Walking on eggshells: The food artist who captures the daily grind in miniature

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER


In life, you've got to break a few eggs: The miniature people appear to be investigating what is down the hole


It is the daily grind of life captured in magnificent detail - with one or two slight differences.

American artist Christopher Boffoli has spent three years capturing these everyday scenes using only supplies from the grocery store and a tiny plastic figures.

Each scene is meticulously planned by Boffoli before being painstakingly assembled in his home studio - sometimes taking hours to complete.


What a job! A man wipes mustard off a hot dog in another of Mr Boffoli's exquisite pieces


The food has to be cut and arranged before the figures can be placed on them using either a clear adhesive such as agave nectar or by piercing holes with a toothpick and placing the models into them.

Boffoli began shooting the project, which he calls 'Disparity', in 2007.

Boffoli said: 'It takes a lot of patience to make these tiny scenes as the figures are prone to falling over after they are set. It can take up to 25 attempts to get the perfect shot.

'I have always been interested in size disparity and a juxtaposition of scales between people and things ever since I owned a tiny model train world as a kid.'


Out on the lawn: A man cuts the grass on some broccoli


Creative: Mr Boffoli uses icing to create the illusion of two men wading through deep snow


'There is in some part a god-like feeling to having command of an entire world, which you can rearrange at any capricious whim. I often make a special trip to the grocery store or speciality bake shop for a shoot,' he said.

'And I have to be extra selective in choosing food that looks good. But I particularly like working with patisserie because I can nibble on the leftovers after the shoot.'

Boffoli, who has toured his Disparity collection in galleries throughout the USA, added: 'Coming up with an interesting image is only half the battle - a caption that will make people smile is also a big part of my work.'

The series of images is inspired by Walter martin and Paloma Munoz's 'Travellers' - in which the artists placed small figurines in disturbing scenes inside snow globes.

The American photojournalist, who has been taking pictures since he first received a camera in 1985 as a birthday gift, captured the shots on his Canon 5D Mark II.


Gone bananas: Mr Boffoli explains how his work requires enormous patience as the sets are prone to falling apart


Hours of work: Even the tiny man's clothes are finished to the highest standard of quality

source: dailymail

So much for elf 'n' safety: Scaffolding that looks like a stairway to heaven (if the builders aren't careful)

By LEE MORAN

Best foot forward: Workmen put up scaffolding for a new shopping mall in Bhubaneswar, India


It is a city famous for its architecture and ancient temples - where construction methods seem to have remained firmly in the past.

This incredible photograph shows the death-defying lengths workmen in the east Indian city of Bhubaneswar are going to in building a new shopping mall.

Each of these 15 workers are seen perched precariously on panels of thin wire mesh, as they pass poles up to each other to put up a scaffold.


As capital of the Orissa state, Bhubaneswar was one of India's first planned cities and is currently enjoying a mini-boom in the retail industry.

Telecommunications, IT and engineering firms poured into the city in the 1990s - leading to the increase in demand for shopping malls.


source: dailymail

22-stone bride-to-be orders size 12 wedding dress... and then SLIMS to squeeze into it

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Beautiful bride: Beth Wheeler lost 10 stone ahead of her wedding so that she could fit into her dream dress


Almost all brides try to slim down a little ahead of their big day. However Beth Wheeler was more dedicated to her diet plan than most.

The 36-year-old weighed 22 stone when she got engaged.

But she ordered a size 12 wedding dress and put herself on a strict diet so she could shed 10 stone and fit into her dream gown a little more than a year later.

She embarked on a healthy eating and living campaign and shed more than half her body weight to reach her target of 12 stone just four days before her wedding at Halswell House near Bridgwater, Somerset.


In his wedding speech, James joked: 'When you get married you often get more than you expected, well I'm getting less'


'Anyone who has ever tried to lose weight will know that you can do it on your own for a few weeks but then easily become fed up so having something to aim for kept me focused.'

Beth weighed 22st 1lb when she joined her Weight Watchers group in April 2009.

The weight began to fall off steadily and she ordered her stunning wedding gown in October 2010, telling the seamstress that she aimed to be a size 12 on her wedding day.

