Category: WOW

San Francisco-based Alexandra Christ was shocked to find out that if her grandfather wasn’t put onto a boat to America as a small child, she and her family could have been Syrian refugees. This “what if” scenario haunted her for days and nights. She played the scene over and over in her mind, imagining herself as a mother gathering children to escape over harsh waters to a refugee camp. Her imagination became so real, she could no longer ignore it. She had to find a way to help the thousands of refugee children and families who were sacrificing everything and putting themselves into danger every day. After many nights of tossing and turning, Christ had found her mission. She was going to bring joy to the refugees, one soccer ball at a time. Thus began her aptly named passion project—Peace Joy Soccer.

For many people around the world, soccer is a beloved sport that tops all other sports. It has its own universal language and both the playing and spectating of soccer promotes camaraderie, friendship, and connections between people—regardless of age, gender, nationality, or skin color. That is precisely why Christ chose to spread peace and joy through soccer. In an informational video, she says, “If you have a ball at your feet, you have a form of power. Joyful power!” Most importantly, soccer is a game. It provides a pocket of time for children to be children and to have fun and play—something that refugee children definitely do not get enough of. Christ decided that she would begin by bringing soccer balls to refugee children in Athens, Greece.

In July 2016, Christ set up a donation for funds to buy the balls, as well as asked for homemade cards and selfies she could pass out to families in the camps. The response was astounding and she quickly exceeded her goal. The next hurdle was to find a way to get 750 soccer balls to Greece. She contacted a vendor in Pakistan who agreed to custom-make the balls and ship them directly to her hotel in Athens. Christ was thrown obstacle after obstacle, and yet things magically seemed to all come together for her. As word got out about her upcoming trip overseas, other people in the Bay Area were eager to join on her mission, including Marin County youth soccer coach, Shea Whelan, who would help assist children learning soccer for the first time.

Time marched along steadily, and come September, Christ and Whelan were escorted by local Grecian non-profit organizations to 8 refugee camps, 54 schools, and 3 orphanages, where they distributed more than 700 soccer balls. In an incredibly short span of only 2 months, Christ had achieved her dream of spreading joy to children in need and, in return, she received the happiness of seeing the children’s priceless smiles. No matter how small of a timeline you think you have, Christ shows that anything is possible if you keep a positive attitude and never give up.

We had the great opportunity to ask Christ a few questions about the details of her heartfelt mission. Scroll down to read that exclusive interview and view photos from her recent journey.

What were the major challenges you faced in the short two months it took to achieve your project’s goal?

I felt like I was building a sand castle on the water’s edge. I’d build this beautiful sculpture and turn to call my friends over and a wave would wash away my masterpiece. I had so many unknowns. Would I gain access into the camps? Could I find someone that would escort me in? I heard distribution in camps can be very dangerous, especially for a woman going in alone, unescorted. I was told I could get hurt because the older boys might try to ambush me and steal soccer balls to sell outside of the camps in hopes they could save enough money to get smuggled out of the country. I was informed of riots that have broken out during distribution.

I have been an event planner for years. Every event has a run-of-show which means what you can expect every minute of the event. This was different. I was about to get on a plane and head to a foreign country. I did not know which camps I was going to. I did not know how I would get to any of them with 750 soccer balls. I did not know if my boxes of balls would arrive on time for the short window I would be in Greece. I did not know how I would distribute them and stay safe and then somehow, it all came together. One organization that had a presence in 2 local camps and a few others around Greece offered to work with me. The mayor of one district in Athens heard I wanted to help the local communities, so they assisted me and things just fell into place.

I think when you are on assignment from God, when the calling is so strong you can’t sleep until you take action, you will be guided. I felt guided and protected every step of the way.

Family photograph of Alexandra’s grandfather

The tents inside the refugee camps.

What was it like, the moment you gave the soccer balls to the children?

At one camp, I was delivering balls and there were children outside. My friend said they didn’t have papers so they couldn’t get into the camp. Basically, their family was homeless and didn’t get access to any of the basics, so I reached in my bag and gave them a ball. When they understood that the ball was for them, they had the biggest smile and that smile never left their face. It was like Christmas Day and I was the recipient of so many hugs.

