Category: WOW

Call it magic, call it science…whatever you call the comfort that a dog can bring to a human, it’s real. The ability dogs have to bring peace, security, and love to humans is what makes them able to be professional service animals. One child in particular made an unlikely and incredible bond with a dog last week that brought tears to his mother’s eyes. 

Shanna Niehaus is the mother of Kai, a 5-year-old boy who severely suffers from autism. For several years, she has worked tirelessly to help him find children his age to connect with. Her biggest desire is to see her boy find a friend who loves him as truly and kindly as she does. Niehaus had heard of an organization in Ohio called 4 Paws For Ability, which specializes in “enrich[ing] the lives of children with disabilities by the training and placement of quality, task trained service dogs to provide increased independence for the children and assistance to their families.” Last Tuesday, Kai met his autism assistance dog, Tornado—his first friend—for the first time.

In a teary, heartfelt Facebook post, Niehaus shared the many emotions that rushed through her as she saw her son cuddle with another being in a way she had never seen before. “This picture captures the face of a mother who saw her child, who she can’t hug, wash, dress, snuggle and touch freely lay on his new Service dog of his own free will, with a purposeful unspoken attachment. This is the face of a mom who has seen her son experience countless failed social interactions on the playground in an attempt to have a friend. Any friend. Any kind of connection. She has sat with her son while he has cried at night for months because he has no consistent connections outside of the family no matter how hard he tries and no matter what he works hard on in his Autism therapies. It doesn’t transfer to the natural occurring world for him. And now she is sitting behind her son silently watching this moment, with the air sucked from her lungs, and no words to say.”

The Niehaus family lives in Japan and had to travel across the globe to meet Tornado. But for Shanna, it was all worthwhile to see her child happy and at peace with himself for once in his life. “It’s worth every fight for services for my son, every diagnosis, every new provider, every dollar spent, every paper filled out, every school meeting, every shed tear, every step forward, every step back, and every wonder of the unknown future,” she wrote. “Somehow because of this – because of Tornado – I know everything will be okay.” 

The happy union of Kai and Tornado and their first moments together were captured on video:

4 Paws For Ability: Website | Facebook | Twitter
via [The Dodo]

All images via 4 Paws For Ability.

Growing up with an old copy of Grimm’s Fairytales next to her bed, German photographer Laura Zalenga has always had creative stories inside of her—they were just waiting to find the right medium for expression. When Laura stumbled upon photography, she instantly fell in love and began teaching herself how to use her camera. The device was a way to release the emotions she was feeling and create compelling visual stories.

Inspired by the very book she kept by her bed, Laura set out to show a unique perspective on stories so recognizable that even a small detail reveals the inspiration. In her series, Grimm Compact, she uses minimalism in each photo, embracing those little recognizable details as a way to bring her audience in and let them decide which story was used as influence.

We were grateful to catch up with Laura for a Behind The Lens look into her series. Scroll down to read our exclusive interview. 

Can you tell us a bit about your journey into photography?

It’s actually hard to track down where my interest in photography came from. A few people around me took photos but I think the main reason I started creating was the stories and emotions inside me that I wanted express. Nothing ever felt right till I tried photography. Ever since I fell madly in love, it changed the way I see literally everything around me and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

What are some of your interests?

Besides photography I am very passionate about supporting animal rights. Last year I raised $1,000 by shaving my head and donating the proceeds to Animals Equality. I also try to attend their street actions. In general I try to raise awareness for how cruel the meat and dairy industry are and how easily all of us can change our eating habits.

Where do you call home?

Wherever I travel or live—even the most paradisaical places—never change a thing about me calling that small town in the south of Germany home. It’s where I grew up. My roots, my childhood-memories, and who I am today is based on this beautiful place.

You created a series inspired by the Brother Grimm’s fairy tales, can you tell us a bit about this project?

Growing up with that massive old Brother Grimms fairy tale book next to my bed, I fell in love with the characters in these little stories. I knew I wanted to make a photo series based on them but realized there were already so many photos out there in the world inspired by the same stories. So after I took some time to consider abandoning the idea, I thought about giving it a new twist and really reducing it to the very minimum that people would need to see to recognize which photo coincided with which fairy tale. It’s not my typical visual aesthetic, but I loved how people would spend time standing in front of these photos in exhibitions and talk to each other about the inspiration. I dream of these photos bringing them back to their childhood.

