An eight-year-old girl has become the youngest ever winner of the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards with a close-up of her pet turkey.
Jamie Smart, from Powys, Mid Wales, won with a picture of Frederick the turkey taken through the bars of his pen.
The photograph was described by the charity’s president Chris Packham as one which could be an “album cover for a punk band”.
Jamie said that her shot made the bird “(look) like he was in prison, which was quite appropriate due to the bird flu situation at the time”.
Jamie also won the Pet Portraits prize with an image of Curious George, a horse she spotted on moorland
Credit: Jamie Smart/RSPCA/PA
“I wanted to show the beauty of its feathers with their iridescent shine, which it loves to display during spring and summer.
“People don’t often get to see the amazing plumage of turkeys. When the restrictions were lifted it was able to be let out,” she added.
Judges selected her photograph out of more than 6,000 entries because they were impressed by “the level of detail illuminated on the turkey” as well as “the contrast of colours and the dark and brooding background”.
The judges also said that they felt the image “encourages people to think about turkeys differently”.
Beau Healey, 14, took a macro image of a tarantula which won in the Small World category
Jamie has her own website, called Eagle Eyed Girl, for her wildlife photos and videos and said after her win that she would like to be a “wildlife photographer and presenter when I’m older”.
“I really want to spread awareness and make a difference. I want to inspire people of all ages to get as many people as possible to help and conserve all these beautiful creatures.”
The win makes her the youngest ever to receive the award, which has been running for over 30 years.
Corbyn Thomas, 12, from Lancashire won the 12-15 mobile category with a photograph of a jellyfish captured on Blackpool beach
The eight-year-old also won the Pet Portraits prize with an image of Curious George, a horse she spotted on moorland, and was commended for her shot of a caterpillar in the Small World category.
The winner in the latter category was Beau Healey, 14, from North London, who took a macro image of a tarantula.
The 12-15 mobile winner was Corbyn Thomas, 12, from Lancashire with a photograph of a jellyfish captured on Blackpool beach.
A motorized version of a Murphy bed makes raising and lowering the piece of furniture much easier thanks to a push button that puts the bed silently in place, as well as hides it again, in under 15 seconds.
Created by Odin Visser for Moooi, the contemporary, versatile suspension light is playful yet elegant, simple in functionality but visually intriguing.
The clock’s gently curved aluminum design, paired with its minimalist clock face typography, results in an iconic timepiece. It’s now available in four new colorways.
This series includes representations of some of the architect’s original masterpieces in the form of lighting, honing in on Wright’s refined style that highlights the relationships between natural and manmade elements.
The Toneoptic rpm isn’t your ordinary vinyl storage solution – it cleverly marries design and functionality to elevate your music listening experience.
Celebrating their 80th anniversary, the brand released a selection of home goods and furnishings from their archives with a colorful, contemporary refresh.
Melt gets you organized with four products that are 3D printed using bio-based filaments made from recycled food packaging waste with other compostable or renewable materials.
The IKEA research and design lab created Couch in an Envelope as a way to challenge traditional design and make it more sustainable, adaptable, and easy to transport.
Designer Sabine Marcelis’ 20-piece VARMBLIXT collection is a collaboration with IKEA that includes sculptural lighting objects, serveware, rugs, and more.
IKEA had an amazing year of design and collaborations, with four posts included here acting as proof. This limited-edition series of 26 products, brings together Nordic design and self-care rituals. From furniture to glassware to textiles, vibrant patterns reflect nature back at you.
A photographer captured this gorgeous image of the Gemenids last night when they were at its peak, but don’t worry there’s still to capture the shooting stars.
Raghuvamsh Chavali traveled to Orangeville, Canada to record the dazzling Geminid meteors. He took almost 600 photos to create the composite image.
“Even though I didn’t catch all of the meteors on camera, the night was really amazing,” Chavali tells PetaPixel.
“The Geminids produced an amazing visual retreat as they danced across the sky. Every picture highlighted the victories and setbacks of a night spent chasing stars in addition to the beauty of the meteors.”
Chavali used a Sony a7 III with a Tamron 24mm f/2.8 with his camera set to four-second exposures at ISO 4,000 and an aperture between f/2.8 and f.4.5
“I used a tripod to make sure every photo was clear, which allowed me to combine the meteors almost 600 separate shots to produce a composite image,” says Chavali. “The end result was an enthralling work of art with the bright Geminids set against a charming rustic barn.”
