If you’re a fan of Star Wars, Lego, or both, you might want to clear a few minutes right now. Photographer Hue Hughes has generously shared with io9 some of his stunning photographs of Lego Star Wars pieces and we are completely obsessed.
According to Hughes, who resides in Bluffton, SC, all the photos you’re about to see were captured for real. All the different effects? Created practically. “The only digital manipulation was color grading, the addition of lightsabers, glowing eyes, and the sun and moon,” Hughes said.
“I like using matches and a fog machine when I shoot,” he continued. “The match creates a warm light source, while the fog machine creates an atmosphere. I create all of my own environments using common materials. Backing powder, sand, and construction paper make up the bulk of my building materials. I shoot many of my images at high speed to capture the particles of sand and baking powder flying through the air.”
You get a tiny glimpse of what’s in store above but click through to see a ton more. And once that’s done, head over to Hughes’ official website, Instagram, and Reddit page for much more. It’s not just Lego Star Wars either.
The Camera Roll Orgy exhibition debuted in New York City, featuring hidden digital images transformed into physical prints by some of the city’s most respected photographers. Curated by Thomas Polcaster, a renowned photographer known for his thought-provoking work and deep engagement with the digital transition in photography, the show explores the transition of digital snapshots from phone screens to tangible art.
“Our camera rolls have replaced physical photo albums. They’re trapped in the digital realm, waiting to be released,” Polcaster told Dazed.
The exhibition, held at The Shop in the Lower East Side, co-founded by Matt Weinberger and Avery Addison Hunsberger, features works by Ryan McGinley, Jack Pierson, Lyle Ashton Harris, Luca Imperatori, Paul Levack, Justin Leveritt, David Lindsay, Armando Nin, Nick Sethi, Lucien Smith, and Polcaster himself.
Polcaster emphasized the personal connections in curating the show. “Every artist in this show is personally important to me. Some even handed over their phones, showing immense trust,” he shared. This access allowed for the creation of new works specifically for the exhibition. Camera Roll Orgy is open until June 22, 2024.
The Shop
176 Delancey St.
New York, NY
Street photographers are not uncommon. Even social media street photographers with over 310,000 followers on Instagram are not uncommon, but one such artist has set out to do something a bit different when choosing his subjects: boost their confidence.
Alex is a UK-based music composer, producer and photographer who discovered his passion for photography at the age of 12 when gifted with a nifty camera. While starting his career taking actors’ headshots, he specialized in portrait photography. He goes by Portrait Geek.
Here’s where things take a bit of a twist: Alex creates short social media videos where he offers free street portraits to strangers with the hope that he can boost their confidence and bring them some joy.
Instagram Street Photographer Brought to Tears by Woman’s Kindness
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When I first came across Alex’s account in my feed, like in all cases like this, I had a few concerns: 1) Is he exploiting these people in any way and 2) Is he exploiting the viewer? and 3) Is this fake? I finally hit subscribe when I determined none were true.
There’s a very simple structure to Alex’s videos, and that’s part of the charm.
He approaches an average person walking down the street. He then asks if it’s okay if he takes their portrait, and he emphasizes that he records the video of the encounter and also will delete the photo if the subject does not like it. Alex then shows video of the shoot, adds some uplifting music and shows the photos to the person.
READ MORE: Why Does This Bird’s Call Make People Nostalgic for Childhood
Reactions range from “Wow!” to downright surprise as they see themselves in a new light, which is 100% the point. Then I cry. You might too.
That takes us to one of Alex’s most recent videos, and not only did it take him by surprise, but it got me right in the feels.
As you can see, Ada and Alex nearly collide on the sidewalk. After she agrees to let him take her photo, she shares that she collects and distributes food for the homeless. It turns out Alex was once nearly homeless himself, and Ada’s story profoundly impacted him in an unexpected way. It was clear that she could see what was happening.
In the video’s description, Alex explains:
…this is the first time I cried during a shoot! Ada gave me a hug when she saw my eyes welling up. She gives so much while she has so little.
