Japanese camera brand Yashica was first established in 1949, but they’ve “been silent” in the industry for more than 10 years. To mark the occasion of their grand return, they’ve announced their newest product—a Yashica digital camera called the Y35. Although its technology is squarely in the future, the company hasn’t forgotten the joy that comes from shooting with film. They’re now using digiFilm, which is inserted into the camera like an actual “roll” of film that controls how the pictures look.

The size and feel of the Y35 is modeled after a previous Yashica camera, the Electro 35. It has the same compact body and no LCD display screen on the back—a fact that presents a unique digital device experience.

So, what does that mean for picture taking? To use the Y35, you’ll have to carry the digiFilm with you. Each digiFilm cannister isn’t film, but a series of saved picture settings that alter aspect ratios, graininess of the image, and more. (Thus replacing the settings menu on a standard digital camera.) There are four different digiFilm rolls currently available: ISO 1600 high speed; ISO 400 black and white; ISO 200 for standard color photos; and 120 Format that’s made with Instagram in mind. All images are stored off the digiFilm and on an SD memory card.

The Y35 comes with other quirks that challenge the conventions of digital cameras. One feature, for instance, requires you to “advance the film” using the lever located near the shutter. And because the device lacks an LCD screen, there’s no way to review your photos after you take them. But the company doesn’t see this as a downside; to them, it forces you to be more considerate of what you snap. “Using Yashica Y35 is a journey to the truth—there is no instant gratification of a review screen, no delete button, and no hiding from mistakes,” the company writes. “The world seen from the viewfinder of Y35, might be a little slower, a little prettier, transporting us back to a time when we all pay a little bit more attention, and causing us to care each shot before clicking the shutter—because it must solid the first time or the moment is lost.”

If you’re interested in this approach to digital pictures, Yashica is now pre-selling the Y35 through a Kickstarter campaign.

The newest Yashica camera combines the joy of analog photography with the ease of digital technology.

Devoid of an LCD screen (and therefore menu), the settings of a picture are controlled by “rolls” of digiFilm.

To take a picture, insert the type of film you’d like to use…

… and “advance” the film using the lever near the shutter.

Here are some sample photos with their corresponding digiFilm rolls:

Learn more about the Yashica Y35 camera in the Kickstarter video below.

Yashica: Website | Kickstarter | Instagram | Facebook
h/t:[PetaPixel]

All images via Yashica.

Related Articles:

Designer Builds Polaroid Camera That Snaps and Prints GIFs Instead of Photos

Photographer Challenges Himself to Shoot Fantastic Photos with a $1 Camera

Kodak Revamps the Retro Super 8 Film Camera for the Digital Generation

Introducing the World’s First Folding Camera Made Entirely Out of Cardboard

The post Newly-Launched Digital Camera is Controlled by Pretend Rolls of Film appeared first on My Modern Met.

http://ift.tt/2gfg3ME

What would it be like to hang out with your childhood self? Music student and photographer Conor Nickerson had this thought while flipping through old pictures of himself from the late 1990s and early 2000s. Taking the idea a step further, he decided to Photoshop family photos and incorporate his adult self into them. Suffice to say, the results are impressive. At first glance, Nickerson genuinely looks like he belongs in the analog relics.

Calling his series Childhood, the project required costume changes and photo manipulation. Nickerson began by gathering “old hats and t-shirts” that corresponded with each image. Then, he posed for a self-portrait and combined it with the original photo. He had to learn a lot about Photoshop, but the exercise was worth it. Calling Childhood “amusing and strange,” it afforded him the opportunity to think about his life now and the childhood moments that are distant memories.

Nickerson’s photos have since gone viral on Reddit, where a fellow Redditor raised the question, “Is it weird at all looking at these photos for you? I find it almost disturbing how real they look, like seeing a ghost or something.” Nickerson replied, “Editing the pictures and looking at them so closely for so long takes a bit away from the shock value, but seeing the final images all together definitely is a bit strange! I feel like me and little me would have gotten along pretty alright.”

Conor Nickerson made a series of mashups recreating childhood photos with his adult self in them.

