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Featuring Realistic Pencil Drawings by Silvio Giannini

Imran Sherwani — Thu, 02 May 2019 19:47:35 +0000

Silvio Giannini is an Italian contemporary artist who was born in Rome in 1998. Despite of his passion on various artistic techniques, he finds no best way to express his imagination as drawing. The graphite, pastel and charcoal has great potential for the artist to create his black and white visual illusions.

Artist: Silvio Giannini
Website | Instagram

THE IRON CAGE

THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF THE HUMAN BEING TO ESCAPE FROM HIS NATURE

ABSENCE

LE VRAI GRAND GUIGNOL

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Eye study II – 3 hours in 60 seconds – Song: LEMMiNO – Moon #heartsi

A post shared by Silvio Giannini (@silvio_giannini) on Jul 4, 2017 at 10:18am PDT

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Photographer Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Shots of Magical Instagram Photos

Imran Sherwani — Wed, 01 May 2019 11:00:50 +0000

We often see photographers sharing majestic photos on social media that leave us questioning “How on earth did they take those?”. Well, some of our questions are about to get answered.

Omahi is a Mexican photographer with over 120k followers on Instagram. The photographer not only constantly shares breathtaking photos but also gives people a glimpse at how they are taken by sharing the behind-the-scenes pictures of many of his photos. A moody photo of a girl in the desert or in the middle of a blizzard? That’s just some clever lighting and a computer monitor. Combine that with some skillful Photoshop work and you’ve got yourself a masterpiece.

Artist: Omahi
Instagram | Facebook

“I trusted more than 100 thousand pesos to a cheap plastic case to be able to make this picture… was it worth it or was it stupid?” says Omahi. Well, if your photo looks like a movie poster or the cover of a best-seller, we say – totally worth it.

If you’ve been binge-watching your favorite shows on Netflix, you might need to take a short break. Meanwhile, you can use the TV to take a futuristic photo. The possibilities are endless!

You can take advantage of any given weather condition when taking a photo, but try to go the extra mile to achieve a romantic movie-worthy shot. There is no such thing as bad weather if you’re creative enough.

Just over 3 hours of attempts and dozens of burnt pages – the romantic shot is done. It is in fact possible to take a breathtaking picture even for non-professionals, no one said it’s always quick and effortless.

Even the weirdest and the simplest of locations can be transformed into majestic backgrounds if you are creative enough. You get some extra points for being able to create your own scenography out of things you find in your daily life.

With a true classic – a screen as a background, you can teleport to anywhere in the world. I don’t encourage lying to your followers about your location, but if you like deserts and don’t live close to one, why don’t you just bring the desert to your house?

Sometimes the behind-the-scenes are close to what we see in a final picture, and it’s both fascinating and frightening. Especially, when the photographer clearly has a thing for fire. Needless to say, the photo is amazing, but don’t try this at home.

Sometimes creativity and the friend’s helping hand is worth more than expensive professional equipment. Spiced up with a little Photoshop magic – it’s a mesmerizing profile photo!

We look for a perfect location to take the perfect shot, but not everyone can find themselves on a beach or enchanting forest on a regular basis. Who said you couldn’t make a good and captivating picture in a public bathroom? Imagine all the possibilities you’ve missed!

If you are not a professional photographer and don’t own luxurious equipment that costs thousands of dollars, a flash on a phone and the closest area with an artsy vibe is a way to go! This abandoned factory smelled of urine, and this is why we sometimes appreciate that photos don’t convey scents, but they can definitely evoke imagined smell, and I am truly sorry for this!

When you have a clear vision in your head and a set of minimal skills, a simple park becomes the best scenario for a dreamy photo shoot. Confused looks of people passing by in the park will mean nothing compared to impressed followers.

Some days nothing goes according to plan – your tripod breaks and the weather doesn’t want to participate in your fabulous idea. On these days, you just have to improvise.

Sometimes looking for the perfect angle takes you to strange places. This is the uncolored truth behind photography – it’s sometimes dirty, smelly and physically challenging. How far would you go for a stunning shot?

This one could easily be featured in a collection of mind-bending photo manipulations. Omahi lost 10 dollars for destroying the statue of liberty but, in most cases, it’s the destiny of all props.

Some people will see it as an abandoned dusty place, others will see the ugly vandalism, but only the most creative ones will spot a perfect place for a photo shoot and get inspired. Seeing the beauty in the unexpected is a true talent.

Wish to create a winter wonderland in the middle of summer? Not a problem at all! A creative approach and few basic essentials will transform a local park into dreamlike scenery and leave everyone wondering if you took a getaway up North recently.

