Le photographe indonésien Jeffrey Surianto arrive à exprimer tout son talent avec la photo. Toujours en train de capturer des visages et des paysages principalement de son pays, ses visuels aux couleurs incroyables impressionnent. Plus d’images dans la suite de l’article.
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South African design reconceived in a native’s debut furniture line
For a country whose design aesthetic regularly gets lumped in with Kente cloth-swathed visions of Africa, furniture designer Natalie du Toit’s work boldly redefines South African style. Applying her native land’s strong sense of color and pattern to finely-crafted wood and metal furniture, a process of refining humble materials, du Toit’s designs create a striking effect without overpowering a room. While this deft touch was honed during her successful stint as Creative Director of Fundi Light & Living, du Toit founded Indigi Designs as a way to experiment.
“The Indigi Designs collection encompasses a fusion of contemporary design, local references and skilled craftsmanship,” du Toit explains. “All products are designed and handmade in South Africa with a great attention to quality and a respect for natural materials.” Her top-to-bottom sensibility shows in wire baskets that look just as beautifully formed when viewed from above, and floor lamps composed of stacked wooden balls that reflect the rhythm of South African jazz.
Often du Toit is at her best when she’s most subtle. A lampshade lined with traditional South African shweshwe fabric emits a warm pink glow through perfectly-spaced pleating for a slightly mesmerizing effect. (It was this piece that first caught my eye when I came across du Toit’s furniture at the Design Indaba expo.) Like the entirety of the collection, the designer’s deep respect for the nature of her material, in this case the fabric’s ability to transmit color and light, makes for furnishings infused with whimsy and delight.
This process-oriented approach is in fact core to Indigi. “Being in the factory environment is incredibly inspiring for me, and where I get my best ideas,” du Toit says, going to describe how there she, “can design around the material and process rather than providing a completed sketch to a factory to simply manufacture. It is fundamental for me to be involved with the factory during product development phase as the design evolves in the process and issues can be eliminated immediately.”
With a host of collaborative work in progress, du Toit’s website is still under construction. For contact information and more on the debut collection, check out the Indigi Designs Facebook page.
Voici le travail du photographe Robert B.Haas, travaillant actuellement pour la National Geographic Channel. Adepte de la photographie aérienne, il parvient à immortaliser des décors et des paysages naturels magnifiques à travers le monde. Une sélection de ses travaux dans la suite.
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Le designer et directeur artistique Alexandre de Betak présente sa nouvelle création, une maison “eco-friendly” située dans un petit village à Majorque portant le nom de Cave House. Utilisant des éléments naturels, cette splendide maison est à découvrir dans la suite.
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Daniel Lopez est un photographe et réalisateur passionné de la nature et de paysages. Cherchant à saisir la magie des décors et du ciel des Iles Canaries, et plus précisément de Tenerife, il a utilisé la technique du TimeLapse pour proposer cette vidéo splendide. Plus dans la suite.
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Icelandic biodiversity in the work of four jewelry designers
Even if you’ve never been to Iceland, you’ve probably seen images of its otherworldly landscape that hint at what a central role nature plays in shaping visual culture there. The following Icelandic designers have taken the idea to heart with jewelry that incorporates organic forms and patterns, or in one case, a living plant itself. We found these four standouts from the ever-growing world of natural design at Iceland’s DesignMarch earlier this year.
Maria Kristin’s gorgeous drop-shaped necklace won her first prize in the recent Hendrikka Waage jewelry competition. While the pattern cutout could easily be interpreted as based on a honeycomb, crystal or Moroccan tile, the polished metal form takes inspiration from a mother’s womb, as Kristin herself had just become a mother briefly before the design process. The design also symbolizes mankind’s innate responsibility to protect nature even while living in our artificial world.
Crossing the line between manmade and nature’s design, HAF byHafstein Juliusson‘s Growing Jewelry is just that, growing. The concept, which first debuted in 2008, has yet to be interpreted more elegantly than this living plant embedded in metal casing. Geared for the increasing numbers residing in the great metropolises of the world, the experimental design offers a slice of nature to remind us of the beauty that lies beyond the concrete. Available through HAF’s online store, each piece sells for between €150-180.
