- “Footprint,” a time-lapse illustrating the decomposition of an aluminum soda can over fifty years. Great CGI. Kind of horrifying.
- “How to kill a chocolate bunny,” literally horrifying. There’s a shot halfway through with the chocolate bunny backlit by the heat lamp which blows my mind. Pink cacti, also.
- “The Hyena and Other Men,” a photoset by Pieter Hugo out of Nigeria which can’t help evoking some conflicted emotions. There is power here which still photography rarely captures, the sort that left me keyed up and shaking a little. Nick and I agreed that if we maintained any kind of alpha-male bachelor sanctuary, you’d see an enormous Hugo print as you walked through the door. My pick:
6 Comments
Michael K.
December 7, 2007 - 12:06 am -Love that Hyena and Other Men photo set. Particularly like the way that the animals constitute completely different sets of character in their respective owners. How can you not read the men with hyenas as being, as you say, alpha-male type domineers and the men with the monkeys being companion-type outsiders?
Can you buy these? Cause I want one and I’m willing to pay $$. Ok, maybe just $.
Mike C.
December 10, 2007 - 8:51 am -I have some problems with the footprint video.
The main issue is that though artistically well done it is a horribly inaccurate description of how an aluminum can decomposes. What made me want to scream while watching the video is when the aluminum can began to rust. Aluminum can’t rust since rust is iron oxide. It can oxidize though (which is grey to black in color not red) and create aluminiun oxide. Also “Aluminium oxide is responsible for metallic aluminium’s resistance to weathering. Metallic aluminium is very reactive with atmospheric oxygen, and a thin passivation layer of alumina quickly forms on any exposed aluminium surface. This layer protects the metal from further oxidation.” (wikipedia)
If he instead used a tin can which is made of steel coated with a layer of tin, then this would be more accurate depiction.
dan
December 10, 2007 - 10:49 pm -Damn. I’m crushed. Not gonna watch it the same again. I’ll try to reiterate your points to my class the next go-around. They deserve to know.
Johan
August 5, 2008 - 3:14 am -This is what I call epiphany: I just realised the chocoolate bunny video will be a perfect way to introduce the types of heat transfer in my physics class :)
Phase change is lacking, but conduction, radiation and convection are spot on.
Johan
August 5, 2008 - 3:19 am -Ok, convection isn’t shown explicitly – but hot air is moving and that’s enough for me:) We can always discuss more in class, but as an opener that video is a (bunny) _killer_.
dan
August 5, 2008 - 5:13 pm -@Johan, awesome, you have my full support. I’ve gotta pull your comment to the main floor.