Jamie Lee Curtis gets animated while giving first look at new horror graphic novel Mother Nature at Comic-Con in San Diego amid WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike: ‘There will be blood in this book’

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Jamie Lee Curtis wrapped up her decades-long run playing Laurie Strode in the Halloween film franchise with her role in Halloween Ends (2022).

But it turns out the Academy Award-winning actress isn’t quite done with the horror genre, just yet.

On Friday, Curtis offered up a first look at her upcoming horror graphic novel Mother Nature at the 2023 Comic-Con at the San Diego Convention Center.

The Scream Queen made her way on stage in front of a packed house full of fans eager to learn more about the graphic novel, which she revealed originated from an idea she had as a teenager living in Southern California.

‘Of course, I had some gruesome deaths because I have a very dark mind,’ she told the audience while laughing and smiling, as reported by Entertainment Weekly.

Preview: Jamie Lee Curtis, 64, gave a first-look at her upcoming graphic novel Mother Nature during 2023 Comic-Con International in San Diego

Preview: Jamie Lee Curtis, 64, gave a first-look at her upcoming graphic novel Mother Nature during 2023 Comic-Con International in San Diego

Dressed in all-black, the actress confessed she played around with the idea of writing the story in a screenplay form for years, but didn’t get serious about publishing it until 2018.

She credits her husband, Christopher Guest, for encouraging her to do the footwork, first as a screenplay and then as a graphic novel.

Curtis ended up co-writing the story with Russell Goldman, while Karl Stevens served up all the graphic illustrations.

Set in the fictional town of Catch Creek, New Mexico, the book follows a young ecological activist named Nova Terrel, who discovers a company conducting an experimental oil extraction project in her hometown.

It doesn’t take long before she realizes those experiments have unearthed an ancient horror that subsequently sets off a wave of death and destruction.

Much of the story delves into Navajo characters and mythology, which Curtis, Goldman, and Stevens all studied in recent years, while collaborating with indigenous experts, including Navajo author Brian Young, who wrote the graphic novel’s afterword.

As for the horror fans, who are expecting gruesome storytelling: there’s all kinds of gory theatrics told through an environmentalist tale that includes people being killed by hailstorms and crushed by collapsing oil machinery.

And while the story is fictional, Curtis is hoping the environmentalist themes in Mother Nature can inspire change, when it comes to the state of Mother Earth.

‘We’re f***ing the world! We need to do better. There is a possibility of change, but we are going to have to do it,’ she declared.

Peace man: Curtis offered up a peace sign w=during her walk through the hallways at of 2023 Comic-Con International at the San Diego Convention Center

Peace man: Curtis offered up a peace sign w=during her walk through the hallways at of 2023 Comic-Con International at the San Diego Convention Center

Proud: The Academy Award-winning actress got animated when she took to the stage to promote Mother Nature, which she wrote with Russell Goldman, while Karl Stevens served up all the graphic illustrations

Proud: The Academy Award-winning actress got animated when she took to the stage to promote Mother Nature, which she wrote with Russell Goldman, while Karl Stevens served up all the graphic illustrations

Hilarious: 'Of course, I had some gruesome deaths because I have a very dark mind,' she told the audience while laughing, smiling and making funny faces

Hilarious: ‘Of course, I had some gruesome deaths because I have a very dark mind,’ she told the audience while laughing, smiling and making funny faces

Set in the fictional town of Catch Creek, New Mexico, the book follows a young ecological activist named Nova Terrel, who discoers a company conducting an experimental oil extraction project in her hometown.

Premise: Set in the fictional town of Catch Creek, New Mexico, the book follows a young ecological activist named Nova Terrel, who discovers a company conducting an experimental oil extraction project in her hometown

Premise: Those experiments by the company unearth an ancient horror that subsequently sets off a wave of death and destruction

Premise: Those experiments by the company unearth an ancient horror that subsequently sets off a wave of death and destruction

Curtis went on to reveal there’s a plan in place to make a film version of Mother Nature that she hopes to direct or co-direct.