At a refugee orphanage for teen boys, PJS delivered balls and played with kids. The mayor was talking to us outside the orphanage and two boys came outside. They threw their balls up in the air and caught them and they took off running down the street to the park with pure joy.

When you see that switch flip and the children are filled with joy and hope and they are allowed to be kids for a small amount of time, your life will forever be changed. I want to share this joy with children all over the world and let them know that each one of them truly matter.

You’ve just recently arrived back from Greece. What’s next for Peace Joy Soccer?

Aside from setting up a 501c organization, PJS is trying to help sponsor a refugee league in Athens. We are working with an organization that is trying to set up a league where the children in the camps compete with children in the Greek School. Currently, they all need shoes as their shoes are so worn, they are ripped open. I am working to get reversible shirts that they can practice and compete in. We are looking into finding a way to get a turf field.

I have another 500 soccer balls on order that will get donated to 54 Greek schools. Since the economic crisis, the schools have run out of money to buy sports equipment so while I was in in Greece, I pledged to supply the schools with balls.

Peace Joy Soccer has also been invited to do a mission in Honduras in June 2017. An organization has built an orphanage and asked if we could come deliver soccer balls. I have proposed to not only drop off balls to schools and orphanages, but to run clinics to engage the kids. Anyone overseeing the kids would learn soccer drills that they can teach. We want to encourage skill development and create a structure in what can typically be an unstructured environment.

I know Peace Joy Soccer will continue to grow and evolve, but what will never change is that we want to bring awareness to the refugee crisis. We want to bring awareness to areas that have been hit by wars, natural disasters or areas that are in extreme poverty. Most of us in the US are so sheltered from the horrors of how so many people live and if we were born on different soil, it could be any one of us. Now that this is part of my consciousness and I have seen the response from the recipients, I can not stop. I need to work harder to help those in need and if I can bring them joy for a brief moment, it is my honor to do so.

Thank you so much Alexandra for your energy, positivity, and dedication to helping children and for inspiring others to get out and do something. Visit Peace Joy Soccer‘s website for more information on how you can get involved.

Peace Joy Soccer: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Alexandra Christ.

Full of power and majesty, whales are favored subjects among wildlife photographers. As a professor of marine biology at the University of Tromsø and scientific advisor at the Norwegian Institute for the Study of Nature, Audun Rikardsen has an unparalleled view into the world of whales. In 2010, Rikardsen began photographing the incredible beauty that surrounded him during his field work, and has quickly made a name for himself as an award-winning photographer.

Most of his images are taken north of the Arctic Circle and show an incredible understanding of light and composition. Rikardsen’s whales splash dramatically under the colorful Arctic sky or flit around the Norwegian boats that have become part of their daily life. The photographer brings his knowledge as a biologist to the table, capturing the whales with sensitivity. “For me, nature photography is about having fun, remembering special moments, and sharing my fascination of the Arctic coastline’s wildlife and culture, often from new and unusual perspectives,” Rikardsen shares.

As arctic sea ice diminishes and industrial development of the area increases, 17 arctic whale species will be forced to adapt—making Rikardsen’s documentation all the more important. His keen eye provides us insight into the hidden world of these majestic creatures, and if you are looking to learn from the best, he also leads workshops and trips focused on wildlife photography.

Audun Rikardsen: Website | Facebook
via [Fubiz]

All images via Audun Rikardsen.

Tel Aviv-based designer Chen Bikovski couples a contemporary aesthetic with a nostalgic nod to the past to create whimsical works of modern art. Inspired by fond memories of her childhood and interested in experimenting with ambiance, the award-winning designer invented Popup Lighting, a series of lamps that plays with perspective and pays homage to a cherished childhood pastime: the pop-up book.

