Photography

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Photography

In the Frigid Morning Air, a Singing Red-Wing Blackbird Blows Impressive Rings

All images © Kathrin Swoboda, shared with permission

Photographer Kathrin Swoboda frequents Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria in search of red-wing blackbirds as they sing. On a cold morning back in 2019, she captured the conspicuous avians mid-tune, an activity that produced what appears to be smoke rings emanating from their beaks. The frigid temperatures make the hazy formations of condensation visible, and the serendipitous shot won the top prize in that year’s Audubon Photography Awards.

Prints of the breathy birds, in addition to more of Swoboda’s wildlife images, are available on her site, and she also has a few works on view at Torpedo Factory Art Center and the Vienna Community Center in Virginia. Follow her outdoor adventures on Instagram. (via Women’s Art)

Food Photography

Aerial Photos Document the Expansive Greenhouses Covering Spain's Almería Peninsula

All images © Tom Hegen, shared with permission

A follow-up to his series focused on the glow of LED-lit greenhouses, Tom Hegen’s new collection peers down on the landscape of Spain’s Almería peninsula. The German photographer is broadly interested in our impact on the earth and gears his practice toward the aerial, offering perspectives that illuminate the immense scale of human activity.

In The Greenhouse Series II, Hegen captures the abstract topographies of the world’s largest agricultural production center of its kind, which stretches across 360-square kilometers of rugged, mountainous terrain in the southern part of the country. The sun-trapping structures house plants like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and watermelons that provide fresh produce to much of Europe year-round.

While 30 times more productive than typical farmland in the region, the facilities also function at a cost to the local ecosystems. “Groundwater is being polluted with fertilisers and pesticides. Some 30,000 tons of plastic waste are created each year,” Hegen tells Colossal, noting that the greenhouses are made almost entirely of plastic foil, which is shredded and discarded nearby once it’s no longer useful. “From there, wind and erosion transport it to the (Mediterranean Sea).”

Hegen will speak about using aerial photography to foster connections with the larger world during a TedX event this May, and you can keep up with his latest projects on Instagram and Behance.

Photography

Highlighting Life in Ukraine, A Print Sale is Raising Funds for People Impacted By the Crisis

“Ukraine Runs Through It,” Justyna Mielnikiewicz

A print sale from the women-led nonprofit Vital Impacts (previously) is raising money for people affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine. The month-long fundraiser, titled Impact Now, offers more than 100 images from National Geographic photographers. Taken globally and diverse in subject matter, the collection includes a variety of landscapes and wildlife, in addition to stunning underwater shots by renowned photographers Paul Nicklen (previously) and David Doubilet (previously)—and multiple shots focus specifically on life in Ukraine. David Guttenfelder documents protestors from the country’s Orange Revolution in the mid-aughts, while Justyna Mielnikiewicz spotlights young dancers from Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in 2015, the latter of which became a hub for pro-Russia rebels the year prior.

Impact Now runs through April 20, and all profits will be donated to Direct Relief, which is providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine. You can buy prints here.

“Ukrainian Demonstrators in the Orange Revolution,” David Guttenfelder

“Dresses,” Amy Toensing

“Polar Bear Mother with Cubs,” Norbert Rosing

“Central Park on a Foggy Night, New York,” Jim Richardson

“Emperor Reflections,” Paul Nicklen

“Merced River Yosemite Valley,” Michael Melford

“Last Bell Kyiv,” Dina Litovsky

“Chance Encounter,” David Doubilet

“Yosemite Valley after the Storm,” Jimmy Chin

Photography

Macro Photos by Barry Webb Highlight the Spectacular Diversity of Slime Molds

Arcyria denudata. All images © Barry Webb, licensed

South-Bucks, U.K.-based photographer Barry Webb favors the shimmering, gelatinous, and iridescent growths that sprout from decaying wood and plant material. His macro shots magnify the often imperceptible details of small slime molds, capturing the specimen’s unique characteristics with striking detail. From the globular heads of the Comatricha nigra to the spongey forms of the Arcyria denudata, each photo unveils the diversity and intricacies of some of the world’s tiniest organisms.

Several of Webb’s images have been recognized in international contests, including the Close-Up Photographer Of The Year, and he offers prints and a massive archive of fantastical slime molds on his site.

Comatricha nigra

Comatricha species

Cribraria aurantiaca group

Stemonitis and insects

Trichia decipiens

Stemonitis flavogenita

Lamproderma scintillans

Blue Cribraria

Woodlouse and Stemonitis

Art Illustration Photography

The Art X Peace Print Sale Is Raising Money to Support People Fleeing Ukraine

“Stand with Ukraine” by Lele Saa. All images courtesy of Art X Peach, shared with permission

It’s estimated that more than 2.8 million refugees have left Ukraine since Russia’s invasion less than three weeks ago, and an ongoing print sale is raising funds to help those fleeing the country. Art X Peace is offering dozens of limited-edition works from artists around the world, including Paola Ferrarotti’s black-and-white photos, Masha Manapov’s whimsically rendered landscapes, and a classic sign of peace by Lele Saa. All profits are donated to World Central Kitchen, which is serving food to refugees across Europe, and the fundraiser is accepting submissions from artists interested in donating their work. For additional ways to support the people of Ukraine, check out It’s Nice That’s list of resources.

“Palm Springs” by Ward Roberts

“Nature Saves Us #2” by Paola Ferrarotti

Left: “COVID Still Life no. 2 – Rose” by Isabel Sierra Gómez de León. Right: “Gesso” by Masha Manapov

“Pureza” by Eva Mena

Photography

Spectacular Moments of Life and Death Are Unveiled in the 2021 World Nature Photography Awards

“Facing reality” © Amos Nachoum. All images courtesy of the 2021 World Nature Photography Awards, shared with permission

Taken across six continents, the entries to the 2021 World Nature Photography Awards capture the hungry, curious, and ingenious animals around the globe. This year’s winners include an arctic fox braving an Icelandic snowstorm, a trio of red ants forming a bridge to let each other pass between rocks, and a serendipitous shot of a leopard seal preparing to snack on a gentoo penguin, which garnered the top prize. Centering on both the largest and the often imperceptible creatures inhabiting the planet, the photos are diverse and an example of the wonder and awe that exists at every level of the animal kingdom. See some of our favorite shots below and the full collection on the award’s site.

Arctic Fox, Iceland © Vince Burton

© Mohammad Murad

“Capturing the movement” © Mike Eyett

New York City Humpback © Matthijs Noome

© Massimo Giorgetta

“North of the Wall” © Christian Tuckwell Smith

© Chin Leong Teo

“Open wide” © Celia Kujala

© Buddhilini de Soyza