Love this
One day skating with Kilian Martin http://www.kilianmartin.net/
Beautifully shot, awesome location, phenomenal skateboarding skills, superb editing - I could go on.
Samsara - Quick Review
I mentioned Samsara a few weeks ago, after we watched a trailer for it in our weekly creative meeting at work. We managed to get a load of tickets to a screening at the Curzon Soho this week, so off we went!
Click here for info on how to see SAMSARA: http://www.barakasamsara.com/theaters ABOUT SAMSARA: Prepare yourself for an unparalleled sensory experience. SAMSARA reunites director Ron Fricke and producer Mark Magidson, whose award-winning films BARAKA and CHRONOS were acclaimed for combining visual and musical artistry. SAMSARA is a Sanskrit word that means “the ever turning wheel of life” and is the point of departure for the filmmakers as they search for the elusive current of interconnection that runs through our lives. Filmed over a period of almost five years and in twenty-five countries, SAMSARA transports us to sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial sites, and natural wonders. By dispensing with dialogue and descriptive text, SAMSARA subverts our expectations of a traditional documentary, instead encouraging our own inner interpretations inspired by images and music that infuses the ancient with the modern. Expanding on the themes they developed in BARAKA (1992) and CHRONOS (1985), SAMSARA explores the wonders of our world from the mundane to the miraculous, looking into the unfathomable reaches of man’s spirituality and the human experience. Neither a traditional documentary nor a travelogue, SAMSARA takes the form of a nonverbal, guided meditation. Through powerful images, the film illuminates the links between humanity and the rest of nature, showing how our life cycle mirrors the rhythm of the planet.
As you can guess from the trailer, it's a visual feast which predominantly uses montage (made up of highly detailed and lush 70mm footage - with some compositions strongly reminiscent of Andreas Gursky) to create a loose narrative. It works very well with strong use of juxtapositions. Life and death through various factory production lines; cows turning into beef and milk, chickens hoovered up and turned into plastic packs of thighs, electronics being formed by banks of people repeating the same motion over and over, guns and bullets being assembled by the crate load. Then other images of incredible vistas; temples in Asia surrounded by seas of long green grass, windswept deserts (reminiscent of Lean's Arabia) and a hypnotic timelapse of Muslims swarming around the Kaaba.
It's hard to call out any stand out moments as each individual 'scene' has the ability to blow your mind, but outside of the incredible vistas, it was the scene of a performance artist using copious amounts of clay to cover his face which was tonally the most standout - a 'character' piece and very dark. The dance sequence in the prison was captivating, showing male and female prisoners nonchalantly watch their cohabitants dance with verve, passion and joy.
Having Lisa Gerrard working as one of the composers of the soundtrack makes for a formidable accomplice in creating a soundtrack as epic as the images.
In summary, a quite hypnotic film which fills you with wonderful images that you most likely have never seen, nor even aware of. Ultimately it does a sterling job of connecting the dots that inhabit this planet.
Official synposis "Expanding on the themes they developed in Baraka (1992) and Chronos (1985), Samsara explores the wonders of our world from the mundane to the miraculous, looking into the unfathomable reaches of man’s spirituality and the human experience. Neither a traditional documentary nor a travelogue, Samsara takes the form of a nonverbal, guided meditation."
Frasier's Apartment Floor Plan
Love this floor plan of Frasier's apartment, drawn with great detail by nikneuk in deviantART, what a place - dream apartment.
The Making of the Leica M9-P
Just watched this lovely 'making of' film for Leica via @hutchyaaronJust overwhelming craftsmanship on show - with a beautiful end product. This is why Steve Jobs would always refer to a Leica camera as a benchmark of beautiful design, fit and finish.
I love the way it's been shot too - just a series of simple close ups, very unassuming. Just showing in (extreme) detail each and every element coming together. Craftsmanship porn.
Watch the making of the Leica M9-P »Edition Hermès« – Série Limitée Jean-Louis Dumas, introduced in Berlin at the "LEICA - DAS WESENTLICHE" on May 10, 2012. This limited edition is a celebration of the friendship and collaboration between Jean-Louis Dumas, the former president of Hermès, who died in May 2010, and Leica Camera AG.
Everynone - Ball
Great new piece from Everynone, about anything round shaped, or more specifically ball shaped.
Directed by Daniel Mercadante Music: J.S. Bach - "Nun Freut Euch" Performed by: Grigory Sokolov (Most images found via Google Image Search) http://www.everynone.com http://www.danielmercadante.com
I don't know what's more impressive - the feat of researching, collating and editing all the images together so beautifully or the gorgeous sound design, seamlessly moving through all the sonic landscapes that are associated with these shapes.