STUFF: News, Technology, the cool and the plain weird

[MIKA27]

The Man Who First Played Godzilla Has Died 

Haruo Nakajima, the suit actor who played Godzilla from 1954's Godzilla to 1972's Godzilla vs. Gigan, has died. He was 88.

Nakajima started his career playing small bit roles, but his big break was bringing Godzilla to life in its seminal debut. He would go on to play the character for the twelve consecutive films that followed over the next 18 years.

Nakajima said he prepared for the role by studying how elephants walked. "At that time, there was an elephant from India there called Indira and I observed how it walked," he said in 2014. "So Godzilla's style of walking came from an elephant."

While the gig paid well, Nakajima said he didn't initially get the respect he deserved donning the 100 kilogram Godzilla suit. "Back then, people didn't speak positively of suit actors," says Nakajima. "There'd be whispers going around that working inside (a suit) is not an acting job." The character he played is one of the most famous in movie history.

According to Sponichi Annex, Nakajima died yesterday afternoon after contracting pneumonia. May he rest in peace.

[MIKA27]

YAMAHA XSR700 ‘FLYING PHANTOM’ BY ROUGH CRAFTS

Most of the custom motorcycles we see are built upon the whims of the customers who contracted them. And while they can certainly be breathtaking works of art, sometimes we like seeing what the custom bike builders would make if they were creating a bike for themselves. And that’s exactly what we got in the Flying Phantom by Rough Crafts.

Built with the brand’s first production sample of the “FasterXSR” kit they created for Yamaha, this XSR700 is a bike that the builders would happily ride around upon. It derives its name from the pair of Pirelli Phantom Sportscomp tires on which it sits – which are mounted to carbon fiber Rotobox wheels. This badass bike has also been fitted with a CNC billet “8” headlight and a titanium tailpipe – along with Beringer Brakes hand controls; Gears Racing rear shocks; and Motogadget grips, a mirror, and turn signals. Well done yet again, Rough Crafts.

[MIKA27]

‘Loving Vincent’ Official Trailer

Of all of the art created throughout human history, few pieces are as famous or as immediately recognizable as Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh. Considered everything from a martyr or a madman to a genius or a layabout, the man’s work and the legends of his life are pieces of history we should all be aware of. Enter the upcoming film Loving Vincent. Produced by Poland’s BreakThru Films & UK’s Trademark Films, Loving Vincent tells the story of Vincent van Gogh through his works in a way that’s in line with what he said himself in his last letter: “We cannot speak other than by our paintings.” In order to make this possible, the team behind the film shot the entire thing and then brought in 125 professional oil painters that trained in the iconic artist’s style to paint each and every one of the 65,000 frames of the film. Those hand-painted oils were all strung together to create the world’s first oil painted feature film. Loving Vincent premieres in New York City and Los Angeles in late September before expanding to other US markets throughout October and November.

[MIKA27]

NAKED STABLES RESORT

Perched on a hillside at the foot of Moganshan, the Naked Stables Resort mixes luxury design with primitive techniques. The hotel is made up of 121 treehouse villas, constructed from stone masonry, traditional mud walls, and reclaimed timber frames. Surrounded by a bamboo forest, each room is immersed in the natural surrounding with generous glazing and private balconies. Ranging from casual poolside dining to European cuisine, a trio of restaurants serve a variety of fare made with ingredients harvested on-site. Entertainment includes the usual horseback riding, yoga, hiking, biking, golfing, and fishing, as well as some traditional activities like tea picking, bamboo weaving, and pottery — or you can opt to get behind the wheel of a Land Rover and rip through the longest all-terrain driving track in China.

 

 

[MIKA27]

The True Identity of Jack the Ripper May Have Just Been Confirmed

The crimes of Jack the Ripper make up one of the most famous unsolved murder cases of all time. Now, nearly 130 years after those gruesome murders cast a shadow over London, researchers believe they’ve uncovered the identity of their perpetrator.

As the Telegraph reports, the claim is based on evidence from a diary that belonged to a Liverpool cotton salesman named James Maybrick in the late 19th century. In the diary, Maybrick describes killing six women—five in London’s East End where the Ripper's historic murders occurred and one in Manchester. He signed the 9000-word volume: "I give my name that all know of me, so history do tell, what love can do to a gentleman born. Yours Truly, Jack The Ripper."

The final page of the diary was signed 'Yours Truly, Jack The Ripper'

Jack the Ripper researchers have been aware of the document since it was discovered 25 years ago. While most experts have been hesitant to take it seriously, one team, led by Withnail & I writer and director Bruce Robinson, now believes it can prove the diary’s authenticity.

The team was able to trace the book back to Maybrick’s former home in Liverpool, which challenges the idea that the account was forged long after the killing spree took place. Maybrick, an affluent merchant who lived on a estate called Battlecrease House, died in 1889, one year after the last murder attributed definitively to the Ripper.

