by Furnishly | Feb 25, 2023 | Design Inspiration, Style
Deciding how to decorate your desk is tricky. One way to spruce it up is by adding family photos that telegraph happy memories. These images can help you get through a busy day at work. If your desk is near a window, place a few standing frames on the windowsill. This will clear up surface space. You can also hang a few favorite photos above your desk or install floating shelves for more display space. A bedroom dresser can be another great place to set out a few of your prized snaps, as seen in this Queens apartment. Don’t be afraid to place a few smaller shots in front of larger ones; layering will add dimension, character, and variety.
by Furnishly | Dec 9, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
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Despite being firmly in the millennial generation, I am sometimes put off by technology. For example, the thought of changing printer ink gives me hives. This is the sole reason that, until very recently, I’d never owned a printer or photo printer. It’s too intimidating. I’m also terrible at remembering to order photos online, so when HP offered to let me test their portable, instant photo printer, I said yes.
I still let it sit in the box for about a week, dubious that I would be able to set it up. I made my boyfriend help me, because his professional background is 3D printing and computers, so I thought that made him a qualified printer set-up guy. Luckily, all I had to do was download the HP Sprocket app in the app store, which gave me very clear instructions. There was no hefty instruction pamphlet involved. I connected to the printer instantly through Bluetooth and did a test print, which all went seamlessly. I was able to access my camera roll from the app and easily select what I wanted to print. No boyfriend needed (though he did hold the printer and marvel at how lightweight it was). Within 10 minutes, I had printed four 2″ x 3″ photos I had been wanting to print for my frames for YEARS. And I haven’t even told you the best part yet — it doesn’t require any ink. The ink is embedded in the photo paper. What a world we live in.
Honestly, I’ve had a harder time setting up my AirPods and Kindle. So for all of the reasons above, I want to gift this to my family and friends this year. It’s quick, easy, painless, and you get full-color photos printed without having any headaches. Sure, you might need to help set up the photo printer for your elderly grandmother, but once she’s connected to the app, it is nearly impossible to not be able to figure out how to print something. It’s maybe the smartest piece of technology I have come across. For example, if you run out of paper (the Sprocket comes with 10 pieces of photo paper), you can order it directly in the app — there won’t be questions about how to find it on Amazon. Although, you can order 100 sheets of photo paper on Amazon for less than $45 if you want.
The printer is a great gift for all ages. It’s so small that HP advertises it as being able to fit in your back pocket. Though my jeans pockets can’t quite handle it, it does fit in my sweatpants pockets and a small purse. It barely weighs anything. As someone who shares a one-bedroom apartment with another person, I can attest that the Sprocket takes up less space than a book. The printer also boasts a charge of 35 pictures, so you can bring it on the go to a friend’s housewarming or on vacation.
And if your giftee is a creative type, the Sprocket has a setting for collages. Your giftee can also turn photos into stickers (which is a great feature for scrapbookers) if they buy the sticker paper.
by Furnishly | Jun 11, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
From skyscrapers and museum buildings to cathedrals and historical structures, architecture plays an important part in where we choose to travel to. If you think about the tourist attractions in your nearest city, there’s a high chance that it will involve at least one magnificent piece of architecture that people flock to snap a photo and marvel in the impressive design. But which is the most popular piece of architecture in America right now?
A new study from online art and design marketplace SINGULART has revealed America’s most photographed architecture, taking into account Instagram data and the number of posts across relevant hashtags.
In first place is the Brooklyn Bridge, having received 3.5 million posts under the hashtag #brooklynbridge at the time of the study. Whether stood under it, in the middle of it, or the classic perched on the edge of it pose that graces many Instagram feeds.
In second place is another bridge, but this time on the West Coast: the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. The iconic red structure had 3.1 million Instagram tags at the time of the study. Taking the bronze medal is the Empire State Building, following up closely behind with three million posts. From exterior photos to snaps taken at the very top, the 102-story Art Deco skyscraper is a popular pick among both tourists and locals.
For those looking to up their game in photographing architecture, professional photographer Gregory Herp, who focuses his work largely on architecture, shared his top tips with SINGULART.
