov 23, 2015 at 8:57pm PST

A post shared by 簪作家 榮 SAKAE (@sakae_kanzashi) on Sep 23, 2017 at 6:12am PDT

The post Japanese Artist Handcrafts Hair Accessories That Look Like Delicate Flowers appeared first on My Modern Met.

mcavoys:

DANAI GURIRA
90th Academy Awards, Los Angeles | March 4, 2018

Oh that’s beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

(art by Daniel Meeker)

These days everybody is going back to basics with their workout routine, trading in their expensive exercise machines and electronic gadgets for kettlebells, free weights and good old fashioned freestyle cardio.

9. DANCE FOR YOUR LIFE

Dance vigorously and often to your favorite lute melody or hip-hop album while wearing mail armor.

So it stands to reason that out of shape modern people might seek guidance from the fit people of the past, and if you're looking for a CrossFit-style workout that makes losing weight fun you should go to Knight classes.

6. STONE THROW

Pick up a large stone. Throw it. Repeat as necessary. (This was one of Boucicaut's favorite childhood games, which no doubt served him well on the battlefield.)

French knight Jean Le Maingre, aka Boucicaut, shared the details of his strict fitness regimen in his 1409 biography, revealing the exercises that made him such a mighty warrior, all done while fully armored, of course.

5. HAMMER SWING

Take a sledgehammer and swing it about. Note your surroundings. Splitting wood with an ax is a suitable alternative.

See 10 Workout Tips From A 14th Century Knight at Mental Floss

The age old question, "How fast can you run?" is answered logically by "It depends on what's chasing me." But sometimes even that motivation isn't enough. What could possibly lead to this scenario? Could it be a nagging idea that you've let your body go to pot by sitting all day? You sit at work, you sit in the car, you go home and sit while watching TV or playing on the internet. No wonder your legs have no loyalty. And no taste, either, according to the monster. This is the latest comic from Zach Weinersmith at Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal.

strangeseasons:

studio bitnaneun’s special Korean posters for Moonlight, featuring quotes from director Barry Jenkins 
drawings by Seongjin Kim | designed by bitnaneun 

Yesterday one of the regular members of my Dungeons & Dragons group had to cancel, so the rest of us decided to roll some new characters for a one-off campaign. Shortly before our gathering, one of them texted to ask if it was alright if we all played as bards. “We’ll be like a traveling pop punk band!” they said. As…

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The perfect Valentine’s Day.

The color blue is associated with two of Earth’s greatest natural features: the sky and the ocean. But that wasn’t always the case. Some scientists believe that the earliest humans were actually colorblind and could only recognize black, white, red, and only later yellow and green. As a result, early humans with no concept of the color blue simply had no words to describe it. This is even reflected in ancient literature, such as Homer’s Odyssey, that describes the ocean as a “wine-red sea.”

Blue was first produced by the ancient Egyptians who figured out how to create a permanent pigment that they used for decorative arts. The color blue continued to evolve for the next 6,000 years, and certain pigments were even used by the world's master artists to create some of the most famous works of art. Today it continues to evolve, with the latest shade discovered less than a decade ago. Read on to learn more about the color's fascinating history.

Egyptian Blue

There’s a long list of things we can thank the ancient Egyptians for inventing, and one of them is the color blue. Considered to be the first ever synthetically produced color pigment, Egyptian blue (also known as cuprorivaite) was created around 2,200 B.C. It was made from ground limestone mixed with sand and a copper-containing mineral, such as azurite or malachite, which was then heated between 1470 and 1650°F. The result was an opaque blue glass which then had to be crushed and combined with thickening agents such as egg whites to create a long-lasting paint or glaze.

The Egyptians held the hue in very high regard and used it to paint ceramics, statues, and even to decorate the tombs of the pharaohs. The color remained popular throughout the Roman Empire and was used until the end of the Greco-Roman period (332 BC–395 AD), when new methods of color production started to evolve.

Fun fact: In 2006, scientists discovered that Egyptian blue glows under fluorescent lights, indicating that the pigment emits infrared radiation. This discovery has made it a lot easier for historians to identify the color on ancient artifacts, even when it’s not visible to the naked eye.

 

Ultramarine

The history of ultramarine began around 6,000 years ago when the vibrant, semi-precious gemstone it was made from—lapis lazuli—began to be imported by the Egyptians from the mountains of Afghanistan. However, the Egyptians tried and failed to turn it into a paint, with each attempt resulting in a dull gray. Instead, they used it to make jewelry and headdresses.