Hring Eftir Hring takes a traditional source of inspiration, but deconstructs floral forms into sculpted petals arranged in asymmetrical configurations. The resulting rings, pendants, and earrings, available in 17 colors, look like the kind of playfully elegant accessories that might be worn by futuristic sea creatures. Hring Eftir Hring sells in numerous stores throughout Iceland, Denmark and Norway and online Epal for 5,950 ISK.
The rough-hewn designs of Helga Mogensen combine organic materials with precious metals to create necklaces, earrings and tie clips unlike any other. Inspired by Iceland’s rich natural landscape, Mogensen uses materials like silver, driftwood, and fish skin—often in raw, clunky forms—to create beautifully-intriguing statement pieces. Select designs are available online through All Icelandic design shop for around 15,000 ISK ($135 USD).
L.A. Times photographer Mark Boster shares tips and his new travel series
Most days find Los Angeles Times photographer Mark Boster on what he affectionately calls “the crash and burn shift,” taking photos of courthouses, accidents and crimes to accompany the news of the sprawling metropolis of Southern California. But ask Boster about travel photography and you’ll get a twinkle in his eye and his unabashed enthusiasm for the subject. Born and raised in Fullerton, Boster has lived in California all of his life and considers traveling around the state to be one of the best ways to see diverse topography and unique vistas. His love for adventure led him to his latest project, a feature series for the Times showing the Yosemite’s seasonal changes that will run on the first day of each new season.
With almost as much relish, Boster’s eager to talk shop with just about anyone who will listen. Last month that was a large audience at the L.A. Times’ Travel and Adventure Show, where, armed with a slide show of his favorite images, Boster talked about everything from how to follow the rule of thirds to not forgetting to pack extra digital cards, batteries and chargers. We followed up with Boster to learn how football, Cesar Chavez and nature has inspired his career.
My first camera when I was in college was a Minolta SR-T 100x film camera—it was just a big metal tank, but it was great and a lot of fun. My fist big serious camera was a Mamiya RB67, which was a big giant 15-pound camera. After that I had a series of Nikon cameras.
All Canon digital. Canon EOS 5D Mark II and a Canon EOS 7D because they both shoot 1080p HD video as well. I transition both of those back and forth between video and still.
I went to college to play football at Cal State Fullerton. I started messing around with photography and I really loved photojournalism. I thought photography was more fun than getting my head bashed in everyday on the football field. I met people in the photo department who I thought were cooler than cool. Those days a long list of well-known people visited college campuses, including Cesar Chavez, Jane Fonda in her Hanoi Jane days, Russell Means from the America Indian movement. They all came to campus and we got to practice our portraiture.
During my college years I ran into Chavez again on the streets of San Francsico. I started photographing these people and my friends. I met Buckminister Fuller. I couldn’t even tell you where all of the pictures are right now, but it launched into what I am doing now. My photography started progressing and football became less and less in my life and photography became more and more important to me. I dropped one for the other because I got a really bad concussion in football and the doctor just flat out said, “You’re done or you are going to be a vegetable.”
I have worked for three other newspapers. I did a nine-month internship at the L.A. Times in the Times Orange County Edition. From the L.A. Times I went to work as a staff photographer at the Whittier Daily News for two years, then graduated to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune for two years. After that I went to the Orange County Register for 4-1/2 years. I have been with the L.A. Times for 28 years.
The Yosemite project came about very innocently. About a year and a half ago I went there on vacation and the water was gushing. The waterfalls were full. The rivers were roaring and I took a bunch of pictures for myself and really had a good time documenting the water. I went back and showed them to the editors at The Times. They suggested that I go back for all four seasons. Then it went from being really fun to being really serious and I thought, “this is pressure!” Now I realize it is going to take the rest of my life to really do it justice. There is so much there. There are photographers who live there and specialize in photographing Yosemite.