‘You know, I’m 65 years old this November, but my point is that I have no time to waste,’ she explained. ‘I joke about it, but I’m going to die way sooner than later, and therefore, I have s**t to do! This is one of the things that I needed to do, and I’m excited about it.’

This year’s Comic-Con in San Diego didn’t have the whirlwind feel of previous events, due to the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike. SAG-AFTRA has prohibited its members from promoting its film and TV projects.

Curtis, who’s been an avid supporter of the writers, was only allowed to attend because she was deemed a comic book author.

Didn't cross line: Curtis, who's been an avid supporter of WGA and AFTRA/SAG, was only allowed to attend the event because she was deemed a comic book author

Didn’t cross line: Curtis, who’s been an avid supporter of WGA and AFTRA/SAG, was only allowed to attend the event because she was deemed a comic book author

Long-time coming: Curtis had the initial ideas for the story when she was a teenager

Emotional: The Halloween star shows plenty of enthusiasm while pitching the story of her graphic novel/comic

Long-time coming: Curtis was encouraged to write Mother Nature, beginning in 2018, by her husband Christopher Guest

Long-time coming: Curtis was encouraged to write Mother Nature, beginning in 2018, by her husband Christopher Guest 

First-look: The Scream Queen icon shared a look at the illustrations by Karl Stevens on her instagram page after the event

First-look: The Scream Queen icon shared a look at the illustrations by Karl Stevens on her instagram page after the event

Promo mode: The Santa Monica native showed off the cover of the graphic novel/comic

Promo mode: The Santa Monica native showed off the cover of the graphic novel/comic

Movie version: Curtis went on to reveal there's a plan in place to make a film version of Mother Nature that she hopes to direct or co-direct

Movie version: Curtis went on to reveal there’s a plan in place to make a film version of Mother Nature that she hopes to direct or co-direct

Show of support: Curtis continued her vocal support of WGA and SAG/AFTRA, amid the ongoing strike

Show of support: Curtis continued her vocal support of WGA and SAG/AFTRA, amid the ongoing strike

Show of solidarity: Two days earlier, Curtis pushed for people to 'stand with strikers'

Show of solidarity: Two days earlier, Curtis pushed for people to ‘stand with strikers’ 

Afterwards she took to her Instagram page and shared her support for the writers again with a photo of the union logo. 

‘What a thrilling day! @sdcomic_con @titancomics @karlstevensart @russell_goldman @sagaftra,’ she wrote in the caption. 

About an hour later, she gave her 5.4 million Instagram fans and followers a look at the illustrations by sifting through the pages in a video she posted.

She also gave a few shout outs in the caption. writing, ‘MOTHER NATURE @titancomics @karlstevensart @russell_goldman @mothernatureprojects.’

Two days earlier, Curtis who’s the daughter of Hollywood icons Tony Curtis and Janey Leigh, gave another show of solidarity with WGA and SAG-AFTRA by posting a graphic showing her image and a ‘stand with strikers’ sign.

‘STRONGER TOGETHER @sagaftra,’ she announced in the caption.

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Dad thinks he’s taken photo of ‘pterodactyl’ dinosaur flying over nature reserve in Buckinghamshire

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A dad who was taking some wildlife snaps at a nature reserve was stunned after seeming to capture a ‘pterodactyl’ on camera.

It was taken by animal snapper, Paul Squires, at a nature reserve, and no, it wasn’t called ‘Jurassic Park’. It was Spade Oak Nature Reserve in Buckinghamshire.

He was out there to see if he could snap some of the many varieties of wildlife that live in the area, but ended up getting something that he hadn’t counted on.

Here's the photo that Paul Squires took. Credit: Kennedy News and Media/Paul Squires
Here’s the photo that Paul Squires took. Credit: Kennedy News and Media/Paul Squires

Sadly, it wasn’t an extinct flying lizard that he actually took a photo of, but once you see the picture, it takes a minute to realise what it actually is. It really does look like a dinosaur, right?

The shape of the wings, coupled with what appears to be the famous head of the pterodactyl, you can see where his confusion came from.