Beth even managed to resist the temptations of festive food over the Christmas period and went on to shed the pounds through to her wedding day.

She was delighted when she stepped on the scales on February 20 this year - and found she had finally reached her goal of 12st.


source: dailymail

22-stone bride-to-be orders size 12 wedding dress... and then SLIMS to squeeze into it

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Beautiful bride: Beth Wheeler lost 10 stone ahead of her wedding so that she could fit into her dream dress


Almost all brides try to slim down a little ahead of their big day. However Beth Wheeler was more dedicated to her diet plan than most.

The 36-year-old weighed 22 stone when she got engaged.

But she ordered a size 12 wedding dress and put herself on a strict diet so she could shed 10 stone and fit into her dream gown a little more than a year later.

She embarked on a healthy eating and living campaign and shed more than half her body weight to reach her target of 12 stone just four days before her wedding at Halswell House near Bridgwater, Somerset.


In his wedding speech, James joked: 'When you get married you often get more than you expected, well I'm getting less'


'Anyone who has ever tried to lose weight will know that you can do it on your own for a few weeks but then easily become fed up so having something to aim for kept me focused.'

Beth weighed 22st 1lb when she joined her Weight Watchers group in April 2009.

The weight began to fall off steadily and she ordered her stunning wedding gown in October 2010, telling the seamstress that she aimed to be a size 12 on her wedding day.

Beth even managed to resist the temptations of festive food over the Christmas period and went on to shed the pounds through to her wedding day.

She was delighted when she stepped on the scales on February 20 this year - and found she had finally reached her goal of 12st.


source: dailymail

22-stone bride-to-be orders size 12 wedding dress... and then SLIMS to squeeze into it

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Beautiful bride: Beth Wheeler lost 10 stone ahead of her wedding so that she could fit into her dream dress


Almost all brides try to slim down a little ahead of their big day. However Beth Wheeler was more dedicated to her diet plan than most.

The 36-year-old weighed 22 stone when she got engaged.

But she ordered a size 12 wedding dress and put herself on a strict diet so she could shed 10 stone and fit into her dream gown a little more than a year later.

She embarked on a healthy eating and living campaign and shed more than half her body weight to reach her target of 12 stone just four days before her wedding at Halswell House near Bridgwater, Somerset.


In his wedding speech, James joked: 'When you get married you often get more than you expected, well I'm getting less'


'Anyone who has ever tried to lose weight will know that you can do it on your own for a few weeks but then easily become fed up so having something to aim for kept me focused.'

Beth weighed 22st 1lb when she joined her Weight Watchers group in April 2009.

The weight began to fall off steadily and she ordered her stunning wedding gown in October 2010, telling the seamstress that she aimed to be a size 12 on her wedding day.

Beth even managed to resist the temptations of festive food over the Christmas period and went on to shed the pounds through to her wedding day.

She was delighted when she stepped on the scales on February 20 this year - and found she had finally reached her goal of 12st.


source: dailymail

22-stone bride-to-be orders size 12 wedding dress... and then SLIMS to squeeze into it

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Beautiful bride: Beth Wheeler lost 10 stone ahead of her wedding so that she could fit into her dream dress


Almost all brides try to slim down a little ahead of their big day. However Beth Wheeler was more dedicated to her diet plan than most.

The 36-year-old weighed 22 stone when she got engaged.

But she ordered a size 12 wedding dress and put herself on a strict diet so she could shed 10 stone and fit into her dream gown a little more than a year later.

She embarked on a healthy eating and living campaign and shed more than half her body weight to reach her target of 12 stone just four days before her wedding at Halswell House near Bridgwater, Somerset.


In his wedding speech, James joked: 'When you get married you often get more than you expected, well I'm getting less'


'Anyone who has ever tried to lose weight will know that you can do it on your own for a few weeks but then easily become fed up so having something to aim for kept me focused.'

Beth weighed 22st 1lb when she joined her Weight Watchers group in April 2009.

The weight began to fall off steadily and she ordered her stunning wedding gown in October 2010, telling the seamstress that she aimed to be a size 12 on her wedding day.

