PEZ, real name unknown, is an illustrator, painter and graphic designer from Nantes, France. He had been working as a freelance graphic designer since 2006. Recently PEZ released drawings from his sketchbook on Behance.net and boy are they incredible. To create these stunning illustrations, he uses graphite and the mighty pen. It’s quite amazing to see what someone can create with just a pen, a rubber and a little creativity. When I first came across french illustrator PEZ’s artwork I was blown away by the level of detail he adds to his work. Combine that with a sprinkle of talent and a dash of madness and you have someone who creates one original masterpiece after another! After I saw his work, my jaw dropped from the attention to detail and I couldn’t wait to share it with you.
Stunning Digital Artworks That Will Take You in the World of Dreams
Romanian based artist Caras Ionut is expert in Photoshop and has created lots of incredible digital artworks. He was born on February 6, 1978 in Iasi, Romania. The main interest of Caras Ionut is to provide the Photoshop tutorials for beginners to experts with full source file and PSD. We have a set of stunning digital artworks that will take you in the world of dreams.
Sweet collection of Beautiful Girls Kissing Animals
In addition to animal kingdom, we have compiled a list of “25 beautiful girls kissing animals.” All the photographs are very adorable and cute. We are sure you will feel warmth by exploring these incredible girls kissing animals photographs.
5 places you’ll never be able to travel to
While we are preparing to jet off to the skies, with space travel looming on the horizon, maybe we should take one minute to remove our heads from the clouds and think about the great unknowns still available on our very own planet earth.
So, without further ado, here is the run down of the top places you CAN’T (easily) travel to.
[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″]
North Korea
The obvious one – the (until recently) big looming black hole on google maps. While you can technically travel there, you must stick to the carefully planned tourist route, and be accompanied by a tour guide at all times. For the most part – the highly secretive state is completely off limit to tourists.
Where would we go if we could? To check out the mysterious room 39 in Pyongyang, the secretive government organisation rumoured to be involved in many illegal activities.
[/vc_column][/vc_row]
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″]
The Vatican Secret Archives
Owned by the Pope, it contains documents which the church has accumulated over the centuries – about five miles of shelving worth. Despite having ‘secret’ in its title, it’s technically a research library, and parts of it are accessible to those who are given access by the Pope. If you manage to get access, you are only allowed in with a pen and paper and be accompanied at all times by two priests and two guards. There have been countless theories as to what could be contained in the secret archives (mainly started by Dan Brown) – from a time machine to banned scriptures.
What would we do if we could? Cram in as much reading as possible, and search for ‘lost’ parts of the bible.
[/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″]
[/vc_column][/vc_row]
[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″]
[/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″]
Area 51
A favourite of conspiracy theorists, Area 51 does little to help people believe it is an ‘abandoned research facility’ by having armed guards outside 24/7 and refusing anyone access. Area 51 typically is associated with governmental secrecy, particularly in terms of UFOs and extra terrestrials. Conspiracy theorists often claim that a downed alien spacecraft is being held and studied in the facility, based more on the fact that the government has – until now – never acknowledged that the base exists and kept the goings on inside its walls a secret than actual, documented fact
What would we do if we could go? Look for aliens, obviously
[/vc_column][/vc_row]
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″]
North Sentinel Island
Located on the Bay of Bengal, the island is home of a group of indigenous people – The Sentineles, who are among the last people to remain virtually untouched by modern civilisation. India has a policy of non-interference with the island; even taking photos is an offense. We know very little about the inhabitants except that they are supposedly extremely hostile to strangers.
What would we do if we could? Try not to get murdered while looking at how different (or similar) a community is that has been untouched by ‘friends’.
[/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″]
[/vc_column][/vc_row]
[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″]
[/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″]
Surtsey Island
Surtsey, a volcanic island not far from the south coast of Iceland, is a new island formed by volcanic eruptions that took place from 1963 to 1967. The World Heritage Commitee commented that the islands outstanding value was in part because it had been protected since its birth, “providing the world with a pristine natural laboratory”. Extensive research has been carried out on the small island since 1964 and has provided scientists with a unique knowledge on the colonisation process of new land by plant and animal life. It is now a world heritage site and a protected nature reserve which is not open to the public due to its pristine natural habitat, unspoilt by human intervention.
What would we look at if we could? How life spontaneously develops.
[/vc_column][/vc_row]
Where on Earth would you go if you could?
Australia’s 10 deadliest creatures
Here we present Australia’s 10 deadliest creatures, with expert comment from the naturalist Steve Backshall, author of Venom: a Study of Toxins in the Natural World.
Despite the bewildering variety of frightening animals found in Australia, Mr Backshall insists no-one should be put off visiting for fear of encountering them. “Australia has so many of the world’s most venomous, toxic and toothy beasts,” he said. “However, the most dangerous animals to humans are horses and honeybees. Almost no-one dies from spider, snake, croc and shark bites on the whole continent. With a little common sense, no one visiting Oz should be unduly worried about the wildlife; quite the opposite, it is a great reason to visit.”