According to the research team, the diary was recovered from beneath the floorboards of his mansion by a group of electrical workers in 1992. From there it fell into the hands of Mike Barrett, a former scrap metal dealer from Liverpool, who kept the origins of its discovery a secret in order to avoid legal repercussions.

Suspects including H.H. Holmes and a former royal obstetrician have been accused of committing the brutal acts of 1888. The diary, which contains intimate details of the murders, could be the most damning piece of evidence in the century-old murder case if it is indeed authentic.

The transcript of the diary was first published in 1993 by Robert Smith. The follow-up to that discovery, 25 Years of The Diary of Jack the Ripper: The True Facts by Robert Smith, will be released with the new research on September 4.

[MIKA27]

Supreme Leader Snoke's Personal Bodyguards In The Last Jedi Are Ridiculously Badarse

There's always been a kind of high-fashion pageantry associated with Star Wars' oppressive regimes that's simultaneously terrifying and utterly delightful to look at. When The Last Jedi hits theatres later this year, it looks as if Supreme Leader Snoke's going to continue in that tradition with the Praetorian Guard.

Though we've known about Praetorian Guard for some time now, there was quite a bit of uncertainty about what exactly the elite squad might look like on the silver screen. Thanks to the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, we now know a lot more about the guards directly from writer-director Rian Johnson, even beyond how they will be dressed.

Unlike Palpatine's Royal Guards from Return of the Jedi, Johnson explained, the Praetorian Guard was designed with movement and action in mind. While Palpatine's guards sort of just stood there simply looking menacing, Snoke's guards are meant to explicitly let everyone know that they can and will kill you without the the slightest hesitation.

Said Johnson:

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The Emperor's guards were very formal, and you always got the sense that they could fight, but they didn't. They looked like they were more ceremonial, and you never really saw them in action. The Praetorians, my brief to [costume designer] Michael Kaplan was that those guys have to be more like samurai. They have to be built to move, and you have to believe that they could step forward and engage if they have to. They have to seem dangerous.

Also unlike Palpatine's guards, we know that the Praetorian Guard won't all look exactly like one another or use the same weapons. While they're all clad in the same garish shade of Devo-ish red, their armour and weapons are all somewhat different, most likely reflecting different fighting styles and personalities. Johnson went on to say that we can expect to see more of Snoke in the (motion-captured) flesh, but that we shouldn't expect to learn more about him that is necessary to tell the story at hand.

If you were at all a sucker for Episodes I-III's commitment to couture costumes, the Praetorian Guard's outfits are cause for excitement. Not only do they look cool as hell, but they're also a simple, bold expansion to the vast visual culture that's always been integral to the Star Wars franchise.

[MIKA27]

Kayaking Through An Abandoned Shipwreck Is Like Discovering An Ancient Alien Spaceship

Mother Nature has done a good job at dotting the planet with hidden caves and caverns that yield amazing footage once they're discovered. Humans have created similarly spectacular secret locales, albeit accidentally, as this kayaker discovered while paddling through the abandoned MV E Evangelia cargo ship off the coast of Romania.

It's lacking the hanging stalactites you'd find in an ancient cave, but the towering walls of this ship's hull and the massive rusted machinery inside it create an eerily quiet atmosphere that could pass for a deleted scene from Alien. Just make sure to ask for extra tetanus shots before venturing into a rusted wreck like this.

BONUS: Exploring One Of The Largest River Caves In The World

The eerie green glow of the kayak against the Xe Bang Fai river obviously enhances the spooky alien feel but the truth is, the river cave Tham Khoun Xe in Laos really looks like a completely different world. Ryan Deboodt shot his two day kayaking trip through the 6km long cave, showing the heights of the cave (it's over 55m tall) and its unbelievable beauty.

 

[MIKA27]

There's A Freakishly Large Fire Blazing Across Western Greenland

In news that is making the recent US Pacific Northwest bushfires look downright ordinary, scientists have spotted a large bushfire raging across western Greenland, a place better known for its enormous glaciers.

Satellite evidence of a "sizable fire" about 150km northeast of the town of Sisimiut was first detected on July 31, according to NASA's Earth Observatory; on the same day, the fire was reportedly spotted by a passenger plane. Over the next week, NASA-led satellites captured daily images of smoke pouring off the tundra from what appear to be multiple conflagrations. Based on the latest data available on the European Union-based Copernicus Emergency Management Service, the largest of the bushfires seems to have torched several thousand acres.

"There are fires in Greenland, but it's not an African Savannah," Stef Lhermitte, a snow and ice researcher at Delft University of Technology, who recently did a quick analysis of MODIS satellite data on fire activity in Greenland, told Gizmodo. "As far as I can see, the current fire is the biggest one recorded by satellites since 2000. I think it's the biggest on record."

