Category: WOW

In a world of social media sharing, professional photo shoots are becoming increasingly popular and prevalent. Though once reserved for picture-perfect wedding albums and baby scrapbooks, polished and skillfully-shot photographs now mark every milestone imaginable, spanning engagements, baby-gender-reveals, and—thanks to puppy-loving photographer Amy Rients—even expectant dogs!

Rients always had an interest in breeding LeeRoy, her golden retriever. When her matchmaking dog groomer—who also happens to be her best friend—met Chanel, another golden, she knew they would make perfect canine companions. The two dogs were introduced to one another and, recently, Chanel has given birth to a healthy litter of puppies.

Toward the end of Chanel’s pregnancy, Rients decided to celebrate the new pups’ upcoming arrival with something a little bit different: a maternity shoot.  In the comical series of photos, the parents-to-be happily frolic outside. Chanel dons a flower crown (it wouldn’t be a contemporary photo shoot without one!) and LeeRoy wears his finest blue bandana as they pose behind a chalkboard countdown that reads: “9 Days Until Puppies.” 

Now all we need is the inevitably adorable follow-up shoot! 

Rients Photography: Facebook | Twitter
via [Mashable]

All images via Rients Photography. 

As wildly apparent in her enchanting and elaborate designs, sculptor Ellen Jewett believes that “there is no such thing as too much detailing.” Known for her surreal sculptures, the Canadian artist combines flora, fauna, and fantasy to craft fanciful composites of creatures.

With an eclectic background that spans anthropological studies, stop motion animation, medical illustration, and even the care of exotic animals, Jewett draws inspiration from a myriad of sources. Her art is molded by each of her talents, and her realistic-yet-unreal maquette-like models showcase her keen anatomical and anthropological understanding of animals.

Each captivating chimera is intricately handcrafted “down to the finest filigree” and scrupulously painted by the artist. Jewett uses only natural materials in her work, underscoring the unconventional feel of her creations and nurturing her connection to nature. 

Jewett’s curious collection of one-of-a-kind pieces is available on her Etsy shop, where you can find a piece straight out of your wildest dreams. 

Ellen Jewett: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Etsy | DeviantArt 

All Images via Ellen Jewett. 

A painter’s palette is the slab on which the artist’s materials sit. It’s a necessary tool in the creative process that often goes overlooked, overshadowed by the paint, the brush, and even the canvas. Artist Dina Brodsky has joined forces with curator Trek Lexington to turn the focus back on the palette in a group exhibit titled Point of Origin.

As co-curators of the show, Brodsky and Lexington have called upon over 50 artists from around the world to not only use their palette as a tool, but treat it as the work of art itself. “One way to get a glimpse into the artist’s mind, as well as into their practice is the painter’s palette,” the exhibit states. “It is both practical and intimate, acquiring layers of paint as well as memories, reflecting intent and execution, storing the ghosts of paintings that have long since left the studio.  The palette is the point of origin from which ideas become realized and paint is transformed into a reflection of the human experience. Whatever shape or form the surface or substrate takes, it all begins when brush meets palette.”

Scroll down to see just a taste of the wonderful palette paintings submitted to this comprehensive exhibition. To see it all for yourself in person, Point of Origin will be opening tomorrow night (Thursday, October 13) and will remain on display at The Lodge Gallery in New York through November 13, 2016.

Above palette painting by Kieran Ingram

Palette painting by Amber Lia-Kloppel

Palette painting by Christian Fagerlund

Palette painting by Beth Sistrunk

Palette painting by Joshua Henderson

Palette painting by Benjamin Craig

Palette painting by Cory Morgenstein

Palette painting by Alonsa Guevara

Palette painting by Dina Brodsky

Palette painting by Dina Brodsky

Palette painting by John Wellington

Palette painting by Kim Power

Palette painting by Tun Myaing

Palette painting by Tun Myaing

Palette painting by Per Elof Nilsson Ricklund

Palette painting by Liz Adams Jones

Palette painting by James Adelman

Palette painting by Denis Sarazhin

Palette painting by Denis Sarazhin

The Lodge Gallery: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Point of Origin: Instagram
Dina Brodsky: Website | Instagram | Etsy
Trek Lexington: Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Dina Brodsky and Trek Lexington / The Lodge Gallery.