Capturing meteors with a camera is no easy feat, but good preparation will go a long way toward getting great photos. Photographers must find a clear, dark sky, and ensure that their camera is stable. Since meteors are unpredictable, long exposures are often the best way to capture the streaks across the sky. Often, a wide-angle lens is a good choice as it offers the most expansive view of the sky.
Astronomers began recording the Geminids in the mid-1800s, but their source was unknown at the time. It was later discovered that they are the result of debris left behind by the 3200 Phaethon asteroid, which is unlike most meteor showers that originate from comets.
The Geminids run until December 26 but tonight is the last chance for a strong showing for a while. According to Space, 2024 has as high chance to be a poor year because a full Moon will likely drown out the meteors with its brightness. However, 2025 should be a much stronger show because the Geminids coincided with a waning crescent Moon.
Earlier this month, PetaPixel published a guide to the night sky in December.
More of Chavali’s work can be found on his Instagram, website, and Facebook.
Image credits: Photographs by Raghuvamsh Chavali
At this year’s Design Miami/, New York-based Jeremy Anderson, designer and cofounder of Apparatus, has unveiled his latest body of work at Gallery FUMI: a set of three totemic floor lamps accompanying an installation titled Space Relics, which feature three similarly conceived pendant lights suspended just off the ground. Through his ceramic practice, which he uses as a conduit to tap into the child-like play of making, assembling, and painting, Anderson shapes his lighting into anthropomorphic shapes and forms. Symbolically, the pieces are a reflection of our human condition – that is, individual entities that form a collective society.
The lights are made from clay and are adorned with illustrious accents, domed disc-shaped elements, and striped patterns that conjure up themes of space, or perhaps ideas of a utopian planet. LED strips and borosilicate glass contrast against the clay to create a new genre of lighting, a tangible realization of the imaginary world that Anderson envisions.
Photo: Ethan Herrington
Photo: Ethan Herrington
Photo: Ethan Herrington
Photo: Ethan Herrington
Photo: Ethan Herrington
Photo: Ethan Herrington
Photo: Ethan Herrington
Photo: Stephane Aboudaram
Anderson’s works were a part of a larger exhibition presented by Gallery FUMI, who capped off its 15th anniversary celebrations with the award of Best Stand at this year’s Design Miami/ 2023.
Photo: Stephane Aboudaram
Photo: Stephane Aboudaram
Photo: Stephane Aboudaram
Photo: Stephane Aboudaram
Photo: Stephane Aboudaram
Photos courtesy of Gallery FUMI.
by Stoneways Marine 15 Dec 16:42 GMT
Stoneways Marine Amateur Photographer of the Year 2023 1st Place: Sophia Davies © Sophia Davies
Having received a wide range of entries from UK boat owners and marine trade professionals, Stoneways Marine, the UK’s trusted boat insurance provider, is delighted to reveal the winners of its 2023 Amateur Boating Photographer of the Year Competition.
The annual competition aims to showcase what being on the water means to the British public and highlights just how special being part of the British marine industry really is through the power of a camera lens.
The Amateur Boating Photographer of the Year Competition ran throughout autumn 2023, with this year’s theme of ‘Boating and You’ up for interpretation. A significant number of entries were received depicting different vessels and boating experiences, making the judges’ decision a tough one.
The top three winners are as follows:
1st place is awarded to Sophia Davies, for her photo displaying a peaceful Milford Haven Marina at sunrise with a spectacular reflection of the coral-hued clouds in the surrounding water. With many contrasting trade and lifestyle watercrafts captured in the Pembrokeshire scene, the image summarises ‘Boating and You’ perfectly.
2nd place is presented to Jeff Orford for his image of Kings’ Legend, an impressive sloop-rigged Swan 65. Orford captures the almost 20m long yacht in its natural element – filled with a smiling team of sailors during the Rolex Middle Sea Race.
Lastly, 3rd place goes to Mark Jardine for his image depicting the natural serenity of being out on the water with a burning sun, rippled water and bronzed skyline. An impressive yacht sits slightly out of shot, showcasing just how majestic boating really can be.
All three of the talented winners will receive a host of marine-inspired prizes, including chandlery vouchers, branded clothing and their images published online across the Stoneways Marine website and several other publications. What’s more, their snapshots will also feature in the Stoneways 2024 Marine Calendar.
