Category: WOW

This past Halloween, photographer Bryan Troll did what he does best—he took pictures. But, being that it’s one of the few times of year when costumes are encouraged, Troll snapped his photos with a twist—he was dressed as a fully-functioning camera that shot all his images.

It took Troll at least 40 hours and about $100 in supplies to construct this impressive outfit, but his efforts were worth it—the costume captured and displayed photos just like a real digital SLR camera. There’s a strobe flash, an actual shutter, and an LCD screen that showcased the pictures as Troll took them. It made for a great party trick that people won’t soon forget.

There were aesthetic challenges when making this costume as well as technical ones. “I tried to balance having it be as proportional as possible so it looked good,” Troll explained to DIYPhotography, “but I also needed to make sure it fit me, and fit all the gear inside as well so it was an interesting challenge of measure, cut, trim, and tape, tape, tape each component.” In addition to the outer shell, he needed to ensure that the connectivity between the camera and screen would be reliable so that “it would automatically display the photos after they are taken without losing connection, [and go] to sleep.” Thankfully, Troll was able to solve these issues and create his epic costume. It’ll be hard to top it when next Halloween rolls around!

Here’s the costume in action:

Troll documented his process:

These are some of the photos Troll took with his costume:

Bryan Troll: Facebook
via [Laughing Squid, PetaPixel]

As the winter temperatures roll in, everyone is feeling the chill—even adorable capybaras. But for more than 30 years, the Izu Shaboten Zoo in the Shizuoka Prefecture of Japan has kept the creatures warm and cozy with a luxurious spa-style setup; they assemble an outdoor hot-spring bath that the capybaras happily soak in for the remainder of the year and into the next.

The ritual of the baths dates back to 1982, and it came about by pure happenstance. One day, a zookeeper at the Izu Shaboten was cleaning the capybara habitat with warm water and accidentally formed a puddle. Drawn to it, the creatures soaked their feet and backsides in it, which was enough to convince the zoo to set up these hot-spring facilities that are now used during the colder months.

Per tradition, there are a number of special baths planned with ingredients—citrus fruits, apples, and fragrant herbs—added to the water. The capybaras will begin their dips on November 19, and they’ll continue every weekday at 1:30PM. On weekends, they’re treated with two soaks per day at 10:30AM and 1:30PM. You’ve got until April 9 to witness the endearing sight, then it’s back to using cold water until the following November.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReLdGaMwvuw&w=750&h=422]

Izu Shaboten Zoo: Website | YouTube | Facebook
via [Rocket News 24]

An 8-year-old girl named Gianna sleeps under a tree-canopied, floating lantern-lit sky every night, thanks to her artistic Disney-loving mother, Jennifer Treece. The mural is inspired by the 2010 Disney movie Tangled, and showcases a romantic boat scene of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider. Treece says that the 60 hours she spent on the painting would have never been possible without her daughter’s support. She tells The Huffington Post, “[Gianna] saw me painting it from beginning to finish. She would come home from school and run in her room to see what progress I had made.” The creative mom also listened to the movie’s soundtrack countless times to keep her motivated—and for pure entertainment. “I always had the movie playing on repeat as I painted,” she admits. “It gives me genuine joy…It’s like I’m transported into my favorite worlds and I get to create my very own scenes in them. It feels magical.”

Treece has always been interested in art, but only began painting seven years ago. She has already completed paintings featuring other Disney princesses, such as Belle from Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty. She chose Rapunzel as the subject for Gianna’s mural because, Treece writes, “Her daring, adventurous spirit and the way she holds onto her dream are inspiring to my daughter and myself.”

In the near future, Treece plans to apply clear UV paint over the mural’s lanterns and add a black light beside Gianna’s bed to make the painting really glow. After that, her dream is to become a licensed Disney artist and a children’s book illustrator, so she can let her hair down—Rapunzel-style—and draw what she loves.

See the mural’s complete transformation, as Treece started with the nightsky.

Even a strand of Rapunzel’s hair makes an appearance!

And here’s Gianna admiring the brand new mural in her room.

Paintings by Jennifer Treece: Website | Facebook | Twitter
via [Bored Panda]

Words have a way of sticking with you long after they’ve been said, with some phrases so endearing that they ought to memorialized as a tangible memory. Japanese startup Encode Ring is doing just that by transmitting spoken three-second phrases into sound waves that are then transformed into a custom-crafted metal ring.

The sound waves will appear different for each person depending on the words said and the inflection of their voice; this ensures that each ring is wholly unique and meaningful for its intended recipient. It features an abstract shape—complete with high peaks and low valleys—but its symbolism will always remind the wearer of the special words spoken. It’s the perfect way to say “I love you” in an exquisitely unconventional way.