1. This species has accounted for 79 of 81 known jellyfish deaths since 1883. The sea wasp, as it is sometimes known, has near-invisible tentacles with millions of harpoons that deliver a hefty dose of venom. The creature can kill in minutes – and is found in vast numbers off beaches during the long “stinger season”, from October to May.
Am I likely to meet one?
Steve Backshall: “Its arrival in northern waters is seasonal – a simple stinger suit will deter them. That said, almost no animal on earth has the potential to stop a human heart so quickly, so warnings on beaches must be taken very seriously.
2. The inland taipan snake has enough venom to kill 100 men – but they live so remotely, and are so shy, that humans are very unlikely to see one. According to Australian Geographic magazine, bandage pressure and immobilisation can buy victims a few hours in which to find help, although if poorly managed, a bite can lead to death in 45 minutes. Police investigated how a boy came into contact with a specimen last year, after he survived a bite in a coastal region where the “fierce snake”, as it is also known, is not normally found.Am I likely to meet one?
Steve Backshall: “You will not encounter the world’s most venomous snake! They live in the dead red centre of the country and are rarely seen above ground. It took me three days of concentrated searching sleeping out in the desert to find one.”
3. More to worry about is the eastern brown snake – humans are far more likely to encounter them, as they feed on mice and so thrive in populated areas. Aggressive in their attacks, they are responsible for most snake-related deaths in Australia. If provoked, the animal will raise itself off the ground in an S-shaped curve, preparing to fire its venom, which inhibits blood clotting.
Am I likely to meet one?
Steve Backshall: “Again you are unlikely to see one of these, but basically just know that Oz is one of the only places on earth where there are more venomous snakes than non-venomous. Treat everything snakey as suspect – give them a wide berth and I promise they’ll do the same to you!”
4. Yes, he produces lovely honey and yes, his buzz is charming, but the apis mellifera is actually one of Australia’s most dangerous stingers, due to the high incidence of allergic reaction, at 1-2 per cent of the Australian population. Bee stings cause more deaths than sharks, snakes or spiders separately every year, making the insect second only to snakes as the deadliest venomous animal in Australia.
Am I likely to meet one?
Steve Backshall: “Its venoms are high in allergens. If you are susceptible, you need to have an epi-pen to hand, as a single sting could cause anaphylaxis. If you find your throat constricting after a sting, stay calm, and get to hospital as soon as possible.”
5. In the 1983 film Octopussy, James Bond is seduced by Magda, whose tattoo of a blue ringed-octopus shows her alliance with the wealthy female protagonist. In reality, this blue-blooded creature may be even more dangerous – it has enough poison to kill 26 people. When annoyed, the creature’s brown spots darken and pulsating iridescent blue rings appear, and it produces a neurotoxin 10,000 times more powerful than cyanide. And yet it actually causes fewer deaths than eating incorrectly prepared fugu fish – a Japanese delicacy – which contains the same nerve toxins.
Am I likely to meet one?
Steve Backshall: “There are several species, one of which lives right in Sydney harbour. They’re tiny, vibrant and gorgeous. If you’re lucky enough to see one diving, view from a respectable distance.”
6. The largest of all living reptiles, the “saltie” has the strongest bite of any living creature, and a large specimen is said to be able to crush a fully-grown gazelle’s skull between its jaws. It causes 1-2 known deaths every year, and is responsible for 4-10 non-fatal attacks. In August this year, a man’s body was found by police after he was seized by a crocodile as he swam in the Mary River in Australia’s Northern Territory. The channel has one of the highest croc populations in the area: Senior Sergeant Geoff Bahnert told the AP news agency at the time: “You don’t swim in the Mary River.”
Am I likely to meet one?
Steve Backshall says that saltie victims are “almost always people who have fallen asleep at the riverside at night. Common sense is essential in Northern parts of the country where the animals may occur. Take local advice before swimming anywhere, saltwater or fresh.”
7. The great white might hit the headlines, but it’s the bull shark you really need to look out for. They have bitten and killed people in shallow water because they come very close to beaches looking for food. Indeed, some experts believe that it was a bull shark, not a great white, responsible for the deaths that inspired Jaws. Inhabiting both fresh and saltwater, they also enter rivers and estuaries, and after flooding in early 2011, one was reported seen in a suburban street. They are large and stout, and up to 81cm in length at birth – an adult female weighs about 130kg.
Am I likely to meet one?
Steve Backshall: “Another that can be found right in Sydney harbour. Very rarely of any danger to humans, but best to stay clear of swimming in murky estuarine habitats where they hunt in zero viz [visibility], and might mistake you for prey.”
