The Keyboard Monument

Russian artist Anatoly Vyatkin installed a giant replica of a Cyrillic QWERTY keyboard made of 86 stone blocks, each weighing up to 1,000 pounds. The Keyboard monument (which in some circles also goes by the name "Claudia") is a permanent outdoor sculpture located in Yekaterinburg, Russia, where it remains a prominent tourist attraction.

The landmark, which was designed to mimic an IBM PC keyboard, incorporates a piece of technology into the natural landscape, promoting the idea of integration and inviting passersby to interact with it. Pedestrians in the area often find themselves playfully hopping onto the "keys" of the installation, despite knowing it serves no immediate function. The installation provides a whimsical bit of art for the public that is still very relevant. It will be interesting to see how future generations perceive it once keyboards have become obsolete.

Top image by SparkleStarCat

Image by Andrew Sebrant


Image via publiciti


Image by Hope Zaostrovnyh


Image via 1001chudo.ru


Image via English Russia


Image via English Russia


Image via publiciti

AIPAD Photography Show

Goodyear GZ-20A Blimp

When traveling, it's typical to see the sides, the front, even the tail of an airplane, but it's not often that you get to see the details of a plane's underbelly. American photographer Jeffrey Milstein gives us this opportunity in his project, entitled Aircraft: The Jet as Art. Each machine is perfectly centered within the composition, which results in a sense of graphic symmetry and precision that is unique to the perspective. By presenting them in this way, the artist encourages his viewers to examine the beauty and form of this modern technology.

When exhibiting the photographs, Milstein produces large prints so that his viewers can almost feel the rush of air from each plane as it zips past. When documenting each plane, Milstein says, "It’s like shooting a moving duck. The planes are moving so fast, and I have only a hundredth of a second to get my shot. I have to keep the camera moving with the plane and then fire the shot exactly at the top dead center. It took a lot of practice.”

If you are interested in this project, Milstein's work will be exhibited at the AIPAD Photography Show in New York from April 4-7, 2013.

Alaska Airlines "Disneyland" Boeing 737-400

Harrier Jump Jet

America West Airlines Airbus A320-200

Citabria 7GCBC

Southwest "Shamu" Boeing 737-700

Southwest Boeing 737-700

United Airlines Boeing 757-200

USAF Learjet C-21A

America West Express Bombardier CRJ900

Gorgeous Liu Wen Joins the Circus

New York-based fashion photographer Will Davidson shot a stunning editorial featuring Chinese model Liu Wen titled On With the Show for Vogue Australia's March 2013 issue. In the spread, the beautiful model has taken the nomadic route and joined a traveling circus, all while maintaining a fashion forward look, draped in garments by Tommy Hilfiger, Chanel, Alberta Ferretti, and Emperio Armani.

The circus is no place for glitz and glamour, yet this set of images add a sense of romantic adventure to the arduous task of packing up and transporting a circus to the next town. En route to her next show, the stylish damsel is seen making the best of the sun beating down on her. Liu's journey translates through the camera. She's hot and tired, but the show must go on…

16,000 Pairs of Shoes Lined Up Together

Heel the world: Incredible time lapse video shows more than 16,000 pairs of shoes lined up together in huge world record attempt — Thousands of shoes of all shapes and sizes, lined up alongside each other heel to toe, you could be forgiven for thinking this was some kind of modern art installation. In fact these startling images are from a new Guinness World Record set by National Geographic Kids magazine for the largest number of shoes collected for recycling in one place as part of their Run for the Planet campaign. Staff at the headquarters in Washington D.C emptied more than 50 gigantic boxes filled with unwanted trainers of all kinds sent by families and children from across America and set a new record of 16,407.

Sole solution: National Geographic collected 16,407 pairs of unwanted shoes to recycle breaking a Guinness World Record. 

Running total: It was the second world record set by National Geographic after they set the record for the most people to run 100 metres in 24 hours with 30,914.

Down at heel: An adjudicator from the Guinness Book of World Records examines shoes at the attempt

But celebrities also contributed to with some famous footwear coming from the likes of Taylor Swift, One Direction, Eli Manning, Danica Patrick, and Amanda Beard.

The athletic shoes will be sent to the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program which recycles shoes into a material used in surfaces like basketball courts and running tracks.

Last year, National Geographic Kids magazine set another Guinness World Record after 30,914 people helped take the title for most people running 100 metres in 24 hours.

National Geographic staff emptied more than 50 boxes full of shoes and arranged them outside their headquarters heel to toe.

All the trainers came from families and children who wanted to make a difference.

Celebrities including Taylor Swift and One Direction contributed to the attempt.

The shoes which will be recycled by Nike into material for athletic surfaces used on basketball pitches and running tracks.

Halle Airport

The Leipzig/Halle Airport, sometimes called Schkeuditz Airport, is located in Schkeuditz, Germany and serves both Leipzig and Halle – two of the largest cities in the country. Lack of space required the modern airport terminal structure to spill over the adjacent motorway and railway that intersects the runway at right angles. To make room for the runway without affecting vehicular traffic on motorway A14 and rail traffic, three bridges were constructed over the motorway and the tracks, that allowed the parallel runways to extend to their full length of 3.6 km. These bridges are called Taxiways. Aircrafts would taxi on these taxiways at the time of takeoff and landing, while vehicles ply on the motorway below. Taxiway E7 and E8 on the east are used as one way taxis and connect the terminal with the northern runway, while the third taxiway W1 in the west is used in both direction. 

