Serial No. 3817131

Rachel Papo is an Ohio-born Israeli photographer who began photographing young women in the army in 2004. She served two years as a military photographer in the Israeli Air Force starting when she was eighteen before returning to the US.

Her latest photo essay project is called Serial No. 3817131, named after her own ID number during service. It displays the everyday life of an 18 year-old soldier girl in Israel during her mandatory two-year military service. 

Check out Rachel Papo’s website for the full photo slideshow.

Via Boing Boing

The Happiest Book In The World

From the author’s website:

In one way or another we are all looking for happiness. Some people even say that man’s sole purpose for existence is to hunt down and capture this intangible and elusive treasure. In 2006 researchers at The University of Leicester concluded that Denmark is the happiest country in the world – this was good enough for me. In March 2008 I made the decision to visit happiness, and embarked upon a pilgrimage to find it. My experiences are presented in this book.

Only one copy exists.

Only one copy exists?! Nuh huh!

Check out Alex Ostrowski’s website here.

Residences In Japan

I found on Flickr this wonderful collection of residences in Tokyo, Japan. Can you believe this? These are typical houses and condominiums in central Japan. Makes me wanna move there. Check out the entire collection set here.

Photo credit: Bruno

An Open Letter To My Camera

Dear Camera,

I still remember the first time I saw you online. I immediately made the purchase to take you home with me, and you know what? Things have been good. You’re a fighter. You’ve been with me since your infancy almost 4 years ago, and what a great run this has been. But I can’t understand why you want to quit me.

When we were hanging out the other night, I opened you up and could sense that something was wrong. I pressed the on button and you just threw a sound of death at me and shouted:

‘PRRRRR beep beep prrr beep… P!’

That hurt my feelings. Geez, camera! We have places to go, people to see, articles to write!

I called a doctor in an attempt to convince you to come back to me because you KNOW that I prefer not to spend money in a new you right now. But unfortunately, I have to do it… I have to trade you for a younger, smarter, more professional you [$700 for a Nikon D60? Ouch!].

Sincerely,

Jamie Awesome

‘Souvenirs’: The Collection

Wow! This photo collection is the best thing I’ve seen on Flickr. If you don’t click on this link, you’ll be forever missing out on something really cool.

‘Souvenirs’ Set on Flickr

Playing With Clouds

I love this beautiful and simple concept! Just look at the sky, pick a random object, hold it in front of the clouds (this requires a good eye) and take a picture. ‘Fun with Clouds’ is a series of photographs using cool illusion effects with the different shapes of clouds. Wanna see more? Check this Flickr link.

Via NotCot.org

Chernobyl: 22 Years Later

This is a very interesting, yet creepy slideshow of photos (click here) taken at what is left of Chernobyl’s Nuclear Power Plant.

Via Glob: A NY Thing (They always have some interesting stuff)

Unreal

Some women magazines out there promote a non-realistic image of female beauty and then fill their pages with stupid articles like these:

‘Exercises To Flatten Your Tummy’

‘What Type Of Moisturizers To Use’

‘What Men REALLY Want’

Just look at this highly PhotoShopped cover image of Faith Hill:

Oh, the wonders of PhotoShop… 

Photo Via Jezebel

Julius Shulman’s ‘A Life For Architecture’

Case Study House n° 21
Los Angeles, CA (1958)

Case Study House n° 29
CA (1960)

Chuey House
Los Angeles, CA (1958)

Julius Shulman is the author of the photographs above. Shulman is an American architectural photographer who spread architectural modernism around the world back in the 40’s and 50’s. The Frankfurt Museum of Architecture is now holding an exhibition called ‘A Life For Architecture’ displaying most of Shulman’s photos from February 21st through April 4th, 2008.

Via Materialicious

My Paper Mind

‘My Paper Mind’, created by Javan Ivey, is an animation technique he calls ‘stratastencil’. Is a stop motion animation made out of numerous layers of cardboard cut outs. Very cool, huh? Javan Ivey is a graduate student from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY.

Shadows

This photo reminds me of M.C. Escher’s art. Unfortunately, the photographer behind this photo is unknown.

Dreams Of Flying

Jan Von Holleben has a lot of imagination. He’s the master mind behind this amazing photos. This collection is called ‘Dreams Of Flying’ and it depicts children in whimsical scenes of flight. Genius!

For more photos, check Jan Von Holleben’s website.

Stairway To Heaven

Via Kiwi Collection

Dolls As Supermodels

While surfing through Flickr, I found the wonderful art photography of Lolita*Pop: an Italian artist who uses beautiful dolls to create these breathtaking photos. Enjoy!

Magazine Illusions

Nowadays, you can easily be in the cover of a magazine. Just grab a magazine, line it juuust in the right position, and voila! Check out this website for more magazine illusions.

Madame Loan

Here I present you the beautiful photographic work of Loan Nguyen. Check out her website at madameloan.com

Via Swiss Miss

Extreme Ironing!

Photos: Extreme Ironing dot com

FILE Magazine: Photos Of The Unexpected

FILE Magazine is a website that collects and displays unexpected photographs, alternate takes, odd angles and unusual observations; photographs taken from a totally different perspective. Still confused? Check their website: FILE Magazine.