A fire extinguisher in this photographer’s house is a must. Although his obsession with fire makes for some mesmerizing images, we can’t help holding our breath each time he reveals the behind-the-scenes.

Capturing movement in photos is a serious challenge, especially when people are passing by your performance on the street. But when the result is becoming a real-life fruit ninja – it’s totally worth the effort.

Love has no barriers, and neither does this photographer’s imagination and clever ways of bringing it to life.

Implementing different scenarios for a photo shoot may come handy in other aspects of life. For this picture, the photographer had to learn how to make a torch. A skill he will be able to use when camping in the dark or the next time he comes up with a crazy idea like this.

Here is yet another example of how you can use the changing seasons and natural environment to spice up your Instagram account. It might look hilarious from the side, but who cares when you end up looking like an autumn goddess in the finished photo.

The magic is in the details, but when you see what it takes to create the photo is when you can truly appreciate it. Omah cut his finger in the process of making this image, and I’d say it’s a fairly mild consequence when imagining what could have happened.

This portrait is ‘fire’. Literally. This is a real fire, it’s also the reason such a simple shot, at first glance, took two days to make. There are a lot of dangerous jobs out there, who knew photography was one of them.

Just a casual day laying in flowers right outside a “Corner Deli”. With a bit of imagination, dull places you pass everyday turn into magical locations for flawless portraits. But there is no magic involved – just the ability to see what most people don’t notice.

If you just bought a new house plant, you might as well use it for a photo shoot in the parking lot. Beautiful, nature-inspired subtle portraits will always be a trend and you don’t need to rent a costly studio to achieve a similar result – just use whatever you have on hand.

How can you describe Las Vegas in one photo? Well, this vivid photo would be a decent attempt. Photographing in super crowdy touristic places and low lighting is always challenging. This image took Omah two whole days of attempts until he was satisfied with the result.

It’s an example of an utterly entertaining activity you can practice on a lunch break on your office’s top floor. When recreating this particular shot, you should probably switch the fire with something else, just in case. The end result might not be as exciting, but safety comes first.

Flowers are, of course, an easy way to make your photos bloom. Yet what to do once the flowers begin to wither? Either throw them away… Or turn them into ashes while having a camera near you. And while the result will be stunning, just make sure the fire alarm system is installed in the building.

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Wallpaper of the Week #186: Hvítserkur, Iceland

Imran Sherwani — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 13:41:06 +0000

Every week, we share with you a new wallpaper that you can use to refresh your workspace – Desktop, Mobile or Tablet. Let us know what you think of this week’s one, and if you’ve got a wallpaper of your own that you think we should share, submit your work to us below.

You can check out the previous episode here – Wallpaper of the Week #185

Hvítserkur is a 15 m high basalt stack along the eastern shore of the Vatnsnes peninsula, in northwest Iceland.
The rock has two holes at the base, which give it the appearance of a dragon who is drinking. The base of the stack has been reinforced with concrete to protect its foundations from the sea.
Several species of birds, such as gulls and fulmars, live on at Hvítserkur and its name (“white shirt” in Icelandic) comes from the color of the guano deposited on its rocks.

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Photo by v2osk

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A Geological Landmark’s Phosphorescent Glow Inspires the National Museum of Qatar’s Cavernous Gift Shop

Imran Sherwani — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 10:37:49 +0000

Patches of natural and artificial light highlight the curved layers of the National Museum of Qatar’s recently completed gift shop. The massive undulating walls were constructed from over 40,000 pieces of timber that tower high above visitors’ heads and imitate the shape and feeling of the Dahl Al Misfir or Cave of Light.

The Qatar landmark is an underground formation that contains a wealth of gypsum deposits, which illuminate the cave with a phosphorescent glow and often form clusters of rose-shaped crystals known as “desert roses.”

Koichi Takada Architects wanted to connect visitors to the museum back to Qatari desert landscapes, while also creating a natural extension of the “Desert Rose” concept created for the museum by French architect Jean Nouvel.

In addition to the museum shop, the architects also designed its restaurants, including the Desert Rose Cafe, Cafe 875, and Jiwan Restaurant.

You can see more of the firm’s previous projects on their website and Instagram, and take a look at the museum’s exterior here.

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This Guy Can Transform Himself Into Any Disney Princess

Imran Sherwani — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 11:50:36 +0000

There are Disney fans, there are Disney addicts, and then there is Richard Arthur, a 21-year-old freelance makeup artist who turns himself into princesses from his favorite Disney movies. And as you can see from these pictures, the guy has got some serious skills!