Whilst photographing the red kites in the area, the 52-year-old accidentally captured one from such an angle that it looked like a pterodactyl.

He’d thought very little of it, before spotting the picture lurking in the camera roll later on.

It’s actually an optical illusion, with the back of the red kite looking like the head of the ‘pterodactyl’.

After he shared the shot on Facebook, thousands of people liked, shared, and commented on his post.

Paul loves taking photographs of wildlife. Credit: Kennedy News and Media/Paul Squires
Paul loves taking photographs of wildlife. Credit: Kennedy News and Media/Paul Squires

Paul explained: “I was out and about with my camera, there are loads of kites in this area, I love taking pictures of wildlife.

“When I was flicking through my pictures the other day I thought ‘what the hell is that? That looks like a dinosaur flying’.

“Why have I got a pterodactyl in my photos?’

“I took another look and then realised it was a red kite.

“I knew I hadn’t had a Jurassic encounter and that it was an optical illusion.

“Within seconds I realised what it was – that it was a red kite’s tail.

“But if you look at it quickly you do see the pterodactyl.”

Paul later shared the pic on Facebook. Credit: Kennedy News and Media/Paul Squires
Paul later shared the pic on Facebook. Credit: Kennedy News and Media/Paul Squires

Since sharing it on Facebook, he’s been enjoying the jokes and feedback on his work.

“Most people did enjoy it,” he said.

“It’s the most like[s] I’ve had on a photo I’ve shared.

“I’ve never captured an optical illusion like this before, I’m really pleased I caught it at the right time.

“I just love being out among the wildlife, in nature, it’s peaceful, quiet and it puts your mind at rest from busy everyday life and it’s great to capture those memories.”

One comment read: “Wonderful capture…. this must’ve been a warp in the space-time continuum!!”

Another – referencing Jurassic Park – said: “Wow!!!! So that’s where they flew to after leaving the island.”

A third wrote: “Had to look a few times before I could make out what it was.”

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Get in touch with nature in Taipei and New Taipei

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A cool fact about Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, is that part of the Yangmingshan National Park, one of the nine national parks on the island nation, is in the city and even extends into New Taipei City.

For a Bangkokian who lives in a concert jungle, you wouldn’t expect a national park within the capital or even a city, would you?

Within the national park, there are various landscapes worthy of visiting from waterfalls to mountain peaks, including Min Yang Pu Leisure Farm where hydrangea and calla lilies are in full bloom from May to July.  

Hydrangea and hot coffees at Min Yang Pu Leisure Farm 

For TW$150 per person or about B160, you can enjoy all the flowers that the cosy farm has to offer, take plenty of photos and later redeem the entry fee for a cup of coffee or a bouquet of hydrangeas or lilies. A reasonable deal.

Next to the farm are vast green fields, which precede a lush mountain range partially hidden behind fog on the horizon. Quite an unreal scene and you don’t have to go that high up from the sea level to behold it. There are several obvious photo-taking spots within the farm such as a cute pink car with balloons (as you do when you’re surrounded by mountains), a big swing and a shallow pond with stepping stones in the shape of leaves.  

After appreciating the different shades of hydrangeas, which range from white, blue, purple and pink and take plenty of photos, sip a hot coffee as you enjoy the chilly weather. 

Lion’s Head Mountain Park Trail

If you want to ramp up the pedometer on your smartwatch while enjoying Mother Earth, head to Lion’s Head Mountain Park Trail, which is near the northernmost tip of Taiwan and a 13-minute drive from Yangmingshan National Park’s boundary on the New Taipei City side. 

The trail features several scenic spots but concludes at a pavilion that overlooks the Twin Candlesticks rock formation, which stands in the ocean below. If you stick to the shortest route, it’ll be a little more than 1.3km, which is very doable for a sedentary person like me.  

The main path I took doesn’t contain any sharp elevations, only gradual slopes along the way, as the park is about 70m above sea level. Verdant green and towering trees are aplenty along the path with a few stop spots to take in the view. The last scenic spot before you reach the pavilion at the end of the trail offers a very expansive and diverse view of the natural-and-manmade landscape below, which covers the sea, Huanggang Fishing Harbour, Jishan Beach, Huang River and Mount Qixing on the horizon. 

