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There were more than 60,000 submissions from photographers around the world that show the beauty of weather and nature for The Weather Channel‘s third annual It’s Amazing Out There photography contest. Crushing storms, birds in flight, and spectacular sunrises highlight the great environment we live in.  But it was Long Island photographer Greg Gulbransen who captured the grand prize of $15,000 for his eerily powerful image, Fire on Ice.

The photograph was captured on a trip to Manitoba, which the photographer specifically planned in order to see the migration of polar bears over the frozen Hudson Bay, a phenomena that occurs every November. “The weather turned that day,” Gulbransen said. ”It got really really cold and all of a sudden, we woke up and went outside and saw the sun was coming up. The temperature changed so rapidly that the water was evaporating like that. We had this amazing fire-and-ice situation. It didn’t last very long, maybe 20 minutes. I just knew it was magical.” That magical moment turned to panic as the photographer wasn’t sure he’d gotten the photo he’d been after. With the freezing temperatures causing his battery to run low, there was uncertainty about it lasting long enough to grab the desired image.

“I said to myself, ‘I hope a bear walks into this scene’ and sure enough this bear just walked into the scene,” he shared. “The bear walked out there with his head down. I was so cold, I couldn’t feel my fingertips and I was praying my battery wouldn’t freeze and I said, ‘bear, would you just lift your head about 8 inches?’ And sure enough, it lifted its head and that’s when I got the shot. I knew it was a special moment when I took it.” The classic combination of being in the right place at the right time with an eye for the image helped Gulbransen take home the coveted prize.

Second place winner Dale Johnson submitted an adventurous shot of a little visited Indonesian cave where he got “the toughest selfie I’ve ever taken,” while third place winner Derek Burdney photographed a developing storm in Texas. A musculoskeletal radiologist, Burdney has been an avid storm chaser and photographer on the side for over 30 years. When the weather is right, he may take up to a week off in order to pursue his passion and get the right image.

In addition to the top three prizes, fans voted on their favorite images over four weeks. All 64 finalists, including the winning images, can be viewed on The Weather Channel’s website.

Above: 1st Place: “Fire on Ice” by Greg Gulbransen

2nd Place: “Jomblang Cave, Indonesia” by Dale Johnson

3rd Place: “Nature’s Fury” by Derek Burdney

Fan Favorite Winner, Week 1: “Ozzie” by David Eppley

Fan Favorite Winner, Week 2: “Lightning on the Susquehanna River” by Tony Bendele

Fan Favorite Winner, Week 3: ”Beauty After the Storm” by Walter Dorsett

Fan Favorite Winner, Week 4: ”Storms Coming” by Michael Zuccato Jr.

The Weather Channel: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by The Weather Channel.

Researchers and library lovers are rejoicing over news that, after a two-year, $12-million restoration, the New York Public Library is ready to unveil the historic Rose Main Reading Room and Bill Blass Catalog Room on October 5. The work was prompted in 2014 when a foot-wide ornamental rosette fell 52 feet from the ceiling, making it the first renovation to the space since 1998. Work to the beloved area of the library was completed ahead of schedule by the Tishman Construction Corporation, and included upgrades that not only stabilized all 900 rosettes, but also fitted chandeliers with LED lights and recreated the ceiling mural by James Wall Finn in the catalog room.  While Finn’s other murals in the reading room had been restored in the 1990s, the catalog room piece was found to be beyond repair due to paint loss, discoloration, and patch jobs. EverGreene Architectural Arts were tasked with recreating the mural.

In order to complete the restoration, the historic oak desks with fitted brass lamps had to be painstakingly covered to prevent damage. Images during the construction highlight the remarkable transformation the space underwent, and not everything was happening above ground. At the same time, in order to keep the majority of research materials available in Manhattan, the library was moving materials into a new, $23 million state-of-the-art storage facility below Bryant Park. The facility will hold over 4.3 million research volumes that will arrive up to the Rose Main Reading Room via a $2.6 million modern conveyor system.

The reading room, which first opened in 1911, will be open to the public during regular library hours and on daily tours of the Schwarzman Building at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. To celebrate the opening, the library is holding a photographic exhibition with more than 75 images that capture the journey to preserve the building. This free exhibition is on until October 9, 2016. 

New York Public Library: Website | Facebook | Instagram
via [this isn’t happiness, archdaily]

All images via Max Touhey Photography

Most couples dread a wedding crasher—that one person who still manages to show up uninvited. But when Tom Hanks makes an appearance during your wedding portraits, you’re willing to give him a pass. That’s what happened to newlyweds Elizabeth and Ryan while they were in Central Park with photographer Meg Miller. In a serendipitous moment, Hanks strolled over to them mid-photo shoot and congratulated them on their big day.

“He walked up to them unprovoked,” Miller told BuzzFeed. “Shock and excitement pretty much sum it up how we were all feeling in that moment. It was an exciting NYC moment for the couple and for me.” The famous actor was described as polite, friendly, and thrilled for Elizabeth and Ryan. Luckily, Miller captured the once-in-a-lifetime moment in a series of timeless black and white photos. “I was happy we were in position and had the couple in good lighting for the big surprise,” she recalled. “I just kept thinking I shouldn’t stop clicking.”