Also known as “true blue,” lapis lazuli first appeared as a pigment in the 6th century and was used in Buddhist paintings in Bamiyan, Afghanistan. It was renamed ultramarine—in Latin: ultramarinus, meaning “beyond the sea”—when the pigment was imported into Europe by Italian traders during the 14th and 15th centuries. Its deep, royal blue quality meant that was highly sought after among artists living in Medieval Europe. However, in order to use it you had to be wealthy, as it was considered to be just as precious as gold.

Ultramarine was usually reserved for only the most important commissions, such as the blue robes of the Virgin Mary in Gérard David’s Virgin and Child with Female Saints. Supposedly, Baroque master Johannes Vermeer—who painted Girl with a Pearl Earring—loved the color so much that he pushed his family into debt. It remained extremely expensive until a synthetic ultramarine was invented in 1826, by a French chemist, which was then aptly named “French Ultramarine.”

Fun fact: Art historians believe that Michelangelo left his painting The Entombment (1500–01) unfinished because he could not afford to buy more ultramarine blue.

 

Cobalt blue

Cobalt blue dates back to the 8th and 9th centuries, and was then used to color ceramics and jewelry. This was especially the case in China, where it was used in distinctive blue and white patterned porcelain. A purer alumina-based version was later discovered by French chemist Louis Jacques Thénard in 1802, and commercial production began in France in 1807. Painters—such as J. M. W. Turner, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Vincent Van Gogh—started using the new pigment as an alternative to expensive ultramarine.

Fun fact: Cobalt blue is sometimes called Parrish blue because artist Maxfield Parrish used it to create his distinct, intensely blue skyscapes.

 

Cerulean

Originally composed of cobalt magnesium stannate, the sky-colored cerulean blue was perfected by Andreas Höpfner in Germany in 1805 by roasting cobalt and tin oxides. However, the color was not available as an artistic pigment until 1860 when it was sold by Rowney and Company under the name of coeruleum. Artist Berthe Morisot used cerulean along with ultramarine and cobalt blue to paint the blue coat of the woman in A Summer's Day, 1887.

Fun fact: In 1999, Pantone released a press release declaring cerulean as the “Color of the Millennium,” and “the hue of the future.”

 

Indigo

Although blue was expensive to use in paintings, it was much cheaper to use for dying textiles. Unlike the rarity of lapis lazuli, the arrival of a new blue dye called “indigo” came from a excessively grown crop—called Indigofera tinctoria—that was produced across the world. Its import shook up the European textile trade in the 16th century, and catalyzed trade wars between Europe and America.

The use of indigo for dyeing textiles was most popular in England, and was used to dye clothing worn by men and women of all social backgrounds. Natural indigo was replaced in 1880, when synthetic indigo was developed. This pigment is still used today to dye blue jeans. However, over the last decade scientists have discovered that the bacteria Escherichia coli can be bio-engineered to produce the same chemical reaction that makes indigo in plants. This method, called “bio-indigo,” will likely play a big part in manufacturing environmentally friendly denim in the future.

Fun fact: Sir Isaac Newton—the inventor of the “color spectrum”—believed that the rainbow should consist of seven distinct colors to match the seven days of the week, the seven known planets, and the seven notes in the musical scale. Newton championed indigo, along with orange, even though many other contemporary scientists believed the rainbow only had five colors.

 

Navy blue

Formally known as marine blue, the darkest shade of blue—also known as navy blue—was adopted as the official color for British Royal Navy uniforms, and was worn by officers and sailors from 1748. Modern navies have since darkened the color of their uniforms to almost black in an attempt to avoid fading. Indigo dye was the basis for historical navy blue colors dating from the 18th century.

Fun fact: There are many variations of navy blue, including Space cadet, a color that was formulated in 2007. This hue is associated with the uniforms of cadets in the space navy; a fictional military service armed with the task of exploring outer space.

 

Prussian blue

Also known as Berliner Blau, Prussian blue was discovered accidentally by German dye-maker Johann Jacob Diesbach. In fact, Diesbach was working on creating a new red, however, one of his materials—potash—had come into contact with animal blood. Instead of making the pigment even more red like you might expect, the animal blood created a surprising chemical reaction, resulting in a vibrant blue.

Pablo Picasso used the Prussian blue pigment exclusively during his Blue Period, and Japanese woodblock artist Katsushika Hokusai used it to create his iconic The Great Wave off Kanagawa, as well as other prints in his Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji series. However, the pigment wasn’t only used for creating masterpieces. In 1842, English astronomer Sir John Herschel discovered that Prussian blue had a unique sensitivity to light, and was the perfect hue to create copies of drawings. This discovery proved invaluable to the likes of architects, who could create copies of their plans and designs, that are today known as “blueprints.”

Fun fact: Today, Prussian blue is used in a pill form to cure metal poisoning.