When a natural disaster strikes, it’s hard to know what to do next. Evacuees must search for temporary homes that are both safe and affordable, while concerned citizens who are not directly affected want to find ways to help out their neighbors. Luckily, Airbnb has an answer. In early last week’s anticipation for Hurricane Matthew—which has now horribly battered the southeastern coast of the US—the site reactivated their Disaster Response Program, which allows in-land users located in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas to list their homes and rooms at a cost of $0 to those fleeing the storm. 

Airbnb’s Disaster Response Program was first launched in 2012 after Hurricane Sandy hit New York, and it was completely inspired by the generous community who wanted to help others in the way they knew best—by opening up a warm and loving home to those in need. The program’s goal is “to make it easier for community members all over the world to provide emergency accommodations in times of crisis.” Since then, thousands of hosts have offered their homes free of cost after such tragedies as the Louisiana flooding, the Paris attacks, and Italy’s most recent devastating earthquake.

According to the website, “During an emergency, Airbnb may email local hosts with information about how to help and how to offer their extra space to affected community members. These hosts are still covered by the Host Guarantee, and Airbnb’s fees are waived.” Currently, homes are listed for those in the Florida and Georgia coasts, as well as people in the midst of the North Carolina floods. The free discount only applies when used between specific dates, which depend on the storm’s path in each location. 

Both those in need of a place to stay and those who can offer their place for free can visit Airbnb’s Disaster Response page for more information.

Above photo: Severe flooding in Rocky Mount, N.C. near the Tar River Monday, Oct. 10, 2016 (Thomas Babb)

Florida’s Affected Areas

Image via Google Maps

Check-in by October 12, 2016

Image via Airbnb

---

Georgia’s Affected Areas

Image via Google Maps

Check-in by October 13, 2016

Image via Airbnb

---

North Carolina’s Affected Areas

Image via Google Maps

Check-in by October 16, 2016

Image via Airbnb

Airbnb: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
via [Huffington Post]

This winter, why curl up in any old blanket when you can stay extra warm and toasty in an oversized one you can make yourself? Los Angeles-based blogger and expert knitter Laura Birek has created an easy-to-follow tutorial explaining how to make a chunky knit blanket that will keep you cozy no matter the weather.

With just bulky yarn, two PVC pipes (tubes that measure 1.5 inches across work best), and always-handy duct tape, you can craft Birek’s signature “Giganto-Blanket” from the comfort of your own home. Taping two ends of the PVC pipes instantly transforms them into a pair totally functional—albeit giant—knitting needles, which can then be used as normal. The process is straightforward and simple—as long as, of course, you know how to knit!

Once completed, each warm and fuzzy blanket will feel right at home at the foot of your bed, as a throw on the couch, or, as Birek prefers, when cuddled by a cat! To see more of Birek’s cozy collection (cute cat included), check out her knit-centric site. 

Above image credit: Ohhio

Image credit: Ohhio

Laura Birek: Website | Blog | Youtube | Etsy

via [Bored Panda]

All images via Nocturnal Knit unless otherwise stated. .

Meet the adorably inseparable duo of Nora the dog and baby Archie. Mother Elizabeth Spence (aka @wellettas) dedicates her Instagram to photographing the adventures that the two go on, from window to window and room to room. Though you wouldn’t know it from these photos, Spence told The Dodo that Nora, the 8-year-old English pointer, “came from an abusive background and is afraid of almost everything.” She adds that the adopted dog gravitates to only one family member in particular—11-month-old Archie. “She absolutely adores him!”

Nora and Archie do almost everything by each other’s side. The baby provides a sense of comfort, safety, and security for the traumatized dog. Spence explains, “If Archie is having a bath, Nora is lying on the bath mat waiting for him to get out. If I’m nursing him she wants up on my lap, too. If he’s going through my cupboards throwing all the dishes on the floor, she’ll be there cheering him on.”

Spence describes her son as an “extremely laid-back, happy, good-natured baby” which naturally draws Nora—as well as the family’s other rescued animals—to him. Together, Archie and Nora dress up as superheroes, play with balls and blocks in the family den, and snuggle for their daily afternoon nap. Though she started in an unhappy place, Nora has learned that some fears in our world can be overcome with a great friend by your side.

Check out all of the duo’s adorable photos on Instagram.

Elizabeth Spence: Instagram
via [The Dodo]

All images via Elizabeth Spence (@wellettas).