Conor Nickerson: Website | Behance | Facebook
h/t: [Reddit]

All images via Conor Nickerson.

Related Articles:

Two Brothers Recreate Their Childhood Photos For Parents’ Wedding Anniversary

Artist and Her Mother Create a Playful Lookalike Project

Couple Celebrates Their 50th Wedding Anniversary in the Same Clothes They Were Married In

People Are Reliving Family Memories by Superimposing Photos of the Past in the Present

Son Pranks Family with Cardboard Cutout of Himself, Mom Brilliantly Turns the Tables

The post Guy Seamlessly Photoshops Himself into His Old Childhood Photos appeared first on My Modern Met.

http://ift.tt/2yeKYNI

Inspired by the Earth’s enchanting beauty, today’s top designers often create pieces evocative of nature. This interest in the natural world is evident in everything from interior design and jewelry to cakes and coffee, culminating in an eclectic assortment of stunning goods and gifts. While artists tend to find inspiration in all of Mother Nature’s creations, a geode-centric trend has recently emerged among these nature-loving creatives.

Ranging from shimmering ceramics to sparkling street art to realistic rock candy, these mineral-inspired creations showcase the natural beauty of geodes and crystals. Some, like AmeyaaJewelry‘s agate pendants and Royal Suzie‘s night lights, incorporate actual stones; while others, including Johannah Adams‘ mineral makeup and NL Architects‘ amethyst architecture, are simply inspired by their iridescence. Genuine or not, however, each glimmering creation captures the rocks’ raw beauty.

See a sparkling selection of geode and crystal creations below!

Glistening Geode Mugs by Silver Lining Ceramics

“Urban Geodes” by A Common Name

Amethyst Wedding Cake by Intricate Icing Cake Designs

Agate Pendants by AmeyaaJewelry

Realistic Rock Candy by Alex Yeatts and Abby Lee Wilcox

Crystalline Ceramic Mugs by Essarai Ceramics

Dazzling Night Lights by Royal Suzie

Geode Bookends by EarthSeaWarrior

Geode Hair by Hair by Muriel

Geode Nails by Nailed It NZ

A post shared by Nailed It NZ (@naileditnz) on May 8, 2017 at 8:55pm PDT

//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js

 

The post 20+ Times Artists Were Inspired by the Dazzling Beauty of Geode Crystals appeared first on My Modern Met.

http://ift.tt/2yeN1RF

We can’t get enough of the the paper-cut out world of photographer Rich McCor (aka paperboyo). As an avid traveler, he’s been pretty much everywhere, transforming global landmarks with his paper cut-outs. His latest work sees him back in his hometown of London, as well as in Toronto, and even South Korea.

McCor’s work is distinctively playful. He places paper silhouette cut-outs between his lens and landscape, allowing him to playfully interact with landmarks in humorous and lighthearted ways. In his latest work, London’s landscape transforms into a fairground when Tower Bridge becomes a gigantic roller coaster; a jazz musician plays The University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law building like an accordion; a little girl star gazes from Toronto’s CV tower; and in Croatia, clouds are painted onto the colorful sunset sky with a giant paintbrush.

After two years of cut-outs, McCor has recently published a book entitled Around the World in Cut-Outs. It’s full of his clever creations and is currently available on Amazon.

Take a look at Rich McCor’s imaginative paper cut-out scenes from around the world.

Rich McCor: Instagram
h/t: [Colossal]

All images via Rich McCor.

Related Articles:

Artist Playfully Holds Cut Paper Silhouettes Against Towering Monuments to Bring Them to Life

Artist Holds Paper Cut-Outs Up to the World to Complete His Fashion Illustrations

Quirky Couple Travels Around the World to Playfully Interact with Architecture

Iconic Disney Characters Cleverly Recreated with Paper Cutouts Against Landmarks

Charming Cut Paper Silhouettes Playfully Transform Famous US Landmarks

The post Traveling Artist Transforms the World’s Landscapes with New Playful Paper Cut-Outs appeared first on My Modern Met.

http://ift.tt/2yfrkDe

With a little more than a month to go, the 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest is in full swing. Photographers have until November 17, 2017 to enter their best photographs valuing the beauty of the natural world. We’ve already previewed some early entries and now have a chance to discover what photographers have been submitting during the third and fourth weeks of competition.