Lhermitte noted that 2017 has been an exceptional year for fire activity in Greenland, with MODIS detecting far more solid evidence for bushfires than in any other year since 2000. (Although fires have been spotted before.)

"There is no evidence that fires have been common in Greenland so a large fire like this is unusual," fire ecologist Merritt Turetsky of the University of Guelph said.

Speaking to Wildfire Today, Miami University scientist Jessica McCarty noted that the fires appear to be "occurring on areas of degraded permafrost". Permafrost — ground that, as its name implies, is permanently frozen — contains vast amounts of dead plant matter that can become highly combustible if it thaws and dries out. In recent years, ecologists have noted an uptick in permafrost fires in Alaska, Canada and Siberia, which have been attributed to land use shifts, human-caused climate change, and upsettingly, humans setting more fires. This is a disturbing trend, seeing as peatland fires can smoulder underground for weeks, releasing boatloads of sequestered carbon into the atmosphere.

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"This fire in Greenland is part of a growing awareness of how important fire is going to be in shaping northern ecosystems under a warming climate."

While it isn't clear what triggered the Greenland fires, Lhermitte pointed to lightning as a likely ignition source. "There's a second fire 50 kilometers south [of the largest one] which is much smaller, and started on the same day," he said. "Based on that I would assume it may be lightning but it's difficult to say."

Fair weather seems to be helping the fires sustain themselves. Ice sheet researcher Jason Box of the Geologic Survey of Denmark and Greenland told Climate Central that while fires in Greenland's tundra are rare, temperatures spiked to an unusually balmy 12C days before the bushfires were first noted. "It's been dry as well," Lhermitte added. "Basically that creates the potential for the fire to start spreading."

As for whether these fires are a sign of what's to come in our hotter future, as Greenland's ice sheets and permafrost continue to melt, it's a bit early to say given how little data we have, but it's a troubling possibility. Globally, bushfire seasons have become longer and more intense in recent years, and although the causes are complex, fire ecologists say climate change is playing a role.

"This fire in Greenland is part of a growing awareness of how important fire is going to be in shaping northern ecosystems under a warming climate," Turetsky said. "Boreal forest fires are on the rise, sending char and black carbon to the arctic that melts snow and ice. And arctic systems themselves are burning, seemingly more often than they have in the past."

As for what happens now, Turetsky noted that the burning of vegetation and surface peat in western Greenland will cause the ground to continue to thaw. "On the other hand, we know that arctic vegetation is very resilient to disturbance like fire. So it is likely that the area burning now will be quite green and productive again as soon as next summer." 

A news report from the Greenland Broadcasting Association on August 4 noted that hiking and hunting closures were in effect for areas around Nassuttooq and Amitsorsuaq. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, but fire suppression measures had not been taken as of yesterday.

 

[MIKA27]

Sideshow Unveils Gotham City Nightmare Collection

Sideshow Collectibles, home of some of the coolest comic and pop culture related merchandise, is branching out a bit into some unique designs for some very well known characters. The company has debuted a new collection called Gotham City Nightmare with the idea of what if you take character from the Batman comics and filter them through the Scarecrow’s fear gas? What would it look like? In other words, the creators and designers at Sideshow basically got set loose on some of DC’s most popular characters with carte blanche to create horror versions… and we get to see the first two results in the video below… Batman and the Joker.

The video goes into a lot of details on how the characters were designed, from taking the basic look of Batman and playing with the concept of the bat and the vampire aspect until you end up with a nightmarish version with two different heads, one that is a bit more human while the other is definitely not. And with the Joker, the designers decided to play with his insanity and pulling together as many elements of the character as possible… and again it comes with two faces with one pushing the absolute limits of horror.

If this doesn’t lead to a line of comics, then someone at DC is sleeping on the job.

 

[Fuzz]

35 minutes ago, MIKA27 said:

Supreme Leader Snoke's Personal Bodyguards In The Last Jedi Are Ridiculously Badarse

WTF?! The Praetorian Guard practice Anbo Jyutsu?!?!

3 minutes ago, MIKA27 said:

Sideshow Unveils Gotham City Nightmare Collection

 

Before you even ask, no Mika, I will not be buying these!

I'm not a huge DC fan, though, I do have Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Catwoman, Batgirl, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and Power Girl statues from Sideshow.

[MIKA27]

Mummified Head of ‘Polar Princess’ Found in Siberia

While Egypt dominated the mummy world for decades, the land of the pharaohs has a new challenger for the title of world’s hottest mummy hotbed: Siberia. Make that coldest mummy hotbed. Coldbed. Anyway, the arctic tundras of Russia’s far north have become the target of mummy excavations in recent years as climate change is causing the once-frozen grounds to thaw and reveal their ancient secrets. This year has been a particularly active one for ancient Siberian archaeology, with several finds implying the existence of unknown ancient Siberian civilizations which might have been more advanced than we once thought. Just recently, a strange set of mummies were found in a mass grave, two of which were mysteriously bound in copper bands. Now, further excavations of that site has revealed the startling find of a 12th-century female mummy which has researchers baffled and questioning how much we actually know about these ancient Siberian cultures.