8. You wouldn’t want to meet the Sydney funnel web spider on a dark night – or at any time of day, in fact. It might be minuscule, at just 1.5-3.5 cm long, but it has fangs longer than a brown snake’s, and so powerful they can pierce toenails. Humans are more likely to encounter them than some of the other creatures on this list, as they are found in populated urban areas in New South Wales, wandering in gardens and sometimes dropping into swimming pools. Luckily, anti-venom was developed in 1981, and since then no fatalities have been recorded. It’s still up there among the world’s deadliest spiders, let alone Australia’s.
Am I likely to meet one?
Steve Backshall: “This rivals the Brazilian wandering spider for title of most venomous on earth. They are generally rare and reclusive, and almost never seen in the city itself, but the bite is very unpleasant indeed. In all areas of Oz, shake out boots and clothing before putting them on, as spiders may seek shelter inside.”
9. This coil-shaped creature looks harmless enough, but is carnivorous and predatory, feeding on small fish, molluscs, and even their own kin. Large specimens can be fatal to humans – their shells are attractive and people try to hold them. According to the authoritative Goldfrank’s Toxicologic Emergencies resource, about 15 human deaths have been caused by the snails. Their toxins have been used to derive painkillers, the first being registered by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2004.
Am I likely to meet one?
Steve Backshall: “Empty cone shells wash up on beaches every now and again. I have only seen a few alive and out on the reefs in thousands of dives. If you do find one, do not handle it – even if you think it is dead. The mollusc that lives inside fires a venom-laden dart from the narrow end, and though it would be extremely unlikely to kill a human, would hurt like crazy. Proteins in the venom may be denatured by immersion in hot water.”
10. A wildcard, and not an animal – but you will also want to avoid the giant stinging tree, dendrocnide excelsa, found in Queensland. Severe stings – caused as the hairs on all aerial parts of the plants latch onto your skin – can cause pain for several months. Treating them involves applying wax hair-removal strips and pulling off, like a large and painful plaster, to remove the hairs that have embedded themselves in your skin. That treatment method might be reason enough to avoid them in the first place.
Extreme Walk by Brian Mosby on a Tightrope – Rio de Janeiro
Brian Mosby isn’t your ordinary dude. When he wants to have a good time, things tend to get a little crazy. Brian recently took a walk on a tightrope, or a “slackline” near Rio de Janeiro. The rope was strung at an altitude of 850 meters. While he carefully braved the insane gap on a rope, his assistants took some pretty awesome pictures of Brian. If there’s any way to get over your fear of heights, I doubt this is it. RFL to you Brian Mosby, you are truly one Radass dude living life to the fullest!
Some of the best “The Week in Pictures” by the Telegraph
I came across this amazing project “The week in Pictures”. A selection of photographs from around the world, covering a variety of topics from politics and current events to celebrity and royalty. I picked up some of the best photos that were published 2013. Hope you will enjoy.
Touching Strangers: Photographs by Richard Renaldi
The Project
Since 2007, photographer Richard Renaldi has worked on a series of photographs for which he asks complete strangers to physically interact while posing together for a portrait. Working on the street with a large format 8-by-10 view camera, Renaldi encounters his subjects in towns and cities all over the United States.
Renaldi’s objective was to introduce an unpredictable variable into a traditional photographic formula, and to create spontaneous and fleeting relationships between complete strangers. The portraits are extremely difficult to make, involving complex negotiations with the participants that push them past comfort levels, into a physical intimacy normally reserved for loved ones or friends. Touching Strangers creates intimate and ephemeral relationships that exist only for the moment of the photograph. The images are beautiful and strange, crossing out of the zones of safe physical intimacy with strangers and into deep emotional landscapes never photographed before.
Touching Strangers Photobook
In Spring 2014, subject the success of this Kickstarter campaign, Aperture Foundation, the photography publisher based in New York, will publish Touching Strangers as a photobook, including new photographs from Renaldi’s shoots this summer in Albuquerque, Chicago, New York City, and Southern California.
As a non-profit foundation, Aperture relies on contributions from supporting individuals, companies, and foundations, and on sales of photographers’ limited-edition prints, to help make and publish photobooks—works of art in their own right that inspire the reader and promote awareness of the photographer.
Chris Boot, executive director of Aperture, says “We think these great photographs have something positive to say about human connection . . . about a diverse society in which people have been taught not to touch each other but in which we can and do transcend the boundaries set around us. In seeking support to make the book possible, we want to ask you—strangers—to help us. This makes this Kickstarter campaign—Aperture’s first—part of the work itself, a way for strangers to connect with each other. We hope this project touches you, and that you’ll want to participate with us in bringing this book to the world.”
Limited-Edition Photographs
Along with the other benefits listed, supporters at the following levels will also receive a limited-edition photograph by Richard Renaldi from the Touching Strangers series:
Nathan and Robyn, 2012, Provincetown, MA