29 November 2013

'Foodscaper' creates amazing scenes using sweets, fruits and vegetables

At a glance they look like images created by Hollywood CGI wizards – but they’re actually landscapes created entirely from food.

The incredible creations are the work of ‘foodscape’ artist Carl Warner, who makes them using sweets, fruits and vegetables – plus some pins and superglue.

Mr Warner’s scenes include the London skyline – complete with St. Paul’s Cathedral, The London Eye and Tower Bridge – and a mountain range featuring the Chocolate Express.

Yum: The London skyline looks more delicious than ever thanks to Carl Warner's artistry
Yum: The London skyline looks more delicious than ever thanks to Carl Warner's artistry

Appetising: The amazing photographs will be on display as part of a special pop-up exhibition at Ripley's Believe It or Not! In London
Appetising: The amazing photographs will be on display as part of a special pop-up exhibition at Ripley's Believe It or Not! In London

Water creation: This turbulent sea scene was made using cabbages
Water creation: This turbulent sea scene was made using cabbages


The old fashioned steam train rumbles between peaks made entirely from chocolatey treats.

The amazing photographs will be on display as part of a special pop-up exhibition at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! In London.


Visitors with an appetite for his work will also be treated to images of cottages built from candy and seas of smoked salmon and cabbages.

Fishy business: Carl Warner's sea made entirely from fresh salmon
Fishy business: Carl Warner's sea made entirely from fresh salmon 

Green and pleasant land: This landscape features a bridge and trees made from cucumber
Green and pleasant land: This landscape features a bridge and trees made from cucumber


What’s more, one of the scenes will be on display as a model, with the finishing touches applied on Friday at the Piccadilly Circus attraction. 

Called 'Crockerville', it's a village created from over 2,000 cookies and chocolate rocky road that took three weeks to create.

No doubt there will be signs warning the public not to touch – or eat.

The sky's the limit: For this countryside scene Mr Warner used a variety of fruits to make balloons
The sky's the limit: For this countryside scene Mr Warner used a variety of fruits to make balloons 

On the right tracks: Mr Warner's Chocolate Express
On the right tracks: Mr Warner's Chocolate Express

Don't touch or eat: The final stages of construction to Crockerville will take place on Friday November 29 at Ripley's
Don't touch or eat: The final stages of construction to Crockerville will take place on Friday November 29 at Ripley's


Carl Warner will also be meeting visitors to the exhibition and hosting question and answer session about his work at the attraction on 30 November between 2pm and 4pm to inspire wannabe ‘foodscape’ artists and sign copies of his latest book.

Other weird and wonderful exhibits at Ripley’s include a portrait of Kate Middleton made from lipstick kisses, a life-sized, hand-knitted Ferrari and authentic Amazonian shrunken heads.

  • Ripley's Believe It or Not! London is open seven days a week, 365 days a year from 10am until 12 midnight. Visit www.ripleyslondon.com for further information.
Carl Warner will be meeting visitors to the exhibition and hosting question and answer session about his work at the attraction on 30 November
Carl Warner will be meeting visitors to the exhibition and hosting question and answer session about his work at the attraction on 30 November

Sea-ing is believing: This amazing Coralscape features pineapples and eggshells
Sea-ing is believing: This amazing Coralscape features pineapples and eggshells

26 November 2013

Reaping the whirlwind


These astonishing scenes were captured by a man who gave up his day job as a corn plant worker to become a professional storm chaser.

Mike Hollingshead, 37, went after his first storm in 1999 and has been in awe of Mother Nature's most powerful phenomena ever since.

Growing up, he remembers being driven to the top of a hill near his family home so he could watch vicious lightning storms.

Hunting Nature's power: A stunning image of a supercell thunderstorm in York, Nebraska, taken by Mike Hollingshead who has given up his day job to become a storm chaser
Hunting Nature's power: A stunning image of a supercell storm in York, Nebraska, taken by Mike Hollingshead who has given up his day job to become a storm chaser


Menacing: This thunderstorm in Chamberlain, South Dakota, is among a number of scenes captured by Mr Hollingshead since he started chasing storms in 1999
Menacing: This thunderstorm in Chamberlain, South Dakota, is among a number of scenes captured by Mr Hollingshead since he started chasing storms in 1999

Hill City, Kansas: A twister tears through the state in 2005 in this incredible picture by full-time storm chaser Mike Hollingshead
Hill City, Kansas: A twister tears through the state in 2005 in this incredible picture by full-time storm chaser Mike Hollingshead

Burdett, Kansas: Mike went after his first storm in 1999 and has been in awe of mother nature's most powerful phenomena ever since
Burdett, Kansas: Mike went after his first storm in 1999 and has been in awe of mother nature's most powerful phenomena ever since

Mike Hollingshead in front of a mammatus cloud in eastern Nebraska
A tornado in Bradshaw, Nebraska
In awe: Mike Hollingshead, pictured (left) in front of a mammatus cloud in eastern Nebraska has been fascinated by storms and tornadoes ever since he was child



These experiences were not necessarily storm chasing but, along with extreme weather videos and DVDs, helped fuel his love of such phenomena.

