This Giraffe Is The Best Wedding Photobomber Anyone Could Hope For

After Tristan Burns and Luke Karshagen said their vows on Saturday, their photographer suggested they take their wedding party to a nearby picturesque park for great lighting and a beautiful backdrop.

That much is typical for any wedding photo scenario. But this couple got an extra scenic addition to their shoot at Areena Riverside Resort near East London, South Africa: a curious giraffe named Abby.

“Areena always has wildlife roaming around, but I really wasn’t expecting Abby to pop his head among the trees,” Burns tells Yahoo. “Honestly, I was a little worried at first. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt, nor did I know the nature of Abby. He just popped his head out of the trees. He must have heard us and just came waltzing into our party.”

Photographer Stephanie Norman has shot at Areena before, but this was the first time her subjects had ever been photobombed by a giraffe. While the wedding party was all rather startled by the enormous creature — even in South Africa, this is rather unusual — he soon put them at ease.

To read more on this story, click here: This Giraffe Is The Best Wedding Photobomber Anyone Could Hope For

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Photographer Amol Jadhav’s Clever Lighting and Framing Techniques Create Optical Illusion Portraits to Help Animals Get Adopted

There are a lot of potential pet owners but some of them need a little bit of inspiration to adopt. Photographer Amol Jadhav and art director Pranav Bhide have created a powerful campaign for World For All Animal Care And Adoptions in Mumbai to spread awareness about their adoption event, and – most importantly – it was effective!

Using clever lighting and framing techniques, the creative duo made a series of optical illusion portraits that contain two images in one. The artists arranged their portrait subjects to create an animal shape in the negative space between them. Everything came together when they turned on a super bright backlight and placed gentle fill light in the front, perfect for the tagline “There’s always room for more. Adopt.”

People heard Amol’s and Pranav’s message – compared to last year, the attendance of the event boosted by 150%, and this lead to 42 adoptions.

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The Promise This Photographer Made to Endangered Elephants Will Give You Chills

Even the biggest animal lovers are somewhat disconnected from the rampant abuse happening to animals around the world. Powerful images and videos allow us a glimpse into some of the heartbreaking situations animals have to deal with around the world, but activists, conservationists, photojournalists, and videographers get a first-hand look and have the chance to interact with those affected. These people are in sub-Saharan Africa witnessing poachers sneak onto parks to kill African lions. They are there to see baby orangutans stand on the ashes of their formerly lush forest home that has been cleared out for palm oil. And in Sumatra, they are watching elephants in the area dwindle as more and more of these animals are pushed off their lands, killed when they step back onto it, and kidnapped in the flurry of it all.

To read more on this story, click here: The Promise This Photographer Made to Endangered Elephants Will Give You Chills




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Beautiful Breathtaking Pictures of Owls Photographer Sasi Smith

The photographer Sasi Smith, captured these owls in all of their splendor and the pictures are breathtaking. The birds are magnificently expressive and photographed in their natural environment.

Owls are somewhat difficult to photograph since they are nocturnal, mysterious and have a spectacular camouflage. So when we saw these adorable Owl photographs, we couldn’t help but share them with you guys.

Below are pictures of Sasi’s most adorable owls.

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Stunning Images from the 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

The 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest is underway.

National Geographic invites photographers from around the world to enter the 2016 Nature Photographer of the Year contest. The grand-prize winner will receive a 10-day trip for two to the Galápagos with National Geographic Expeditions and two 15-minute image portfolio reviews with National Geographic photo editors.

Eligible contestants can visit natgeo.com/photocontest to submit photographs in one or all of four categories: Landscape, Environmental Issues, Action and Animal Portraits. Each entry to the contest will be submitted through National Geographic's photo community, Your Shot, where members can comment on photos and share their favorites. The entry fee is $15 (USD) per photo, and there is no limit to the number of submissions per entrant. Entries must be in digital format and submitted electronically. The contest ends Saturday, Nov. 4, at 12 p.m. EDT (U.S.).

Here's a look at some of the submissions so far.

To read more on this story, click here: Stunning Images from the 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest



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Hungarian Artist and Photographer Flóra Borsi Explores the Human-Animal Connection in a Series of Manipulated Photos

The relationship between humans and animals is one that many artists have explored since the beginning of time. And since people haven’t stopped loving animals both domestic and wild, it’s still a theme that draws in art-lovers and animal-lovers alike.

Hungarian artist and photographer Flóra Borsi explores the human-animal connection in a series of manipulated photos called Animeyed, where she “shares” an eye and creates a double portrait of herself and the animal.