“Look around you and look for another angle, try to get on a roof on the other side of the street, or shift your position completely by incorporating one or more elements into your composition that will reinforce your image,” he says. “It’s not just a matter of standing at the bottom of a building, looking up and taking a picture! I have to look for my point of view, make these lines and volumes the actors of my image. Architecture is fascinating if I can make it bounce off something else in my composition.”
by Furnishly | May 28, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
Harnessing the power of images and art, renowned photographers from across the globe have teamed up to create the Images for Humanity collective, an eye-opening non-profit in aid of the Ukrainian crisis.
Launched earlier this month, the collective features photographs from a mix of more than 100 iconic, celebrated, and emerging photographers around the world, with all of the profits from the print sales going to the Ukrainian Red Cross.
Thanks to the generosity of artists and creatives—including Ruven Afandor, Kennedi Carter, Bobby Doherty, Ike Edeani, Todd Hido, Henry Leutwyler, Mary Ellen Mark, Dan Martensen, Yoshiyuki Matsumura, Philip Montgomery, Cait Oppermann, Mark Peterson, Rankin, Herb Ritts, Albert Watson, among many others—individuals can own an 8×10” archival print from an unsigned and un-numbered edition of ten with each $250 donation.
The stunning prints give an in-depth look into nature, humanity, and the world around us through thought-provoking snaps and designs. Below, just a small selection of the prints on offer.
Photographers Andy Anderson and Max Hirshfeld developed the idea for Images For Humanity earlier in 2022 as a way to be an agent for positive change. Calling upon their networks throughout the media world, the duo created a volunteer team of curators, editors, designers, and strategists, who quickly went to work building out the non-profit’s brand platforms and onboarding an expansive group of photographers to support the group’s Ukraine fundraiser.
“Witnessing what is happening in Ukraine, we knew we had to act,” Hirshfeld said in a press release. “We’ve been honored and humbled by the resounding ‘yes’ we heard from our friends and colleagues about getting involved. Photography is one of those rare mediums that speaks all languages. Historically, it has crossed borders and served the underserved, and it will again and again. Our main goal is to continue expanding upon this with our work today.”
“Photography has a longstanding relationship with crisis,” Anderson added. “It’s one of the most powerful tools we have in recording the actions of humanity and, in turn, holding ourselves accountable. Photos are an incredible advocate for change, and we’re honored to use our unique experience and connections to help make a difference and support other non-profits in their critical work.”
To learn more, view the full list of participating photographers and prints available, or make a donation, visit the Images for Humanity website.
by Furnishly | Feb 6, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
When it comes to leaving picture frames empty, I used to be among the worst offenders. My low point? I woke up to the adorable smile of someone else’s toddler for nearly a year before I finally put a photo of my own children in the frame hanging opposite my bed. (Yep, guilty.) Like every busy human being, I blamed it on time, but it was more than that.
Since it seemed so easy to print art and photos to any dimension (and it really is!), I’d foolishly leave the filling for last and focus first on nailing the frame size and location. The problem was, after planning, shopping, measuring, and hanging, I’d feel accomplished for winning the blank wall or tabletop battle, and I’d let myself take a breather instead of quickly deciding what art or photos to put inside.
Sometimes weeks or months would go by before I’d realize I’d become design blind to a frame that was empty — or rather, filled with perfect strangers. Only when company was coming and I did that fresh-eye room scan about 30 minutes before the doorbell rang did I notice my unfinished projects.
I love interior design and decorating, so why was it so hard for me to fill a darn frame? If she could, that sweet toddler on my bedroom wall would whisper three words: fear of commitment. She’d be right. I needed to be reminded that frames are designed for easy swaps; it’s really okay to not get it right at first or to simply change your mind. That’s when I decided to try this trick: Before I step away from a newly hung frame, I print a photo or piece of art to size using my home printer and tape it to the front of the frame or mount it inside. It’s quick, cheap, and more convenient than even a 1-hour photo pickup, but most importantly, it takes the pressure off picking the just-right art or photos the first time. If I’m not feeling my printout in a few days or hours, I can easily pick something else to print for a test run. Then, when I’m positive I’ve got the right art or photo for the space, I place my order for a higher-quality print.
I did this in my bedroom, which you can see above, and it worked like a dream. Sometimes you do get it right on the first try, but taking a beat to visualize your walls or shelfie with this trick is always worth it. Now whenever I hang a new frame I remind myself that staring at something you love is always better than staring at nothing you love.