The day of his first solo storm chase, in 1999, Mike managed to successfully chase and catch his first tornado and was hooked.
 
By 2004, he had captured so many storms he was ready to make storm chasing his full-time job.

A supercell on Grand Island, Nebraska: Mr Hollingshead lives in an area known as Tornado Alley - a vertical strip down the centre of America where storms are most prevalent
A supercell on Grand Island, Nebraska: Mike lives in an area known as Tornado Alley - a vertical strip down the centre of the U.S. where storms are most prevalent


Lifelong passion: Growing up, Mike remembers being driven to the top of a hill near his family home so he could watch vicious lightning storms
Lifelong passion: Growing up, Mike remembers being driven to the top of a hill near his family home so he could watch vicious lightning storms

Valentine, Nebraska: Mr Hollinghead's early experiences of storms, along with extreme weather videos and DVDs, helped fuel his love of such phenomena
Valentine, Nebraska: Mr Hollinghead's early experiences of storms, along with extreme weather videos and DVDs, helped fuel his love of such phenomena


West Point, Nebraska: Mike managed to successfully catch his a tornado on his first solo storm chase in 1999 and has been hooked ever since
West Point, Nebraska: Mike managed to successfully catch his a tornado on his first solo storm chase in 1999 and has been hooked ever since


Mike currently lives in an area of America known as 'Tornado Alley' - a vertical strip down the center of America where storms are most prevalent.

Across the US, there were 1,037 tornadoes reported in the U.S. in 2012, of which at least 932 have been confirmed.

Mike, from Blair in Nebraska, USA, said: 'I always watched storms from town as a kid, but I didn't set out on my first actual chase until 1999.

Mastering the art: By 2004, he had captured so many storms he was ready to make storm chasing his full-time job
Mastering the art: By 2004, he had captured so many storms he was ready to make storm chasing his full-time job


Bow Echo, Nebraska: Across the US, there were 1,037 tornadoes reported in 2012, of which at least 932 have been confirmed
Bow Echo, Nebraska: Across the US, there were 1,037 tornadoes reported in 2012, of which at least 932 have been confirmed


Alvo, Nebraska: Mike said the 'wild-looking phase' of the storm may only last for around 15 minutes
Alvo, Nebraska: Mike said the 'wild-looking phase' of the storm may only last for around 15 minutes

Praying it will pass: An ominous storm brews on the horizon in Bow Echo in Watertown, South Dakota
Praying it will pass: An ominous storm brews on the horizon in Bow Echo in Watertown, South Dakota

'I got a tornado that first chase and have been hooked since. So often, the crazy-looking type of storms don't last very long. 

'You better be where the storms initiate and then try to stay ahead of them. Sometimes the wild-looking phase may only have been a 15-minute window.

'What I like most about storms is that they are alive. How you can go from invisible moisture that condense as it rises into a storm, then gets spun by the wind shear, into this 50,000-plus foot tall storm.


A mammatus cloud in Aberdeen South Dakota: The term is applied to a pattern of pouches that hang underneath the base of a cloud and is derived from the Latin mamma meaning 'breast'
A mammatus cloud in Aberdeen South Dakota: The term is applied to a pattern of pouches that hang underneath the base of a cloud and is derived from the Latin mamma meaning 'breast'

Sioux City, Nebraska: Mike says he is fascinated by the transformation of invisible moisture that condenses as it rises, then gets spun into a 50,000-plus foot tall storm
Sioux City, Nebraska: Mike says he is fascinated by the transformation of invisible moisture that condenses as it rises, then gets spun into a 50,000-plus foot tall storm

Mr Hollingshead says of storm-chasing: 'If you are punching through a tornadic storm in the rain, it can be extremely stressful'
Mr Hollingshead says of storm-chasing: 'If you are punching through a tornadic storm in the rain, it can be extremely stressful'

'The anticipation is really enjoyable. You leave home that morning for a long drive to where things look like they'll be best later in the day, just wondering what you will have witnessed by the end of the day.

'I've had experiences where I have felt scared. You can be pretty close to a tornado and not feel much of any real danger.

'But if you are punching through a tornadic storm in the rain, it can be extremely stressful.

'You need to pop out ahead of where the tornado would be, not just drive into a rain wrapped tornado.

'With radar on the road via internet you can have a good enough idea how much room you have. Some play that game closer than others.'

Strategy: Mr Hollingshead says you need to 'pop out ahead of where the tornado would be, not just drive into a rain-wrapped tornado'
Strategy: Mr Hollingshead says you need to 'pop out ahead of where the tornado would be, not just drive into a rain-wrapped tornado'

Mr Hollingshead says: 'With radar on the road via internet you can have a good enough idea how much room you have'
Mr Hollingshead says: 'With radar on the road via internet you can have a good enough idea how much room you have'

19 November 2013

Singa jadi simbol status



SEORANG lelaki dikenali sebagai Humaid AlBuQaish duduk di atas bumbung kereta Mercedes sport bersama singa peliharaannya.



