Tag: creatures

Katerina Plotnikova

July 1st, 2014

Katerina Plotnikova has an awe inspiring collection of nature photographs that show a profound connection between man and the animal kingdom.

I believe this work is done under the supervision of qualified animal trainers, but is entirely real and involves very minimal retouching in post production. While I do love some amazing modern surrealist photographers, there is something raw and stirring about the relative lack of digital manipulation.

Animals can be such a beautiful healing force (during my long hospital stays this past year, I was happy to see animal therapy becoming mainstream). I look forward to returning home to NY when more medically stable, so I can be around cats again…and my loved ones can laugh at the absurd languages and songs I inevitably invent the moment I’m put near fuzzy things.

Katerina Plotnikova
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Justin Gershenson-Gates

June 30th, 2014

My lovely friend Lynn introduced me to the work of Justin Gershenson-Gates; amazing insects, arachnids and pendants made of recycled watch parts.

He states: The grandson of a railroad man, the son of a gearhead, my life has been filled with all things mechanical. As a child, I would take my toys apart in order to see how they worked, but was never able to put them back together again. Now, I take dead old watches from the top drawers of the world, and rearrange their bits and widgets into whimsical designs.

My aim is to show the beauty of the mechanical world, a place generally hidden from the public behind metal and glass. My pieces display the more delicate and ephemeral side of gears, rather than the cold, hard factory feel they normally portray.

I think he succeeds at that aim, don’t you?

This pendant is absolute genius. Look at the delicate detail on the hand! It’s perfectly constructed.

Justin Gershenson-Gates
Pygmy Seahorses

June 10th, 2014

If you view just one pygmy seahorse image-heavy post today (and you were planning to, right?), I recommend this one.

These incredible creatures live in the western central Pacific Ocean (known as the Coral Triangle region of southeast Asia) and rarely grow larger than 2 centimeters. They look like adorable toddler bath toys and blend perfectly in their Dayglow surroundings. Aren’t they fantastic?

I wish I could have one as a pet. I’d give it plenty of coral to…hover on.

See more photos here.
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Tacky Taxidermy, Day 7: Finale

June 8th, 2014

As it turns out, I’ve collected WAY more terrible taxidermy than I could feasibly post in a week. I also intentionally left out the new wave of artistic rogue taxidermists, to be visited at a later date, though this hobby is gaining ground and producing some entertaining results (this is one kind of craft I could never do; I’m too sensitive to work on…former creatures).

So here are some honest attempts at preserving and posing creatures that don’t quite…look…right.
Tacky Taxidermy Week, Day 6: Reader Submissions

June 7th, 2014

Thanks, Bettie!

Okay, so it’s a hoax, especially with that URL, but if you’re looking for HUMAN taxidermy services…LOOK NO FURTHER!

And here we have Nina Saunders’s taxidermy furniture.

Thanks Eric!

Atlanta Home Turned Private Taxidermy Museum

Thanks Jim!

Did someone send me Sweaty Taxidermy? I’m not sure if this was a reader submission or my own bookmark!
Tacky Taxidermy Week, Day 5: Miscellanious Mockeries

June 6th, 2014

The pollen count must be high today, because those eyes are pretty irritated.

“You were soooooo wasted, bro!”

Is he leaning on the back of a chair? I don’t know what’s going on here.

Going batty…

Awww, these poor sad saps…maybe I’d be depressed too if I were awkwardly stuffed posthumously.

This is probably the only despondent pounce effort you’ll ever see. I bet even the prey would want to comfort him.

GOOGLY EYES? Really?

These two really deserve captions…ideas?
Tacky Taxidermy Week, Day 4: Shock and Dread

June 5th, 2014
Tacky Taxidermy Week, Day 3: Smile!

June 4th, 2014

You know how sometimes you’ll see an animal at a certain angle, at a certain moment, and it appears to be smiling? This is not that.

These are gruesome, gratuitous, godawful grins…facial contortions that do not exist in the actual animal kingdom.

Are you ready?

A couple of them are kinda sweet.

…or manic.

…or stoned.

…or the stuff nightmares are made of.

…or inquisitive.

…or surprised.

…or something dug out of an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus.

…or just happy to see ya.

…or…or…this.

…or have one more than the most fashionable number of mammalian eyes.

…or look like an ad for wolf dentures.
Tacky Taxidermy Week, Day 2: “Zoologically Improbable”

June 3rd, 2014

Now let’s have a look at some creatures who appear to be experiencing emotions or postures that do not, in reality, exist in the animal kingdom as we know it.

The whole lower half of this one is more disturbing than its nonplussed face.

Is he Jazzercizing?

Squirrel in sensual repose:

“Oh God. I must have slept wrong.”

Waiting by the principal’s office…

Tacky Taxidermy 101: when in doubt, HYPEREXTEND LIMBS!

One of the best signs I’ve ever seen:
Tacky Taxidermy Week, Day 1: SASSY AND FIERCE!

June 2nd, 2014

Tacky Taxidermy won the theme week contest! So here we go!

Sometimes there is just a *little* something off about the taxidermy creatures we encounter…

But others are downright SASSY AND FIERCE!

I welcome captions for any of these!

SWS does NOT endorse the mistreatment/killing of animals for art! I make an effort to post only ethical taxidermy in which the animals were already deceased. If you somehow discover that one of these creations actively harmed the creature involved, please let me know so I can remove the image immediately.