Beth even managed to resist the temptations of festive food over the Christmas period and went on to shed the pounds through to her wedding day.

She was delighted when she stepped on the scales on February 20 this year - and found she had finally reached her goal of 12st.


source: dailymail

22-stone bride-to-be orders size 12 wedding dress... and then SLIMS to squeeze into it

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Beautiful bride: Beth Wheeler lost 10 stone ahead of her wedding so that she could fit into her dream dress


Almost all brides try to slim down a little ahead of their big day. However Beth Wheeler was more dedicated to her diet plan than most.

The 36-year-old weighed 22 stone when she got engaged.

But she ordered a size 12 wedding dress and put herself on a strict diet so she could shed 10 stone and fit into her dream gown a little more than a year later.

She embarked on a healthy eating and living campaign and shed more than half her body weight to reach her target of 12 stone just four days before her wedding at Halswell House near Bridgwater, Somerset.


In his wedding speech, James joked: 'When you get married you often get more than you expected, well I'm getting less'


'Anyone who has ever tried to lose weight will know that you can do it on your own for a few weeks but then easily become fed up so having something to aim for kept me focused.'

Beth weighed 22st 1lb when she joined her Weight Watchers group in April 2009.

The weight began to fall off steadily and she ordered her stunning wedding gown in October 2010, telling the seamstress that she aimed to be a size 12 on her wedding day.

Beth even managed to resist the temptations of festive food over the Christmas period and went on to shed the pounds through to her wedding day.

She was delighted when she stepped on the scales on February 20 this year - and found she had finally reached her goal of 12st.


source: dailymail

22-stone bride-to-be orders size 12 wedding dress... and then SLIMS to squeeze into it

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Beautiful bride: Beth Wheeler lost 10 stone ahead of her wedding so that she could fit into her dream dress


Almost all brides try to slim down a little ahead of their big day. However Beth Wheeler was more dedicated to her diet plan than most.

The 36-year-old weighed 22 stone when she got engaged.

But she ordered a size 12 wedding dress and put herself on a strict diet so she could shed 10 stone and fit into her dream gown a little more than a year later.

She embarked on a healthy eating and living campaign and shed more than half her body weight to reach her target of 12 stone just four days before her wedding at Halswell House near Bridgwater, Somerset.


In his wedding speech, James joked: 'When you get married you often get more than you expected, well I'm getting less'


'Anyone who has ever tried to lose weight will know that you can do it on your own for a few weeks but then easily become fed up so having something to aim for kept me focused.'

Beth weighed 22st 1lb when she joined her Weight Watchers group in April 2009.

The weight began to fall off steadily and she ordered her stunning wedding gown in October 2010, telling the seamstress that she aimed to be a size 12 on her wedding day.

Beth even managed to resist the temptations of festive food over the Christmas period and went on to shed the pounds through to her wedding day.

She was delighted when she stepped on the scales on February 20 this year - and found she had finally reached her goal of 12st.


source: dailymail

Oi! Come down right now! Moment mother orang-utan hauled in her baby who was climbing too high

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Break for freedom: Charlie begins his short ascent up the tree before his mother notices his attempt


Just like a curious toddler this adorable baby orang-utan wandered too far from his mother before she reeled him back in with her firm grip.

In an incredibly human-like scene naughty Charlie's mother clearly thought her mischievous baby had climbed far enough as he explored a tree at the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre in Sabah, Borneo.

And when Britt has had enough she simply extends one of her gigantic arms and scoops up her tiny king of the swingers before giving him a relieved cuddle.


Gotcha: Charlie's mother's long reach stops his climb as she grabs onto his neck to ensure his safety


Another astonishingly tender moment comes when Charlie's father Miskam wanders over to make sure his son is ok.

British photographer Dave Stevenson, 28, from London, caught the perfect moment as the doting father lovingly stares down into Charlie's eyes.

Dave pictured the touching scene of the primates - all rescue animals - during a visit to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Borneo, last month.


Family meeting: Dad Miskam comes over to check on his family, while Charlie upholds his mischievous reputation as he swings on the ropes


He said: 'Just like any mum, the further he moved away the more closely she watched, until her nerve gave out and she pulled him back.

