January 16, 2015

Natural wonders - Turda Salt Mine Romania

Turda Salt Mine, aside from its gigantic size, is fairly straight forward in its history. Explosives were never used to hollow the mine, and it was all done by hand or machine, making its size more impressive. One of the many halls of the mine measures a massive 260 by 130 feet with 160-foot ceilings.

After being abandoned in 1932, the mine reopened for tourists in 1992. Thanks to a $6 million renovation, the Salt Mine is now a large tourist draw for halotherapy, a treatment for allergies and asthma that uses the ionized air, pressure and humidity of the caves. The effects of salt caves were first discovered during a study of miners with improved breathing ability in the Wieliczka Salt Mine.

Natural wonders - Turda Salt Mine Romania

Natural wonders - Turda Salt Mine Romania

Natural wonders - Turda Salt Mine Romania

Along with the spa attraction inside the caves, some of the old mining equipment has been converted to lead visitors through on tours. One of the most prominent features is a panoramic wheel that lets tourists see the stalagmites that have formed over the caves 1000-year history. A small lake in the mine also offers the opportunity to paddle around the highly textured salt caves.

As the cave has grown in popularity over the last 20 years, it has attracted a number of high-profile visitors. Rumors have even circulated over the last few months that the new Christopher Nolan-directed Batman film will be shot heavily in the mine, with Turda acting as the new Batcave. On opening night, moviegoers should look for Turda Salt Mines characteristic old mining equipment and damp, cavernous surroundings.

Natural wonders - Turda Salt Mine Romania

Natural wonders - Turda Salt Mine Romania


The Abstract Patterns On This Sculpture Are Actually A Hidden Message

As part of the launch of a new website, physical/digital experience designer and 3D artist Craig Winslow projection-mapped visuals onto objects from his past, then hand-painted them to create a projected typography sculpture. Winslow rather fittingly calls this project, a blend of past objects and future-leaning technology, Build the Future.

The Burlington, Vermont-based artist wrote on his website that Build the Future was originally a proof of concept for a larger-scale typography project for a startup headquarters. Somewhere along the way Winslow made it into a “personal mantra.”

“Taking actual objects from my childhood was important to the concept of the project but equally painful and exciting to paint white and make new,” he wrote on his website. Winslow posted a video of the project on Vimeo, where he offered up more details on the project.



Since project typography plays with personal perspective, Winslow wanted to exploit multiple viewing angles. As the sculpture rotates on a cylindrical surface, not unlike vinyl spinning on a record player, a multi-colored “cyclical message” is revealed. As the message resolves throughout its full revolution, there are also intermittent moments of abstraction.

"For the past few years I've been focusing on blending physical and digital mediums, so similar to a pixel screen print series of mine, I wanted this project to appear digital, but be completely analog," Winslow told The Creators Project. "This typographic projection technique has been seen recently in a music video by OK Go and the intro to Apple's recent keynote.

The Abstract Patterns On This Sculpture Are Actually A Hidden Message

The Abstract Patterns On This Sculpture Are Actually A Hidden Message

 As for technique, Winslow initially used 3D software to discover a method for outputting vector graphics to be installed on a larger scale, but when the startup project startup fell through, he settled on a very hands-on method. This required mounting the projector to a specific location, with the composition of white objects to another, and then pencilling in and painting each projection where the shadows fell off the objects.

“The message is a simple one: it’s hard to let go of the past, but I propose a different solution,” Winslow wrote. “Look at your past and build from it, create a better future for yourself and others.”

“[M]ost people become tied down by objects, stuff, and things,” he added. “By selecting childhood possessions and essentially destroying to make something new, I took a strong step to build on and recontextualize the memories they contain, while freeing them the box they would otherwise live in.”

 As for technique, Winslow initially used 3D software to discover a method for outputting vector graphics to be installed on a larger scale, but when the startup project startup fell through, he settled on a very hands-on method. This required mounting the projector to a specific location, with the composition of white objects to another, and then pencilling in and painting each projection where the shadows fell off the objects.  “The message is a simple one: it’s hard to let go of the past, but I propose a different solution,” Winslow wrote. “Look at your past and build from it, create a better future for yourself and others.”  “[M]ost people become tied down by objects, stuff, and things,” he added. “By selecting childhood possessions and essentially destroying to make something new, I took a strong step to build on and recontextualize the memories they contain, while freeing them the box they would otherwise live in.”
 As for technique, Winslow initially used 3D software to discover a method for outputting vector graphics to be installed on a larger scale, but when the startup project startup fell through, he settled on a very hands-on method. This required mounting the projector to a specific location, with the composition of white objects to another, and then pencilling in and painting each projection where the shadows fell off the objects.  “The message is a simple one: it’s hard to let go of the past, but I propose a different solution,” Winslow wrote. “Look at your past and build from it, create a better future for yourself and others.”  “[M]ost people become tied down by objects, stuff, and things,” he added. “By selecting childhood possessions and essentially destroying to make something new, I took a strong step to build on and recontextualize the memories they contain, while freeing them the box they would otherwise live in.”

For more of Winslow's work, head to his website here.

December 24, 2014

Every Christmas, This Photographer Turns His Dog Into Different Animals

Bristol-based photographer Peter Thorpe has a great little tradition that he started 20 years ago. For his annual holiday card, he transforms Raggle, his dog, into various animals. He started this tradition with Paddy, and now continues with Raggle.

Other photographers would often turn to Photoshop, but Peter uses real props instead. When the photos are finished, he sends these cards to his family, friends and clients.

Sadly, this awesome tradition is coming to an end as Raggle is growing older and weaker every day. This year’s card is going to be the last one before her retirement.

More info: peterthorpephotography.blogspot.com

A Mouse, 2014


A Donkey, 2007

 

A Sheep, 2010

 

A Camel, 2006

 

A Turkey, 2009

 

A Penguin, 2011

 

Bah Humbug, 2012

 

A Bird, 2013

 

Behind the scenes