Encode’s jewelry is available in multiple metals, from stainless steel all the way to high-end platinum. You can visit the website now to record your message and see how it’d look in a ring setting.

What would you say?

Encode Ring: Website
via [Incredible Things]

When Lilly the calico cat was found as a 4-month-old kitten wandering the streets of New Jersey, and brought to her forever home, her new human companion knew she was something special. Due to the two thick patches of black fur arching around her eyes, Lilly appears to have a constant judging face. As her human wrote in a blog post, “Some people think she looks like Cara Delevingne or Eugene Levy. It’s good that bold eyebrows are a trend of 2016!” Even with her naturally edgy look, it doesn’t take long to love this adorable cat and her sweet personality. “She is very energetic and makes funny expressions with her eyes and face, especially when she is playing,” Lilly’s human told LoveMeow. “She loves to cuddle and follows me around most days!”

Nevertheless—while the eyes may be the window to the soul, the eyebrows hold all the attitude. Lilly demands to be the queen of the house, and gets very vocal around mealtimes. Of course, one must only look at her to understand that she’s watching you closely and she’s not fooling around.

You can follow all of Lilly’s many facial expressions on Instagram.

Lilly_Crazy Eyes: Instagram
via [Love Meow]

Drone photographer Gabriel Scanu had a love for photography from a young age. Taking inspiration from his father, who works as a cinematographer, he began using his first DSLR at the age of 12. Last year, after his father purchased a drone, Scanu began honing his skills as a drone photographer. Primarily photographing his native Australia, the 20-year-old photographer constantly pushed himself to explore the unique compositions that could be captured from such great heights. “The thing I love most about drone photography is the fact that you can capture scenes from a perspective that they are never usually viewed from,” he told Wired. “For me that’s a really interesting concept and it allows you to view landscapes in a different light.”

We’re especially enamored with Scanu’s vision of the Australian coastline. Clear turquoise water, crashing waves, and spectacular rock formations intersect with manmade elements to stunning results. The head-on compositions are framed beautifully by the young photographer, who has an eye for dividing the image between land and sea in order to create harmony. More recently, Scanu took his work on the road, leaving his hometown of Sydney for the California coast. Like a bird in the sky, Scanu’s pulled back images reveal the majestic beauty that can often be taken for granted from our perspective on the ground. Reminiscent of Japanese landscape paintings, which use scale to value environment over humans, the awe-inspiring photographs push us to ponder our place in the immense universe.

Scanu shares images via Instagram—his account has over 100,000 followers—and offers behind-the-scenes clips on Snapchat and YouTube.

Above Image: Mona Vale Beach, Sydney, Australia

Mona Vale Beach, Sydney, Australia

Bronte Beach, Sydney, Australia

Coal Cliff Beach, New South Wales, Australia

Sydney, Australia

Bixby Bridge, Monterey, California

Maroubra Beach, Sydney, Australia

Malibu, California

Pacific Coast Highway, California

El Matador Beach, Malibu, California

Mahon Rock Pool, Maroubra Beach, Sydney, Australia

Mona Vale Beach, Sydney, Australia

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXmDaak0qZo?rel=0&w=750&h=422]

Gabriel Scanu: Website | Instagram | Snapchat | YouTube
via [Mashable]

All images via Gabriel Scanu.

In dramatic fashion, Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the company’s new solar roof and Powerwall 2 on the Universal Studios set of Desperate Housewives. As the sun set over the lot, Musk called the crowd’s attention to four houses all fitted with Tesla’s jointly branded venture with SolarCity—solar roofs available in four distinct styles. From street level, the shingles appear ordinary, but in reality are textured glass tiles with integrated solar cells. Due to a special coating, the tiles are transparent when viewed directly, but change appearance depending on the viewing angle. “The key is to make solar look good,” Musk explained, “We want you to call your neighbors over and say, ‘Check out this sweet roof.’”

With finishes in Textured Glass, Slate Glass, Tuscan Glass, and Smooth Glass, Tesla is banking on an aesthetic appeal that is often lacking with conventional solar panels. The tiles are made from quartz, promising a durability that Musk calls “quasi-infinite.” Operating with 98% efficiency compared to traditional solar panels, Tesla’s solar roof works in tandem with the Powerwall 2, debuted at the same event. This updated version of the Powerwall energy storage system boasts double the capacity of the original and will be able to power a four bedroom house for about a day. With the ability to charge Tesla’s electric cars, the Powerwall 2 allows you to seamlessly store energy harvest from your solar roof and use it to power your electric car. Powerwall 2 costs $5,000 and will be available for order on the Tesla website shortly.