Growing up, Bikovski was mesmerized by the three-dimensional storybooks. “Since I was a child, I was fascinated by pop-up books.” she explains on the Popup Lighting website. “The excitement before turning a page, a simple pull that uncovers a whole new world. I loved how the story came to life, how the books created a fantasy world that flew off the page. The magic, the excitement, the naiveté.” Hoping to evoke this sense of childlike wonder in her practice, she has imaginatively incorporated elements of the timeless books into her stunning series of lights.

Simple yet enchanting, Bikovski’s pop-up-inspired fixtures are available in two designs: a deer’s head—based on the classic taxidermy wall-piece—and a peacock. Though made of aluminum, the pieces look like fragile, folded paper and, when unlit, the abstracted, origami-like animals are nearly unrecognizable. Once illuminated, however, the creatures come to life, as projections of their defining features—a pair of antlers and a plume of feathers—“pop up” on the wall behind them, bringing back “the excitement, surprise and innocence of pop-up books to our everyday lives through art and design.”

Both beautiful designs are available for purchase on the Popup Lighting shop. While they are currently the only models available, that may change soon. According to the brand’s Instagram, it looks like some flora is about to join the fauna!

Popup Lighting: Website | Facebook | Instagram 
via [Contemporist]

All images via Popup Lighting.

The eclectic portfolio of photographer Sergey Polyushko is as comprehensive as it is captivating. With a wide range of interests, the Kiev-based cameraman finds inspiration in an array of subjects, from fast-paced fashion shoots to awe-inspiring landscapes. Like many photographers, he also has a particular penchant for portraiture. Unlike most portraits, however, Polyushko’s depictions are not limited to people; he also finds picture-perfect subjects in the animal kingdom.

In his ongoing series of animal portraits, Polyushko showcases a range of cuddly critters. Each striking shot presents a study of an individual animal, emphasizing the beauty and diversity of earth’s living things through interesting angles, unique compositions, and a variety of settings. Some, like the snow-covered cat and the playful duckling, appear to stare back at the viewer, while others, like the curious caracal and the climbing red squirrels, are captured as they explore their surroundings. While Polyushko often features multiple shots of the same type of animal (cats are clearly a favorite), no two images are alike.

In a world of social media and smartphones, snapshots of squirrels and pictures of cute cats may not be an entirely unique focus, yet Polyushko’s expertly shot photographs stand out among the rest. In addition to striking color contrasts (just look at that black cat’s eyes!) and crisp visuals, Polyushko’s expressive, up-close-and-personal portraits offer an intimate and unique glimpse into each creature’s life, proving just how special our furry (and feather-y) friends are.

Sergey Polyushko: Website | Instagram | Facebook | 500px
via [Design Your Trust]

All images via Sergey Polyushko.

With a penchant for portraiture and a fascination with freckles, photographer Alexandra Bochkareva is artistically attracted to redheads. Since she first dabbled in photography four years ago, the St. Petersburg-based artist has captured the unique beauty of crimson locks through dreamy and bewitching photographs. While the vast majority of her scarlet-centric shots feature women, Bochkareva’s fondness for redheads is not strictly limited to humans. She has also incorporated a fiery red fox into her fairytale-inspired portraits.

Bochkareva’s picture-perfect photography career began in 2012 with the birth of her daughter. With little formal training, she relied on books and experimentation to hone her craft. While, at first, she used her friends and family as models, she eventually found her distinctive niche in portraits of redheads. Bochkareva typically captures her ruby-haired subjects in the outdoors—opting to shoot in forests or meadows, where their striking tresses stand out among the greenery. Her photos draw a parallel between the natural surroundings and the figures’ natural beauty, simultaneously creating an enchanting scene straight from a storybook.

To further enhance her fairytale focus, Bochkareva boldly opted to introduce her subjects to Alice, a trained fox and color-coordinated forest friend. The friendly fox appears in two series: Autumn and Winter. In Autumn, she and Olga—a model who Bochkareva routinely features—“share secrets” on the forest floor. Meanwhile, in Winter, she and Polly—another regular—solemnly embrace in the snow. In both beautiful series, the subject and her matching critter calmly interact with each other. Neither the models nor Alice appear afraid; with their like locks and comfortable demeanors, they quietly co-exist in a dreamlike sense of harmony. “Alice is a wonderful animal,” Bochkareva told us in an email. “Sometimes she is friendly, sometimes not. All the photographs are spontaneous – I tried to catch the moments of their unity.”

