Deliciously Talented - The "Tutti Frutti" Series

At 16 years old, Cristina Otero is already demonstrated how talented and imaginative she is. The Spanish photographer drew inspiration from "America's Next Top Model" at the tender of age of 13 and has demonstrated her aptitude for creating beautifully edgy characters through makeup and styling. She has all the elements of a budding fashion photographer and is worth keeping track of. I'm sure her images will soon be gracing magazine stands in the very near future.

Katerina Plotnikova's Surreal Photography

Katerina Plotnikova is a master of surreal photography. The Moscow-based photographer combines romance and fantasy to create stunning imagery. Like in fairy tales, her's is a world where people and animals are equals able to communicate and forge emotional bonds. Yet, despite the fairy tale quality of the photographs, the subjects are quite real. Katerina uses real animals in her images and creates the other-worldy scenes the old fashioned way. Photoshop or similar post-processing is not used.

Scroll down below to see more of her amazing images, or go to her website:  http://500px.com/katerina_plotnikova

Vlad Artazov: Nail's Life

Anthropomorphism is a funny concept. It's the projection of human qualities onto non-human things. It's a practice ingrained in human nature. We do it as children when playing with our favorite toys and we do it as adults when interacting with our pets. As a culture it's prevalent in our literature, religions, art and language. Our need as people to relate, to communicate with others is evident by our need to humanize everything around us.

Vlad Artazov, a Czech photographer, has illustrated this need beautifully in his "Nail's Life" series. With only a few bent nails arranged in astoundingly real-life settings he conveys an extensive range of human emotions. The simplicity of the settings juxtaposed with the complexity of the emotions expressed delivers unexpectedly beautiful and touching scenes. That a nail, a commonplace inanimate tool, can bring out genuine sensitivity in the viewer speaks to Mr. Artazov's impressive insight into human nature and our inherit need of compassion.

Click through the images below to view more of the series.

Donna J. Wan's "Death Wooed Us" Project

Donna J. Wan's ongoing project titled "Death Wooed Us" is as beautiful as it is disturbing. Wistful photographs capture the beauty and serenity of natural locations chosen by those who've committed suicide in the Bay Area. Critics may see this work as romanticizing tragedy. For Ms. Wan this project is a self-exploration of a time when she too felt suicidal and an attempt to understand her own mindset during this dark period. 

Suicide destinations are frequently chosen for their striking grandeur and peace. These tortured individuals often chose to die surrounded by beauty and peace. Ms. Wan's images capture known Bay Area suicide locations from the perspective of those who took their lives with what may have been their last sight. Her work provides a fleeting look into the anguished minds of the suicidal and hopefully a chance for reflection for their survivors.

Visit her website for the full gallery: www.donnajwan.com