Your photos are often self-portraits, how do you get the perfect shot?

It’s a (sometimes frustrating) process of doing it again and again. Of course with practice it gets a lot quicker over the years. By now I only need two or three shots to get it right. To focus, I still use the old trick of putting something in the exact place I will be standing, preferably where my face will be in the end. I guess it’s always a compromise. When you use yourself as a model to tell your stories, you are very independent and you know immediately what you want. But some angles suffer and getting the final shot isn’t as easy as it is when you are taking photos of others.

From conceptualizing to post processes, how much planning goes into a shoot?

Most of the time I enjoy having only a vague idea. I love the element of spontaneity being part of the final work. Sometimes it’s only a place that I have in mind, sometimes it’s a mood, or a certain light. Then I create something around it while shooting—sometimes even while editing. With the Grimm series of course I knew what I wanted in the frame. This series lives from clear planning on the details.

How do you light the photos? Do you use artificial or natural light?

I love natural light. Early morning, foggy light is simply the best. It’s soft and not artificial at all. I admire people who shoot in bright sunlight but for me most often I shoot when the light is soft and even.

Do you have a favorite shooting location?

I probably overused it already but there is a wall in the hallway in front of my room in my parent’s house. It’s grey and has an awesome texture and the glass-roof above creates a wonderful light on it. Other than that I will probably never be able to resist foggy landscape.

How would you define the style of this series?

Reduction to the minimum. Focusing on key elements.

What challenges have you faced while creating?

Wondering which scenes people would recognize! Plus a lot of things I never thought about before: Where to get a golden ball? Where to get fake-blood? How to bite off an apple “beautifully?” Where to find a wall that looks like an old tower and my model can still lay above it and hang her head down. People passing by definitely thought we were crazy—just as much as when I was taking photos in the forest with pieces of bread laying behind my feet.

What’s a must have in your gear bag?

Tripod and remote control. And a lot of old fabrics—does that could as gear?

How much post processing goes into a completed photo?

Some years ago it was a lot. Nowadays it gets less and less. Most of the time I only add some contrast and do some color corrections. Though from time to time, I still love to create something in Photoshop that simply wouldn’t be possible in real life. It gives me the chance to bring things to life that otherwise would only live in my imagination.

What are your plans for the future? Do you have any upcoming projects?

My main future plan hasn’t changed in a while: finding a way to live on what I love doing while not losing that passion and staying true to myself—which is probably the one thing most artists struggle with, right? My favorite upcoming project is about the beauty of old people. I feel like our society makes us think that beauty is limited to very young people and that wrinkles are the one thing to avoid. But if you look at the faces of old people it’s one of the most magical things.

Do you have any advice for aspiring photographers?

Stop doubting so much. Experiment. Be honest and kind—also to those who can not help you with your career. Stay true to yourself. Allow yourself to be vulnerable and real instead of trying to look perfect.

Thank you so much Laura! If you would like to see more of this creative photographer’s work, check out her website!

Are you a photographer? Would you like to be interviewed for the Behind The Len series? Leave your links in the comments below!

As his wedding day quickly approached, excited groom-to-be Matt Brocone wanted to surprise his fiancée with an extra special—and even magical—gift. Inspired by their joint love of Harry Potter, he decided to conjure up a homemade present straight out of Hogwarts: his wife’s very own Pensieve, an enchanted bowl that displays bottled-up memories at the wave of a magic wand. Rather than Snape’s subconscious or images of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, however, Brocone wanted to fill his wife’s Pensieve with written reminders of their relationship’s most special moments.

Brocone’s reimagined version of the magical instrument required an abundant amount of time and effort. Foregoing a store-bought bowl for one thoughtfully crafted by hand, he enrolled in eight hours worth of pottery lessons. The final product—which he molded, painted, and glazed himself—is even lovingly inscribed with a heart bearing the couple’s initials.

With the mystical receptacle ready to go, Brocone then set to work on the memories, which he transcribed on shimmering scrolls and stuffed into adorable miniature cork bottles. The happy recollections could be retrieved with a perfect Etsy find: a personalized magic wand. Brocone customized both the wand and the bottles with tiny magnets so that his wife-to-be could summon the memories the Dumbledore way.