 

International Klein Blue

In pursuit of the color of the sky, French artist Yves Klein developed a matte version of ultramarine that he considered the best blue of all. He registered International Klein Blue (IKB) as a trademark and the deep hue became his signature between 1947 and 1957. He painted over 200 monochrome canvases, sculptures, and even painted human models in the IKB color so they could “print” their bodies onto canvas.

Fun fact: Klein once said “blue has no dimensions. It is beyond dimensions,” believing that it could take the viewer outside the canvas itself.

 

The Latest Discovery: YInMn

In 2009, a new shade of blue was accidentally discovered by Professor Mas Subramanian and his then graduate student Andrew E. Smith at Oregon State University. While exploring new materials for making electronics, Smith discovered that one of his samples turned bright blue when heated. Named YInMn blue, after its chemical makeup of yttrium, indium, and manganese, they released the pigment for commercial use in June 2016.

Fun fact: YInMn blue was recently added to the Crayola crayon collection.

 

Related Articles:

First New Blue Pigment in Over 200 Years is Being Made into a Crayon

3,500-Year-Old Unfinished Obelisk Reveals Incredible Engineering of Ancient Egypt

The Evolution of Picasso’s Painting Style and What Each Artistic Choice Represents

Everything You Need to Know About Hokusai, the Painter of ‘The Great Wave’

Man Uses Blue Resin to Create Illuminated Map of Intricate Waterways Across the U.S.

The post The History of the Color Blue: From Ancient Egypt to the Latest Scientific Discoveries appeared first on My Modern Met.

24-year-old Mirai Nagasu became the first American woman to nail a triple axel jump at the Olympics last night, and her flawless routine earned her a score of 137.53.

If you’re wondering why everyone’s making such a fuss, this video from Vox explains the physics and history of the triple axel, and why it’s such a big deal (there’s also a great scene in I, Tonya about the physical feat around Tonya Harding being the first woman to land one at a competitive event):

Naturally, the internet celebrated her amazing jump and our hearts swelled with patriotic pride:

What did Mirai Nagasu do? pic.twitter.com/J5OdNyVymm

— Ira Madison III (@ira) February 12, 2018

 

Mirai Nagasu, you brilliant, beautiful diamond, you made history.

— Nicole Chung (@nicole_soojung) February 12, 2018

best photo of the night, well done @mirai_nagasu 😭👏 pic.twitter.com/6z6NS5ZvYd

— ✨⛸ ji@平昌冬季オリンピック🇰🇷⛸✨ (@soukatsu_) February 12, 2018

Adam Rippon and Mirai Nagasu are roomies at the Olympics. They ate In and Out Burger when they didn’t make the 2014 Olympics. Today, he almost cried when she landed her triple axel. #Olympics pic.twitter.com/gHmwemEMnM

— Rachel Rose Gold (@RachelRoseGold1) February 12, 2018

The skater had been snubbed in 2014 for a position on the Sochi Olympic team, and many were unhappy that the third spot was awarded to Ashley Wanger instead. The Washington Post writes that after that, Nagasu “doubled down on her commitment to the sport” with a new coach and increased dedication. There was never any doubt about Nagasu’s talent: at 13, when she won the U.S. junior title and at 14 she became the second youngest to win the U.S. senior ladies title. On the 2010 Olympic team, she placed fourth at the age of 16. She’s proved herself time and time again. However, many saw in her historic triple axel an answer to the 2014 snub—no one could dispute her talent now and her rightful place. It’s clear to see her hard work paid off.

Nagasu continued to celebrate, tweeting that she had “No words” and reveling in the fact that she had made Reese Witherspoon, Meryl Davis, Lea Salonga (especially sweet when you consider she skated to music from the Miss Saigon soundtrack), and Kristi Yamaguchi proud.

Thank you Queen Meryl https://t.co/fiYuH4EEj7

— Mirai Nagasu (@mirai_nagasu) February 12, 2018

Today has been the best day ever. https://t.co/Bx1DhD4xej

— Mirai Nagasu (@mirai_nagasu) February 12, 2018

Still on cloud 9 https://t.co/klT8t0mI6I

— Mirai Nagasu (@mirai_nagasu) February 12, 2018

I watched Home Again on the way to the Olympics and I know it’s a movie but I wished you were my mom. You’re my hero. ❤️ https://t.co/LRHEMEXroE

— Mirai Nagasu (@mirai_nagasu) February 12, 2018

Thank you so much! https://t.co/WbjfeCCY3P

— Mirai Nagasu (@mirai_nagasu) February 12, 2018

Congrats to Nagasu and the American team!