The Siberian Times reported the find of the unique mummy archaeologists have dubbed the “polar princess.” The 12th-century mummy is actually just a near-perfectly preserved head which researchers believe belonged to a 35-year old woman. The head was found in a mass grave alongside dozens of male remains and is the only female to be found at the site. Impressively, the woman’s head still sports long, lush eyelashes, a whole set of teeth, and a full head of hair.

Archaeologist Alexander Gusev from Russia’s Arctic Research Center is one of the researchers analyzing the groundbreaking find. Gusev told The Siberian Times that the head represents the first known woman found at the site, forcing his team to revisit their conceptions of the site:

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There are some badly preserved bones, which do not allow us to determine the gender, but we clearly see from the face that she was a woman. This radically changes our concept about this graveyard. Previously we thought that there were only adult men and children, but now we have a woman. It’s amazing.

Some of the researchers believe the woman might have been socially important somehow, given that she’s the only female found at the site. Furthermore, most of the male remains had their skulls smashed after death; the fact that the woman’s head was left intact might imply she was buried with a level reverence not given to the male inhabitants of the gravesite.

Samples of the polar princess’ brain tissue are being sent off for DNA analysis in an attempt to pin down her ancient ethnic heritage.

[MIKA27]

HOW NOT TO GET ARRESTED OR SHOT IN BRAZIL

Brazil has been in the global spotlight in recent years. Hundreds of thousands of visitors descended upon the nation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and again in 2016 for the Summer Olympics – not to mention the near-million who arrive each year to celebrate Carnival.

Yet despite its popularity with sports fans, beach bums, and adventurers bravely tackling the Amazon, a cloud hangs over tourism in Brazil. Cautious travellers point to stories – like the recent news of a British woman who was shot when she strayed into a favela – that paint the country as violent and unsafe.

Is this paradise doomed to be marred by its dark side?

Not if we have anything to say about it. Though Brazil’s reputation is not entirely undeserved, it’s often overblown. Refuse to let fear overshadow your stay, and as long as you take the precautions laid out below, your trip should be unforgettable for all the right reasons.

DON’T BRING THE BLING

Theft is the biggest problem for foreigners visiting Brazil, but avoiding it is largely a matter of common sense. Don’t flaunt your wealth. Flashing your money or valuables makes you a target for pickpocketing. Don’t leave luggage, shopping, or other personal items unattended (including and especially if you’re on the beach).

Lock the bulk of your money and important documents away in a safe place at your accommodations. Only carry what you need for that day, and if you must have official paperwork with you, take photocopies instead of originals. Don’t wear pricey watches or jewellery, or carry expensive technology. Consider this one of the few times we’ll advocate rocking a downmarket look.

LEARN THE MOST COMMON DANGERS

Brazilian crime stats aren’t exactly light reading, so we’ll give you the gist. Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Recife, and Salvador are the cities most known for having high crime rates. The number tends to spike when the number of tourists peaks, meaning Carnival and other festive periods. Copacabana Beach, Ipanema Beach, and Corcovado Mountain are amongst the most popular sites for thefts and muggings.

Do not visit the beaches at night, much as you will be tempted to take a soothing evening stroll. Likewise steer clear of empty, dimly lit streets after dark. When you’re out, make eye contact with everyone in your vicinity so you appear aware of your surroundings and don’t look like a target. Be wary of attempts to distract your attention any time you’re in public, and be particularly mindful when withdrawing money.

CHOOSE TRANSPORTATION WISELY

Stick to taxis whenever possible. They are faster and safer than buses, which are targets for hijacking and robbery, and are known to crash with discouraging frequency. Only use licensed taxis found at official stands on the street, called by hotels and restaurants, or booked at agency desks in airports. The metro systems in Rio and São Paulo are also generally a safer choice than buses.

DON’T BE A HERO

Should the worst happen, remain calm and keep your wits about you. Don’t resist, try to fight, or otherwise antagonise a thief who has a gun or knife. A brochure of World Cup safety tips compiled by the São Paulo police even advised visitors not to scream in the event of a robbery. Just hand over your things and remember that while losing your iPhone is bad, a trip to the emergency room is worse.

ONLY VISIT FAVELAS ON REPUTABLE TOURS

There’s a fine line between poverty and wealth in Brazil. Walk five minutes beyond a block of million-dollar apartments and you may find yourself in the streets of a slum run by drug lords. Brazilian favelas are known as some of the most violent and poverty-stricken places in the world today – yet some visitors still insist on adding them to their itineraries, citing it as an important cultural experience (others slam it as unethical slum tourism). If you just can’t help yourself, make sure you go with an expert guide from a major tour operator. Never attempt to visit a favela alone.