'Charlie was doing what comes naturally to all babies - just exploring.

'He had been clinging to mum while she ate, but he started climbing solo. She looked away for a heartbeat and he started exploring higher and higher.


The camera captures this touching moment showing the incredible bond between mother and child as they are locked in an embrace


'Orangutans are amazingly adept climbers, but before he could get out of arms' reach she reached out a huge hand and brought him back down.

'It was a very gentle moment and it was very touching to see such a large animal treat such a small one so carefully.

'Watching dad Miskam come in at the end was great. Male orangutans tend not to play a role in raising infants, so witnessing a tender shot like this is rare.'


source: dailymail

Where did all the snow go? The polar bear who can't understand

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Where there should be snow, instead there is a field of purple flowers, confusing this polar bear


This confused polar bear looks as though he's taken a bit of a wrong turn - the Arctic landscape is covered in beautiful purple flowers instead of crisp white snow.

Far from being camouflaged, the bear can be seen from far away as he stands among thousands of fireweed flowers.

The pictures were taken by photographer Michael Poliza, 53, who couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the bear wandering across the landscape.


A changed landscape: Normally this area would be covered by snow at this time of year, but climate change means the ice has already retreated


He said: 'The polar bear was all by himself as they are very solitary animals anyway.
'But this one looked particularly sad as it wandered around, almost a though it didn't understand where the snow had gone.'

However stunning the pictures are though, they show the serious effect that climate change is having on our planet.

Polar bears are having to adapt to the changing world and forage for food inland.

Normally they do all their feeding on ice during the winter months, but each year the ice is melting earlier in the spring and forming later in autumn.

That means they are facing increasingly longer summers without fat reserves from seals.


Looking for food: Polar bears are solitary animals, but this one appeared particularly sad



The pictures were taken by Michael Poliza in Hudson Bay at Point Hubbard, Canada


Mr Poliza, from Hamburg, Germany, said: 'During the Arctic summer polar bears fast and spend most of their time resting.

'This polar bear still had three months to go before the seal hunting season began again. Because there are only about 25,000 polar bears left in the wild their future looks more uncertain than ever.

'The southern-most populations along the Hudson Bay are the most affected by climate change. And if this polar bear knew all that, he'd definitely look sad.'


source: dailymail

Just don't look down: Thrill-seeking photography craze brings STUNNING results from the top of the world

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

If you don't have a head for heights look away now. 'Rooftopping' the new photography craze pushes photographers to the limit as they hang off skyscrapers to capture the perfect image.


Anyone scared of heights need not apply.

It is one of the most gut-wrenching experiences imaginable, but 'Rooftopping', a new heart-stopping photography craze is sweeping across the globe.

Those brave enough to give it a try must go to the tops of the world's tallest buildings, shimmy to the side and then hang off the edge in a bid to capture the perfect picture.

Travel photographer Tom Ryaboi has spent his life dangling from buildings trying to achieve what he calls the ultimate rush. He said: 'When you climb to the top of a skyscraper and open its hatch for the first time, a pure rush of adrenaline hits you as you overlook the city from above.


Risky business: The stunning photography shots produce amazing results but photographers have to go to extreme lengths to capture the images


'There is a group of very dedicated individuals who will not rest until they are able to stand on every roof in the city and call it theirs, even if it's just for a minute or two.'

Describing his passion for 'Rooftopping' Mr Ryaboi, whose skyline shots of Toronto are putting 'Rooftopping' on the map, said: 'To this day my father often likes to tell the story of when he came home for work one day, my mother was already at home, and I was sitting on top of the fridge looking down on both of them.

'I was almost two years old then and they are still trying to figure out how I got up there. Here I am, 25 years later, still trying to sit on top of the tallest things I see.

'It is quite addictive, standing on top of the world, but there is something more. There is really only one way to find out what that is... I urge you to get on a roof and discover it for yourself.'