The House of Mouse enthusiast from Orange County California started cosplaying as Disney princes and princesses four years ago. Each transformation takes roughly two hours and he even makes his own costumes, a skill he taught himself in school to take his mind off being bullied. He used to get told that he looked androgynous and so he decided to turn these comments into something positive by turning himself into his favorite Disney princesses. He says that dressing up has helped him to feel more confident as a person, and if we had over 230k followers on Instagram, we’d feel pretty confident too! Good work Richard! Or should we say Ariel?

Artist: Richard Arthur
Instagram

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How To Make A Relationship Last 25 Years And Longer

Imran Sherwani — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 09:08:25 +0000

A happy relationship can be the most rewarding thing in the world. As anybody who’s ever been in one knows however, they aren’t always (or ever) easy. But they can be made a lot easier by following the advice outlined in these wonderful illustrations.

They come from the website Power of Positivity and they’re designed to remind you of the things that are easy to forget. The secret to a successful relationship lies in the details, the finer things that are often overlooked, especially when you’ve been together for a long time. Like showing appreciation and gratitude, even for the small things, and always supporting each other no matter what. It isn’t always possible to follow all of these rules, but even if you remember only one or two of them then you’re sure to have a happier life together.

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20+ Beautiful & Magical Tree Tunnels You Should Take a Walk Through

Imran Sherwani — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 06:08:34 +0000

Nature in as a whole tends to be a profoundly beautiful thing, but there are few things more magical than finding yourself under a canopy of trees in a tree tunnel on some warm summer evening. Whether they’re formed naturally, accidentally, or with a little help from some patient and talented gardeners, these tree tunnels are sure to enchant anyone lucky enough to walk below their verdant boughs.

The beautiful forms of many of these tree tunnels and the ways in which we’ve copied them goes to show just how much we’ve borrowed from nature. I’m sure that magical spaces like these inspired more than one historical architect to design the gorgeous vaulted ceiling of a gothic cathedral or the arches of some other grand structure. Many ancient societies considered trees to be sacred and maintained holy groves of old trees, and with places this beautiful, it’s not hard to understand why.

Despite how slowly trees grow, they are remarkably receptive to various methods of altering their growth. With strong, persistent and very patient force, trees can be sculpted into a variety of forms. Some of these tree tunnels have been formed and sculpted by careful gardeners to ensure that they conform with their urban surroundings.

A few of the tree tunnels are happy coincidences. The Tunnel of Love in Ukraine, a popular photo spot for married couples, is also part of an operational railway system. The married couples have to schedule their photoshoots behind the times when freight trains are scheduled to pass through. Even unintentionally, these tree tunnels can work their magic on us.

1. The Dark Hedges in Northern Ireland
Image credits: Stephen Emerson

Image credits: Christopher Tait

2. Street in Bonn, Germany
Image credits: Adas Meliauskas

3. Wisteria Flower Tunnel in Japan
Image credits: mindphoto.blog.fc2.com

Image credits: imgur.com

4. Oak Alley along the Mississippi River outside New Orleans, Louisiana
Image credits: Exploring Light Photography

5. Jacarandas Walk in South Africa
Image credits: imgur.com

6. Tunnel of Love in Ukraine
Image credits: Oleg Gordienko

6. Tunnel of Love in Ukraine
Image credits: amoschapple

7. Street in Jerez, Spain
Image credits: Aidan McRae Thomson

8. Ginkgo Tree Tunnel in Japan
Image credits: mrhayata

9. Blossom Path (Location Unknown)
Image credits: 91zhuti.com

10. Bamboo Path in Kyoto, Japan
Image credits: Yuya Horikawa

11. Maple Tunnel in St. Louis, Oregon, U.S.A.
Image credits: Ian Sane

12. Sakura Tunnel, Japan
Image credits: okera japan

13. Tree Tunnel in Netherlands
Image credits: Lars van de Goor

14. Location Unknown
Image credits: pawel uchorczak

15. Laburnum Tunnel in Bodnant Gardens, UK
Image credits: Tony Shertila

16. Parque Francisco Alvarado in Costa Rica
Image credits: Vytautas Šėrys

17. The Path Up To the Halnaker Windmill in Sussex
Image credits: Sam Moore

18. Cypress Tree Tunnel At The Historic Marconi Wireless Station, California
Image credits: Michael Brandt

19. Gyeonghwa Station in Jinhae, South Korea
Image credits: Aaron Choi

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This Guy Sold a VHS Player on eBay and Then Got a Very Unexpected Letter

Imran Sherwani — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 05:44:14 +0000

Earlier this year a person sold their VHS player on eBay and received a very unexpected letter in the mailbox shortly after the sale. It was from the 86-year-old buyer and this happened to be his first purchase on the online marketplace.