NEVER OFFER A BRIBE

Trying to bribe your way out of a police entanglement may sound like a smooth move, but it carries a high likelihood of backfiring. An honest officer will be insulted that you offered and you could wind up in even more trouble. A cop who’s on the take will probably be forthcoming about asking for “tip”, but even if you do get away with it, they’ll drain you for as much as they possibly can.

 

[MIKA27]

THE WORLD’S LONGEST SUSPENSION BRIDGE WILL GIVE YOU NIGHTMARES

A hike in the Swiss Alps is guaranteed to be an awesome experience in the true, un-Americanised sense of the word. Now, hikers trekking between Grächen and Zermatt have a chance to make the journey even more awe-inspiring – provided they’re willing to brave the world’s longest suspension bridge.

Warning: if you’re afraid of heights, this is not the post for you.

The newly opened Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge spans an incredible 1,621 feet and rises as high as 279 feet over Switzerland’s deepest valley, officially earning it the title of longest pedestrian suspension bridge on the planet. It connects the popular ski resorts of Zermatt and Grächen via the Europaweg hiking trail, turning a three- to four-hour trip through the valley into a scant 10 minute walk.

The new bridge is a sky-high solution to the threat of falling rocks, which destroyed its predecessor just two months after it was completed. The upside is that hikers receive unparalleled views of the Matterhorn, Weisshorn, Bernese Alps, and Grabengufer Valley. The downside is that the bridge’s deck is only about two feet wide, requiring adventurers to walk single-file only, and is made of metal grates that make it possible to peer at certain death in the abyss below.

“How often do you get the chance to cross a real world record suspension bridge?” said Daniel Luggen, director of Zermatt Tourism, at the bridge’s inauguration on July 29. “The thrill experienced high over the precipice is indescribable.”

“Thrill” is one word for it. “Mind-numbing terror followed by soiling oneself” might be more accurate.

 

[MIKA27]

Frank Miller Talks ‘Dark Knight Returns’, His Western ‘Sin City’ Prequel, and Goes Comic Book Shopping

In a new episode of Comic Book Shopping, we’re joined by legendary comics creator Frank Miller. He talks about his career, the inspiration behind his work, and his thoughts on modern superhero movies. He also discuss adaptations of his own work and teases future projects, including a Western Sin City prequel. If you like comics and celebrity interviews, this is your show. Each week we’re joined by a new guest who hits up a local comic book shop with host Jon Schnepp and peruses the wares while also discussing their career, upcoming projects, and of course their favorite comic books.

In this week’s episode, Miller joins Schnepp at Meltdown Comics. He talks about how he first came to love comic books, the inspiration behind Ronin, how The Dark Knight Returns came about and what his original idea for the story was, as well as the impact of that comic on the industry and comics fans. Miller also talks about forging his own original characters with Sin City and his collaboration with Robert Rodriguez on the movies, as well as other adaptations of his work that he’s not involved with like Netflix’s Daredevil and the inclusion of Elektra.

Miller also teases future projects, saying he has more historical work along the lines of 300 coming up, and give his thoughts on the current superhero movies, singling out Wonder Woman and Spider-Man: Homecoming as some of his recent favorites. Miller and Schnepp also, of course, go perusing the aisles of the store and pick up some comics.

[MIKA27]

THE DALMORE 40 YEAR-OLD WHISKY

From the renowned Master Distiller himself, Richard Paterson, and The Dalmore comes a new expression from the iconic distillery. It’s a 40-year scotch that’s been matured in American white oak ex-bourbon casks, later transferred into 30-year-old Gonzalez Byass Matsualem oloroso sherry butts, and finished in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels.

From here, each one of 750 bottles slated for release is to be housed in an elegant Baccarat decanter for an opulent display. Additionally – and this is coming straight from “The Nose” himself – the whisky is said to boast aromas of Columbian coffee and marmalade in congruence with a palate of gingerbread and honey followed by blood oranges, apples, and licorice sticks. Sounds delectable indeed. And with a price tag of over $7,800, it better be.

[MIKA27]

CAPTURING THE GHOSTS OF THE ARCTIC WITH ABRAHAM JOFFE

The stunning passion project “Ghosts of the Arctic” follows wildlife photographer Joshua Holko through the glacial, white expanse of a -20 degree temperate. Joffe recalls the chilling days spent in search of the polar bears, driving “over two hundred kilometres on snowmobiles in very difficult terrain.”

National Geographic talks in depth to Abraham Joffe about the realities of working such climates, his inspirations, fears and how to document the Arctic wildlife.