As one of the top photography contests around, the competition encourages participants to submit their best images in four categories—Wildlife, Landscapes, Aerials, and Underwater. The grand prize winner will not only receive $7,500, but will also have their work published in an upcoming issue of National Geographic magazine and on National Geographic’s Instagram account.

Aside from the expert jury, which will pick the grand prize and category winners, the public will also get their chance to award a winner. From December 1 to December 11, 2017, fans can vote for the Peoples’ Choice winner via the contest website. So if you see something here that catches your eye, keep it in mind for a prize!

Photographers have until November 17 to enter their best nature photographs in the 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest.

NG Nature Photographer of the Year: Website

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by National Geographic.

Related Articles:

Stunning Early Entries of the 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

Amazing Winners of the 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

Steve Irwin’s 13-Year-Old Son is an Exceptionally Talented Wildlife Photographer

Stunning Winners of the 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Contest

The post Amazing Early Highlights of the 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest appeared first on My Modern Met.

http://ift.tt/2kGOgWS

During her two-year search for the perfect wedding dress, 23-year-old Jordyn Cleverly had tried on more than 30 dresses, but none of them felt quite right. Luckily, her father saved her grandmother’s stunning vintage lace gown from being donated to charity. After some sizing alterations, the “something borrowed” turned out to be exactly what Cleverly had envisioned wearing on her big day. Her now widowed grandmother, Penny Jenson, originally wore the dress down the aisle in 1962, and had no idea her granddaughter had the dress in her possession.

Cleverly kept the secret until her rehearsal dinner, two days before her September 23rd wedding in Boise, Idaho. As she stepped out, photographer Kortney Peterson captured the heart-warming moment. Cleverly looked stunning wearing the family heirloom and holding her grandmother’s wedding photograph from 55 years ago.

Describing her grandmother’s reaction, Cleverly said, “I think the light bulbs started going off when she saw me going toward her. You don’t forget what your wedding dress looks like.” With emotions running high, her grandmother was almost speechless—all she could muster was “wow.” When she was finally able to speak, she whispered, “I married my high school sweetheart in this dress, now so will you.”

Bride surprises her grandmother by wearing her wedding dress from 1962.

Her reaction is heartwarming.

h/t: [Cosmopolitan]

All images via Kortney Peterson.

Related Articles:

147-Year-Old Great-Great-Grandmother’s Wedding Dress Lost by Dry Cleaners, Found by Internet

Bride Will Be the 11th Woman in Her Family to Wear 120-Year-Old Heirloom Wedding Dress

Married Couple Finally Takes Romantic Wedding Photos After 60 Years Together

The post Bride Surprises Grandmother by Wearing Her Wedding Dress from the 1960s appeared first on My Modern Met.

http://ift.tt/2fZFq1j

Whether you are a professional photographer looking to gain more exposure or an amateur who wants to know how your work stacks up against your peers, photography competitions are a fantastic way to stretch yourself and grow your craft. From free photo contests to paid photography awards, it’s possible to invest as little—or as much—as you’d like. And sometimes, the rewards can be life-changing.

From cash prizes to traveling exhibitions at renowned institutions, the best photography contests give their participants the opportunity to show their best work to a wider audience. Most contests have separate professional and amateur divisions, as well as youth competitions for young photographers—and you don’t always have to pay. Contests like the EyeEm Awards and the Smithsonian Photo Contest are free of charge, while others charge nominal fees to enter multiple photographs.

With such a wide variety of photography competitions, you can decide whether you want to try your hand at one of the larger contests with a range of categories for all types of photography, such as the International Photo Awards, or go more niche. Underwater photography, architectural photography, astrophotography, wedding photography, and pet photography are just some competitions that let you hone in on specific aspects of the craft.

To help you find what photo contest meets your needs, we’ve pulled together a list of the best photography competitions—in alphabetical order—that you’ll want to consider entering. Over the years we’ve featured all of these contests, many times publishing early entries and finalists, in addition to winners—proving that you can gain valuable press coverage whether you win or not.