In a clear example of the artist becoming the subject, if only for a moment, it’s refreshing (and gosh darn emotional) to see a social media video highlighting how one person can impact another when it was supposed to be the other way around.
You can follow Alex’s street portrait journey and watch his other videos on Instagram at PortraitGeek and learn more about his career and how you can support his art on his website.
Gallery Credit: Stacker
All images © Grace Cooper Dodds, shared with permission
Protruding in a meandering fashion like tree branches or the sprawling overgrowth of flowering vines, the flamboyant botanical sculptures that sprout from Megan Bogonovich’s Norwich studio capture the wondrous moments of when “bucolic tips over into batty.”
Her workspace is tucked in a wooded area, leaving Bogonovich constantly surrounded by lush landscapes. “When I look around my neighborhood this time of year,” she says, “nature seems so verdant and powerful. I think the fragility of the material and the quantity of sculptures have mirrored the natural world in the way that plants are abundant, but vulnerable and highly pluckable.”
Bogonovich’s sculptures (previously) embody the delicate relationship between humans and the environment. Fascinated by nature’s ability to adapt to human presence, she sculpts cylindrical structures that twist and turn in different directions, perhaps implying the irregularity of the landscapes that her superempirical organisms might thrive in. Spiky and bumpy textures cover vibrant surfaces, emphasizing the idiosyncrasies of repetition and pattern that are so prevalent in organic forms.
Though each sculpture exists “in the realm of exuberance and glee,” she adds, “I know people see a sinister undercurrent, and that is definitely true of the work.” In a world so apprehensive toward shifting climates, invasive species, and future existence altogether, the artist’s ceramic iterations offer a feeling of bountiful pleasure.
Bogonovich just finished a residency at the Vermont Studio Center, and you can find more work on her Instagram and website.
Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Megan Bogonovich’s Exuberant Ceramic Sculptures Find Joy in Coexistence appeared first on Colossal.
Street photographers are not uncommon. Even social media street photographers with over 310,000 followers on Instagram are not uncommon, but one such artist has set out to do something a bit different when choosing his subjects: boost their confidence.
Alex is a UK-based music composer, producer and photographer who discovered his passion for photography at the age of 12 when gifted with a nifty camera. While starting his career taking actors’ headshots, he specialized in portrait photography. He goes by Portrait Geek.
Here’s where things take a bit of a twist: Alex creates short social media videos where he offers free street portraits to strangers with the hope that he can boost their confidence and bring them some joy.
Instagram Street Photographer Brought to Tears by Woman’s Kindness
loading…
When I first came across Alex’s account in my feed, like in all cases like this, I had a few concerns: 1) Is he exploiting these people in any way and 2) Is he exploiting the viewer? and 3) Is this fake? I finally hit subscribe when I determined none were true.
There’s a very simple structure to Alex’s videos, and that’s part of the charm.
He approaches an average person walking down the street. He then asks if it’s okay if he takes their portrait, and he emphasizes that he records the video of the encounter and also will delete the photo if the subject does not like it. Alex then shows video of the shoot, adds some uplifting music and shows the photos to the person.
Reactions range from “Wow!” to downright surprise as they see themselves in a new light, which is 100% the point. Then I cry. You might too.
That takes us to one of Alex’s most recent videos, and not only did it take him by surprise, but it got me right in the feels.
As you can see, Ada and Alex nearly collide on the sidewalk. After she agrees to let him take her photo, she shares that she collects and distributes food for the homeless. It turns out Alex was once nearly homeless himself, and Ada’s story profoundly impacted him in an unexpected way. It was clear that she could see what was happening.
In the video’s description, Alex explains:
…this is the first time I cried during a shoot! Ada gave me a hug when she saw my eyes welling up. She gives so much while she has so little.
In a clear example of the artist becoming the subject, if only for a moment, it’s refreshing (and gosh darn emotional) to see a social media video highlighting how one person can impact another when it was supposed to be the other way around.
You can follow Alex’s street portrait journey and watch his other videos on Instagram at PortraitGeek and learn more about his career and how you can support his art on his website.
Gallery Credit: Stacker