WHY DO YOU CHOOSE TO FILM IN EXTREME COLD? WHAT DO YOU FIND SO SPECIAL OR UNIQUE ABOUT IT?
I’ve always been drawn to places that are hard to get to or get little visitors. The Polar Regions fit that criteria perhaps like nowhere else. The first time I visited Greenland and saw the ship we were on pass icebergs as long as 5 city blocks - I was hooked. These unique places make you feel like you are on another planet. I think the cold is just something that comes with the experience. It certainly makes the filmmaking much more challenging - but it’s all part of the adventure.

WOULD YOU SAY FILMING IN THE ARCTIC IS DIFFERENT TO WORKING IN OTHER CLIMATES, IN REGARDS TO TECHNIQUE?
The cold certainly pushes your body and your equipment to the extreme. Our bodies are not designed to last very long in these temps, so of course, your clothing has to be up to the job. This means you wear cumbersome tops and bottoms, gloves, and in the winter time like we were in - several layers of headgear and goggles. All this clothing limits your mobility - which makes pulling off dynamic camera moves a challenge. Then you have the effects on your equipment. I don’t think there is any camera manufacturer who rates their products to work in -20C to -30C! We had multiple camera failures whilst filming Ghosts of the Arctic. The Liquid Crystal displays either ghosted or blacked out, batteries would freeze up, and even parts of our cameras actually shattered. We found the best way to mitigate the damage was to tape hand warmers to much of the gear and keep things wrapped up until the moment you needed to use them.

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO PHOTOGRAPH IN THE ARCTIC?
While most people do travel there in the Summer months when the access to more of the coastline is possible via ship, we were very much drawn to film there in winter. The freezing temperatures provided us a landscape that was snow covered, and when the fjords were frozen over. This allowed us to embark on huge distance snowmobile runs to find and hopefully photograph the polar bear.

WHAT DREW YOU TO THE POLAR BEAR?
Polar bears are considered a marine mammal which I find really interesting. They are magnificent and powerful animals - the world’s largest land predator. They are simply beautiful and incredible creatures and it’s so special to be able to encounter them in the wild. Some estimates put their numbers today to around 18,000 individuals. This is a small number than the remaining Rhinos in Africa, yet the Polar Bear gets less international attention. My hope is that the work we do can draw more attention to their plight.

WERE YOU AT ALL SCARED OF THE POLAR BEARS?
We had the help of an experienced local guide, who by law had to be armed during our journey. His experience meant that we never crossed the line in terms of getting too close. There is a safe “flight distance” required when working with any animal in the wild - which means the closest you can be and still retreat safely if the animal decides to rush at you. You see antelope in Africa employ the same survival instincts in Africa. So no, we were never scared, but hugely respectful.

WHAT IS, IN YOUR EYES, THE BEST SHOT YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?
As a wildlife cinematographer, I am always searching for that moment when something truly remarkable occurs. Capturing rare animal behaviour, with the right camera and lens, and in the right light is what any camera man will tell you is the ultimate goal. I’ve been fortunate to have had several occasions when the stars align and everything comes together.  One land-based moment was recently in Kenya when I filmed a cheetah engage in a 7 minute battle with a large male impala. Cheetah kills are often over in a blink of an eye, so when a protracted fight happens it’s pretty unusual. The sequence is out of this world. An underwater such moment happened for me last year whilst filming Humpbacks in Tonga - I dived down and swam through what is known as a “heat run”. This is where up to a dozen or more male whales will be chasing a female across the ocean. This particular heat run was made that much more spectacular as it occurred in very shallow water. It is moments like this when you swim past and look into a whale's’ eye when the whole world seems to stop. It’s like nothing else!

DO YOU FIND IT EASIER TO WORK IN A TEAM, OR WORK SOLO?
Film making at its best is a collaborative venture. Sure it’s possible to shoot alone, but when you have the support and skills around you of a small team, the results can be far greater. We have been recently filming a series on the big cats in East Africa where we have 6 camera operators in the field at once. This enables me to have incredible coverage on more than one species of cat at one time. We will also utilize the power of drones, and other mobile cameras which all extra experience to operate. Like many pursuits in life, it’s about surrounding yourself with the right people.

IS A GREAT PHOTO DEPENDANT ON THE QUALITY OF THE CAMERA OR IS IT THE WORK OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER, CAN THE SAME PHOTO BE TAKEN WITH ANY KIND OF CAMERA?
Well, they do say that a camera is only as good as the person holding it! But I think you want both, you want to acquire the skills to produce the best footage you can, whilst operating the highest quality recording device you can afford. I never stop buying new gear!

