[RH Photos] C2E2 2014 Cosplay
There's something about comic book conventions that have always held a special place in my heart. Whether you're a fan of comics, toys, anime, films, video games, or just people in general, comic book conventions will have something for you. Cosplaying itself is its own entity, with some costumes that are sometimes better than "official" costumes to rag tag, last minute clothes hastily put together. At this year's Chicago Comic and Electronic Expo (C2E2), some creative and well thought out costumes were on display. You can find a short, short selection of photos from this year's convention below. Photos were taken by yours truly and my dear friend Sal Hernandez.
Rifles Manufactured Specifically for Young Children
Photos by An-Sofie Kesteleyn
“My First Rifle” is the advertising slogan for small rifles manufactured specifically for young children. For appeal, they come in an assortment of colors and styles like hot pink, orange, royal blue or with multicolor swirls, and although they look like toys, these rifles are very real. The bizarre concept instantly grabbed the attention of Belgian photographer An-Sofie Kesteleyn, and she immediately took on a project to photo shoot children with their own rifles in America.
The idea first came about when Kesteleyn read an article about a 5-year-old boy in rural Southern Kentucky who accidentally shot his 2 year old sister, and not with any gun, with his own gun. Having been raised in Belgium, she found this astonishing, so when she traveled to the United States she sought out to find gun shops and shooting ranges with families who had bought these playfully colored guns for their children. With the permission of the children's parents, she photographed them with their rifles. While meeting with these families, she respected that most of the parents discussed self-defense and their fear of attacks with the kids, so she then asked the children to write about their own fears, and she presents their writings and drawings next to their portraits.
Although the idea and gun topic are both very controversial, the portraits are intriguing and thought provoking. Take a look for yourself and let us know how you feel about the concept.
[Via The NY Times]
Mondo Announces Mike Mitchell x Marvel x Mondo Art Show
Keen readers will remember that one of my very first posts on Ruby Hornet was on a Mondo Gallery show that artist Mike Mitchell had last spring. The show featured Mitchell's color-filled portraits of various film characters, including Pulp Fiction's Mr. Pink, Oldboy's Oh Dae-Su, Drive's Driver, and more. The artist and Mondo have teamed up once again for a new show that will focus on the marvelous side of comic books: Marvel.
The new show, entitled "Mike Mitchell x Marvel x Mondo," will run from April 25th until May 17th, with a special opening night event on April 25th from 7pm - 10pm with Mitchell himself in attendance. The pieces, some of which can be seen below, will highlight some of Marvel's iconic characters, like Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus, alongside lesser known figures, including Bullseye and Power Man-era Luke Cage. Considering Marvel's growing stable of film properties (let alone the rising portfolio of Sony and Fox owned Marvel film properties), it's only a matter of time before lesser-known characters like MODOK, Iron Fist, and Nova are plastered onto underwear, shirts, and billboards everywhere with The Avengers and X-Men.
Some of the pieces will also be available for sale at the show in limited quantities for $60 each. You can find the list for the available pieces below. If you do attend the "Mike Mitchell x Marvel x Mondo" show, let us know how it is!
Nikon announce new point and shoot camera, lens
Nikon has recently announced they are releasing a new Coolpix point and shoot camera along with a new 18-300mm f3.5-6.3g lens. The Coolpix S810c camera is a 16mp point and shot camera and comes with the latest 4.4.2 version of Android KitKat operating system. This means that a person will be able to use all of their camera apps that they might have on their Android, so you can directly upload your photos instantly to Instagram and even edit your photos using VSCO Cam all conveniently on the camera. If you're in the market for a point and shoot camera, you may want to look into it when it releases sometime in May for around $350.
Along with the Coolpix s810c, Nikon also announced a new 18-300mm lens 3.5-6.3g lens which is supposed to be 30% lighter than its predecessor. Because of the loss in weight, when the lens is fully zoomed it will lose about 1/3 of stop light, but it is built to minimize lens flare and chromatic aberration. The lens will come in at around $900, and like the Coolpix point and shoot camera, should be release sometime in May.
Read more at http://www.thephoblographer.com/2014/04/10/nikon-jumps-android-camera-boat-coolpix-s810c-plus-new-18-300mm-f3-5-6-3-lens/#sIkQeOZwi7MBIGzU.99
[Via The Phoblographer]
Move over Samsung–you’re not the only game in town trying to get further into the Android-powered camera world. Today Nikon introduced the Coolpix S810c, a 16MP point-and-shoot camera preloaded with the latest 4.4.2 version of Android KitKat.