Once completed, Brocone wrapped the spellbinding gift in a parcel cleverly marked “Owl Post” and topped it with a little stuffed Hedwig. His wife, of course, was over the moon when she opened the precious present. And, thanks to a cigar box full of empty bottles and blank scrolls for “extra memories,” the magic will never run out.

Matt Brocone: Twitter
via [Bored Panda]

All images via Matt Brocone.

Australian street artist Rone has torn himself away from the bigger, better, higher philosophy of modern day muralism for a new, intimate project that explores the fragility of beauty in crumbling interiors. Based in Melbourne, the artist, whose popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, returned home after a series of international large-scale murals and found himself thinking introspectively about concepts of abandoned space, aesthetics, and memory. The result is a pared-back, emotionally naked series of portraits titled Empty.

Rone, whose given name is Tyrone Wright, is celebrated for his portraits of glamorous women, yet here he pushes himself to dig a level deeper. Freed from the pressure of having to satisfy an entire community with oversized public pieces, these abandoned interiors allow the artist to evoke intimate emotions—as though these women have always been a part of the space and perhaps hold its secrets. Rone is sensitive to the idea that these spaces, once full of life, are now memorialized with what’s been left behind. “Painting beautiful works in places of neglect try and highlight what may have been lost or perhaps what we’re trying to hold on to,” Rone reveals. “Every empty space poses the same question—what was there before there was nothing? The story of each space is told through what’s left behind.”

The peeling paint, falling tiles, and rusted ironwork are reflected in Rone’s introspective women, as they either cast their melancholy glances across the decaying space or gaze down, as though trying to deny the ruin surrounding them. The pieces seem as though they are charcoal drawings etched into the space over time, showcasing Rone’s masterful brushwork.

The full series of photographs, along with new works on canvas, formed part of Rone’s Empty exhibition, which was fittingly enough staged in an abandoned space—the former Star Lyric Theater in Melbourne. This art nouveau theater is scheduled for demolition shortly, creating a perfect synergy with the project. The show ran for just ten days, closing October 23, with over 1,000 visitors on the opening night alone. The artist is currently preparing a virtual reality tour of the entire project, which will allow us to immerse ourselves in these forgotten spaces.

Rone’s Empty exhibition included works on canvas in addition to photographic prints, as well as a mural painted in the Star Lyric Theater in Melbourne.

Rone’s mural in the Star Lyric Theater was painted to blend in with the original theater frescoes. As the frescoes had been covered, the artist sandblasted the wall to reveal the original artwork and then selected paint colors for his work that would match.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McnY7I_Z3po?rel=0&w=750&h=422]

Video by Chris Matthews

Rone: Website | Instagram
via [Design You Trust, Street Art News]

All images via Rone.

Canadian design studio +tongtong recently transformed a three-story Victorian house in Toronto by incorporating contemporary schemes while retaining its traditional elements. According to the firm, “This challenge was met with an emphasis on natural materials and light.” The reconstruction added a large triangular window to the top floor, dark zinc cladding along the exterior, and an interior light well that provides abundant natural illumination throughout the house.

The brilliant redesign was inspired by rural living and the original date of the home, as well as the use of industrial materials throughout both the interior and exterior. Inside, a vertical shaft brings light from large skylights down 3 stories, illuminating the ground floor while animating a zinc wall and ceiling above the kitchen.

The front yard includes a walkway and a retaining wall, along with a landscaped berm to serve as a layer of privacy between the street and the residence. Creatively constructed, the outdoor space is used for play and includes theater-style seating. The rear facade was entirely modernized with a massive awning that covers a wooden terrace and a large elm tree to help shade the house.

Throughout the interior, palettes of grey, silver, white, and black are intermixed with occasional pops of vibrant color. A large triangular window on the top floor—whose shape is amplified by clean white lines—provides expansive views of the neighborhood and the city skyline in the distance.

The open and bright modern home was awarded Interior Design’s 2015 Best of Year (BOY) Awards in the Small House category. +tongtong was started in 2012 by John Tong and the firm has designed many homes in the Toronto area, bringing their “sense of possibility and a passion for developing spaces that nurture and inspire creativity.”

+tongtong: Website | Facebook 
via [Contemporist, Dezeen]

All images via +tongtong and Lisa Petrole.