Our list of the best photography contests covers a wide range of photography from wildlife to fine art.

Arcaid Images Architectural Photography Awards
Architectural photographers compete in four categories—Exterior, Interior, Sense of Place, and Buildings in Use—for a chance at cash prizes and having their work exhibited at the World Architecture Festival in Berlin, Germany.

When to enter: annually from April to July
Entry fee: one-time registration of £55 allows entrants to submit up to 3 images to each category
Prize: $3,000 and exhibitions in Berlin and London

Audubon Photography Awards
Combine your love of birds and photography by competing in the Audubon Photography Awards. Participants must be legal residents of the U.S. or Canada and at least 13 years of age. Winning photos will be published in the Audubon and Nature’s Best Photography magazines, as well as go on exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

When to enter: annually from early January to late February
Entry fee: $15 per image; Youth competition is FREE
Prize: Cash prizes up to $5,000

B&W Child Photo Competition
Celebrate the beauty of childhood across the world by submitting your most stunning black and white images of children. Photographers compete in four categories—Portrait, Fine Art, Lifestyle, and Socumentary & Street. The contest accepts international entries and there is no limit on the number of submissions per photographer.

When to enter: annually from August until December
Entry fee: €10 for single image, €20 for 3 images, €30 for 5 images
Prize: €1,000 for Grand Prize winner, €100 for category winners

Best of the Best Destination Photo Contest
Wedding photographers are encouraged to show off their best destination wedding images in this contest run by Junebug Weddings. They also run separate contests for best wedding and best engagement photographs.

When to enter: annually from July to August
Entry fee: $28 for up to 15 images for non-members. Members can submit up to 3 photos for free or up to 15 images for $18
Prize: 50 winning entries are featured on the website, with a link to their blog

BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition
Run by the California Academy of Sciences, this international photo contest celebrates the “the rich diversity of life on Earth and inspire action to protect and conserve it through the power of imagery.” Photographers can submit work across seven different categories such as the art of nature, aquatic life, terrestrial wildlife, and winged life.

When to enter: annually from January to March
Entry fee: $25 for up to 10 single image submissions in any category, $15 for 1 photo series (3-5 images)
Prize: $5,000 to overall winner, $1,000 for category winners. Participation in an annual exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences.

Bird Photographer of the Year
This global competition asks wildlife photographers to submit their best bird photography across 8 categories, including best youth photographer. There are also two special prizes up for grabs—best portfolio and crowd choice. Participants can submit single photos or an entire portfolio.

When to enter: annually from mid-August to the end of November
Entry fee: from £6, participants can enter up to 8 images per category
Prize: £5,000 for grand prize winner, £2,000 for portfolio prize winner, and a pair of Swarovski CL Companion 8×30 binoculars for category winners. All winners receive a portfolio review from Director of Photography at Alamy.

British Wildlife Photography Awards
Created to focus on the glory of British wildlife, photographers of all nationalities are encouraged to enter the contest, but their images must be taken in the United Kingdom. The 15 separate categories also include a prize for wildlife in HD video, and two separate prizes are awarded to young photographers. The top entries are included in a traveling exhibition across Britain, as well as a coffee table book.

When to enter: annually from February to June
Entry fee: from £10; Youth competition (up to 6 images) is FREE
Prize: £5,000 for grand prize winner, while category winners receive a prize worth £1,000

Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards
If you like to see the humor in the natural world, this photography contest is for you. Founded by the wildlife charity, Born Free Foundation, the awards are a light-hearted way to bring attention to conservation issues. In addition to four categories for adults and a youth competition, videographers are encouraged to enter their funniest video clips. But note, photographs of domestic, captive or enclosed wildlife of any description are not allowed.

When to enter: entries accepted through the end of September
Entry fee: FREE
Prize: Overall winner receives a one-week photographer led safari in Kenya, all expenses paid for two people with return flights from Europe.