Every fox-y photo is captured with a manual lens (Helios 77m-4) and natural lighting, making the spellbinding pictures even more impressive.

Alexandra Bochkareva: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Flickr | Twitter

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Alexandra Bochkareva.

For most of us, teleportation seems like a futuristic concept from science fiction novels, but we’re now a step closer thanks to Danish architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and Los Angeles based start-up Hyperloop One. The two companies, along with engineering and architecture firms AECOM and Arup, are working to introduce the world’s first Hyperloop in Dubai—a near-supersonic transit system that allows travelers to reach their destinations at lightning speeds. Hyperloop One estimates travels at speeds of up to 684 mph (1,100 km/h), cutting the two-hour trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi to an inconceivable 12 minutes.

BIG revealed its designs for the world’s first Hyperloop transportation system earlier in November. It features sleek, glass-walled cubic pods just large enough for six passengers to relax in. The pods themselves can travel on regular roads to pick up passengers before entering onto the Hyperloop’s main transport portals. There, passengers are loaded into larger capsules that travel through a main network of elevated tubes to their ultimate destinations. “With Hyperloop One we have given form to a mobility ecosystem of pods and portals, where the waiting hall has vanished along with waiting itself,” said BIG founder Bjarke Ingels.

Hyperloop One first conducted a full-scale, open-air test of its technology back in May 2016 in the Mojave Desert north of Las Vegas, achieving transportation speeds of 116 mph (187 km/h) in a mere 1.1 seconds. Since then, the start-up has been making immense progress. Hyperloop One has just signed a deal with the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority to conduct research into how the high-speed route can integrate with existing transportation systems in the city. Josh Giegel, President of Engineering at Hyperloop One, enthusiastically indicates that the goal is to provide “a seamless experience that starts the moment you think about being somewhere—not going somewhere. We don’t sell cars, boats, trains, or planes. We sell time.”

Hyperloop technology was originally conceived and coined in 2012 by Elon Musk, founder of Space X, for the high-speed transportation in partially evacuated tubes. Since then, Musk has explicitly open-sourced the technology and encourages others to further develop the concept. SpaceX currently has a one mile (1.6 km) Hyperloop test track on its Hawthorne facility.

Hyperloop One is just one of several companies independently developing the technology, hoping to be the first to achieve successful implementation. Rival company Hyperloop Transportation Technologies is currently building a test track in California and is in discussions for a Hyperloop linking the European cities of Bratislava, Vienna and Budapest. The proposed Hyperloop would be the first such system in Europe and would transport passengers between Vienna and Budapest, typically a two-and-a-half hour drive, in less than 20 minutes.

You can view BIG’s full design video below, as well as other conceptual images of their Dubai Hyperloop from BIG and Hyperloop One.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fze5spdN3nU&w=750&h=360]

Hyperloop One: Website | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Linkedin 
Bjarke Ingels Group: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter 
via [designboom, Dezeen]

All images via Bjarke Ingels Group and Hyperloop One.

The household dishwasher has remained largely unchanged since it was first designed by William Howard Livens in 1924. Although the contemporary versions of these appliances now have more bells and whistles, the essential elements—a front-loading door, wire rack, and rotating sprayer—still exist. But just because the design is the same doesn’t mean that it’s the most efficient form for it to take.

Designers Moshen Jafari Malek and Behzad Taheri have conceptualized a new type of built-in dishwasher that takes cues from washing machines. Rather than have it be front-loading—which must include a door that’s absolutely watertight—their iteration allows you to put your dishes in via the top.

