Photos on Glass

I saw this artwork by photographer Amanda Weil, in House Beautiful and I thought the idea of a transparent or translucent image printed on glass was intriguing.  Old daguerreotypes were printed on glass, so the idea could be adapted for some very steampunk images.

Weil makes furniture and screens as well as wall art, but for the DIY photographer, I'd look into Fracture.  You can get an 18 inch diagonal print on glass for $35.  According to their FAQ, "You'll be able to select "No Mount" for just the opaque printed glass or "Transparent" for the printed glass without any white background."  I think that, paired with a sepia or black and white toned photo, would make for a impressive wall.

Counting photos on the wall...

This is awesome -- the Chicago loft of stylist Jeffrey Moss.


The photo arrangement is incredible.



See more pictures here. Via DesignMom.

New! Steampunk Home Image Stream

I've been playing with a new visual bookmarking tool called vi.sualize.us, and I think it's going to be a great complement to the more formal content here at The Steampunk Home.

When I run across a picture I think might appeal to Steampunk Home readers, I can simply add it to my vi.sualize.us stream with a tag of "steampunkhome." You can view the pictures by following this link, viewing the badge on the left at The Steampunk Home, or subscribing using this rss feed.

I won't promise everything will be straight up steampunk (whatever that is), but whatever I find worthwhile -- inspiring pictures with ideas you might, or might not, like to adopt. Some of those pictures may get reworked into full posts, but many won't.

Let me know what you think!

India by Rail

By the photographer Steve McCurry. This was featured on a cover of National Geographic on "India by Rail."

The steam engine, with the Taj Mahal in the background, makes for one of the most romantic steampunk images I've ever seen.

Anachronistic Fantasy Photos by London Particulars

Reader Lori shared this artwork from Etsy seller London Particulars. It was her first introduction to steampunk, before she even knew what steampunk was. (Don't worry, Lori, it happens to all of us.)

I like artwork with a narrative, and this one definitely has one:

With his lightning-quick mind, a ball of string and a handful of seeds (which he kept about his person at all times), Professor Thistlequick took to the skies, in pursuit of Happiness, in a race through the clouds that was to last for much longer than he should have hoped…

Tria Giovan Photographs

Tria Giovan is a NY based photographer specializing in interiors. I stumbled across her work and thought there were some you'd like.

Copper bathtub, Gothic window -- it might be chilly to bathe in, but it's beautiful.

More Modern than what I usually like, but the light fixture, the industrial vanity, the artwork and the tub all add up to something special.

A great naturalist's collection.

Another modern setting -- but take note of how the early aeronautical diagrams and displayed over the bed.

I have a weekness for wood and white, and I love these stools.

all images from Redcover, if it isn't obvious.

Garden of Decay

Garden of Decay is a self published book of industrial decay and abandoned buildings that is captivating.


Be sure to click through for a mosaic of their images (including an abandoned Gothic church...)

Forgotten Beauty: Julie Shiel Photography

Yikes -- sorry for the two week hiatus, but when life and work get busy, my blogging suffers.

Julie Shiel takes photographs of the abandoned and decrepit, and in the process makes art that reminds us that no matter how well built or beautiful, without care and attention things disintegrate into nothingness. To me, they seem to be the real life counterpart to Tuomas Korpi's fantasy interiors.

More of the Edison Bar

Coilhouse and LAist both have new photo sets of the Edison bar, and a show called Lucent Dossier. These show a lot more detail than previous shots of the bar.

I wish I could have been there, it looks like a lovely time.

Previous Edison Bar Posts:
Edison Bar Analyzed
Interview with Andrew Meieran of the Edison Bar

Modern Daguerreotypes

Sally J, aka The Practical Archivist (an Internet acquaintance on two axis -- steampunk and family history technology!) dropped me a note to mention her recent musing on daguerreotypes (and a desire for one of the very steampunk Neverwas Haul) that led to a comment and correspondence from an real life daguerreotypist.

John Danforth loves to hand craft daguerreotypes for people based on existing photos they already have. John says high resolution color digital files work best. Many of his customers choose a favorite wedding photograph to be rendered as a beautiful keepsake.....
Why Daguerreotypes? According to John, there are two main reasons. The first is the incredible detail you get using this process. Anyone lucky enough to have seen a dag knows exactly what he's talking about. The other reason is close to [Sally's] heart: Longevity.

Wow, how cool would that be? Your wedding photo -- or family photo (Ah, the family Brumfield in all it's steampunk glory, hung over the fireplace?) turned into a daguerreotype?

The above picture is a daguerreotype from John's gallery. I love how it mixes the very 19th century Eiffel Tower with the very 21st century Google Maps on a Dell laptop.

Oh, and John is happy to teach you how to make daguerrotypes. If that's above your budget, hunt up the 2nd issue of Craft, which has an article about John's process.

Drains of Canada -- steampunk landscapes

Ben pointed me to this fascinating interview of Michael Cook, an urban explorer, on BLGBLOG today. ("Drains of Canada")

It's fascinating. Poke through some of the pictures -- I can't believe the urban drain system is this steampunk. Old brickworks -- rusty hydraulics -- arches -- pinpoints of light in the dark -- dirt and grime -- cogs and gears. Inspiring.