Hanks posted his own selfie, too:

Meg Miller Photography: Website | Facebook
via [BuzzFeed, Mashable]

You want to feel like you “shine” when you wear an outfit, and now you can—literally. ThinkGeek has created a Twinkling Stars Skirt that’s adorned with over 250 tiny LED lights that sparkle like the night sky. Going from a “day look” to a “night look” is no problem because the midi-length garment illuminates a path all on its own. Plus, the skirt’s silhouette is stylistically versatile and flattering on many body types (from sizes XS to 5X).

To make the dazzle possible, designers have incorporated three layers of fabric into the garment. There’s a white liner, a white gauze layer, and the see-thru constellations on top. The gauze layer is how the skirt twinkles—it contains 30 elastic snap tabs in which the lights are attached (or detached).

Nestled within the waistband is a battery pack that allows you to turn the skirt on and off. Batteries are required, but with a fresh set, this skirt will shine for over three days straight. Get outfitted with this playful piece of clothing via the ThinkGeek website.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KoLC-ThZx4?rel=0&w=750&h=422]

ThinkGeek: Website | Facebook
via [Laughing Squid]

Things aren’t always what they appear to be. Paint and a little creativity can disguise a variety of accidents and misfortunes. For example, this beautiful mountainous landscape on the side of a car has quite the hidden history.

The owner of this vehicle was traveling through the Altai region of Russia when his car was hit by a larger truck. No one was hurt, but the damages included a large dent on the driver’s door. In Russia, there is no mandatory car insurance so all damages must be fixed out of pocket. The truck driver did pay for the damages he caused; however, instead of taking his car into the shop for a tune-up, the silver car driver took the cash and his dented car for a ride through the mountains. He needed some inspiration.

With a black permanent marker bought at the local general store, the man got to work creating a detailed map of the Altai region upon his car door. Some of the more damaged parts lent themselves perfectly to becoming shady sides of the mountains, while many surface scratches disappeared under the drawing. Along with a beautiful scene of the mountains and surrounding lake, the man also pinpointed neighboring cities and numbered roads.

Although the man has said the decorated door is only a temporary fix until he can fully replace it, his inspiring story reminds us that when life gives you a scratch, turn it into a sketch.

Here’s some of the inspiration behind the artwork:

And the spectacular results:

via [Slavorum]

Twenty-five years ago Bruce Shapiro abandoned his medical practice to embark on a journey that would marry technology with the meditative practice of sand art. He ingeniously used CNC machines, which at the time were primarily used in industrial settings, to develop his kinetic art project known as Sisyphus. Named after the Greek mythological figure—who was doomed to endlessly push a boulder up a mountain, only to have it roll back down again—the metal balls featured in each piece are controlled by magnets that draw infinitely hypnotic patterns across grains of sand. Shapiro views his sculptures as instruments playing music, with each pathway carefully programmed.

While Shapiro has created sculptures for Sisyphus over the past 20 years, showing his work across the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia, he more recently became intrigued with the thought of bringing the mesmerizing creations into the home. Along with Nordeast Makers, a Minneapolis based makers space he helped found, Shapiro has developed the Sisyphus Kinetic Art Table. The recently launched Kickstarter campaign, which has already doubled the team’s original goal in a few short days, offers tables in three sizes with finishes in birch/maple, walnut, padauk and black veneer. All aspects of the table, except the electronics, have been crafted in the United States. 

“Over time I have come to view Sisyphus as more than a kinetic art piece: it is an instrument,” Shapiro explains. “As a musical instrument plays songs, Sisyphus plays paths. My goal with this Kickstarter is to get Sisyphus into people’s homes for them to enjoy as both furniture and art, but also, to inspire a community of composers to write ‘music’ for it.”

Bringing the contemplation of a Zen garden indoors, Sisyphus has no on/off switch. It simply plugs in and automatically calibrates itself, loads a default playlist of paths, and begins playing. You can control playback, speed of play, and table-lighting from a mobile app or by using any browser to connect to Sisyphus with WiFi. Development is underway to allow other “composers” to create pathways for their tables. The only worry is that Sisyphus is so hypnotic, you may forget to speak with your guests while watching it at work!

If you’re in New York this weekend, Shapiro will be at World Maker Faire (October 1 + 2, 2016) with his Sisyphus tables on display.

Bruce Shapiro: Website | Kickstarter
via [Colossal]

All images and video via Bruce Shapiro.

The dogs rescued at Adăpostul Speranța, a Romanian animal hospital, are provided shelter and care for the rest of their lives. According to hospital president Florina Tomescu, the dogs will never have to go back onto the streets of Bucharest again. “All dogs have a story behind them.” Tomescu told The Dodo. “Most of the time, it’s sad.”

Despite the sorrow that comes when an injured dog arrives at its doors, the animal hospital ensures that all dogs are cared for upon entry and will be restored to live the life they deserve. Adăpostul Speranța wrote their mission in a Facebook post: “At Speranța, we insist not to leave any dog behind. [W]e absolutely refuse to end a life that, with proper care, can be a happy one.” All dogs who have lost their legs due to injury, disease, or birth defects receive specially built carts that enable them to do everything that dogs with healthy legs can do. “They run … they enjoy the sun and the grass, sometimes they even race, with their funny wheels.”

From the looks of the pups roaming playfully with their friends around the hospital’s grounds, you’d never know such sadness ever existed. It brings joy to the hospital’s staff to see the dogs living a better life, beyond the limits of their disability. “The happiness of our paraplegic dogs is our reward.”

Adăpostul Speranța: Facebook
via [The Dodo]

All images via Adăpostul Speranța.