The results are startling and beautiful, and Flóra manages to create a distinct character in each portrait, changing her hair and makeup to reflect the appearance of the animal.

While animals are of course lovely to look at, capturing them in art is also an important reminder to viewers that they share a planet with us, and that we must remember their needs as well as our own.

Like the photographer who captures endangered animals to raise awareness for their protection, Flóra’s photos remind us that we each have a deep connection to nature, even if we don’t always remember that.

To capture the personality of the animal, and to make herself blend into the animal’s appearance, Flóra uses makeup and effects.

Lacy ears and dramatic “cat-eye” eyeliner recall a slinky black cat.

Orange hair and lipstick match this goldfish’s shiny scales. To line up her eye and the animal’s, Flóra uses digital manipulation. So the fish isn’t out of the water, don’t worry!

  

And while the photos are beautiful, she still retains a sense of humor, like this fishy portrait, complete with matching hair!

  

Her portraits each have a distinct feeling and character to them, shaped by the color and texture of the animal, as well as the associations that we humans have with them. This white dove, for example, suggests purity.

Flóra herself also seems to become different in the presence of the different animals, and especially thanks to the makeup and costuming.

She captures the moods we associate with the animals perfectly, like this nervous rabbit.

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Tennessee Bride and Groom Lets Dog Film Wedding Video

Most couples spend a fortune on wedding photographers, but one Tennessee bride and groom went a different route.

Addie and Marshall Burnett strapped a GoPro camera to their beloved Siberian Husky, Ryder, and let her capture their special day - and the results were doggone good!

A two-minute YouTube video of Ryder's footage has been viewed nearly 3.5 million times since it was posted earlier this month.

"On November 2nd, 2014, Addie and I got married on the top of Roan Mountain, TN, in 2 feet of snowy wonder," Marshall wrote in the description for the video. "It was cold and magical. Our dog, Ryder, insisted on filming the wedding video, so we let her do her thing. She took a while to edit the footage, but we think she did a great job."

On "Fox and Friends Weekend," Addie explained that they love Ryder like a child, so they knew that she was going to be a part of their special day.

Marshall said that they decided using Ryder as their photographer would be a fun way to include her. They didn't have any expectations for how the video would turn out or how incredibly popular it would prove to be.

"It's been really touching to see people's comments on the video ," Addie said. "A lot of people have been emotional and said it's brought tears to their eyes. So it's really cool just across the board to see different people's perspective and take from the video."

Watch the "Fox and Friends Weekend" interview  and see Ryder's handiwork below:

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Can You Spot an Adorable Border Collie Named Momo, in These Incredible Pictures Captured by Canadian Photographer Andrew Knapp?

They could be scenes from the beloved 'Where's Waldo?' children's books.

But instead of a man in a red-and-striped shirt and bobble hat, the hidden subject is an adorable border collie named Momo.

These incredible pictures were captured by Canadian photographer Andrew Knapp, who lives and works out of a VW camper van.

They feature his pet dog hidden in an array of settings, from Fremont Street in Las Vegas to Grand Central Terminal in New York.

Mr Knapp and Momo traveled to 25 U.S. states to capture the images, which are displayed in a new book, 'Find Momo: Coast To Coast'.

In the book, the photographer says Momo was an “ideal travel companion” who introduced him to “new adventures, new places, new ideas”.

“He stays close when it's cold, keeps watch when it's warm, and is completely at peace with a wrong turn or a breakdown,” he writes.

During their 15,000-mile trip, the pair traveled to Maine, New York, California, Washington D.C and Portland, as well as areas of Canada.

An Instagram page of Mr. Knapp's 'hide-and-seek photography' with Momo, set up a few years ago, now has more than 360,000 followers.

The duo are currently on a book tour in Wilton, Connecticut, on May 16, and Brooklyn, New York, on May 19. 

So, can you find Momo... ?

Can you find Momo? These incredible pictures were captured by Canadian photographer Andrew Knapp, who lives and works out of a VW camper van. They feature his pet dog, Momo, hidden in an array of settings, including Grand Central Terminal (pictured) in Manhattan, NYC.

Picturesque: Mr. Knapp and Momo traveled to 25 U.S. states to capture the images, which are displayed in a new book, 'Find Momo: Coast To Coast'. In the book, the photographer says Momo was an 'ideal travel companion'. Above, Momo hides in Lombard Street, San Francisco, CA.

Crowded: Momo 'stays close when it's cold, keeps watch when it's warm, and is completely at peace with a wrong turn or a breakdown,' Mr. Knapp writes in the book. Above, Momo is barely visible in the brightly-lit Fremont Street in Las Vegas, Nevada, which is packed with tourists.