A top-loading dishwasher has a couple of advantages, with the biggest being its space-saving capabilities. In many homes—especially ones with narrow kitchens—having things that move upwards instead of outwards is vital for floor space. This self-contained design is also easier to waterproof because it doesn’t require a special seal around the door like its front-loading cousin. With their innovation, Malek and Taheri have built a better mousetrap.

via [Yanko Design]

Taking his longing for his childhood home and literally placing it in a jar, Christoffer Relander‘s Jarred & Displaced series uses double exposure photography to bottle up the landscape of southern Finland. Always fascinated by the idea of collecting things, Relander had been using multiple exposures in his photography for about 5 years when the idea for the project came to him in 2014. Nostalgia for his homeland—spurred by the impending birth of his daughter—was his initial motivation. “I got the idea for Jarred & Displaced around the time I knew I would become a father two years ago. During this period I became nostalgic, sometimes anxious, about the fact I’m so far away from my own childhood,” Relander shares. “Today I get to relive some of it through my daughter.” 

The series is carried out analogously, using medium format film that he scans and develops himself. A key tenet of the work is that no digital manipulation is involved. “With analog multiple exposures I’m able to manipulate my photographs in-camera,” Relander says. “This project was not created or manipulated in an external software such as Photoshop.” In fact, the lack of digital post-production is evident in images where the landscape bleeds onto the lids of the jars. The result are images that exude a quiet stillness. The Finish countryside remains frozen, immortalized in the jars—there for Relander to visit as he pleases.

In this way, the jars become time capsules—sanctuaries where the photographer’s childhood memories have a home. The tightly screwed lids of the jars hold his memories in, allowing him to revisit this most precious collection in times of anxiety. Thus, the series also becomes about the effects of displacement and the emotions one feels when settled away from their native land.

Scroll down for a beautifully shot short film by Anders Lönnfeld that takes us inside Relander’s process.

Christoffer Relander: Website | Facebook | Instagram
via [Colossal, PetaPixel]

All images via Christoffer Relander.

Model-photographer duo Victoria Yore and Terrence Drysdale are known for their whimsical way of looking at the world. Their fairytale project Follow Me Away previously featured Yore as a traveler who approached beautiful landscapes with a palpable sense of wonder and curiosity. This unquenchable thirst for exploration has since offered the two some incredible opportunities, one of them being their newest series that showcases the wonders of Oregon.

So, why the Beaver State? “Not many people think of Oregon as this completely epic place,” Yore told us in an email, “but in our latest mini-series, we set off to prove that it is!” Through their pictures, they reveal its diverse landscapes—that at times, feel like different worlds—and thematically tie them together with Yore and her white dress. Drysdale captures her traversing awe-inspiring waterfalls, the endless blue coast, as well as lush green scenery. His photographs have a romantic sensibility, and the settings take you by surprise. If you’ve never been to the state, you may not have realized how many incredible sights it has to offer.

We spoke to Yore and Drysdale about their time in Oregon. Scroll down to read our exclusive interview.

Prior to your photo series, had you visited Oregon. What parts of the state did you explore?

Before our photo series, Victoria had visited Oregon as a young child and Terrence had never been to the state. It was practically a brand new state to explore for both of us and we can’t say enough about what it has to offer. We flew in/out of Portland and explored the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood, the Northeast Oregon Desert near Bend, the Mckenzie River, the Cascade Mountains, and the Oregon Coast from Florence to Cannon Beach. We covered a lot of ground but there is still so much more to see! We are already [mentally] planning our next trip!

What was the most surprising thing you saw on your trip? The most memorable?

Proxy Falls in the Cascade Mountains was the most surprising thing we saw on our trip. We had a preconceived idea that the falls would be a small trickle that we could barely hear, and they ended up being a massive 200+ foot cascade. The photos just don’t do Proxy Falls justice! The location was totally stunning and we wish we had had the chance to spend more time there.

