Nowadays there are so many forms of art, where it is really hard to distinguish real artistic value from kitsch. But when comes to a form of Japanese artistic expression, Origami, which is hundreds of years old we can be sure there's no room for bad taste.

Origami is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding. It started in Japan in the 17th century and was introduced to western culture in the 1900s. It has since evolved into a form of modern art. One might be inclined to consider this artform easy given that many of us have been folding paper since childhood. Far from it. After spending about 4 hours with an Origami book, and armed with the one hour Youtube tutorial, and still being unable to get it right; I can safely say Origami is not for everybody.

Each piece is a wonderful tale of precision, beauty, sophistication, mystery and enthusiasm that transforms something ordinary like a piece of paper into a masterpiece. Which is the very essence of art. Origami itself is a great learning tool for every designer, of any kind.

As a designer, you create something visually beautiful from nothing, just as this amazing art creates masterpieces from a simple piece of paper. The millimetric precision, the careful design, the perfect proportions, the symmetry present in every piece can and should be a real inspiration for every designer.

Below we present you a number of Origami masterpieces for your inspiration.

Gallery of Origami Creations

Additional Origami Resources (Making of videos)

• Origami Instructions: vixen / fox (Román Díaz)
• Origami Fiery Dragon (Kade Chan)
• Origami Ant (Robert J. Lang)
• Origami Tarantula (Robert J. Lang)
• Origami Fish (Jo Nakashima / Davor Vinko)
• Origami Jedi Master Yoda (Fumiaki Kawahata)
• Origami Scorpion Tutorial (Tadashi Mori)
• Origami Lotus Flower

What Did You Think?

After trying to make the Origami Fox, presented in the first video above, a new found respect for this form of art was gained. It takes a lot of patience, skill and sense of proportions to create a beautiful masterpiece like these. Have you ever tried your hand at Origami? What were some of the pieces from this showcase that really stood out to you?

(rb)

Plenty of people underestimate the power and significance of a camera, writing it off as a nothing but a small hand-held tool. However, this sleek device not only captures high-quality photos of everyday moments, but it also expands the boundaries of the art.

Like with anything involved in the creative process, cameras, as well as the person behind it, invests a part of itself to the creation of a photo. Even though common belief maintains that inanimate objects do not have a soul, some enthusiastic photographers seem prove the opposite. Of course, human imagination and the ability to envision a final result play a significant role, but when they are put in front of the lens the cameras’ souls are revealed.

Just take a look at first picture below, can you not see the sadness in its lens? Certainly, not everyone will immediately see that little something special in these ordinary devices, but with the proper composition, these artists show nothing is impossible. Many different interpretations can be taken away, but regardless of what you get from them, this collection shows the various faces of cameras’ souls.

In the collection below, we have gathered photos that were created by passionate people, who are eager not only to pay tribute to cameras by creating these portraits of them, but to also try and reveal the souls of the devices.

Portraits of Cameras

1. The Brownie Camera Club by pixelmama

2. Camera & Tea by Seqqat

3. C L A C K by Kimberly Chorney

4. Mr. Vario by snaperture

5.  Dad’s Old Camera – Yashica-Mat Copal-MXV by SRHart

6.  Camera and Strawberries by Ula

7. Happy Sliders Sunday by fionajonesphotography

8. Ciro flex by Ryan Maine

9. Paillard Bolex B8 Cine Camera by inkyfingerz

10. Kodak Brownie Flash IV in the dock by lumowerkx

11. Old Camera by dream_wave

12. day 5: the camera by Celine Taylor

13. Polaroid SX-70 Land Camera Sonar Onestep by dpup

14. Camera one, camera two by marchellem

15. Kodak Brownie Flash IV by lumowerkx

16. Keirs camera by my lovely life through a lens

17. Una cámara con mucha historia by nashkita

18. De vacaciones con mi cámara by nashkita

19. Baby Brownie Camera by Charlotte Dee 

20. Polaroid 1000 Land Camera and Polatronic 1 Flash by Arty Smokes

21.  Cyclops Bokeh 325/365 by EspressoTime

22.  Camera in grass by Franz B. Photography 

23. My Kiev 4a by Mathijs Delva

24. Pornstar by + Yusuf +

25. Kodak Brownie Box Camera Balancing Act by Inspiredphotos

26. Ansco camera by Jessica Rose

27. The Camera is a Sketch Book by Amanda Mabel

Cameras’ Hearts Wide Open or Not?

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Studying the collection above you should definitely notice different states of mind and abstract concepts, that were hidden in the images. Loneliness (pic.5), friendship (pic.14), unity (pic.25) or even friskiness (pic.18). By now you should realize that cameras can not only capture everyday moments, they could also be inspiring, attractive and vivid by themselves.

Do let us know your favorite portrait, or maybe you have several beloved shots of your own? Also, it will be interesting to know, what kind of feelings have been evoked while exploring this roundup? We hope to hear your opinion!

(rb)