Besides Yosemite, I really love the Carribean Islands. I love traveling here in California. There are so many amazing things to explore here. California is my place, I love it here.
—Buy a good camera and familiarize yourself with it before the trip. Don’t forget to bring extra batteries and digital cards.
—Invest in a good camera . You’ve paid a lot of money for the trip. Make sure you have great equipment to document your adventures.
—Keep the camera steady. Buy a small light tripod that you can throw in your suitcase.
—Take the time to think in black and white. Since black and white employs the use of subtle tones, gradations, and contrast can be more mysterious and dramatic.
—Embrace the light. Sunrises, sunset and nightfall are the best and usually render more interesting colors.
—Organize your old photos including scanning the ones with slides and negatives.
—Store everything on Gold discs to ensure they last.
Moody sculptural paintings by an emerging NYC artist
Stark yet colorful works that fall somewhere between painting and sculpture, NYC-based artist Eli Ping’s practice is a study of unexpected tension in form, subject and tone. Ping says he’s “ultimately interested in materials and process, and accomplishing a form that conveys energetic resonance to the viewer,” a feat accomplished by keeping spontaneity alive in otherwise highly-considered compositions.
This ruminative approach to art-making shows up in his current solo exhibition at NYC’s Susan Inglett Gallery, but also signals a shift. Where he previously worked heavily with resins, Ping found that their toxicity was a “major impediment to accomplishing intimacy” with his materials and switched to applying paint-soaked cotton to canvas.
The resulting fluid shapes have a sense of order without appearing overly worked—a tipping point for Ping. If a piece becomes too “fussy,” he will often flip it over or turn it upside down, a technique borrowed from Impressionism. Ping explains, “they would often paint over an entire area, some people would say that is a waste of energy but even if it’s not visible, it still informs the work.”
A painting resembling a classic Rorschach test clearly illustrates Ping’s labor between intention and impulse. While symmetry abounds, he likens the unbalanced composition’s structure to that of nature. Repetition develops organically without feeling forced, the result of a process that, like contemporaries such as designer Maarten Baas, lets ideas evolve over time.
A photo of a church steeple shot through a drinking glass several years ago, now appears as a “stretched from the top” form in some of his sculptural pieces. Ping stresses that he doesn’t set out to replicate what he sees, adding “I have a sense of what qualities I aspire to, usually in response to a feeling of lack in a previous piece. Any pre-envisioning doesn’t go farther than that.”
Looking to the future however, Ping says his work will fall more in line with his simplified lifestyle. Moving forward he will create pieces that, unlike his current complex and often quite fragile works, need not “to be handled with kid gloves” and can instead become a part of a person’s life, rather than just hung on a wall.
Eli Ping’s third solo exhibition runs through 4 June 2011 at Susan Inglett Gallery.
A photographer’s eye on the Arctic reveals the natural beauty in ice
With what seems to be a prescient surname, Camille Seaman—often referred to as “the iceberg photographer”—may have been born to take up the subject. While Seaman did study photography and long worked with the medium, it wasn’t until she landed a job aboard an Arctic cruise ship at age 32 that something clicked with the harsh landscapes. There, surrounded by beautifully varied lighting conditions, what she describes as a “profound experience” allowed her to experiment, ultimately finding that a looming overcast sky projects just the right light on the icebergs, revealing their most precious inner colors and details and making her a 2011 TED fellow.
To create such stunning visions Seaman also relies on her astounding collection of cameras—both digital and analog—that she proficiently intermixes within her practice. With favorites such as the Hasselblad x-pan, Epsom Ed-1 and various Leicas, she relies on technique rather than computer skills to perfectly frame her images, preferring to stay away from Photoshop and the like.
A purist in this sense, Seaman does little else to manipulate her photographs, aside from using manual dodging and burning printing techniques. The upshot makes for an incredibly honest portfolio of images—realistic portrayals of magnificent subjects that lend a sense of personality difficult to fake.