It put a big smile on my face and I hope it does for you too. Bless this man!

[h/t effectivepep on reddit]

Hi ______,
I found many old VHS tapes recently and wanted to see what is on them and realized I had no player. So I went to EBay for the first time and discovered your offer.
I bought your VHS and you shipped it within a few days. The VHS looks new and unused. Amazing. I had some issues getting it going which were mine and not the player. I am 86 and perhaps not up to my game but I do get there eventually. And I did, and discovered the VHS works perfectly.
Thank you so much for your care, your efforts, and your promptness.
I watched tapes of my retirement party from 25 years ago which I had never seen before. Jeez, were we young. Then a tape of my wedding with all the family and friends, many of which are no longer around. Then skiing trips, kids growing up, travels, and most importantly the gentle maturing of my family. Each one more fun than the last. All thanks to your generous selling of the VHS player.
I thought you would appreciate how much someone has enjoyed your offer.
Best regards,

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Volcanic Eruptions Seen from Space

Imran Sherwani — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 13:19:45 +0000

A volcano is an opening, or rupture, in a planet’s surface or crust, which allows hot magma, volcanic ash and gases to escape from the magma chamber below the surface.

They are generally found where tectonic plates are diverging or converging. A mid-oceanic ridge, for example the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, has examples of volcanoes caused by divergent tectonic plates pulling apart; the Pacific Ring of Fire has examples of volcanoes caused by convergent tectonic plates coming together. Volcanoes can also form where there is stretching and thinning of the Earth’s crust in the interiors of plates.

There is no consensus among volcanologists on how to define an “active” volcano. The lifespan of a volcano can vary from months to several million years, making such a distinction sometimes meaningless when compared to the lifespans of humans or even civilizations.

Scientists usually consider a volcano to be erupting or likely to erupt if it is currently erupting, or showing signs of unrest such as unusual earthquake activity or significant new gas emissions. Most scientists consider a volcano active if it has erupted in the last 10,000 years (Holocene times). There are about 1500 active volcanoes in the world – the majority along the Pacific Ring of Fire – and around 50 of these erupt each year. An estimated 500 million people live near active volcanoes. [Source]

In the gallery below we look at a selection of Earth’s volcanoes from above. These stunning images were captured from various satellites as well as crew members aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The views from space offer a unique perspective of one of nature’s most awesome and terrifying events.

Sarychev Volcano, Russia
Photograph by NASA

Kliuchevskoi Volcano, Russia
Photograph by NASA

Pavlof Volcano, Alaska
Photograph by NASA/ISS Crew Earth Observations

Manam Volcano, Papua New Guinea
Photograph by NASA/Jesse Allen

Puyehue-Cordón Caulle Volcano, Chile
Photograph by NASA/GSFC/Jeff Schmaltz/MODIS Land Rapid Response Team

Eyjafjallajokull Volcano, Iceland
Photograph by NASA/GSFC/Jeff Schmaltz/MODIS Land Rapid Response Team

Nyiragongo Volcano, DR Congo
Photograph by NASA

Shinmoe-dake Volcano, Japan
Photograph by NASA/Jeff Schmaltz/MODIS Rapid Response Team

Merapi Volcano, Indonesia
Photograph by NASA

Api Volcano, Indonesia
Photograph by NASA

Mt. Etna, Italy
Photograph by NASA

Eyjafjallajokull Volcano, Iceland
Photograph by NASA/GSFC/Jeff Schmaltz/MODIS Land Rapid Response Team

Chaiten Volcano, Chile
Photograph by NASA

Kliuchevskoi Volcano, Russia
Photograph by NASA

Pavlof Volcano, Alaska
Photograph by NASA/ISS Crew Earth Observations

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Wallpaper of the Week #184 – Best “Game of Thrones” Wallpapers for Phone

Imran Sherwani — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 10:30:31 +0000

Season 8 of Game of Thrones premiered on April 14, so this is the perfect occasion to provide a special edition of our Wallpapers of the Week.

You can check out the previous episode here – Wallpaper of the Week #183

Our wallpaper gallery aims to bring you quality images to your favorite mobile devices. This collection contains the best illustrated Game of Thrones wallpapers for Phone. Grab your favorite before Winter comes.

The following Game of Thrones wallpapers for the phones are illustrated scenes with various popular characters. Since Season 8 is bound to be the season of the dragons, I did post a few more of Daenerys’ favorite children.

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