Paintings of Beautiful Women at Sea

New York-based artist Zofia Bogusz explores the realm of feminine beauty and strength through her painted and illustrated portraits on wood. Working primarily with oil paints, graphite, and colored pencils, the artist depicts realistic renditions of vibrant women against the abstract woodgrains of her chosen medium. The juxtaposition offers an interesting aesthetic to each portrait. Additionally, Bogusz often incorporates other natural elements like water.

In her series titled Sea Salt, the multi-faceted painter draws inspiration from her love of nature's waves. It is her artistic ode to the sea. As a surfer herself, Bogusz is able to express her fondness for the sea through her alluring subjects, who are each composite creations of various beautiful women that grace the covers of fashion magazines. In a way, it's as though her created models are calling the viewer into the deep seas with them. 

Heart Touching Memory of Past

What started off as a small blog with just 6 family pictures based on a principle of matching an old photo with the present day setting, has now turned into highly successful site of digital nostalgia with hundreds of submissions from all over the world.

The idea about the project came to a 22-year-old Ontario-based Taylor Jones completely by accident. He was going through his parents’ old pictures and in one of the photos he saw his brother, sitting on the same kitchen table like Taylor was then. Taylor held the photo up in front of the table and took a new picture – in only 6 weeks, the response to this idea worldwide was overwhelming, with millions views and hundreds of submissions on Taylor’s site.

One year later, Taylor took the idea offline, and released a book. Here are some of our favorite and most heart touching dear photograph picks.

Dear Photograph, I’m so proud my boys childhood dreams were made of bravery, honor and valor. Fifteen years later, dreams really do come true. Nancy.

 

Dear Photograph, I wouldn’t be who I am today if i didn’t have the sounds of music in my life. Rachelle

Dear Photograph, At the time it was not common for a man to walk behind a pram. I’m still proud of my father. Eva Willemier Westra

Dear Photograph, For one brief moment, this murky little duck pond became the most beautiful place on earth. Greg

Dear Photograph, Our wedding was our sweetest day, just like Grandma’s chocolate. Onno

Dear Photograph, Dad never took a picture of me, ever. Then I noticed his reflection in the glass.Happy Father’s Day, Dad. Anonymous

Dear Photograph, Letting go of my mother’s hand the first day of school was always the hardest. Liz

Dear Photograph, I told you there would be better days. Joel Witte

Dear Photograph, I’ll always remember my first fish. Brian Thurman

Dear Photograph, Over 25 years later, the house is still blue and my mother is still looking over me. Alexandra

Dear Photograph, Remember when we decided to see if shrink wrap would hold my brother Joe to a tree? This made us laugh so much! Annie Enderle

Dear Photograph, It was only 2 years ago, while gardening with my family and children at the St. Mary Organic Farm, that my son Alex, age 2, ran up to this tree and hugged it. I quickly snapped a photo, thinking to myself, ”awww… he’s a tree hugger”. Then, just like that, he leaned in and gave the tree a gentle kiss. Three days later, on September 17th, 2010, Alex died unexpectedly in his sleep. Now when I look at this photograph, and look into his eyes, I see he is hugging the tree just like he would hug his mother’s or father’s leg whenever he ran to greet us. With his little arms wrapped tightly around the tree, he seemed to be listening in a very comforting and knowing way. This image of Alex is what I referred to immediately after his death and it has given me the solace to know in my heart that he is exactly where he is supposed to be. Valerie

Dear Photograph, Oh, to be young again. Wizemark

Dear Photograph, West Point is where we first pretended we were soldiers. Forty years later,we’re both army veterans. John and Rob

Dear Photograph, Eight years ago our world rejoiced when we said “I do”. This year, my first without you here, I know the heavens rejoiced too. I’m so glad I had those seven years with you because those seven years will define who I am for the rest of my life.Miss and Love You Always, Brandi

Dear Photograph, I still remember every moment I spent with you that summer. You always thought we were just friends, but to me, you always meant so much more. A year and a half later and now you are my valentine. Happy Valentine’s Day!Your Boyfriend, Louis

Dear Photograph, Thank you for reminding me that if I wait just a little longer the seasons will always change. Love, Nancy

Dear Photograph, It was 70 years ago when my mother dipped her toes in Lake Cavloc, Switzerland along side her father and sister. Beauty was all around them and so were the echoes of youth. My mother’s view has changed now that she lives in a nursing home. Wouldn’t it have been something if the waters they had danced in had washed the fountain of youth over them… Peter

Dear Photograph, I was astounded, but I hadn’t had time to consider what I was seeing. Mark Yokoyama

Dear Photograph, My grandpa doesn’t recognize me anymore, but he still smiles every time I show him this picture. I hope that deep inside he remembers how much I loved hanging out with him.. Love, Laura

Dear Photograph,There’s a reason we had to paint these stairs blue. They just weren’t as colorful without these two. mohocreative