This clear-eyed vision of the natural world extends to Seaman’s interest beyond cold climates too. Her extensive travels and previous work tells tales of massive storm clouds and golden farmland in middle America. A leading figure in self-publishing as well, Seaman co-founded Fastback Creative Books and often leads lectures and self-publishing workshops across the States.
“The Last Iceberg” is available for purchase from from Photoeye.
Eight wholesome toothpastes to polish up your smile
As most dentists will tell you, any toothpaste that encourages teeth-brushing is a job done. But as a twice-daily activity (hopefully), knowing what it is exactly you’re putting in your mouth is essential. While fluoride or fluoride-free remains a common debate, for those who seek a more natural cleaning experience, below are eight pastes we scoped out that are sure put a healthy smile on your face.
Launching Kingfisher‘s fennel flavored toothpaste at a homeopathic conference back in 1988, founder Richard Austin keeps all-natural ingredients at the forefront of his practice. (He also started the U.K.’s leading whole foods store, Rainbow.) Fluoride- and gluten-free, the vegan toothpaste is made with fennel, lemons, aloe vera and tea tree. While it definitely tastes like fennel, the surprisingly pleasant flavor leaves your mouth feeling clean without the use of intense mint. Kingfisher Fennel sells online and at health stores around the U.K. for around £3 per five-ounce tube.
Super foamy and lightly abrasive, Auromere‘s licorice-flavored Ayurveda herbal toothpaste is one of my favorite among the group. Deep-rooted in holistic medicine, Auromere was founded 30 years ago as a small community-owned business. With a brand name that translates as “the science of life,” Ayurveda is an ancient Indian art centered around disease prevention and healing through the power of nature. Ayurvedic Licorice Toothpaste sells online for $6 per four-ounce tube.
With a mild but intriguing taste, Weleda’s calendula toothpaste is great for anyone who doesn’t like classic flavors like cinnamon or mint. I found that you do have to put an extra dollop on your brush to really get a good lather going (unless you follow their instructions to apply with a dry brush), but it did leave my mouth feeling pretty fresh—considering it is peppermint-free. The calendula flower, known for its anti-viral properties, combines with naturally-disinfecting my to keep your mouth super clean. Weleda Calendula toothpaste sells online for $7 per three-ounce tube.
Nature’s Gate Creme de Anise toothpaste has a strong licorice flavor, not for the flavor fainthearted. As their name implies, their exclusive “AntioxiDental Blend” is made from healthy ingredients like cranberry, pomegranate, white tea, grape seed, aloe and ginger. The all-natural toothpaste sells online and specialty drug stores for around $5 per six-ounce tube.
In our profile of Botot a few years ago, the gillyflower-based blend is likened to the “first few chews of Big Red gum.” Invented by Dr. Julien Botot in 1755 for King Louis XV of France, Botot is often considered the world’s first toothpaste. The old-school polish sells online from Unica Home and Canoe for around $11 per 2.5-ounce tube.
Made with mostly thyme, sage and chamomile, Vademecum’s Fluor & Plantes’ minty mix really gets your mouth feeling sparkly for those in the pro-fluoride camp. Vademecum Director of Research and Design, Claudia Hundeiker tell us fluoride “works by promoting a chemical reaction in tooth enamel that draws in replacement minerals including calcium.” Fluor & Plantes sells online for around €3 per 2.5-ounce tube.
A more commonly known option, Marvis‘ slightly foamy Jasmin Mint toothpaste adds a touch of floral flavor to tone down the mint. The Italian brand doesn’t keep their polish completely natural, but makes it using a “long, precise, traditional method” that gives it a thick consistency and intense flavor. Their nearly four-ounce tube sells everywhere from C.O. Bigelow to Barneys for around $12 per beautifully-designed package.
Made by the luxurious French skincare brand Darphin, Denblan toothpaste ingredients include an appealing mix of papaya, pineapple, lichen extracts, mint, fennel and parsley oils. Containing fluoride, Denblan’s blend promises to whiten teeth with its highly revered anti-cavity formula. A 2.6-tube sells online for $20.
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