Dog Photographer of the Year
The Kennel Club, the UK’s largest organization focusing on the welfare of dogs, runs this annual, international contest. Photographers can enter in 8 categories, including Dog Portrait, Dogs at Play, Assistance Dogs, and Rescue Dogs. There are also two youth categories for young photographers.

When to enter: annually from the end of October to mid-March
Entry fee: FREE
Prize: Overall winner receives a SmugMug business account and mentorship day with acclaimed dog photographer. All winners will have their work displayed at the Kennel Club Art Gallery in London, as well as a prize package.

EyeEm Awards
This leading photo community, which also licenses images, runs what they call the largest photo competition for rising photographers. They annually award prizes in five categories—The Street Photographer, The Great Outdoors, The Portraitist, The Photojournalist, and The Architect. Additionally, the Photographer of the Year is selected based on their body of work and potential for growth.

When to enter: entries accepted until mid-June
Entry fee: FREE
Prize: Photographer of the Year wins an all-expenses-paid trip to the EyeEm Festival & Awards in Berlin, a mentorship with a renowned photographer, and state-of-the-art camera equipment. Five category winners receive a new smartphone.

Fine Art Photography Awards
Seeking “photos born out of passion,” the international contest is open to both amateur and professional photographers. With 20 different categories to select from, there is no shortage of artistic themes that will allow photographers to display their creativity.

When to enter: annually through mid-February
Entry fee: from $15 per photo
Prize: $3000 for Professional Photographer of the Year, $2000 for Amateur Photographer of the Year.

The post 30+ Best Photography Competitions to Elevate Your Craft appeared first on My Modern Met.

http://ift.tt/2y8TJLs

Rome’s Colosseum, historic home to gladiator battles and the symbol of the ancient Roman Empire, will now have all levels open to the public. Built up five levels, the amphitheater—built between 70 and 80 AD—once held 50,000 to 80,000 spectators who cheered on as battles took place on the circular floor.

Though the Colosseum is one of Rome’s top tourist attractions, many areas have remained closed to the public for safety reasons. New areas have slowly been offered to the public, with the opening of the subterranean area and third level in 2010. And now, from November 1, 2017, tourists will be able to visit the top two levels of the Colosseum for the first time in over 40 years.

Towering 130 feet above the circular stage, these nosebleed seats were reserved for plebeians—lower class commoners—who would sit or stand on wooden benches to see the spectacle below. One advantage of the seats is the incredible sweeping views over the city. Perched on the fifth level, visitors have magnificent views over the Palatine Hill, Roman Forum, and the surrounding areas.

The opening of the top levels comes at the end of a long restoration financed by Tod’s. The Italian shoe and leather goods company invested €25 million (almost $30 million) into the restoration of the Colosseum in 2011. What was once seen as a controversial move—permitting a private company to restore public historic monuments—has continued to move forward, allowing locals and tourists the opportunity to rediscover the beauty of Rome.

Visitors will be able to access the fourth and fifth levels of the Colosseum by booking a guided tour—available in Italian, English, and Spanish—in advance with CoopCulture.

The top two levels of the Colosseum were reserved for ancient Rome’s lowest social class, but afford incredible views of the surrounding area.

In addition, special access areas previously closed to the public will now be viewable.

The new openings are part of the €25 million restoration project funded by Tod’s, an Italian shoe and leather goods company.

h/t: [ArchDaily]

All images via the Italian Ministry of Culture and Tourism except where noted.

Related Articles:

Italian Government Gives €500 to 18-Year-Olds to Buy Books, Museum Tickets, and More

Multiple Photos of Iconic Places Taken Over Time are Sliced into Single Images

Magnificent Indian Temple Carved from One Giant Rock

China’s Forbidden City Will Open Doors to Secret Garden for the First Time in Nearly a Century

The post Colosseum’s Highest Levels Are Open to the Public for the First Time in Over 40 Years appeared first on My Modern Met.

http://ift.tt/2g73uD2

When it comes to hospital food, the dishes often feel like an afterthought. Bland and uninviting, there’s a reason that people in the U.S. want their loved ones to sneak in a burger and fries from the outside world. In Japan, however, it’s a different story; the hospital food looks like a gourmet meal! A Redditor with the username hadababyinjp documented the dishes she ate after giving birth in a local clinic, and there was no weird jello to be found on any of her trays.