ABE, YOU ADOPTED 4K QUITE EARLY, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGE OF 4K?
Higher resolution shooting, whether that be 4K, 6K or even 8K offers a lot of flexibility to a filmmaker. Firstly you can record incredibly sharp images, for example, 8K offers each frame at a 32-megapixel photograph resolution. This high resolution enables adjustment in post-production, to be able to crop, adjust horizons and framing. This was not possible before this level of quality was available. But for me, a great camera is not all about resolution. Dynamic range - ability of the camera to resolve detail between the darkest and brightest part of the image, and Bitrate - the amount of data used to capture the images, is perhaps even more important than resolution. At the end of the day, a filmmaker wants the most visually striking and true images recorded.

AND DO YOU, OR HAVE YOU USED 360, VR OR DRONES IN YOUR WORK? IF SO, DO YOU LIKE WORKING WITH THEM?
I have dabbled in 360 and VR, but I must say my love lies squarely on the power of drones! I was completely hooked as soon as I saw my first aerial footage taken by a friend using a home-built hexacopter. I since have learnt the skills to be able to fly them myself, and we have never looked back. Drones offer a freedom and visual that we could only dream of a few years ago.

LASTLY, IN YOUR TRAVELS HOW HAVE YOU NOTICED CLIMATE CHANGE PHYSICALLY CHANGING THE ENVIRONMENT?
Having travelled and filmed in over 40 countries, I have been in a position perhaps more than most to see the effects that climate change is having on our planet. From the droughts and famine ravaging East Africa to the retreating glaciers in Greenland, the changes are evident in all corners. I am actually heading back to Greenland this September to document the current ice retreat, which is now being seen rates much worse than scientist predicted. I feel very strongly now to use whatever visual skills I have to help shine a big light on what is happening. People care about what they know, and the first step in knowing - is seeing. We have one very special planet, with “one” being the operative word.

 

[GrouchoMarx]

-20C?

That's about average here in Ottawa during the winter.

Call me when its -40.

[MIKA27]

13 hours ago, GrouchoMarx said:

-20C?

That's about average here in Ottawa during the winter.

Call me when its -40.

Really? I'm confused.... Looking at some references, it doesn't seem to get near -20C let alone -40 

Ottawa, Ontario Average Temperatures Chart

[MIKA27]

Justice League Has A New Batplane, And Holy Aeronautics, Batman! It's Huge

For a man the trailers have consistently pointed out usually works alone, Batman sure does have a giant plane to put his nonexistent friends in.

This new plane is called the Flying Fox, a name that caused some confusion before one colleague dredged up a memory that the Flying Fox is a type of bat. How esoteric, yet still thematically appropriate of you, Bruce. And, as befits the size of this thing, Wikipedia informs us that "The large flying fox is among the largest species of bat". Well played, again.

Just how big is this thing? Well, production designer Patrick Tatopoulos told EW that "You can put three Batmobiles in the lower part of it". The bottom of the plane is the cargo deck — presumably for the three Batmobiles — while there's a "cultural center" with computers on the second floor and cockpit on the third. It's also apparently some sort of panopticon, since Tatopoulos added, "Whatever floor you are on, you can see [the other] two stories."

You know, for any other superhero, you might laugh at the absurdity. But part of Batman's schtick is how truly insanely prepared he is for every possible event. I bet he has a dozen of these, just in case.

[MIKA27]

NASA's Curiosity Rover Captures Haunting Images Of Clouds On Mars 

Last month, NASA's Curiosity rover captured some of the most remarkable images of Martian clouds we've ever seen. Now rare, these Earth-like cirrus clouds are a glimpse into the Red Planet's distant past.

On July 17, NASA's Curiosity rover pointed its NavCam straight up into the Martian sky and snapped eight photos of wispy clouds as they wafted by overhead. The probe then lowered its camera, and took another eight images of ice-crystal clouds moving along the southern horizon, with a pair of hills visible in the foreground. A third set of photos, taken later in the day, yielded no clouds.

The clouds are "the most clearly visible so far" from Curiosity, claims NASA, and they were taken about five degrees south of the Martian equator. Charissa Campbell, a Curiosity science-team member from York University in Toronto, enhanced the image sequences in order to emphasise the frame-to-frame changes.

"It is likely that the clouds are composed of crystals of water ice that condense out onto dust grains where it is cold in the atmosphere," explained John Moores, also from York, in a statement. "The wisps are created as those crystals fall and evaporate in patterns known as 'fall streaks' or 'mare's tails'. While the rover does not have a way to ascertain the altitude of these clouds, on Earth such clouds form at high altitude."

Clouds such as this are rare on Mars today. But billions of years ago, the Martian climate was likely warm enough to allow for substantial liquid flow on the surface, for extended periods of time. Last year, researchers from the Carl Sagan Institute proposed that cirrus clouds may have provided the necessary insulation for liquid water to flow on the surface of ancient Mars some 3.2 billion years ago, suggesting they could have once been a prominent feature on the Red Planet. Their models proposed that, under the right circumstances, the clouds in the early Martian atmosphere could hang around about four to five times longer than they do on Earth.

