Over the past two years, Timur Zhansultanov has been recording a photo diary of sorts. But unlike others, Timur positions his camera at eye level while leaving his arms in the frame.

The visual effect leaves you feeling like you’re a part of the picture itself.

In My Own Eyes - A Different Kind of Photo Diary

via Huff. Post Arts

Harsh flash be gone!

Consider it donzo, with a little help from The Deluxe Pop-Up Flash Bounce.

This gizmo uses mirrors (and just a bit of magic) to bounce your DSLR’s overly eager flash off of a nearby ceiling or wall, creating softer more even light.

The Deluxe Pop-Up Flash Bounce

Each year, surfers flock to the Tahitian village of Teahupoo to ride what photographer Ben Thouard calls “..the most powerful and perfectly artistic waves in the world.”

A Surfer’s Paradise Yields Equally Impressive Photos

via NPR Picture Show

Wanna try something new with your film camera this summer? The folks at Lomography came up with a brilliant way to load two rolls of 110 film onto a single spool of 35mm.

DIY: Use Two 110 Film Rolls on One 35mm Spool

via Pop Photo

In his gigantic body of work, Arno Rafael Minkkinen uses the human body in a truly ingenious way. Instead of the person being the center of focus, Arno cleverly aligns parts of the human body seamlessly with the rest of the picture.

The Human Form Aligned with Nature

via Anything Photography

UPDATE: 5/22 Due to an overwhelming response, Operation Photo Rescue has closed volunteer registration for the time being. Check back — we’ll update when it opens again!

How to Use Photography to Help Survivors of Natural Disasters

Operation Photo Rescue is a league of photographers and graphic designers who help survivors of natural disasters recover irreplaceable family photos.

When a town is hard hit by a natural disaster, OPR gets together and holds copy runs, sessions where people from the public can bring photos in to be salvaged. Kind of an amazing way to help survivors emotionally heal!

p.s. If you’re looking for other ways to help survivors of the tornado in Oklahoma, you can also donate to the Red Cross.

In searching for a special way to photograph her daughter Emma on her 5th birthday, Jaime Moore decided to dress her up as the most influential women in history. She writes about the series:

I wanted her to know the value of these amazing women who had gone against everything so she can now have everything.

5-Year-Old Dresses Up as the Most Influential Women in History

via Bored Panda | Facebook

One of the most effective ways to make an image more interesting is a simple crop. In the case of Jared Lim’s photos above, he was able to transform standard skyscrapers into fascinating geometric patterns.

Patterns Found in Your Average Skyscraper

via Creative Journal

Can we take a second to admire the perfection of Stephen Shore’s Uncommon Places? Shore’s journey across the lesser seen parts of the United States is an example of Americana at its finest.

A Photographic Trip Through America’s Lesser Seen Parts

via Fantomatik

In what has to be most precise photography project ever, Harvard fellow Wim Noorduin used salt and silicon to create microscopic flowers on the surface of a penny.

Microscopic Flowers Photographed on a Single Penny

via CollabCubed

PNY produced a video featuring wildlife photographer Luke Massey in his natural habitat. Luke has a rich portfolio packed with breathtaking shots of various animals across Europe. 

Watch the short film above to learn some of his tips for capturing brilliant wildlife photos. 

Renowned Wildlife Photographer Shares Tips for Brilliant Photos

via Reddit

We first met Henry Hargreaves when he was deep frying our favorite gadgets, and his latest series is just as hot. As a statement on obesity, Henry photographed common fast food set on fire.

Burning Calories Sets Your Fast Food Ablaze

via Psfk | Wired