Curvy number: The new style of skyline photography has become an internet sensation and is sweeping the globe as photographers dangle off buildings


City of light: These urban images are revolutionising the way photographers capture images, though they must brave the heights to get spectacular results



The ultimate rush? Photographer Tom Ryaboi said standing on top of the world's tallest buildings, even if for only a minute, provides an a pure rush of adrenaline


source: dailymail

Just don't look down: Thrill-seeking photography craze brings STUNNING results from the top of the world

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

If you don't have a head for heights look away now. 'Rooftopping' the new photography craze pushes photographers to the limit as they hang off skyscrapers to capture the perfect image.


Anyone scared of heights need not apply.

It is one of the most gut-wrenching experiences imaginable, but 'Rooftopping', a new heart-stopping photography craze is sweeping across the globe.

Those brave enough to give it a try must go to the tops of the world's tallest buildings, shimmy to the side and then hang off the edge in a bid to capture the perfect picture.

Travel photographer Tom Ryaboi has spent his life dangling from buildings trying to achieve what he calls the ultimate rush. He said: 'When you climb to the top of a skyscraper and open its hatch for the first time, a pure rush of adrenaline hits you as you overlook the city from above.


Risky business: The stunning photography shots produce amazing results but photographers have to go to extreme lengths to capture the images


'There is a group of very dedicated individuals who will not rest until they are able to stand on every roof in the city and call it theirs, even if it's just for a minute or two.'

Describing his passion for 'Rooftopping' Mr Ryaboi, whose skyline shots of Toronto are putting 'Rooftopping' on the map, said: 'To this day my father often likes to tell the story of when he came home for work one day, my mother was already at home, and I was sitting on top of the fridge looking down on both of them.

'I was almost two years old then and they are still trying to figure out how I got up there. Here I am, 25 years later, still trying to sit on top of the tallest things I see.

'It is quite addictive, standing on top of the world, but there is something more. There is really only one way to find out what that is... I urge you to get on a roof and discover it for yourself.'


Curvy number: The new style of skyline photography has become an internet sensation and is sweeping the globe as photographers dangle off buildings


City of light: These urban images are revolutionising the way photographers capture images, though they must brave the heights to get spectacular results



The ultimate rush? Photographer Tom Ryaboi said standing on top of the world's tallest buildings, even if for only a minute, provides an a pure rush of adrenaline


source: dailymail

Just don't look down: Thrill-seeking photography craze brings STUNNING results from the top of the world

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

If you don't have a head for heights look away now. 'Rooftopping' the new photography craze pushes photographers to the limit as they hang off skyscrapers to capture the perfect image.


Anyone scared of heights need not apply.

It is one of the most gut-wrenching experiences imaginable, but 'Rooftopping', a new heart-stopping photography craze is sweeping across the globe.

Those brave enough to give it a try must go to the tops of the world's tallest buildings, shimmy to the side and then hang off the edge in a bid to capture the perfect picture.

Travel photographer Tom Ryaboi has spent his life dangling from buildings trying to achieve what he calls the ultimate rush. He said: 'When you climb to the top of a skyscraper and open its hatch for the first time, a pure rush of adrenaline hits you as you overlook the city from above.


Risky business: The stunning photography shots produce amazing results but photographers have to go to extreme lengths to capture the images


'There is a group of very dedicated individuals who will not rest until they are able to stand on every roof in the city and call it theirs, even if it's just for a minute or two.'

Describing his passion for 'Rooftopping' Mr Ryaboi, whose skyline shots of Toronto are putting 'Rooftopping' on the map, said: 'To this day my father often likes to tell the story of when he came home for work one day, my mother was already at home, and I was sitting on top of the fridge looking down on both of them.

'I was almost two years old then and they are still trying to figure out how I got up there. Here I am, 25 years later, still trying to sit on top of the tallest things I see.

'It is quite addictive, standing on top of the world, but there is something more. There is really only one way to find out what that is... I urge you to get on a roof and discover it for yourself.'


Curvy number: The new style of skyline photography has become an internet sensation and is sweeping the globe as photographers dangle off buildings


City of light: These urban images are revolutionising the way photographers capture images, though they must brave the heights to get spectacular results



The ultimate rush? Photographer Tom Ryaboi said standing on top of the world's tallest buildings, even if for only a minute, provides an a pure rush of adrenaline


source: dailymail

Just don't look down: Thrill-seeking photography craze brings STUNNING results from the top of the world

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

If you don't have a head for heights look away now. 'Rooftopping' the new photography craze pushes photographers to the limit as they hang off skyscrapers to capture the perfect image.


