Concrete

The material's many forms explored in a beautiful monograph from Phaidon

From the Pantheon to the Hoover Dam, concrete has literally shaped the civilized world as we know it. Although once referred to as “the cheapest (and ugliest) thing in the building world” by Frank Lloyd Wright, concrete’s adaptive properties have propelled it to the forefront of many design movements from brutalism to modernism, being used in some of the most monumental structures the modern world …

Nikon COOLPIX

Three new point-and-shoot models from the compact line of digital cameras

The latest addition to the ever advancing world of photography sees three new cameras announced from Nikon today. Joining the COOLPIX line is the more advanced P7700, the tiny, credit card-sized S01 and the Android-powered S800c. Set to release in September 2012, the three point-and-shoot cameras each approach the consumer market from unique perspectives, while collectively staying true to the brand’s easy-to-use, handheld roots. The …

Presence: The Invisible Portrait

Photographer Chris Buck's revelatory book of hidden celebs

Over the past two decades, Canadian photographer Chris Buck has made his mark by putting famous people in vaguely incongruous situations and snapping at just the right moment. His creative take on portraiture not only exposes an alternative side of his subjects, but it also leads to images that are themselves intriguing even sans celebrity. His new book, “Presence: The Invisible Portrait,” explores this notion. …