Alongside the top trio of winners, nine other photographers’ images were selected as runners up, with their photos also set to feature in the 2024 Stoneways Marine Calendar.
Keith Lovett, Managing Director of Stoneways Marine commented: “I was truly impressed to see the number and quality of entries submitted to our 2023 photography competition and we were wholeheartedly delighted to receive photos from both boat owners and marine trade professionals.”
He continued: “Thank you to everyone who entered and congratulations to all the winners. We will certainly be running the competition again in 2024 and I encourage anyone with a passion for the marine world to get involved.”
As well as judging photography competitions and taking every opportunity to get afloat, Stoneways Marine provides a high level of expertise and a truly personal service to all boat owners and marine trade businesses looking to insure their assets from a wide range of risks.
To speak to one of the marine insurance specialists directly, please call 03333 609 886 today. Alternatively, email , or drop into the office at 47A Commercial Road in Parkstone, Poole.
All images © Cécile Davidovici, shared with permission
Through densely embroidered still lifes and portraits, Cécile Davidovici stitches together a dialogue between time, objects, and nostalgia. Focusing on gesture and color, the Paris-based artist uses short, expressive stitches to render melons, wine glasses, hands, and faces that glow by candlelight and sunset.
Evolving quite a bit from her previous works, Davidovici explains, “I’ve always wanted to do portraits, and I finally succeeded in a way that spoke to me by working and experimenting a lot with embroidery. I love the idea of pushing the technique to places it’s never been before.” After completing the series, she applied her new embroidery methods to still lifes.
Placing both modern and classical subjects next to each other, La Vie Silencieuse, or The Silent Life, questions what it means to make still lifes today in contrast to their popularization centuries ago. Created as a joint effort, the artist worked with David Citborsky, who first created 3D models of each composition. Davidovici then used these images to render each scene through copious threads, converging textures, and jewel-toned hues.
See more work and process videos on Davidovici’s website and Instagram.
“Jupiter”
“Le Poids des Choses”
“La Vie Silencieuse”
“Pluton”
“Marbre Vert”
“Pierre Bleue”
“Les Heures de Cire”
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 Meticulous Embroideries by Cécile Davidovici Bring Objects to Life and Evoke the Passing of Time appeared first on Colossal.
CIGA Design may not yet have the brand recognition on the horological landscape as other established luxury tier watchmakers, but the industry and those passionate about timepieces certainly took note after the relative upstart took home a Grand Prix prize at the “the Oscars of watchmaking” with their 46-millimeter titanium Blue Planet automatic wristwatch.
Naoto Fukasawa’s J Zen to the left and Michael Young’s MY watch are two other CIGA Design collaborative creations.
Founded by Zhang Jianmin and guided by Bauhaus design principles to bring good design to Gen Z fashionistas on a global scale, CIGA Design have taken a foothold as an interesting upstart in the realm of timepieces. They’ve accelerated their presence by partnering with numerous designers of note over the last several years, co-creating signature mechanical watches that include Naoto Fukasawa’s stunningly spoked J Zen, Michael Young’s namesake timepiece the MY, and the 2021 iF Design Award winning Black Hole by Paul Cohen.
Their latest watch, the Eye of Horus from X Series is more bare bones in the designer name association department, but showcases CIGA Design’s intricate eye for details and precise self-winding engineering at an attainable price.
In spite of the complex transparent design, the back-to-front skeleton-style automatic mechanical watch keeps the design unfussy in the hours, minutes, and seconds complications department. Instead, the watchmaker’s newest creation centers around the Eye of Horus, iconography representative of ancient Egyptian mythology’s belief of energy, power, healing, and luck.
Operating as the second hand, the triangular motif turns and glows with a luminous green at night.
Housed within a lightweight bioceramic case, the watch invites admiration of its movement with a 360-degree view of the watch’s inner mechanics. Newbies to the horological collection game will benefit from the watch’s self-winding movement, subtracting the responsibility to regularly manual wind the watch.
An obsidian crown is a small additional touch tying together the ancient Egyptian themed motif. Only the watch’s noticeably flaccid silicone strap comes up a bit short, but it’s easily replaced with something more befitting of the original design.
The CIGA Design Eye of Horus is being offered in Black, Rose Gold, and Silver, available via Indiegogo for $199 before retailing for $270 in February 2024.