Anyone scared of heights need not apply.

It is one of the most gut-wrenching experiences imaginable, but 'Rooftopping', a new heart-stopping photography craze is sweeping across the globe.

Those brave enough to give it a try must go to the tops of the world's tallest buildings, shimmy to the side and then hang off the edge in a bid to capture the perfect picture.

Travel photographer Tom Ryaboi has spent his life dangling from buildings trying to achieve what he calls the ultimate rush. He said: 'When you climb to the top of a skyscraper and open its hatch for the first time, a pure rush of adrenaline hits you as you overlook the city from above.


Risky business: The stunning photography shots produce amazing results but photographers have to go to extreme lengths to capture the images


'There is a group of very dedicated individuals who will not rest until they are able to stand on every roof in the city and call it theirs, even if it's just for a minute or two.'

Describing his passion for 'Rooftopping' Mr Ryaboi, whose skyline shots of Toronto are putting 'Rooftopping' on the map, said: 'To this day my father often likes to tell the story of when he came home for work one day, my mother was already at home, and I was sitting on top of the fridge looking down on both of them.

'I was almost two years old then and they are still trying to figure out how I got up there. Here I am, 25 years later, still trying to sit on top of the tallest things I see.

'It is quite addictive, standing on top of the world, but there is something more. There is really only one way to find out what that is... I urge you to get on a roof and discover it for yourself.'


Curvy number: The new style of skyline photography has become an internet sensation and is sweeping the globe as photographers dangle off buildings


City of light: These urban images are revolutionising the way photographers capture images, though they must brave the heights to get spectacular results



The ultimate rush? Photographer Tom Ryaboi said standing on top of the world's tallest buildings, even if for only a minute, provides an a pure rush of adrenaline


source: dailymail

Boy, 3, nearly dies after '500,000-to-one' allergic reaction

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

George Williams, pictured with his mother Debbie after making a recovery, was struck down with Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Syndrome three weeks ago


A boy of three's skin was left ‘burning’ after a near fatal reaction to just half a teaspoon of a children's painkiller.

George Williams was left fighting for his life after a reaction to Nurofen - a commonly used over-the counter medicine - triggered a condition that caused him to be covered in huge blisters which split open.

George was struck down with Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis syndrome - which affects just one in half a million people, three weeks ago.

The condition, usually triggered by an allergic reaction, causes the sufferer’s skin to blister and burn, starting from the inside out.

His skin was so raw that his mother Debbie, 26, was not even able to cuddle him.
But George has made an incredible recovery - and only a month after he was taken into intensive care, has been able to return to nursery.


George's eyes swelled and his skin blistered after suffering from a one in 500,000 reaction to a children's medicine


Debbie, from Scunthorpe, said: 'Within a few hours of George taking the painkiller, his eyes had swollen up and started to close.

'I phoned an ambulance straight away, and he was taken to intensive care. His skin started to go red and open up - it was terrifying.

'Within a day, he looked like he’d fallen in a bonfire. His body was covered in huge blisters, his skin had split open and doctors were worried that his open wounds would get infected.

'He was in so much pain and couldn’t see because his eyes were so swollen. All I wanted to do was cuddle him, but I wasn’t allowed to touch him. It broke my heart.

'We’ve been told that he may not be able to cry properly in the future because of damage to his eyes - but that’s a small price to pay for having him alive.'



Michael Cork, professor of dermatology and a consultant at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, said: 'TENS is a very serious dermatological condition caused by an allergic reaction, which is extremely rare and only affects around one in half-a-million.

'We are pleased that, with the expertise of the team, George has made an excellent recovery and we wish him well.'

Dr Aomesh Bhatt, UK medical director of Nurofen for Children medicine said: 'We are very sorry to hear about this case and will investigate fully.

'Children's ibuprofen has a very well established safety record and allergic reactions to ibuprofen are extremely rare.'


source: dailymail