(image: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

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In the run-up to Black Panther‘s theatrical release, its groundbreaking potential for representation has come up again and again. From the #BlackPantherChallenge that raised money to help kids see the film, to the #WhatBlackPantherMeansToMe hashtag that explored the significance of a black, African superhero, thousands of people have recognized the role that Black Panther can play in inspiring the next generation of black kids.

London-based Nigerian photographer Àsìkò perfectly captured the importance of this representation in a recent photo series. In the photos, children recreate the powerful Black Panther character posters. “As a kid who read comics,” Àsìkò wrote on Instagram, “Black Panther was one of the very few black superheroes I came across. For a child, it is a beautiful thing to see yourself represented in a positive light in pop culture. What is also great is that it’s a hero steeped in culture and heritage and not drug deals or street thugging (is thugging a word?). Ryan Coogler and Marvel Studios have made a film that is part of the positive narrative changing voice of Africa and the black race and, boy, does it matter. I can imagine a child being empowered watching Black Panther [and] thinking, ‘That superhero looks just like me.'”

The photos were commissioned by Looks Like Me, a UK talent and casting agency dedicated to raising the profile of underrepresented groups. Styling was done by Basma Khalifa, and makeup and face painting was done by NyGlorious Face Arts. Below are some of the photos, as shared on the Looks Like Me Instagram.

Kenyah, inspired by Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa:

CREDIT THE SOURCE #lookslikemeuk Hail King Kenyah . Passion project: Hero in us all . Proud to use my creativity, passion, determination, platform and personal funds to represent the future generation of culture, pride & the hero in us all! . Credits: Inspired by @blackpanther film Alongside our heritage, culture and most importantly ancestors… Royal & Regal . Image exhibited on 9th February @BFI in partnership with @weareparable part of the Afrofuturism market. Dream team: Photographer @asiko_artist  Stylist @basmakhalifa  Talent @lookslikemeuk  Face art @nygloriousfacearts  Creative consultant @vinecreatives  #lookslikemeuk #blackexcellence #blackboyjoy #blackgirlsrocks

A post shared by lookslikemeuk (@lookslikemeuk) on Feb 7, 2018 at 6:43am PST

N’Adjoa, inspired by Lupita Nyong’o’s Nakia:

CREDIT THE SOURCE #lookslikemeuk Hail Empress N’Adjoa . Passion project: Hero in us all . Proud to use my creativity, passion, determination, platform and personal funds to represent the future generation of culture, pride & the hero in us all! . Credits: Inspired by @blackpanther film Alongside our heritage, culture and most importantly ancestors… Royal & Regal . Image exhibited on 9th February @BFI in partnership with @weareparable part of the Afrofuturism market. Dream team: Photographer @asiko_artist  Stylist @basmakhalifa  Talent @lookslikemeuk  Face art @nygloriousfacearts  Creative consultant @vinecreatives  #lookslikemeuk #blackexcellence #blackboyjoy #blackgirlsrocks

A post shared by lookslikemeuk (@lookslikemeuk) on Feb 7, 2018 at 6:41am PST

Camiyah, inspired by Letitia Wright’s Shuri:

CREDIT THE SOURCE #lookslikemeuk Hail Empress Camiyah . Passion project: Hero in us all . Proud to use my creativity, passion, determination, platform and personal funds to represent the future generation of culture, pride & the hero in us all! . Credits: Inspired by @blackpanther film Alongside our heritage, culture and most importantly ancestors… Royal & Regal . Image exhibited on 9th February @BFI in partnership with @weareparable part of the Afrofuturism market. Dream team: 📸@asiko_artist stylist @basmakhalifa Talent @lookslikemeuk Face art @nygloriousfacearts Creative consultant @vinecreatives #lookslikemeuk #blackexcellence #blackboyjoy #blackgirlsrocks

A post shared by lookslikemeuk (@lookslikemeuk) on Feb 6, 2018 at 4:04pm PST

Malakai, inspired by Michael B. Jordan’s Erik Killmonger:

CREDIT THE SOURCE #lookslikemeuk Hail King Malakai. Passion project: Hero in us all . Proud to use my creativity, passion, determination, platform and personal funds to represent the future generation of culture, pride & the hero in us all! . Credits: Inspired by @blackpanther film Alongside our heritage, culture and most importantly ancestors… Royal & Regal . Image exhibited on 9th February @BFI in partnership with @weareparable part of the Afrofuturism market. Dream team: Photographer @asiko_artist  Stylist @basmakhalifa  Talent @lookslikemeuk  Face art @nygloriousfacearts  Creative consultant @vinecreatives  #lookslikemeuk #blackexcellence #blackboyjoy #blackgirlsrocks

A post shared by lookslikemeuk (@lookslikemeuk) on Feb 7, 2018 at 6:40am PST

(via Blavity; featured image: Marvel Entertainment and Walt Disney Studios)

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