Colossal | A blog about art and visual ingenuity.

Chicago Lights: Flash Street Photography by Satoki Nagata

This winter Chicago-based photographer Satoki Nagata produced a series of abstract, black and white street portraits of people caught in the frigid elements. Nagata says that he lights his figures from behind with a flash using a slow shutter speed and doesn’t rely on double exposures or glass reflections as it may appear. The results are some pretty striking photographs of people that look nearly transparent yet appear to be almost perfectly surrounded by a crisp halo of light. Nagata’s primary work centers around documentary photography which is also well worth a look.

Good Vibrations: An Intricately Carved Cabinet Looks Like a Digital Glitch [Updated: It's a 3D Rendering of an Upcoming Piece]

Good Vibrations: An Intricately Carved Cabinet Looks Like a Digital Glitch [Updated: Its a 3D Rendering of an Upcoming Piece] wood furniture

Don’t adjust your web browser, this isn’t a corrupted photograph of a fine piece of Italian furniture (although it may unfortunately be a digital rending, read below). In actuality this cabinet was created by architect Ferruccio Laviani to look just as you see it, like a wavy digital glitch. Titled the Good Vibrations Storage Unit the piece will first appear at Italy’s annual interior show Fratelli Boffi. I’d love to see it from a few different angles, but incredible nonetheless. (via mocoloco)

Update: There has been a healthy amount of skepticism whether or not this is the real deal or a 3D rendering. Having not stood in front of the piece myself I guess we can only defer to the design firm and hope more images of the piece are released soon. One person wrote in to point out that there may be evidence in the photo itself of a repeating pattern which would be the telltale mark of a digitally rendered image. More if I find out.

Update: According to Studio Laviani the image is a rendering, however a final piece of furniture is supposed to be on display in April, so stay tuned.

By Christopher on March 14, 2013 • furniture wood

Animated Lake Michigan Ice Floes Captured by Dave Gorum

Animated Lake Michigan Ice Floes Captured by Dave Gorum lakes Lake Michigan ice gifs Chicago

Even after living here for 14 years I’m always struck by the juxtaposition of Chicago’s towering steel skyline against the brutal midwest winter as it transforms the lakefront into an arctic landscape. Dave Gorum, co-founder and creative director over at Carbonmade, went out last week and shot some footage of the densely packed ice chunks as they sloshed around in Lake Michigan off Lake Shore Drive and then converted them into these great gifs. You can see more over on his Tumblr. (via tumblr radar)

By Christopher on March 13, 2013 • Chicago gifs ice Lake Michigan lakes

Paper Landscape Illustrated by Eiko Ojala

Paper Landscape Illustrated by Eiko Ojala paper landscapes illustration

It’s hard to visit an art or design blog these days without spotting the illustration work of Estonian artist Eiko Ojala, his Naked series is a great place to get started. The artist works digitally without the aid of 3D software where he draws everything by hand to create landscapes, figures and portraits that look as if they’ve been cut from paper. Most critical are the placement of shadows which Ojala also draws by hand, though via email he admits the complexity occasionally requires the use of photographed shadows which he then incorporates into the illustrations. His latest work is this beautiful Vertical Landscape which is easily one of his most accomplished pieces and I think bodes well for this young illustrator’s career. Wouldn’t you love to see this in motion? (via behance)

By Christopher on March 13, 2013 • illustration landscapes paper

This is What Happens When You Run Water Through a 24hz Sine Wave

This is What Happens When You Run Water Through a 24hz Sine Wave water sound science

What!? How is this even possible? Because science, my friends. Brusspup’s (previously) latest video explores what happens when a stream of water is exposed to an audio speaker producing a loud 24hz sine wave. If I understand correctly the camera frame rate has been adjusted to the match the vibration of the air (so, 24fps) thus creating … magic zigzagging water. Or something. Here’s a little more detail:

Run the rubber hose down past the speaker so that the hose touches the speaker. Leave about 1 or 2 inches of the hose hanging past the bottom of the speaker. Secure the hose to the speaker with tape or whatever works best for you. The goal is to make sure the hose is touching the actual speaker so that when the speaker produces sound (vibrates) it will vibrate the hose.

Set up your camera and switch it to 24 fps. The higher the shutter speed the better the results. But also keep in the mind that the higher your shutter speed, the more light you need. Run an audio cable from your computer to the speaker. Set your tone generating software to 24hz and hit play. Turn on the water. Now look through the camera and watch the magic begin. If you want the water to look like it’s moving backward set the frequency to 23hz. If you want to look like it’s moving forward in slow motion set it to 25hz.

Brusspup did a similar experiment last year where it looked as if the water was flowing in reverse. Can somebody please make a water fountain that does this or would we all be deaf? (via stellar)

By Christopher on March 12, 2013 • science sound water

Ghostly Hands and Feet Photographed Through Milk Glass by Marek Chaloupka

Ghostly Hands and Feet Photographed Through Milk Glass by Marek Chaloupka silhouettes black and white

Just spotted this great series of hands and feet photographed through milk glass by Czech creative director and photographer Marek Chaloupka. The vertical perspective coupled with the ghostly silhouettes makes these really special. See more of Chaloupka’s work over on Behance. (via it’s complicated)

By Christopher on March 12, 2013 • black and white silhouettes

Terrifying Volcanic Lightning Photographed by Martin Rietze

Terrifying Volcanic Lightning Photographed by Martin Rietze volcanoes lightning Japan

Photographer Martin Rietze recently traveled to Japan where he had the incredible opportunity (or near grave misfortune?) of photographing the Sakurajima Valcano in southern Kyushu as it spewed forth smoke, fire, and lava bombs. If that wasn’t enough the hellish volcano also caused a lightning show that lasted over 20 seconds giving the photographer ample time to ~~flee for his life~~ take these stunning photographs. You can see many more images from the series right here. Of note, the photographer’s grit and fearlessness landed the top photo a feature on NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day earlier this week. (via spoon & tamago)

By Christopher on March 12, 2013 • Japan lightning volcanoes

There’s Amazing Drumming, Incredible Drumming, and then the Top Secret Drum Corps

Theres Amazing Drumming, Incredible Drumming, and then the Top Secret Drum Corps performance drumming

The Top Secret Drum Corps is a 25-person drum corps and colorguard group from Basel, Switzerland who display incredible precision and choreography despite being comprised of performers who have separate day jobs. Formed in 1990 the group rose quickly to fame after being the fist non-military, non-British acts to perform at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, which they have now performed at four times (see their 2009 performance). I’m no drum expert but this is some of the best drumming I’ve ever seen. (via laughing squid)