‘moonwalk’ in yosemite

This ridiculously cool vid was shot at Cathedral Peak in Yosemite. Mikey Schaefer used an 800mm with a 2x extender to get an infinite depth of field for the awesome “giant moon” effect. Meanwhile, Dean Potter solo climbs up to a high line strung between two rocks and traverses it as the moon rises over the peak.  The only thing that I could do without is Mikey breathing into the camera for the 3+ minute duration, hahaha. Watch it below–

 

 

[via]

Audi gets one step closer to making the ‘Tron’ car a production vehicle

Okay, full disclosure: I am a huge Audi fan. So, I understand that my take on this is a bit biased. Anyway, these are some images of the new lighting system that Audi debuted this week in Vegas as the CES. I think that the direction they are moving in is incredibly cool, whether it ever bleeds into an actual production model or not. Read the full story on this new lighting system on Design Boom.

[via]

 

Illustrations by Leigh Viner

Colorado based illustrator Leigh Viner is an artist that I discovered a few years ago. I can’t remember exactly how, but I think that I happened upon her blog for some reason. Anyway, I really like her work. It is a classic minimalist style using multiple mediums, including watercolor.

Being from the mountain west, myself, I guess that I am a little bit partial to Viner. I’m impressed with her presence and fashion clientele given her location. More than that, I just find her artwork very aesthetically appealing. If you also enjoy this style of illustration, her blog is definitely worth a flip through.

[img]

New Shepard Fairey print “sedation pill”

I’m into this new print by Shepard Fairey. It is titled “Sedation Pill.” The print is apparently inspired by hip hop legends Public Enemy. Fairey explains:

The “Sedation Pill” print is inspired by the title of my favorite Public Enemy album “It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back”. I think the biggest problem in America is the indifference and complacency about important issues that results from much of the population being perpetually hypnotized by conspicuous consumption, social media, entertainment, and self-medication. Using sedation and escapism for relief from the rat race might make us less aware (blissfully ignorant)  but also less empowered to improve our role within the rat race… a vicious cycle of cause and effect.

[via]

Nowness on Rick Rubin

Nowness ran a really cool piece earlier this month about Rick Rubin. Rubin is one of the original players in Def Jam records during the era of DMC and Beastie Boys. Says Nowness:

The mogul ruminates on living in harmony with nature, the importance of recreating its perfection in art, and the transcendental power of sound before leading us into a guided meditation, a practice he has followed since becoming fascinated with yogis as a teenager. His trademark beard, untouched since he was 23 years old, pays clear homage to their spiritual influence. The story of Rubin’s beginnings at Def Jam Records with Russell Simmons in 1984 from his New York University dorm room has become the stuff of legend. He has since become one of the most influential producers in the history of pop music, producing seminal hip-hop albums by artists such as LL Cool J, Run-D.M.C.

Peep the vid below:

Rick Rubin: Music and Spirituality
on Nowness.com.

[via]

Paintings by Zofia Bogusz

Zofia Bogusz’s name is almost as badass as her painting is. I discovered her work recently on Jux. There are several elements that strike me about her work. One thing that I particularly like is that a lot of her work ends up painted onto wood. I spent quite a while flipping through her website the other day. I was bummed out to discover that she recently had a solo exhibit in Chelsea, and I totally missed it. Browse more of her work over here.

[via]

12 oz. Prophet in India

True, we are only in January. But, this is hands down the coolest graff video of 2013, so far. I actually saw it posted on Os Gemeos’ blog. Watch Ise and Finok of the 12 oz. Prophet collective create free-hand roller and brush pieces in India, some of them while standing on a boat that is pushed against the wall. This video is as much about the craziness of India, as it is about putting up the art (in fact there isn’t a single frame of any of the finished work). Watch the mesmerizing vid below-

[via]

Props to Adobe– free cs2 for all!

