What it's Like to Spend Two Years as an Elderly Woman

After volunteering to visit the homes of lonely seniors, photographer Kyoto Hamada got the idea to go undercover as an older woman in New York City. With the help of a grey wig, elaborate makeup, and new clothes, Hamada created her elderly alter ego Kikuchiyo-san, who she photographed for 2 years in a series titled I Used To Be You. "I have always been drawn to elders," explained the photographer toThe Huffington Post. "I often sense an otherworldly air from them as though they are still living in another time. These are the kind of elders that I wonder what their life is like, that I want to talk to, or follow them to their home."
When the 42-year-old walked the streets of NYC as Kikuchiyo-san, she noticed that people treated her differently. Many opened doors for her or offered to help her carry her bags. A Japanese man even bowed to her, which is a cultural sign that shows respect for elders. The biggest difference that Hamada observed was that she often did not matter in the eyes of others. "No one seemed to care, or even notice me. It's already very easy to feel ignored in New York City, but as Kikuchiyo-san, I sometimes felt totally invisible," she said.
As her alter ego, the photographer learned that growing older should not matter. "Each stage of our life is a temporary experience," stated Hamada. "There are different kinds of beauty in different periods of our lives. Beauty in a 5-year-old child, a 25-year-old, a 45- or 75-year-old woman is all different." With this in mind, Hamada hopes to translate Kikuchiyo-san's experiences into a 99-page photo book after her Kickstarter campaign reaches its goal of $10,000.

Jellyfish Chandeliers and Flowing River of Light at Vivid Sydney 2015

Vivid Sydney, the spectacular annual light festival going on in Australia from May 22 to June 8 this year, has just released some sneak peek photos of some of their most dazzling light installations. Ample Projects has created Jellyfish Chandeliers, huge handcrafted sea creatures that are 3 meters in diameter and are 9 meters in length. Their frames are made of steel and are covered with satin fabric. The tentacles are made up of LED rope, globe lighting and fibre optics. The glowing sculptures hang high above passengers who have just stepped off the train at Chatswood station.
The enormous light fixtures are a part of a whole underwater light walk journey in Chatswood. Ample Projects and 32 Hundred Lighting have collaborated to transformed Chatswood Mall into an immersive, light-filled river where the ground resembles ripping blue water. There's even an ambient electronic water soundtrack that will make visitors feel as though they're listening to rolling waves. Swimming in the river will be lights sculptures of underwater characters. Situated at the mouth of the Flowing River of Light is the Aquarium, a projection that transforms the underside of a pedestrian overpass into a light show. It acts as an unexpected overhead window view into an underwater world and is centered around an electric eel living at the mouth of the river.

 

Beautifully Mysterious Photos

Istanbul-based photographer Ekin Kucuk captures the Gallipoli peninsula in a series of moody black-and-white images. The Turkish locale was once the site of war, but here, Kucuk depicts a more tranquil existence where animals roam on desolate city streets. Her monochromatic pictures have a cinematic feel, as though they’re part of an old silent film.
Horses, chickens, and dogs are all seen enjoying the coastal breeze and traipsing around the occasionally foggy landscape. They’re shot in high contrast, and this effect makes for dramatic, visually-arresting images that speak beyond Gallipoli. In addition to being a getaway spot, Kucuk’s pictures seem like they could represent a number of places - ones that contain mysterious tales or distant but-not-forgotten memories.
       

Ingenious Little Fish Helping to Rid the World of Iron Deficiency

Before long, a little fish could help rid the world of iron deficiency. A caring Canadian named Dr. Christopher Charles came up with an ingenious solution to make sure that everyone has enough iron in their diet. It’s called Lucky Iron Fish, and using it is simple: you boil water or soup with it for at least 10 minutes, then remove it from the dish. Afterwards, add a little citrus juice for the absorption of the iron. Your food won’t taste any different, and the fish provides 75% of an adult’s daily recommended intake of iron.
Iron deficiency affects nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide, and in Cambodia, almost half of the population is iron deficient. This preventable condition can lead to health problems like anemia, weakness, compromised physical development in children, and an increased risk of illness.
The Lucky Iron Fish has already started improving the lives of others. It was introduced to several hundred villagers in one province in Cambodia. Nearly half of those who used the product were no longer anemic after 12 months. And, most importantly, people were feeling the difference. Around 2,500 families in Cambodia now have the iron supplement, and the company has distributed nearly 9,000 fishes to hospitals and non-governmental organizations.
     

Famous Landmarks in Paris Recreated Using Historic Images from World War II

Artist Julien Knez spent two months touring Paris to figure out how much the famous city has changed since World War II. During August of 1944, the Liberation of Paris was fought, freeing Parisians from Nazi Germany's oppressive control. After collecting vintage photographs of this momentous battle, Knez decided to visit the locations that were captured in the historic images. At each location, the artist tried to imitate the exact angle that was shown in his photos, so he could recreate the snapshot in front of its modern day counterpart. "It was very intense to imagine the fights in the streets I know as a Parisian," stated Knez to The Washington Post.
By taking images that were captured 71 years ago and reproducing them, the Parisian photographer was able to see the complex emotional history behind every location and landmark. Where a battle was once fought, there now stands a bookstore. General Charles de Gaulle and his troops marched before the now serene Arc de Triomphe. In each photograph, Knez gives viewers the opportunity to compare side-by-side versions of the past and the present.

Cloud 9 Pizzeria Floats on Fiji's Breathtaking Turquoise Water

If you're a devout foodie, there is one pizza place that should definitely be on your bucket list! Cloud 9 is a floating pizzeria located in the picturesque waters of Fiji. Not only does this unique establishment have delicious wood-fired pizza and places to lounge by the turquoise water, they also offer you the chance to snorkel while waiting for your food to cook. To travel to this eatery, you can board a regular boat for a 40-minute ride from Port Benarau or a speed boat for a 10-minute ride from several local resorts.
The two-story island will soon offer customers the opportunity to participate in various water sports, both motorized and unmotorized. Up to 100 guests can be accommodated in the one-of-a-kind restaurant, which is free for all ages to visit and requires no landing fee for boat travelers.

Travel box Acts as a Pop-Up Hotel Room

Now you can tote around a pop-up hotel room no matter where you are in the world, thanks to Austrian design firm Juust’s new Travelbox. This innovative product unfolds to reveal a comfy bed, chair, table, storage, and even a bicycle for avid travelers who often switch locations. Weighing less than your average human being at 132 pounds, the box is packed in wood and aluminum, making it durable enough to avoid the wear and tear of international travel. Measuring exactly 6.8 feet long, 1.3 feet wide, and 4 feet high, the portable room can easily be transported to both local and exotic destinations by your average shipping company.
When not being used for travel, the Travelbox can act as a room divider by transforming into a shelving unit for clothing, books, and other household items. This eliminates the need to buy extra furniture when moving around from place to place or from home to home, cutting down on both extra cost and unnecessary waste.