ABU DHABI - Seorang pemuda di negara Teluk menyiarkan gambar di laman sosial Instagram yang menunjukkan dia bermain dengan singa di hadapan beberapa buah kereta sport sebagai simbol kemewahannya.

Akaun Instagram tersebut yang setakat ini memiliki lebih 250,000 pengikut menggunakan nama Humaid AlBuQaish.

Lelaki berkenaan kerap memuat naik gambarnya berdampingan dengan beberapa ekor singa dan cheetah.

Setakat ini, masih tidak dapat dipastikan tentang pekerjaan AlBuQaish tetapi dia jelas memiliki kekayaan yang didambakan oleh ramai orang.

Menurut pengurus Taman Hidupan Liar Ras Al-Khaimah di Emiriah Arab Bersatu, Jasim Ali, binatang buas itu kini dianggap sebagai simbol status dalam kalangan golongan kaya di Teluk.

"Seekor singa putih yang jarang didapati dijual pada harga AS$50,000 (RM159,275)

"Jika seseorang itu membeli haiwan yang amat mahal, dia mahu menunjukkan bahawa dia berupaya membeli apa sahaja yang dia mahu di dunia ini," kata Jasim

"Jika dia menjinakkan binatang buas seperti singa, dia mahu seluruh dunia tahu tentang keberanian dan kejantanannya," tambah pengurus tersebut. - Agensi

A whittle goes a long way! Chinese wood art

A Chinese artist has won a place in the Guinness Book of Records after creating the world's longest wooden carving.

Zheng Chunhui, a famous wood carver, spent four years creating the artwork which is over 40ft long and made from a single tree trunk.

The scene is actually a copy of the famous Chinese painting 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival' which was created over 1,000 years ago.

Chinese artist Zheng Chunhui took four years to complete this wood carving which is a copy of a famous painting. It has won the Guinness World Record for the longest wooden carving and measures over 40ft

Chinese artist Zheng Chunhui took four years to complete this wood carving which is a copy of a famous painting. It has won the Guinness World Record for the longest wooden carving and measures over 40ft


The work is actually a copy of the famous Chinese painting 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival' which was produced by Zhang Zeduan during the Song dynasty
The work is actually a copy of the famous Chinese painting 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival' which was produced by Zhang Zeduan during the Song dynasty




Though it has been replicated many times, Chunhui's version, which is made from a single piece of tree trunk, is surely the most spectacular.
The intricate work features boats, bridges, building and even 550 individually carved people.

The piece measures 12.286 meters long, is 3.075 meters tall at it highest point, and is also 2.401 meters wide.

The original painting, referred to as the 'Chinese Mona Lisa' because of its fame, was completed during the Song Dynasty by artist Zhang Zeduan.

The painting, which was originally done on a scroll and designed to be steadily unwound by the viewer, is historically significant because it shows the day-to-day lives of rich and poor people in ancient Chin

The painting, which was originally done on a scroll and designed to be steadily unwound by the viewer, is historically significant because it shows the day-to-day lives of rich and poor people in ancient Chin


The artwork features buildings, boats, bridges and 550 individually carved people who are shown herding animals, carrying cargo shopping in markets and going about their daily business in a snapshot of ancient Chinese life
The artwork features buildings, boats, bridges and 550 individually carved people who are shown herding animals, carrying cargo shopping in markets and going about their daily business in a snapshot of ancient Chinese life


It is painted on a hand scroll and was designed to be looked at by slowly unrolling the paper from right to left, an arm's length at a time, like an ancient comic strip.

It is considered of huge historical importance as it documents the day-to-day lives of Chinese people, both rich and poor, 900 years ago.

Several later versions were created but with scenes added from the Ming and Qing times, in keeping with the Chinese tradition of contemporary artists reworking ancient masterpieces.

While Chunhui's version will be easy to distinguish for obvious reasons, it doesn't add any scenes from modern-day China.

The work was awarded the world record on Thursday last week as part of Guinness World Records Day, set up to commemorate the day the book of records became the best-selling copyright book.

Original has been replicated many times
The original has been replicated many times as China has a cultural tradition whereby contemporary artists replicate old masterpieces while adding images from their own age. Though Chunhui hasn't added anything from modern-day China, his version should be fairly recognisable

Other records broken on the same day included the most hula hoops spun simultaneously, which was broken in the UK, by the ‘Marawa's Majorettes’ dance group, who spun 264 hula hoops between them.

The award for the largest gathering of people dressed as penguins also went to the UK after 325 people dressed up. 

The most swords swallowed underwater went to Australia, while the USA took home the recognition of largest collection of pizza boxes, as Scott Wiener had 595 boxes.

Other categories included the longest basketball shot, which was won by Harlem Globetrotters player Corey Law with a throw of  109 feet 9 inches, along with fastest 100m running on all fours, a most people dressed as ninjas.

The record for most darts caught by one hand in one minute and most upright bottles walked across were, oddly, broken at the same time and by the same person.

Chunhui's carving was unveiled at the Palace Museum in Beijing, the same location as the scroll on which it is based.

DUIT