Nikon promises the camera will let users launch all their favorite Android camera apps without the compromises of a lackluster smartphone snapper. The Coolpix S810c is equipped with a 12x optical zoom Nikkor lens, albeit with an unimpressive f3.3-6.3 variable aperture. It might not produce very shallow depth of field but the Coolpix backside illuminated CMOS sensor should make up for the lack of light coming through that somewhat narrow aperture lens. Read on for more about Nikon’s new Android camera plus the new 18-300mm lens for its DX DSLRs.
More details are after the jump.
Just like the Samsung Galaxy NX and the Galaxy Camera 2, the Coolpix S810c will be able to use Android’s full range of camera apps. This includes everyone’s favorite Instagram, VSCO and Camera Zoom FX. The camera is also backed by a massive 3.7-inch touch-screen LCD monitor with 1.2 million-dot resolution, which should make it more than decent for photo editing apps like VSCO Cam.
The Nikon Coolpix S810c will be available by early May 2014 in Black or White for a $349.95—just a little more than your high-end Android smartphone.
Read more at http://www.thephoblographer.com/2014/04/10/nikon-jumps-android-camera-boat-coolpix-s810c-plus-new-18-300mm-f3-5-6-3-lens/#sIkQeOZwi7MBIGzU.99
Move over Samsung–you’re not the only game in town trying to get further into the Android-powered camera world. Today Nikon introduced the Coolpix S810c, a 16MP point-and-shoot camera preloaded with the latest 4.4.2 version of Android KitKat.
Nikon promises the camera will let users launch all their favorite Android camera apps without the compromises of a lackluster smartphone snapper. The Coolpix S810c is equipped with a 12x optical zoom Nikkor lens, albeit with an unimpressive f3.3-6.3 variable aperture. It might not produce very shallow depth of field but the Coolpix backside illuminated CMOS sensor should make up for the lack of light coming through that somewhat narrow aperture lens. Read on for more about Nikon’s new Android camera plus the new 18-300mm lens for its DX DSLRs.
More details are after the jump.
Just like the Samsung Galaxy NX and the Galaxy Camera 2, the Coolpix S810c will be able to use Android’s full range of camera apps. This includes everyone’s favorite Instagram, VSCO and Camera Zoom FX. The camera is also backed by a massive 3.7-inch touch-screen LCD monitor with 1.2 million-dot resolution, which should make it more than decent for photo editing apps like VSCO Cam.
The Nikon Coolpix S810c will be available by early May 2014 in Black or White for a $349.95—just a little more than your high-end Android smartphone.
Read more at http://www.thephoblographer.com/2014/04/10/nikon-jumps-android-camera-boat-coolpix-s810c-plus-new-18-300mm-f3-5-6-3-lens/#sIkQeOZwi7MBIGz
FIFA Unveils Official 2014 World Cup Song and More
2014 World Cup fever is well on its way as we draw nearer to the June 12th kickoff in Brazil. FIFA has released the album's track listing along with the official song, "We Are One (Ole Ola)," by Mr. 305 (Pitbull), Jennifer Lopez and Brazilian pop singer Cláudia Leitte. The album, titled One Love, One Rhythm, features new music from Shakira, Ricky Martin, Santana, The Isley Brothers, and more.
Like most soccer fans, I've caught the fever, as well, and am pretty amped for this year's games. The USMNT looks good, and we might have a chance this year. Unless you are an Outlaw making the trip to Brasil this year, most of us will be wathcing the games at home or at the neighborhood bar. To our luck, most games will be played at decent hours, so no waking up at 4am to try and catch a match. Nike helped kick off the World Cup 2014 hype by unveiling the USMNT away jersey kit last week. The very popsicle looking kit comes with red socks, shorts, and a predominantly red top with white and blue stripes. Nike tapped musical artists Diplo and Haim and film director Spike Lee to show off the kit in their new campaign, along with athletes Andrew Luck, Ndamukong Suh, Allyson Felix, Erik Koston, Sean Malto, and soccer players Clint Dempsey, Sydney Leroux and USMNT O.G. Alexi Lalas to show off American pride.
Check out photos from the campaign below, and head here to purchase the new jersey in time for kickoff. You can also see the track list and hear the new song below, as well.