“We need to make solar panels as appealing as electric cars have become,” Musk said. “It needs to be beautiful, affordable, and seamlessly integrated. If all of those things are true, why would you go any other direction?” Musk is banking on consumers feeling the same way, with SolarCity’s co-founder and chief technology officer Pete Rive estimating that within two years of production the shingles could account for five percent of the five million roofs installed in the U.S. every year.

While details on the cost of the solar roof have not yet been released, Tesla is estimating a slow initial rollout in about nine months. The plan is for Panasonic to produce the solar cells and for Tesla to assemble the glass tiles and everything that goes along with them. Much of this is predicated on shareholders approving Tesla’s $2.2 billion acquisition of SolarCity. The vote will happen on November 17, and if it goes through, Tesla is a step closer to realizing its dream to provide a tightly integrated solar experience by selling products for energy generation, storage, and transportation. Essentially, Musk’s vision for Tesla will be on the brink of reality. “Tesla is not just a car company. The real purpose of Tesla is to innovate the future of power. Cars are just part of the solution.”

Tesla: Website
via [Inhabitat]

All images via Tesla.

The ability to work from anywhere has allowed wanderlust-hungry individuals the chance to live as digital nomads. If you’re one of them, its seems like the entire world is your office, with the flexibility to spend a few days or weeks in one locale before moving onto another adventure. Nissan has created their own version of a movable office with the e-NV200 WORKSPACe, the world’s first electric-powered van that has everything you’d need to conduct business on the road.

In collaboration with UK-based design workshop Studio Hardie, the zero-emission e-NV200 features the comforts that you’d see in a conventional office. It has an integrated fold-out desk, touch-screen computer, wireless internet, Bluetooth audio, smartphone-controlled lights, and a mini-fridge.

To conserve space, many elements of the interior design are concealed and only revealed when you need to use them. The barista-quality coffee maker, for instance, rises from a hidden compartment and onto the counter; a folding Brompton bike is mounted to a rear door that allows you to take a break from work and nimbly maneuver around whatever city you’re in.

A panoramic glass roof and LED lighting make the E-NV200 feel bright and airy. In good weather, the doors—two side sliding as well as split-rear doors—can be opened to extend the office space. There’s also a floating deck that can be used to enjoy your surroundings.

Because Nissan’s vehicle is electric, it’s an inexpensive office space—in some cities, EV charging bays are free to use. It takes just 30 minutes of charging to reach 80% power, so you’d be back on the road in no time.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1HmzqlGAUs&w=750&h=422]

Nissan: Website
Studio Hardie: Website
via [designboom]

Carrying on the tradition of the hobo nickel, a sculptural art form that transforms small currency coins, artist Shaun Hughes has blown us away with his delicate hand engraving. The art of the hobo nickel has been in practice since the 18th century, when artists began using coins as a form of expression. Especially popular in the United States, the Buffalo nickel was a favorite for artists, as its thickness allowed for finer detail.

The UK-based Hughes is part of an increasing wave of contemporary carvers who have helped revive the practice of currency carving after a decline in the 1980s. While he engraves a variety of forms into currency, we’re especially keen on the floral scrollwork that defines the majority of his oeuvre. Twisting through the portraits or creeping into the backgrounds, the fine lines give the currency new depth. With incredible detail and precision Hughes transforms these small-denomination coins into pieces of fine art, many of which are for sale via eBay. Part of his success lays in his ability to add to the coin while maintaining a balance in the final result. The surface is not busy, allowing the eye to appreciate how his engraving enhances the pre-existing lines of the coin.

Hughes shares his process via his YouTube channel, which contains his hobo nickel work, as well as informational videos about hand engraving equipment. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HtzejiYyCM?rel=0&w=750&h=422]

Shaun Hughes: Instagram | DeviantArt | eBay | YouTube
via [Colossal] 

All images via Shaun Hughes.

Couples’ Halloween costumes are cute and all, but the most adorable outfits happen when the whole family is involved. Proving that this is still the case are Richard Blakeley and Lindsay Kaplan, who wanted to make their son’s Halloween special—to celebrate, mom, dad, and baby Max dressed up as Wild Things from Maurice Sendak’s classic book (and Max’s favorite), Where the Wild Things Are.

Blakeley and Kaplan are indistinguishable in head-to-toe Wild Things costumes. They don giant masks, furry bodies, and even clawed feet—a spitting image of Sendak’s delightful characters. One-year-old Max (who shares the same name as the boy in the book) wears a white fuzzy jumpsuit and tiny gold crown. He’s ready to roam alongside his creature parents.

This past weekend, the family marched along the route of the Hocus Pocus Parade in Beacon, New York. “Strangers kept saying ‘Hello Max!’ and he loved it,” Blakeley wrote, later remarking that it was the “best rumpus ever.”

Richard Blakeley: Website | Twitter
Lindsay Kaplan: Website | Twitter
via [Laughing Squid]