We Vault Captures the Elegance of Equestrian Vaulting

To some, horseback riding is enough of a challenge; for others, it’s just one part of their performance. These gymnasts are specifically equestrian vaulters, an ancient sport that filmmaker Sharif Hamza explores in his latest short film, “We Vault.” Donning custom body suits, the vaulters first practice their acrobatics on stationary equipment, later taking their graceful moves to the tops of their equestrian companions. Using …

Tips from Ozzie Sweet’s 1958 book ‘My Camera Pays Off’

We apply the prolific commercial photographer's advice on taking better photos, 60 years later

Recently a friend of ours discovered, while cleaning out her mother’s storage unit, this 1958 book from prolific professional photographer Ozzie Sweet: “My Camera Pays Off.” It must have been quite useful to its former owner (her mother was an editor at a photography magazine) but after diving into Sweet’s hardcover ourselves, we also found that his advice on how to take great photos still …

A 390-Year-Old Bonsai Tree that Survived an Atomic Bomb

Washington DC’s National Arboretum will honor its oldest artifact this week: a 390-year-old bonsai tree from Japan. But perhaps more impressive than its age is the tree’s history—which was fortuitously revealed in 2001. The miniature white pine is actually a survivor of the 9,700-pound atomic bomb that hit Hiroshima and was quietly donated to the museum in 1976 by bonsai master Masaru Yamaki. “I find …