Many people remember a movie for its unforgettable characters or incredible plot twists, but Jordan Bolton commemorates great films with the small things. The Manchester-based poster artist creates a unique portrait of motion pictures by depicting their defining objects as well as their recognizable color palettes. “I see the posters as providing an interesting and fresh perspective on the film’s themes and characters,” he tells us in an email, “even for someone who has seen the film many times.”

Bolton’s series is called Objects and features both classic and contemporary films. He’s recreated items from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Carol, Amelie, as well as Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums, Moonrise Kingdom, The Grand Budapest Hotel and Fantastic Mr. Fox. Anderson’s movies are ideal for this project, as his productions are known for their distinct color palettes and quirky, almost surrealist feel to costuming and set design.

Each poster in Objects is in a similar format—tiny items are neatly arranged in a vertical composition. They’re given plenty of breathing room, like every individual element is a specimen in a scientific display. It allows us to carefully study each one and consider its connection to the film, perhaps illuminating portions of these compelling stories that we wouldn’t have thought of otherwise.

Bolton sells Objects as posters available in his Etsy shop.

The film Carol is a reversible poster. According to Bolton, it’s “inspired by the role reversal that takes place between Therese and Carol over the course of the film.”

Jordan Bolton: Tumblr | Instagram | Facebook | Etsy

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Jordan Bolton.

Greemoxie, a Canadian lifestyle magazine exploring green living, has built their first tiny house, sparing nothing to create an inviting space out of small quarters. The cozy, 340-square-foot cabin-like structure was built with upcycled materials and renewable energy systems that allow it to be 100% off-grid. Wanting to build more than a fancy trailer, Greenmoxie enlisted designer David Shephard and builder Ian Fotheringham to unleash their creativity for an innovative, sustainable living space.

The exterior is clad in cedar siding treated with the Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique that entails charring wood to preserve it. An electric drawbridge allows the house to be easily moved and unfolds into a deck, giving enough space for grilling or an evening drink outdoors. Inside, hardwood oak floors flow through the space, which also includes reclaimed barn wood ceilings and a pine interior. Integrated storage units under the staircase leads to the lofted bedroom and multifunctional furniture helps maximize storage. The tiny house is also wired with a 4-speaker integrated sound system. The bathroom contains a full-size standup shower, sink, and composting toilet. No messy hookups.

Large windows allow natural light to flow into the living area, creating a cheery interior that contains a moveable table, built-in shelving, and a kitchen with a 24-inch range and propane refrigerator/freezer. All this is powered by solar panels on the roof with 11kW of stored energy capacity, while water is collected using a 200-liter rain barrel. The water is conserved and used via a combination of tools including a water recovery system, home drinking purifier, and grey-water holding tank. The space has been spray-foam insulated and in the winter can be heated using a propane heater and wood burning stove.

Greenmoxie is custom building the two-person tiny house for clients in the Ontario, Canada area with prices starting around $65,000 USD. Here’s hoping they bring this mortgage-free, off-grid lodge to a wider audience shortly.

Greenmoxie: Website | Facebook | Instagram
via [Inhabitat]

All images via Greenmoxie

There is almost no setting more perfect for a living space than the stunning Colorado Rocky Mountains. When architecture, construction, and development firm GLUCK+ was hired to construct a house in the area, the architects made sure their work integrated harmoniously with the beautiful landscape. Their solution was the House in the Mountains, a green-roofed guesthouse that’s partially buried underground and perfectly blends in with its surroundings. This design decision is also an eco-friendly one—the building conserves energy through ample solar panels and by using the Earth’s thermal inertia to retain heat.

The 2,850 square foot House in the Mountains features outdoor spaces like a swimming pool and a sunken courtyard with a fireplace built into the wall. Solar panels on the south elevation of the bedroom wing efficiently harvests solar energy that heats both the home and the pool.

From the interior, continuous clerestory glass around the building allows for panoramic views and copious natural light to flood to the space. There are two roofs that contain the structure: a primary sloped roof rises from ground level at a 20 degree angle and houses the open-plan living, dining, and kitchen spaces; the second green roof covers the east-west wing that contains three bedrooms and the garage.

The exterior coverings are made from Corten steel, a corrosion-resistant material that helps to eliminate the need for painting. The color of the rusting steel also provides a contrasting red against the vegetated roof. Despite this striking juxtaposition, the guesthouse is almost invisible to viewers from the road as its grassy coverings blend in with its environment.