[youtube id="9W3sWiZ-iO8"]
FIFA 2014 - One Love, One Rhythm Tracklist
1. Pitbull feat. Jennifer Lopez & Claudia Leitte – We Are One (Ole Ola) (The Official 2014 FIFA World Cup TM Song)
2. Santana & Wyclef feat. Avicii & Alexandre Pires – Dar Um Jeito (We Will Find A Way) (The Official 2014 FIFA World Cup TM Anthem)
3. Arlindo Cruz – Tatu Bom De Bola (The Official 2014 FIFA World CupTM Mascot Song)
4. Ricky Martin – Vida (Spanglish Version)
5. David Correy – The World Is Ours
6. Psirico – Lepo Lepo
7. Sérgio Mendes & Carlinhos Brown – One Nation
8. Shakira – La La La (Brasil 2014) feat. Carlinhos Brown
9. The Isley Brothers – It’s Your Thing (Studio Rio Version)
10. Bebel Gilberto and Lang Lang – Tico Tico
11. Adelén – Olé (Stadium Anthem Mix)
12. Magic! – This Is Our Time (Agora e’a nossa horra)
13. Baha Men – Night & Day (Carnival Mix)
14. Rodrigo Alexey feat. Preta Gil – Go, Gol
Turn iPhone Photos into Polaroids
Before mobile phones and Instagram, Polaroids were it as far as instant photography cameras. Although the corporation made the decision, in February 2008, to cease all production in favor of digital photography products, the Impossible Project has succeeded in reviving authentic Polaroid-style instant camera prints. What started as a Kickstarter fund last year, turned into a successful project that produced their unique iPhone polaroid printer, The Impossible Instant Lab, available for sale to the general public.
In case you haven't heard of this before, The Impossible Instant lab is a savvy kit that allows you to print a real Polaroid instant photo from your iPhone. Unlike other smartphone photo printers, the Impossible Lab doesn't connect to your smartphone using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Instead, it's literally a lightbox you place your phone in, which then takes a real Polaroid picture of the screen and prints it out. It also includes a free app that overrides your iPhone's brightness and color balance settings, guaranteeing a perfect exposure at all times. Clever.
Pricing from $299, it's not the most affordable printing device, but definitely worth it's value in the long run. Check out the following photos and see it in action with their vimeo video here.
[Via ThisIsColossal]
[Video] HUVr Tech Wants You to Believe Hoverboards Are Real
Ever since Back to the Future Part II was released in 1989 (and perhaps even before then), hoverboards have been a dream for both impressionable young men and science fiction fans. What's there NOT to love about skateboarding without wheels, to have the ability to float in-air with nothing but your own momentum to move you along? There have been many hoverboard announcements in the years since Marty McFly went back to the future, but never have any of them been real... until now.
...or not. Earlier today, a company called HUVr Tech released a video demonstrating their own version of the Back to the Future Part II hoverboard, complete with a star-studded cast testing the new tech out. Famous pro skateboarder Tony Hawk, former football star Terrell Owens, Schoolboy Q, actress Agnes Bruckner, Moby, and Doc Brown himself Christopher Lloyd are featured in the video, sharing laughter and excitement as they're taken off of the ground.
Of course, the video is fake, utilizing some clever CGI and editing techniques. However, the real question (and my main source of interest) remains: Exactly what is HUVr Tech advertising? With the heavy push of a mobile app ("coming soon" as seen on the HUVr Tech website), this admittedly interesting video has definitely made waves across the internet. My bet is on the promotion of Tony Hawk's new mobile-exclusive video game, which was announced last week. However, major entrepreneur Mark Cuban is also involved with the company, and a mobile game isn't exactly the type of stuff Cuban typically backs.
Honestly, I'm erring on the side of clever viral marketing, but in the very very slim chance that the HUVr Tech is, in fact, legitimate, I'll probably be one of the first people to pre-order. Watch the video below and find out for yourselves!
[youtube id="A4vE_vpkr90"]
Facebook To Acquire WhatsApp
Most of us can just go ahead and download the WhatsApp app for free, but Mark Zuckerberg instead choose to buy the company for a reported $16 billion. After acquiring Instagram for a $1 billion two years ago, this latest move shows that Facebook is trying to stay at the top of the social network game and be the number one way to connect to people online.
Even though the popular messaging app is being acquired, it will retain its own brand and operate independently just like Instagram. WhatsApp has seen some huge growth with its message volume nearing the global telecom SMS volume, which is incredible for the start-up, which is only 5 years old. The company also has over 450 million users a month, with 70% of those users being online on any given day, and more than 1 million new users registering everyday. With this latest acquisition, it will be interesting to see how messaging services will evolve and its effects on mobile carriers. For more information on the acquisition, head on over to Facebook here.
[Via Facebook]