Archive for October, 2007

Chris Jordan

Americans use two million plastic beverage bottles every five minutes. Now that you know that, can you imagine how much that is exactly? What if someone could show it to you?

My friend Gabe turned me on to this photographer, Chris Jordan, who makes stunning pictures of consumerism. Based in Seattle, Jordan has exhibited around the country and also has three photographic series on his website.

In one series, called “Running the Numbers,” Jordan takes statistics about American consumption and literally visualizes the numbers.

So what do two million of these plastic bottles look like?

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Come closer for a better look.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Even closer to make the bottles recognizable.

Plastic bottles close-up copyrighted by Chris Jordan

There’s some digital manipulation involved, but his images remain staggering. Also in the series is a photo of what 426,000 cell phones look like. That’s how many are discarded in the U.S. every day.

Check out the rest of this series and his other photographic art by visiting Chris Jordan’s website.

Comments (1)

Communist China

My friend Anthony was in China recently and came back with amazing photos. I got his permission to show some of them here.

This is a photo of the Yu Gardens in Shanghai. If you look closely, you’ll see there’s a Starbucks (woo hoo!) in the middle of the picture. In my part of the world, people freak out if there’s a Starbucks opening in a chain-free neighborhood. But this is a Starbucks in communist China. Where were the picketers to protest this from happening?

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Anthony stayed at a hotel next to the Plaza 66 shopping mall in Shanghai. He said the mall stores were so posh, the place was almost empty.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

At the Shanghai Metro, this billboard for the latest Spider-Man movie. I’ve always thought, the best way to spread capitalism and democracy is to distribute Hollywood movies everywhere in the world.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

And finally, Anthony couldn’t resist taking a picture of this Beijing restaurant which, he observes, borrowed from American Kentucky Fried Chicken by depicting the face of the founder with a red color scheme. Col. Sanders, meet Mr. Lee.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Leave a Comment

Trompe l’oeil trucks

One more email from my cousin. She sent me these photos of trucks making astonishing use of trompe l’oeil (photorealistic painting to create an illusion).

There’s a similarity to all the pictures that make me suspect they’re all done in PhotoShop. Still, they’re fun to look at.

The full email:

These are 7 pictures of (European) semi-trucks whose trailers are decorated to look like the sides are missing and the products they are hauling are painted on the sides and back.

The first one is of a bottle of beer and looks so real, like it is coming out the side of the trailer.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket


The second is of canvas tote bag.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

The third is of Pepsi cases and they are all stacked on the ceiling, and the bottom of the trailer is empty.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

The fourth is of another truck with the windshield facing the back and there has been a driver painted in the driver’s seat looking back over his shoulder to appear like he is driving backwards.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

The fifth one is of an aquarium with fish swimming in it.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket


The sixth one is of a bookshelf with books lined up in it and a post-it-note with an advertisement on it, probably for the company that sells the books.  (Again, in a foreign language.)

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

The last one is for Pringles-Hot & Spicy. The ‘inside’ of the trailer has the appearance of having been through a fire.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Comments (1)

Unusual billboards

More email from my cousin with photos showing creative ways of using space to advertise a product.

Some of these are too delightful to be real!

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

This one (below) is a see-through sign for a brand of paint.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

There was also these — truly imaginative ways of delivering a message in our urban jungle.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Comments (1)

Body bags

My cousin likes to send me emails with funny pictures, jokes, and prayers. Mostly stuff that’s been forwarded over and over. Everyone has someone like that in their address book. Sigh.

Every now and then, though, my cousin does send me an email with some startling photos in them. These are photos she sent with the subject heading “Creative Packaging.” I wish I knew where she got these pics so I can give proper credit.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Leave a Comment