But those days are long past, and Mars is now a frigid desert. But at least we have Curiosity on the scene to remind us what conditions may have been like a long time ago.

[MIKA27]

This Abandoned CIA Aircraft Might Be The Most Unique Bar On Earth

Nestled in the jungle of Costa Rica, El Avion is an American C-123 Fairchild military airplane that now houses a quirky bar and restaurant.

The plane is a military craft from the Cold War which was bought during the Iran-Contra Affair, a famous scandal in American history. The C-123 was eventually abandoned at an air strip in San José and later purchased in 2000 when it was shipped to its current cliff-side resting place.

"Now, our C-123 has been retired to less risqué endeavors as a restaurant, bar and an enduring Cold War relic," writes El Avion's owners. "Join us for food under its wings, drinks in the fuselage pub or climb into the cockpit!"

The two-story bar is well known for their fresh seafood dishes. Expect classics like fried calamari, coconut shrimp, and exotic tropical cocktails. Learn more from their website.

[MIKA27]

‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ Character Details Revealed for Benicio Del Toro’s DJ

When Vanity Fair unveiled its Annie Leibovitz shots from Star Wars: The Last Jedi earlier this year, fans were mostly curious to see the new characters from the movie. Benicio Del Toro was a major addition to the Last Jedi ensemble, but at that point we knew absolutely nothing about who he might be playing. That photo shoot revealed that Del Toro would be playing a character named “DJ”, described as an enigmatic figure whose “tattered, threadbare clothes and lackadaisical attitude conceal a sharp mind and expert skills.” Intriguing, but still enigmatic.

As part of EW’s new Last Jedi cover story we learn a bit more about DJ, but not much. He’s involved in the mission that brings John Boyega’s Finn and Kelly Marie Tran’s Rose to the gambling resort city of Canto Bight, and as Boyega reveals, DJ essentially plays a war profiteer:

Quote

“We just need a codebreaker and he’s the best in the galaxy. Unfortunately, he’s very dodgy and only in it for financial gain. He doesn’t fight for any side.. He has distinct opinions. The Resistance bombs the First Order one day, the First Order bombs the Resistance on another. It’s an ongoing war that will never end. For him, he’s trying to benefit off of that — which doesn’t make him the person you want to trust.”

So there you have it. Del Toro isn’t playing a new Sith baddie or a Resistance fighter, he’s a gray-area rogue with a focus on technology over mythology or mysticism. That makes him a fascinating addition to the ensemble, especially in the shadow of Han Solo’s death, and it’ll be curious to see how he fits into the story over all.

Check out a new image of Canto Bight below, via EW.

 

 

[MIKA27]

Get Paid to Drink Whisky and Travel the World

Grant’s Whisky is looking for a global brand ambassador, which is a fancy way of saying they’re looking for someone who will travel the world convincing people to drink their whisky. Which means the traveler is also going to be drinking a lot of whisky. The application process has three parts, the first of which is easy. Simply make a three ingredient cocktail that uses Grant’s whisky and post a picture of it with the recipe on Instagram or Facebook. The second part is a whisky mixer in Speyside, Scotland, where the distillery’s 20 favorite applicants will come and bump elbows with Grant’s higher ups. If you make it through that, you’ll be sent off on one of three separate global treks involving three different destinations to help the company plan events and sell whisky. Each of the destinations will net you a suitcase of Grant’s, so even if you don’t get the job, you’re going home with one hell of a souvenir.

[MIKA27]

Nothing Left Behind: Burning Man

Anders Overgaard is a Danish born photographer and director who’s worked with everyone from GQ and Vogue to Nautica and BMW. He recently turned his considerable talents towards Black Rock Desert and the iconic Burning Man festival to create this fantastic coffee table book Nothing Left Behind: Burning Man. The tome is filled with better images of the festival than anything you’ve seen on the Internet woven together into a narrative about the all the intersecting themes of the festival with the use of stories and quotes from Diddy, Frederik Bockhahn, D.J Pierce, Maor Cohen and even Overgaard himself. As Overgaard tells it, “It was a photo dream: a scenery that played out for my eyes – with beautiful people in extraordinary outfits.” The release of Nothing Left Behind coincides with a gallery exhibition at the Jason McCoy Gallery in New York City at the end of September.

[MIKA27]

Adidas EQT Cushion ADV

Adidas have officially revealead the EQT Cushion ADV and its refreshed design. Inspired by the original EQT Cushion model from 1991, the new sneaker is designed with comfort as the number one priority. The runner inspired, streetwear tailored sneaker features a premium knit upper with nubuck quarter panels, welded suede on the toe, TPU lace ghilly and heel cap, and a nubuck heel patch, with signature EQT molded details showing the Three Stripes mark and reflective yarn. Release is scheduled for August 12th and will be available in three colorways.