There’s an obvious photo-taking spot at the end of the trail. It’s circular steel on a viewing rock platform, which frames the Twin Candlesticks in the centre so you can pose and take a photo with them. While I can’t behold the beauty of the candlesticks up close, there was something quite mesmerising to see the lonely rock formation sticking out in the middle of the sea while the sky was foggy. 

Dip your legs into a golden pond at Huanggang Community Public Hot Springs Center

After an active day, you may want to relax your legs and feet in the warmth of natural spring water. The Huanggang Community Public Hot Springs Center in New Taipei City’s Jishan isn’t far from the trail, about a five-minute ride away.

Taiwan is known for its many natural springs despite its compact size, warranting a Wikipedia entry of its own on this hot topic (see what I did). Soaking in hot springs à la Japanese onsen became popular during Japan’s 50-year colonial rule. The more you know.

What makes this hot spring stand out is its high iron content, which turns the water brownish or gold (more like the colour of Thai tea) due to the oxidation of iron and salt in the water. You can soak your legs and feet for free in the three outdoor ponds with varying hotness. A few locals laid on towels next to these ponds, to absorb the supposed health benefits, which include joint improvement and rash relief. It’s quite refreshing to wash your legs with tap water after soaking them in warm water. 

Visit taiwantourism.org or fb.com/itstimefortaiwanth. 

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Dad shocks internet after posting picture of ‘pterodactyl’ flying over UK nature reserve | UK | News

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A shocked dad thought he captured a photo of a pterodactyl while birding in Buckinghamshire in the UK.

Paul Squires was on a three-hour walk at Spade Oak Nature Reserve in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, UK, when he captured the illusion.

The amateur wildlife photographer snapped several pictures of red kites which live in the area but when he was flicking through the photos at home he was given a start by what appeared to be a pterodactyl.

When Squires shared the image on Facebook it received around 1,200 likes, shares and comments as others also saw the prehistoric animal in the photos.

He said of the strange pictures: “ I was out and about with my camera, there are loads of kites in this area, I love taking pictures of wildlife. When I was flicking through my pictures the other day I thought ‘What the hell is that? That looks like a dinosaur flying’. Why have I got a pterodactyl in my photos?’

“I took another look and then realized it was a red kite. I knew I hadn’t had a Jurassic encounter and that it was an optical illusion. Within seconds I realized what it was – that it was a red kite’s tail. But if you look at it quickly you do see the pterodactyl.”

The perfectly-timed shot gives the illusion of a pterodactyl’s head but it is really just the bird of prey’s tail.

The 52-year-old photographer often snaps pics of wildlife in his area but the pic of the pterodactyl is his most-liked photo on social media, he said.

Pterodactyl is a common name for a group of winged reptiles that lived among the dinosaurs.

The animals went extinct, along with other non-avian dinosaurs, around 66 million years ago leaving no living relatives, only fossils.

There were many species of the carnivorous animals and some were very large – one called the Quetzalcoatlus had a wing span of up to 39 feet (12 meters).

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Living in nature’s pocket – Chinadaily.com.cn

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The Shanghai Research Institute of Sports Science removed its fences to open up nearly 1,800 sq m of green space to the public. [Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily]

Number of parks and green spaces in the city continues to grow as authorities look to improve quality of life, Zhou Wenting reports.

In the spring of 2013, Yu Fangfei spent more than 90 minutes traveling by public transport from her home in southwest Shanghai”s Minhang district to Gucun Park in the city’s northern Baoshan district just to admire the cherry blossoms.

That spring, around 1.05 million visitors flocked to the park for the same reason.

This year, courtesy of a small new public park near her home, Yu spent just five minutes traveling on foot to admire the blooms.

According to Yu, the park was converted from a former construction site that was left idle for several years. Nowadays, the park is bustling both day and night, especially in the spring and summer.