Besides modern houses, GLUCK+ has worked on a wide range of projects including religious buildings, community centers, hotels, universities, and historic restorations. New York-based GLUCK+ takes the approach of Architect Led Design Build, which means using a single-source responsibility for the design, construction and commissioning of buildings. This allows for the same people to see through an entire building project from concept to result. As they explain, “Our architects are also construction managers, meaning feedback between method of construction and design is fluid and responsive. Priorities between design, cost and schedule are clear. Creativity is responsible.”

View the full range of GLUCK+ works on their website.

GLUCK+: Website | Facebook | Twitter 
via [Inhabitat]

All images via GLUCK+.

Apparently, Disneyland isn’t “the Happiest Place on Earth” just for humans—service dogs love it, too!

A puppy-loving Twitter user named Katie (@cutiechaser__) recently shared an adorable photo of a particularly patient pooch as he poses for a classic caricature (he’s surfing in a Stitch costume, if you’re curious) at Disneyland. Snapped by her parents—who, as annual pass holders, visit the park often—the picture quickly grew popular across social media, with users eager to find out more about the precious pup: a service-dog-in-training named Yahoo.

Yahoo is part of Canine Companions for Independence, an exceptional non-profit that trains assistance dogs to aid and support people with disabilities at no cost. According to Jeanine Konopelski, a spokesperson for the organization, told Buzzfeed that Yahoo lives with a volunteer who likely brought the dog to the busy park as a training tool. Konopelski explains: “Based on that photo, Yahoo is practicing basic obedience commands as he waits for his photo [to be] taken. That’s a perfect training and socialization for one of our dogs to get used to waiting and sitting at attention.” What better way to learn the all-important art of patience?

Fortunately for trainers and doggies alike, Disneyland is extremely service animal-friendly, welcoming support dogs, puppies, and even miniature horses. While the assistance animals aren’t permitted on all the rides (Splash Mountain and Matterhorn Bobsleds are a couple of obvious examples), they are allowed in many attractions and even have special “relief areas” throughout the grounds. And, if they’re lucky, they also get to meet a few cartoon-y characters, too.

Be sure to check out more sweet snapshots of Disney-loving dogs below!

Above photo credit: @cutiechaser_

Photo credit: Jeanine Konopelski

Photo credit: Jeanine Konopelski

More Dog Days at Disneyland:

Photo credit: @laurathedoggiediva

Photo via Imgur

Photo credit: Lisa Filipone

Photo credit: @Fishbulb

Photo credit: @Kaiwa

Photo credit: Cesar Zamora

Photo credit: @tswift13_Baileys

Photo credit: Alejandro Najera

Photo credit: @Fishbulb

via [Buzzfeed]

For just $150 a night, you can make yourself at home in the beautiful Cooke House, a lakeside abode in Virginia Beach that happens to be an iconic Frank Lloyd Wright creation. Nestled in nature, the 3,000-square-foot house perfectly demonstrates Wright’s signature style and modern approach to architecture.

Wright was a prolific architect of the 20th Century, known for his “prairie style”—an architectural aesthetic defined by linear forms, open interiors, and a focus on incorporating nature in his designs—and praised as the pioneer of organic architecture. With its hemicycle shape, striking angles, and secluded surroundings, The Cooke House embodies these unique architectural interests.

The renowned residence is named for Andrew and Maude Cooke, a couple who commissioned Wright to build “the beautiful house [they] have dreamed of for so long” (but that was also fit for parties, of course) in 1951. Construction commenced in 1959—a mere two weeks before the architect’s death—and it was completed the following year. In 1983, the home was restored, and today, under its current owners (and potentially your next Airbnb host and hostess) Daniel and Jane Duhl, it appears remarkably similar to when Wright designed it. 

The dwelling features site-specific furniture designed by the architect, as well as beautiful skylights and vaulted ceilings. The main house includes three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, exercise room, spa, sauna, and pretty patio that overlooks Crystal Lake. Lucky lodgers stay in the attached staff suite—a private cottage made up of a bedroom and bathroom—but are given a complimentary tour of the house by Mr. and Mrs. Duhl upon arrival. However, the home is currently on the market for a cool $2,750,000, so any architecturally-minded Airbnb hopefuls better act fast!

Frank Lloyd Wright Beach House: Website | Facebook | Airbnb
via [Inhabitat, Coastal Living Virginia Mag]

All images via Frank Lloyd Wright Beach House and Airbnb.