The most memorable location on our trip was Hug Point on the coast. We were driving along Highway 101 when we saw a sign for a place called “Hug Poing.” We thought the name was cute so we decided to Google it and it turns out that Hug Point looked positively magical. We decided to stop on our way back from the close yet busy Cannon Beach. Hug Point was much less crowded and came complete with sea caves, a waterfall on the beach, and plenty of fog. We shot a few pictures for the series and just as we were packed up and ready to leave, the sun set and twilight hit the coast. The mix of fog and the blue hues of nightfall called to us and we changed into the dress, took out our gear, ran down the beach, and snapped a few last minute shots. These shots are some of our favorites from the entire trip!

You capture so many incredible shots—how long does it take you to get a shoot “just right?”

Honestly? Not long at all. There is a misconception surrounding our work that since it is so “incredible” [thanks for the compliment!], it must take forever to set up and get just right. We have worked together so closely and so often that we know almost exactly what we want going in. Shoots are actually quite short and range from about 5-30 minutes depending on the climate. If we had to answer truthfully about how long it takes to figure out angle, camera setting etc. at each location, it probably takes under a minute. That being said, we are constantly innovating, seeing what we did wrong, and improving our process so we are able to shoot for a shorter time and still produce work we are happy with.

Did you face any challenges when shooting? If so, how did you deal with them?

We usually face a TON of challenges when shooting, but the state of Oregon treated us extremely well! We did face extreme wind [80mph gusts] on the coast. We had to modify our shooting angle and had to pay careful attention to the dress because the wind was so fierce. Angles that we originally wanted to shoot were out of the question because the wind made it almost impossible to keep the gown/hair in order. On the last two days of our trip, the famous Pacific Northwest rain set in but we did not let that stop us! We hiked to the ever-crowded Oneonta Gorge and were able to score some shots and have the whole place to ourselves. That solitude lasted only ten minutes but we were thrilled nonetheless.

What is the planning process like for your photos? Do you travel with a lot of gear?

The planning process is that there isn’t much planning! We arrive at a location we want to shoot, change into a dress [sometimes Victoria even hikes in a dress], test to see which lens we want, and get started! Sometimes we don’t even know we want to shoot a location until we see it! We will drive along and stop at an overlook or hike until we see something that catches our eye. Even if we have no plans at photographing it for Follow Me Away, we bring the dress/photography bag, and usually end up shooting it anyway!

We don’t do hair or makeup, we don’t use artificial lighting, and we don’t really like to have a plan.

We travel with a Sony A99, about 5 different lenses, and around 3 dress choices. We have been shooting the same dress [the one you see here], in the majority of our photos for the past 6 months, but we always bring a backup just in case! These days, we also bring along a tripod so that we can take fun “couples selfies” together once we are done with the photography project.

What do you hope viewers takeaway from the series?

We hope our Oregon mini-series inspires viewers to take a trip to this epic Pacific Northwest state. Many Americans feel like they have to travel somewhere far, while we have such beautiful nature right here in our own country. We aim to showcase the unsung beauty that is found in the state of Oregon and hope that we inspire people to visit!

Where are you off to next?

We are off to Iceland for our second trip this year! We went into our first trip with the wrong mindset and it really showed in our work. We are excited for the opportunity to re-shoot and continue to explore this stunning arctic country!

Follow Me Away: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Follow Me Away (Victoria Yore and Terrence Drysdale).

In nearly 60 days, Barack Obama will no longer be the President of the United States, but he’s left his legacy in many more ways than one—and much of it is chronicled through a plethora of photographs. Official White House photographer Pete Souza has been with President Obama since the beginning of his administration in 2008, and during the two terms, he estimates he will have taken nearly two million pictures.

Many of these photos have made their way into the media, and thanks to Obama’s charisma and playfulness, these images are now beloved icons of his time in office. His ability to read a room—be serious when it counts, but have a little fun now and then—is reflected in Souza’s work. Describing the President, Souza explained to NBC News, “He is not much different than what you see in public. He’s a little more open and funny and less guarded, but he’s still the same person that you see in public and in my photographs.”

There are over 6,500 photos of Obama’s administration available to view on the White House’s official Flickr account—from big, history-making moments to the smaller, everyday instances that showcase the nuances of America’s highest office.

Pete Souza: Website | Twitter
via [Fubiz]