It is just one of the many pocket parks that have sprouted up in the city since 2021 because of the campaign to create more green spaces for Shanghai residents to rest and relax and to spruce up communities.

The campaign to create such leisure spaces is part of Shanghai’s ongoing urban master plan.

Xu Mingqian, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources, said at a news conference on June 30 that the local government will step up the construction of community parks and pocket parks, and introduce more cultural, tourism, and sports resources to neighborhoods, providing residents with pleasant, highly accessible, and interconnected green spaces.

The plan also involves optimizing community circles so that every resident will have access to diversified services within a 15-minute walking radius from their home.

Pocket parks originated in the United States in the 1960s. Other cities around the world, including Venice and Barcelona, also have a mature network of pocket parks that brings nature into their cityscapes.

According to official statistics, there were 22,463 hectares of parks and green spaces in Shanghai as of the end of 2021, up from 16,848 hectares in 2012. This means that green spaces 27 times the size of the Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, the largest botanical garden in the city, have been added to the city over the last decade.

Zhu Xinjun, chief engineer of the Shanghai Landscaping and City Appearance Administrative Bureau, said that the goal was to build many small parks instead of a few large ones as this would enable more residents to enjoy such spaces.

Shanghai had, by 2022, completed the construction or renewal of 390 pocket parks, and it will add another 80 to that number this year. The ultimate goal is to build at least 1,000 parks in Shanghai by 2025.

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Blakeney National Nature Reserve | Norfolk

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At the heart of the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Blakeney National Nature Reserve boasts wide open spaces and uninterrupted views of the beautiful North Norfolk coastline. The four mile long shingle spit of Blakeney Point offers protection for Blakeney Harbour and the surrounding saltmarshes, providing a perfect habitat for the vast array of residential and migratory wildlife.

Internationally important, the reserve is noted for its spectacular displays of the summer breeding tern colony and winter breeding grey seals ensuring delight for visitors all year round. Great for walkers, sightseers and wildlife enthusiasts alike, Blakeney National Nature Reserve guarantees an inspiring and memorable visit no matter the season. 

The best way to see the wildlife on Blakeney Point is to enjoy a ferry trip, departing from Morston Quay.

Please note: nearest toilets are at Morston Quay and Blakeney Quay (not National Trust).

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Nature’s Bakery Summer Sidekick Tour Bus at Revere Beach Sand Sculpting Festival July 28-30

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Nature’s Bakery will take over the Festival handing out over 100,000 snack bar samples as part of its Summer Sidekick tour

BOSTON, July 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ —

Nature's Bakery logo (PRNewsfoto/AMP Agency)

Nature’s Bakery logo (PRNewsfoto/AMP Agency)

WHO:  Nature’s Bakery, a brand dedicated to creating soft-baked snacks that are equally wholesome, delicious, and accessible

WHAT:  Nature’s Bakery Summer Sidekick Tour Bus

  • Nature’s Bakery will be kicking the fun up a notch and fueling the day’s festivities with over 100,000 plant-based, soft-baked snack bars for attendees at the Revere Beach Sand Sculpting Festival.

  • Nature’s Bakery bars are the ultimate sidekick to summer, fueling each activity with wholesome, delicious snacks that won’t melt or crumble during summer fun.

  • Whether you’re planning a more laid-back vacation or a whirlwind of adventures, Nature’s Bakery has a bar that’s perfect for every summer activity. The brand’s experts will be on-site to help snackers pick the perfect product to enjoy.

  • Attendees can enjoy a sampling of Nature’s Bakery’s beloved snack bars, as well as photo opportunities and more.

WHERE:  Revere Beach Sand Sculpting Festival at 220 Shirley Ave in Revere, Mass.

WHEN:  Friday, July 28, 2023; 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Saturday, July 29, 2023; 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sunday, July 30, 2023; 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

VISUAL OP:  VW van Summer Sidekick Tour Bus with large frame at the front of the bus with fabric beach chairs, summer beach balls and balloons.

For more information on Nature’s Bakery, visit www.naturesbakery.com.