The dishes included things you’d find served in a restaurant. During one of her meals, she had chicken with mushroom sauce, braised pumpkin and pork, and a daikon carrot side salad. The Redditor snapped photos of all of these preparations—including the rest of what she was served. It not only sounds appetizing, but looks it, too; seeing these trays might make you unexpectedly crave some hot soba noodles.

In the comments of the now-viral Reddit post, hadababyinjp sheds more light onto labor and delivery in Japan. “The standard here is 4 days for all women,” she explains. “My delivery was very standard, no complications.” Of the food, she recalls, “All the calories were posted every day so we could see how much we were eating. All three meals always added up to between 2000-2500 calories, plus they gave us a small afternoon snack like a cream puff or small piece of cake and tea.” This, she says, “is a bit much for most Japanese women,” but that the overfeeding was probably to help with recovery and offer options in case there were food that a patient didn’t like.

The Reddit post, aside from offering a fascinating look into hospital food across the world, also yielded an interesting discussion on giving birth in different countries. Read the entire thing here.

Redditor hadababyinjp documented the hospital food she ate after giving birth in Japan.

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself getting hungry from the menus…

… compared to the United States, they look like gourmet meals!

h/t: [Reddit]

All images via hadababyinjp.

Related Articles:

Interview: Photographer Reveals What Dinnertime Looks Like Across the U.S.

“Sushi Burger” Food Trend Is Now the Hottest Hybrid of Two Foodie Favorites

Revealing Photo Series Documents School Lunches Around the World

The post Woman Who Just Gave Birth Shares the Delicious Food Served to Her in a Japanese Hospital appeared first on My Modern Met.

http://ift.tt/2wJ7yws

Photographer Andre D. Wagner‘s first book, Here for the Ride, is a beautiful compilation of contemporary New York street photography. Turning his mundane 9-to-5 commute into an opportunity, Wagner began documenting his subway rides from Brooklyn to New York. This work evolved into the monograph, which contains 62 images that weave a personal story of life in the city.

From 2013 to 2016, Wagner dutifully carried out his work, continuing a tradition of street photographers who have immortalized the Big Apple. As if nodding at this past, he works with black and white film, a habit he picked up at the beginning of his photography career and never thought to change. “I like the harmony of monochrome, and nothing looks as good as silver gelatin prints,” Wagner shares with us. “All of my heroes—Roy DeCarava, Robert Frank, Garry Winogrand—shot in black and white so it was a natural choice for me.”

As time passed, Wagner’s work evolved into something bigger—the images got stronger and he began to see the project move from a way to pass time into Here for the Ride. And indeed, the work tells a strong narrative, collectively allowing viewers insight into the soul of the passengers. Encased in the train car for just a short time, Wagner’s quick thinking and visual instincts helped him build this photographic time capsule.

And while these photographs depict small, personal moments, they can also be read for wider impact. In particular, Wagner cites his photo of a black family sitting next to a white family on the subway as a personal favorite. “It’s not often that I recognize that a photo will be impactful in the moment, but at that time I knew and kept photographing until the interaction ended.”

Here for the Ride, published by Creative Future, is divided into two interrelated documents—a hardcover book featuring the primary photographic narrative and a paperback that includes a profound essay depicting how the photographs visually portray American life from a socio-political standpoint, as well as an in-depth interview and a series of images that delve deeper into the process and thoughts behind the book. The first editions are limited to 750 copies and are available for purchase on the photographer’s website.

Here for the Ride is Andre D. Wagner’s timeless look at contemporary life on the New York subway.

Andre D. Wagner: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Andre D. Wagner.

Related Articles:

10 Street Photographers Who Are Immortalizing Our Modern World

Black and White Photos Capture the Urban Grit of 1980s New York City

Vintage Photos Reveal the Gritty NYC Subway in the 70s and 80s

Photographer Documents What People Are Reading on the NYC Subway

The post Photographer Spends Years Documenting His Daily Commute on the New York Subway appeared first on My Modern Met.

http://ift.tt/2z7avs9