Landmark: During their 15,000-mile trip, the pair traveled to Maine, New York, California and Portland, as well as areas of Canada (pictured).

New book: 'Find Momo: Coast To Coast' (pictured), which will be published by Quirk on May 12, is available to purchase from Waterstones.

'Hide-and-seek photography': An Instagram account of Mr. Knapp's 'hide-and-seek photography' with Momo, set up a few years ago, now has more than 360,000 followers. Above, Momo is seen hiding in a picture that shows tourists walking past The White House in Washington DC.

Stunning: The duo are currently on a book tour around America and Canada. Above, Momo poses in the Plains of San Agustin in New Mexico.

Above, the border collie hides in a picture showing Saint Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Everyday setting: The pictures, including this one in a Bard Coffee shop in Portland, Maine, could be scenes from a 'Where's Waldo?' book.

Best friends: Mr. Kanpp (seen, left, with Momo) is also an interface designer and illustrator. Right, Momo poses near the camera for a change.

'Find Momo: Coast To Coast' will be published by Quirk Books on May 12. It is available to purchase from www.Waterstones.com.

For more information, visit tour.GoFindMomo.com.

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Photographer Seth Casteel - 9 Ridiculously Cute Underwater Puppies

A few years ago, award-winning animal photographer Seth Casteel became an overnight sensation when his photos of dogs underwater went viral. What followed was a book deal that resulted in the New York Times best-seller Underwater Dogs.

Casteel tells NPR's David Greene about using rescue dogs in his photo shoots and about the logistics of photographing puppies

It was not even my idea, actually, it was a dog's idea, which makes sense.

Buster the cavalier King Charles spaniel, back in 2010. At an on-land photo shoot, he decided he would rather be in the swimming pool, so he just started jumping in, over and over again. I was supposed to just document his personality through a series of photographs on land, but he had other plans. And after he just kept jumping in over and over again ... I'm jumping in! So, yeah, I got a little point-and-shoot underwater camera, took a few snapshots, and that was the beginning of the series of Underwater Dogs.

This little dog changed my life. I was just telling somebody the other day, you know, the original book, Underwater Dogs, it really shouldn't have my name on the cover; it should say, "Underwater Dogs by Buster ... with a little help from Seth Casteel."


On why he decided to use puppies in his new book

Seth Casteel is a professional photographer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, National Geographic Magazine and The Washington Post.

Courtesy of Little, Brown and Co.
Dogs was just such a random project, and it became successful out of nowhere. It changed my life, literally, overnight. And I was thinking about other things that I wanted to do: What's the next project? I thought, "Hey, puppies. Can I do puppies?" And what I found out was not only could I do it, but I needed to do it for a couple of different reasons. No. 1: swimming pool safety — super-duper important for all the listeners out there with their pets. So many people forget that our swimming pools, as much fun as they are, they are a danger, and they can be a danger to our children and to our fur children. And they will learn. I mean, a lot of these puppies I work with — for Underwater Puppies I worked with over 1,500 — all it took was just a few times, putting them in the water and teaching them where the exit is, and they figured it out.

On many of the book's puppies being rescue dogs
That's another big part of why I wanted to make this book. I got started in photography back in 2007 just through volunteering at local animal shelters to take better pictures to get the dogs and cats adopted. I thought, "Hey, let's use some incredible adoptable puppy ambassadors just to show people how terrific these little guys are."

“ I'm wearing a dog costume so that the dogs can feel like I'm one of the pack. ... Just kidding. ... I usually just wear a wet suit.

On the logistics of photographing puppies underwater
I'm wearing a dog costume so that the dogs can feel like I'm one of the pack. ... Just kidding. ... I usually just wear a wet suit just in case. You know, if you spend 12 hours in a pool with a bunch of dogs, inevitably you're going to get scratched up a little bit. So I do wear a wet suit. But I just hold my breath — that's about it. I'm underwater sometimes just a few seconds, sometimes 30 seconds, 60 seconds. But I have my wet suit on. I bring the toys. I bring the fun. And we just have a blast.

On what it is about puppies
You know, puppies lift our spirits. They don't care who you are, what you've been doing, where you're going, they just want to love you and they just want to be your friend. And I think that's always going to make us feel good.

To purchase the book or calenders, click on the pictures below to be taken to Amazon.com.

Underwater Dogs

Underwater Dogs 2015 Wall Calendar

Underwater Puppies 2015 Mini Calendar 

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