Cision

Cision

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SOURCE Nature’s Bakery

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Local photographers bag festival prize

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The theme of this year’s Wyndham Learning Festival is ‘Our Creative Community’ and in local creatives Ashlee Brown and Thavishi Bandara, the festival has two prime examples.

Brown and Bandara have been chosen as winners of the Way Out West photography competition and will have their photos emblazoned across 5000 bags to be used during the festival from September 1 to 7.

Brown, a 26-year-old mother of three from Werribee, won for her photo of the Werribee River.

Titled ‘Down by The River’ it expresses her deep connection to the river and the feeling of comfort and inspiration it provides her.

15 year old Bandara’s winning entry ‘One small step for man. One giant leap for mother nature’ is a photo of her boots captured on her father’s iPhone.

Bandara added purple laces, flowers from her family’s garden and splashes of water to enhance the image.

The bags will feature one of the two winning photos on one side and the Wyndham Learning Festival logo on the other.

The 2023 program features a wide array of events, but will be headlined by celebrated children’s author Mem Fox who will launch the festival at the Wyndham Cultural Centre on the evening of Friday September 1.

For more details and to register, visit: wynlearnfestival.org.au.



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Stunning Nature Photography Show Extended for Climate Awareness

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“What is more powerful than fear?” SeaLegacy asks, “Hope. As a simple word, it holds a sheer strength to propel you forward when it appears you have little left to hold on to. A wanting glimpse, an immense presence, or a passing thought, hope draws into any mind that seeks its guidance. And it is the very word that leads and embodies our co-founders, Cristina Mittermeier, Andy Mann, and Paul Nicklen.”

To truly understand the depth of this message, the Town of Greenwich is co-hosting cool Arctic and nautical images by celebrated wildlife photographers and partners Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier at C. Parker Gallery in Greenwich, Connecticut. This gallery showcase of the Canadian and Mexican-born photographers has been extended a full month through July 30th. But as with the realities of climate change, time is running out!

Greenwich is an affluent enclave 40 minutes from Manhattan, and these works have also drawn attention from such pedigreed stars as Justin Timberlake (rumored Connecticut resident) as well as Prince Hussain Aga Khan, Jennifer Garner and Katie Couric. But celebrity aside, both photographers co-founded the organization SeaLegacy.org in 2014, where they use their images spreading the message to save the planet to as wide an audience as possible.

Their work has been published in hundreds of prominent magazines, including National Geographic, TIME, the Washington Post, and CNN among others.

“My photographs are a way of lowering the price of entry into the most important conversation we can have,” Mittermeier explained to Zain Asher in a CNN International video shared with the press release, “And that is the future of life on earth.”

“If we don’t acknowledge the system that has been keeping us alive for millions of years, then we’ll disappear,” Nicklen echoed.

If you are not interested in solely acquiring an image, Mittermeier and Nicklen invite smaller-donor members to join The Tide, an ocean-focused initiative to save turtles and other important marine wildlife directly through SeaLegacy.org.

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Adeolu Osibodu puts us in a trance with his otherworldly photos inspired by nature

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An encounter with Adeolu Osibodu’s photography is akin to your first time finding escapism. Starting out at 18, the Lagos-born, London-based photo artist has gone from documenting plants, clouds and nature to surrealist imagery. Crafted both on the scene and in post-production, his work speaks to the heart of our emotions. “It’s about being able to speak about or witness my surroundings without the use of words,” he says. “Starting out I was watching a lot of movies, recalling my dreams and listening to my urge to create.”

With a penchant for capturing people being at one with nature, his lens dances with the elements – earth, wind, fire and water – with partly obscured figures, who are sometimes in the periphery and sometimes at the centre. “The images don’t necessarily rely on the subjects themselves but more so the situation or scenario they’re in,” he tells us. “They represent my thoughts, ideas or scenes that are in this ‘otherworld’.” And having initially tested out his ideas through self-portraiture, his understanding of the craft is a special one both behind and in front of the camera. It is safe to say that Adeolu has both worldly and otherworldly inspiration at the core of his practice and, by your second encounter, you will find it impossible to avoid dreaming too.

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