Peter Brings the Shadow to Life

This video is made up of the skater’s shadow using an unusual perspective with rather effective results at time. I’m gonna remember that.

The title of this video by Joe Pease comes from this essay – yhoo.it/IBn2mK – which contains paragraphs such as, “It is not uncommon for children to play with their shadows or to imagine that they are tangible. However, in order to grow up, children must leave behind this fantasy… no one ever fully grows up. Instead, growing up is a process that continues throughout life.” Of course, it might just be a bunch of shadows. Music by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.

Flash Mobs

As always, big ups to my friend Findlay on finding this clip of a Copenhagen flash mob in action; and in super-classy, no frills style at that.

I love flash mobs. When done right, they can generate nothing but joy for people, be it as a participant or unwitting observer. As Fin had commented, flash mobs should be “…a surprise not sprung on one unsuspecting individual, but a treat for everyone to enjoy.” Hell, even the ones that are done a bit wrong still have a positive effect.

Probably my favourite aspect of them is how the internet has been so instrumental in bringing together these large groups of otherwise strangers to do something in real life that is both out-of-place and wonderful at the same time.

If you’ve not seen it yet, you should probably check out this TED talk by Charlie Todd, creator of Improve Everywhere and one of the first to popularise the concept of flash mobs (the joyful ones).

Edit: Just clicked on that flash mob: it’s like they took this earlier awesome concept and made it more awesome as a flash mob. Nice.

Photographer: Christopher Morris

Christopher Morris

Christopher Morris is an American Photojournalist whose main body of work has concentrated on war; including the US invasion of Iraq, the drug war in Colombia, the Persian Gulf war, the wars in Afghanistan, Somalia, Yugoslavia, and Chechnya.

Since 2000, he has been the official White House Photographer and also works in advertising, fashion and portraits. All awesome. A large collection of his incredible body of work can be found here and even more over at his official website.

Christopher Morris

Christopher Morris

Christopher Morris

Official website

Today’s readings included…

Hanni el Khatib – Fuck it. You win.

One silver lining of being so sick and confined like a leper, has been the opportunity to finally clear up the encroached chaos that is the room I’ve been living in; that and listening to some fine new music.

One fella in particular has had a lot of replay in the last few days is Hanni el Khatib, an LA based singer/songwriter whose influences include (but aren’t limited to) the blues, garage rock, punk and doo-wop; and his debut album Will the Guns Come Out has this great raw edge sound that’s reminiscent of The Black Keys and The White Stripes. Hell, Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys will be producing his second album, so that’s got to count for something.