Exploding Vases by photographer Martin Kilmas

Spring is in the air and its good to see so many beautiful flowers shooting up from the ground! Conversely, these flowers are soon to be dead flowers. This is truly explosive work by German photographer Martin Kilmas .

If you like these, be sure to check out his porcelain figurines smash up!

All images (c) Martin Kilmas

Now that's a hat!

We spotted these gorgeous creations on Big Eye Gallery, these wonderful photographs are by Wiltshire born photographer Philip Volkers.

 Image (c)

Head over to Big Eye Gallery to see the full exclusive, limited edition, series ... Big Eye Gallery

 

Giant Beachcomber by Thomas P Peschak

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011 competition is underway. We thought we'd share with you all our favourite image from the 2010 entrants, the "Giant Beachcomber" by Thomas P Peschak (South Africa/UK).

This is an aldabra giant tortoise which normally grazes on 'tortoise turf', a blend of herbs and grasses that grows close to the ground in response to being cropped. Often, though, the tortoises will wander onto the beaches to eat washed-up seedpods. This female, who is probably at least 100 years old, regularly forages along the beach in front of a research station on Aldabra in the Seychelles. 'Tortoises are known to have made sea crossings between islands,' says Tom, 'and so I was pleased to be able to use the ocean as a backdrop. I lay in her path on the sand, using an extreme wide-angle lens. The moment I took the shot, I had to roll out of her way to avoid her clambering right over me.'

Nikon D3 + 14-24mm lens; 1/200 sec at f22; ISO 200; Nikon SB800 flash.

Rat's Eye-View !

 A Rat’s View of the Chrysler Building (c) Oliver Fluck

A Rat’s View of the Limburg Cathedral (c) Oliver Fluck

We just had to share with you all these fantastic 'Rat's eye-view' photographs by Oliver Fluck. Oliver is a self-taught photographer, originally from Germany, now living and working in the US.

Until 14 April, Oliver is donating all proceeds from the sale of his photographs (available as prints or postcards - see his site) to the Red Cross appeal to help victims of the earthquake in Japan.

Oliver regularly releases new images on his blog so be sure to check it out here http://www.oliverfluck.com/blog/  and you can follow him on twitter @fluck

Conceptual Works by Todd Baxter

We love these conceptual pieces by Photographer Todd Baxter. We recommend checking out his site, and especially the Owl Scouts project... http://www.baxterphoto.com/

Yorkshire's Abandoned Built Heritage - Mark Cooke & Joe Stenson

(c) Mark Cooke & Joe Stenson

(c) Mark Cooke & Joe Stenson

(c) Mark Cooke & Joe Stenson

North Bar in Leeds is currently hosting a thought provoking exhibition, 'Recent Perspectives of Abandoned Places'. Mark Cooke and Joe Stenson, aka LeedsUrbex, have a limited selection of their work featuring, we recommend popping down for a beer to check it out!

Focusing on derelict, often ignored and usually unnoticed spaces and structures, their work captures Yorkshire's abandoned built heritage beautifully.

Over the past year Joe and Mark have been researching, visiting and photographing abandoned industrial spaces, hospitals, schools and mills to document the decay of these forgotten corners of our society.

Exhibition @ North Bar - 24 New Briggate, Leeds LS1 6NU from 8th March 2011 - 5th April 2011

Available Framed for £40 or simply the Print for £15, CO9Cloud's favourite is the 'Lonely Chair', what's yours?

For further details regarding the exhibition, its contents or the photographer’s work please e-mail: jjstenson@gmail.com  Twitter @LeedsUrbex www.flickr.com/photos/j-st