In an effort to curb software piracy, Adobe is offering Photoshop CS2, for free. Yes, CS2 was released several years ago, and CS6 is the current version. However, the capabilities of CS2 are leaps and bounds over Photoshop Elements (the consumer version of Photoshop). For the price (free) it is much more attractive than risking the malware that often comes with pirated software. I think that this is an amazing move on the part of Adobe. Read the details on DIYphotography. BoingBoing also posted this link today, and last time I checked the Adobe download page was actually down. I would imagine that they are throttling the page because of the undoubtedly huge response. Anyway, it is definitely worth checking back and downloading when the site is working again if you enjoy photography and don’t currently own a profession version of Photoshop.

Catlike Mixino helmet

Well.. I finally found a helmet that I think that I would actually wear. It is the ‘Mixino’ by Catlike. I love the murdered out flat-black. Yes, I realized that it is a less than practical way to keep one’s head cool on a hot summer day. But, for the moment we are just discussing aesthetics. Anyway, I can’t find anywhere in the US that sells this helmet. I could order from this shop in the UK, but I am a bit nervous about what the final price would be after shipping any everything.

I am actually riding again, btw. Had a lovely trek over the Wburg Bridge on Saturday morning. Thinking about firing up Trixie for commuting again, now that the days are starting to get longer again.

riding downtown MTL

Nothing like strapping a sled to your feet in downtown MTL Quebec to knock some rails and tour the local cemetery. Watch Seb Toots do just that, with The XX as his soundtrack. It starts out a bit slow and boring, but is worth finishing. Here is Hypebeast‘s take:

Sunset Films‘ newest project finds professional snowboarder Seb Toots flowing through Montreal’s Mount Royal, located in the heart of the city, after a massive snowfall. Toots skillfully weaves through a naturally-occurring slope, interpreting handrails, gaps, and tight curves as he sees fit. In a beautiful way, the viewer is reminded of the possibilities that can arise in any situation; where people walk, the passionate Toots finds a way to fly.

Press play-

 

[via]

massive sea turtle mural in Argentina by Martin Ron

I don’t know much of the back story on this one. I pulled it from a post that Graff Art ran a couple of weeks ago. They pulled it from a Facebook page. Anyway, I really dig the piece. Apparently it is by Martin Ron, and it exists in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

I remember the first time that I ever saw one of these turtles in the wild. It scared the living bejeebus out of me until I realized what it was. Since then, they have become one of my favorite amphibians. Check out more images of the work over on Graff.

Update: Checkout an interview that Martin Ron did with Buenos Aires Street Art, over here.

[via]

photography of cody cobb

I discovered Cody Cobb on OEN earlier this week. Apparently he is one of Daniel Benning’s fave photographers. The set most recently posted on OEN includes shots from Cobb’s trip to the Sierra mountain range. Says Benning:

Recently [Cobb] took a trip to the Sierra mountain terrain which is part of the peninsular ranges running along the pacific coast from Alaska to Mexico. The resulting collection, which is a highlighted in part here, is a breathtaking array of scenery that I’d never get to see otherwise. Particularly where we are based here there is very little land that is untouched and has remained untouched for thousands of years, so when nature is given the opportunity to grow and flourish it’s real fascinating to see.

Check the rest of the set over here.

[via]

Drifting a Rolls Phantom

You may have to be a dude to appreciate the awsome-itude of this one. But I was basically giddy with delight while watching this video of someone drifting a Rolls Royce Phantom through country fields and otherwise generally abusing the automobile. The soundtrack was the icing on the cake. Maybe you will also enjoy the video. Have a great weekend–

[via]

portable fireplace

I would love to get one of these. One of the things that I miss about living in the suburbs is being able to have a fireplace. Nothing like a blazing fire on cold nights to boost the cozy-factor. I have actually been frequenting a place in Brooklyn recently, almost solely for the fact that it has a giant fireplace (never mind the fact that I always come away smelling like camp fire).

Anyway, this model in modern design seems to be the solution. Designed by Holly & Martin, the portable fireplace runs on gel, and can be used indoor or outdoor.

[via]