WISHING YOO

(via bibliodyssey)

The Best of 200876543210

Lots of stuff happened this year. It’s been a great year. History will never forget this year for all the great stuff that happened.

To commemorate the wonderfulness that is this year, here’s the best things of this year (but not necessarily made this year. it’s just that I liked them this year, or right now, at this moment on the day before 2009)-

In we go!

BibliOdyssey

There are many .blogspot.coms in the world, but few can rival this one. The BibliOdyssey retreives eclectic historic science and art images from rare books and prints, and posts them online for the world to see.

What an absolute gem of a blog. Reading every post is like diving into random aisles of an old and forgotten library (sans dust and sneezing episodes). It’s flabberghasting, and sometimes overwhelming, how good the material is.

Descriptions are informative, and the pictures are on a different level. A few of my favourite posts from late 2008-

River Deep Mountain High

Fencing School

Military Caricatures

Beatrix Potter Rarities

The World’s Xmas Gift to Andy Chung

Clicking on images often rewards you high resolutionally.

And there is a Bibliodyssey book! Lovely lovely lovely.

Apparently the blog has been around since 2005 and possibly before, excuse my tardiness.

Manhattan Bridge, 1909

The Manhattan Bridge while under construction in 1909.

Check out the high res. Details are beautiful…

(via stuartkennedy)

Taj Mihelich in Happy Days

Damn excellent.

(via thecomeup via krtschmidt)

Polaroid SX-70 Ad

A video designed and created by Charles and Ray Eames to introduce the SX-70 camera in 1972.

According to a comment on Youtube, this was a special film commissioned for the introduction of the product at the Polaroid shareholder’s meeting. It was also used at dealer meetings and employee meetings, was distributed on 16mm film, and was possibly made available to camera clubs.

Whatever it is, the video is brilliant. A few observations:

1. Japanese guy took the best photo out of the obvious array of ethnic groups.

2. I was in utter shock watching a person tear through polaroid film like at 2:40.

3. Photos in the video are bloody good, and video production is incredible. Music is a bit scary at times though. Foreshadowing?

4. If Stu had a time machine, he would teleport himself back to 1972 and stockpile SX-70 film. Then he would hide his stash in a bunker in the Prairies, teleport Atomic Steve back in time, and with his expertise go all survivalist ’till 2008.

5. This video makes me genuinely sad to see Polaroid die.

(via lensculture)

Bars&Tones Fight Back

(via brianpark)

Emo Philips

(via thenewsheltonwet/dry)

In the UK | Twitter | ffffound | the gif to end all gifs

Am in Britain on an unexpected visit. This being the UK I was somehow hoping to find a copy of Brighton Aint Ready in every store (including the local fish ‘n chip shop), but obviously this is not the case. Wish the video was available as a purchasable download like the Props videos are.

Anyhowoo, Andy Chung somehow convinced me to get a twitter so now I can twitter to the world like an annoying bird. Will probably throw up many random links on there constantly.

Have also been updating my ffffound a lot. ilovethepixelsmuch!!

Speaking of pixels, here is a GIF (nsfw) which not only contains a masterful display of chimping, but also summarizes the culture of digital photography beautifully.

Blackbird

If you are looking for a (very) last-minute Christmas present, check out Blackbird’s online store for gift ideas from a friendly staff with impeccable taste. They also seem to be shipping on christmas day itself, which is a bonus. 

Also, check out their excellent blog, and if you ever get the chance, visit their store in Seattle. It is a fantastic experience.