As a television show, Game of Thrones has transcended the realm of mere entertainment and is now a cultural phenomenon. Fantastical characters like Jon Snow, Arya Stark, and Tyrion Lannister are instantly recognizable, whether you watch the series or not. They don elaborate wardrobes and gnarly scars that run down their faces, all in an effort to dramatically depict the show’s warring factions as they try to overtake one another (or keep their spot at the top).

The actors are often so believable as their characters that it’s easy to forget that they’re just regular people. Digital artist and retoucher Gianfranco Gallo highlights this fact in his series #GOT Characters in Real Life. Using seamless photo manipulation, he fuses two images—one half of the actor in Game of Thrones attire and the other as their normal self.

Sometimes, the transitions are subtle. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister hardly looks different as his television character. Many times, however, the changes are staggering—Emilia Clarke as Daenerys has completely different length and color of hair. The same goes for Kit Harington’s Jon Snow, who has scars drawn onto his face, curlier hair, and wears heavy fur clothing. Through these physical changes, it’s clear—Game of Thrones costume designers and makeup artists go to incredible lengths to bring author George R.R. Martin’s stories to life.

Above: Tyrion Lannister / Peter Dinklage

Arya Stark / Maisie Williams

Jon Snow / Kit Harington

Cersei Lannister / Lena Headey

Jaime Lannister / Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

Daenerys Targaryen / Emilia Clarke

Eddard Stark / Sean Bean

Petyr Baelish / Aidan Gillen

Sansa Stark / Sophie Turner

Gianfranco Gallo: Behance | Twitter
via [Zeutch, Bird in Flight]

A spectacular surprise awaits visitors to Iran’s Shah Cheragh. This funerary monument and mosque, located in Shiraz, has been a treasured pilgrimage monument since the 14th century. Translating to “King of the Light,” Shah Cheragh houses the tombs of Ahmad and Muhammad, sons of the the seventh Shiite Imam Musa al-Kadhim and brothers of the eighth Shiite Imam Ali al-Ridha.

The space takes its name from the tale of its discovery by a man who was drawn to a light emanating from a grave. After excavating the grave, a body wearing armor—thought to be that of Ahmad—was found and a tomb was subsequently erected during the 1130s. The space really took shape hundreds of years later in the 14th century when Queen Tash Khātūn erected a mosque and theological school on the site, in addition to ordering repairs and the decoration of the tomb with hundreds of thousands of pieces of glittering glass and colored tile. Iran is known for its spectacular mosque interiors, but the tomb’s opulent reflection of light helps make it the most important pilgrimage center in Shiraz.

The decoration seems fitting for a space founded by and named after light, with the glass tiles casting beams of colorful rays across the space. The complex itself has seen numerous changes through the centuries, with half of the building collapsing after an earthquake in 1588, and the entire dome removed and replaced with a lighter iron structure in 1958. Yet, for all the changes, the complex remains a shining gem and incredible example of Islamic architecture.

Above image via fukenoyu

Image via IslamSciFi

Image via soniafilinto

Image via IslamSciFi

Image via IslamSciFi

Image via Wikipedia

Image via IslamSciFi

Image via David Holt

Image via H.L.Tam

You’d never imagine that such a spectacular sight is inside this modest structure:

Image via MAITE ELORZA

via [Bored Panda]

We are delighted to share updates of incredibly stunning entries from the 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest. Submitted under the Animal Portraits category, they feature fascinating glimpses into animal kingdoms around the world, from the colorful Mediterranean Jelly to the mesmerizing Brown Pelican. The photographs capture rare and intimate glimpses into the habitats and lives of these ferocious, adorable, and delightful creatures.

There’s still time to enter the contest, and submissions will be accepted until November 4. An image can be entered in one of four categories: Landscape; Environmental Issues; Action; and Animal Portraits.There are no limit to the number of submissions, but there is an entry fee of $15 (USD) per photo and all submissions must be in digital format and submitted electronically.

The grand-prize winner will receive a 10-day trip for two to the Galápagos with National Geographic Expeditions and two 15-minute image portfolio reviews with National Geographic photo editors. Each category will award first, second, and third-place cash prizes.

Discover some of our favorite entries from the Animal Portraits category, below.

