Here’s a fantastic project/gift idea for those of you who are both tech-savvy and artsy: make a custom snow globe of your house. The process involves capturing photographs of the house from all sides, turning the images into a 3D model of the home using a 3D modeling program (e.g. Google Sketchup), turning the 3D model into a physical object using a 3D printing service (e.g. Shapeways), and then sticking the object into a custom snow globe kit. Qarl has published a step-by-step tutorial on the process.

the weather outside is frightful (via Boing Boing)

Slide Light is a wall light designed by SUCK UK that provides low level background room lighting that’s customized using slide film. Adding different photographs to the light provides different moods.
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We never thought we’d say it, but someone finally found a DSLR that makes Pentax’s limited edition models look bland. Erle Kaasik was walking on a sidewalk in Seattle when she walked past a woman using this eye-popping Canon DSLR and 28-135mm lens that a local artist had decorated. It looks like someone mistook the camera for a cupcake or something.

The coolest looking camera ever [deviantART]

Update: The artist is Wonderpuss Octopus Ink

Thanks for sending in the tip, Vibin!

In 1974, Japanese photographer Daido Moriyama had an exhibition in Tokyo called “Printing Show” that featured a Xerox machine in the center of the room manned by Moriyama himself. Visitors were encouraged to select photos from the show, which were then reproduced and assembled into custom photo books. This past weekend, Moriyama repeated the show in New York, once again using a photocopier to provide attendees with custom signed editions of the DIY book. The book was titled “TKY” and bound in a nice silk-screened cover.
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When husband and wife photography duo Jodi and Kurt got married last year, they were determined to do something photography-related for the guys’ boutonnières. Luckily for them, Kurt’s sister Lynn is a brilliant wedding stylist who helped make these one-of-a-kind designs. Kurt’s featured an old camera lens, while the best man’s was a flower made from film negatives.
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Here’s something you’ve probably never seen before: a white “L” version of the cheap Canon 50mm f/1.8 (AKA the “nifty fifty”). No, it’s not an uber-rare and expensive special edition. It’s a custom paint job by Clubsnap forum member nntenzo. After painting the lens with paint mixed from three $1 tubes, he used a laser printer and decal paper to add the lettering and decals back onto the lens. The resulting lens is one that will definitely befuddle any Canonite who happens to catch a glimpse of it… It’s a conversation starter for sure.

50mm f1.8 L (white colour) (via DigitalRev)

Photographer Mitchell Feinberg wanted to continue shooting 8×10 large format once his Polaroid stockpile runs out, so he decided to create his own 8×10 digital back. He spent over a year looking for a manufacturer and designing the back, and shelled out enough money to buy a good-sized house:

The development and production of two backs (I wanted to have a spare) was equal to the cost of a good size house – before the housing crash. I know it sounds insane, but the financials on it are not so bad: I used to shoot on average 7.5 Polaroids per photo, and I shoot between 400 to 500 images a year. That’s at least 3000 Polaroids. At 15 bucks a pop. Or about 50K per year, minimum. Polaroid was at one point my highest single cost.

Now he’s the owner of the world’s largest color capture back (two of them, in fact), which shoots 10MP photos. He uses it to shoot test shots before using film for the final captures.

Mitchell Feinberg’s 8×10 Digital Capture Back [A Photo Editor]

Image credit: Photograph by Mitchell Feinberg and used with permission

If you find ordinary camera bags too boring, then check out these custom-fit bags for DSLR cameras. Each “Pixbag” is made specifically for a certain DSLR model, ensuring a snug fit in addition to the one-of-a-kind design. It looks like the bag is only available to people living in Europe, but if that’s where you are, you can pick one up for about €50 over on DaWanda (the Etsy of Europe).

Now here’s something we haven’t seen before: Flickr user Damon Hair made this cheap DIY color checker using mat board, foam core, and paint swatches matched with pantone colors from a local paint/hardware store.

Image credit: gretag-ish color checker by damon.hair and used with permission

The P.90 is a limited edition pinhole camera by Kurt Mottweiler, an Oregon-based builder of wooden cameras. It’s constructed using Cherry wood and brass, has a tripod adapter on the bottom, and is loaded with 120 roll film.
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