Above photo: Moving at a Snail’s Pace… by Samira Qadir, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
While enjoying the sights of Chicago’s Garfield Conservatory found this unlikely traveler taking a closer look at this Bromeliad. Sometimes you have to slow down to appreciate the tiny wonders right in front of you!

Mediterranean Jelly by Stefano Spezi, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Cotylorhiza Tuberculata, aka Mediterranean Jelly or (more friendly…) Fried Egg Jelly, is pretty common throughout Mediterranean Sea. Its stings are totally harmless to humans yet its beauty is absolutely contagious…

Paradise for Flamingoes 2 by Yu Huiping, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Thousands of flamingoes live in Bogoria lake where likes paradise for them.

Proud Momma by Michael O’Neill, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Fry of a Peacock Bass hover around their mom for protection against predators. Peacock Bass, part of the Cichlid family, exercise excellent parental car and will protect their young against any threat that approaches them. This tropical species from South America was intentionally introduced in South Florida during the 1980s to control the African Tilapia, another invasive species.

Water Drops by Takeshi Marumoto, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Nagano, Japan. The Water Drops of melted snow.

DAWN by Porus Khareghat, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Dawn in the mara saw a big male lion amble over to our jeep. As if he was paying his gratitude to the sun god for the warm rays.

Cape Buffalo with Yello-Billed Oxpecker by Barbara Fleming, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
I had been wanting to get this image for at least two years and just recently, on my last safari in November, was able to successfully capture it. Many aspects came into play for my reward. Light was key. Side-light, lighting the Oxpecker and keeping the Buffalo in the shade was crucial. I wanted a darker pallet for this image, and think I got it. I captured both subjects in focus, very difficult to do as both were moving and in different focal planes.

Two Plus Four 7 by Gunther Riehle, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Aptenodytes forsteri. Emperor Penguin. Antarctica, on frozen ice. We were camping on 3 m thick frozen sea water, just 1.5 miles away from a big emperor penguin colony, with lots of mega cute chicks. I concentrated especially on taking images of the adorable chicks in the harsh conditions of their environment. The image shows several emperor penguin chicks in front of adult penguins to shield from the forces of the storm.

Ocean Guest by Mike Korostelev, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Sleeping walrus on the shore.

Salmon Claws by Peter Mather, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
A grizzly bear sow and cub use a fallen log to fish for chinook salmon on a small creek in Yukon Canada. The long, sharp claws of grizzly bears are perfect for filleting salmon. Image taken by a remote camera trap.

Brown Pelican by Bernardo Delgado, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
As a mere act of luck while I was walking trough a dolphin park this brown pelican came from nowhere and stood right in front of me, I did not hesitate to take my trusty x-e1 with my super old Zuiko 75-150mm f/4 and capture the moment, the most beautiful pelican I’ve seen.

Dawn Admiring in the Frozen Continent by Edson Vanderia, 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
It was very early in the Antarctic morning and I was walking along the beach admiring the sunrise, then suddenly I had a wonderful surprise: meet this Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) already looking at the sun that was just on the horizon. At that moment I had the sensation that, like me, he had woken up very early to contemplate such a beautiful dawn. King George Island, Antarctica.

National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year: Website | Your Shot
National Geographic: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos and captions by National Geographic.

It’s no secret that kittens are some of the cutest animals on the planet. Domesticated or wild, these tiny felines are adorably fuzzy with big, curious eyes that are busy taking in their new and exciting world. This sense of wonder is seen in the caracal, a caramel-colored wild cat that lives in Africa and the Middle East to India. Known for its strong build, long legs, and tufted ears, these babies open their eyes around day 10 and progress quickly from there—by one to two months old, they are following their mother to learn life skills like hunting.

The most notable feature on the caracal is its “tassel” ears. As kittens, this trait is especially pronounced—even seeming too big for its body—as black fur makes the ears seem extra pointy. It’s unclear the purpose of this distinct characteristic, but it’s theorized that these tufts might help camouflage the cat, keep flies out of the ears, or be used as a form of communication between fellow caracals. Check out just how adorable it looks, below.

Above photo credit: Sergey Polyushko

Photo source: Reddit

Photo credit: Fiona Ayerst

Photo credit: Andreas Jansrud

Photo source: snodialove

Once full grown, the caracal can run up to speeds of 50 miles per hour:
Photo source: a2ua

Photo source: a2ua

Photo source: a2ua

via [Bored Panda, San Diego Zoo]