#very cool unusual eye shape and i love that he accentuates it

[khihi]

shoutout to when tommy does the drooping lids thing with his eyes, very cool facial feature you've got there pal

[boop-le-snoot]

If life gives you melons...

Ship: Loki x F!alt! reader

Rating: Explicit / word count 5,5k

Summary: You've heard about meet-cute, how about meet-ugly? Reader has tattoos and a tongue split. There's this joke that "bisexual alt girls go looking for a girlfriend and end up with sad, tall and skinny white bois" and boy did that hit home. Inspired by this cringy video of Hiddles [youtube link].

During a panel at a comic con, Loki notices reader and they go on a date, reader gets railed: top!Loki, choking, rough sex, unprotected sex, all the good stuff. Open ending, with a bonus of reader and Loki pranking Clint.

x. I usually fancy they/them pronouns for Loki but seeing as it's a smut-shot, I decided to go along with he/him for the sake of simplicity. Loki's at least 6'4 tall and you can fight me on that. Also, I write like a Tony stan - I feel the need to apologize to Loki stans for that. I love you guys! 🥺👉🏻👈🏻

The long line of people appeared to be neverending. Loki was an enhanced, as the government recently had adopted a politically correct term for Earth's non-human inhabitants, but even his enhanced endurance had begun waning due to sheer amount of people wanting a piece of memorabilia signed by The God of Mischief. Loki had gained a considerable amount of fans after doing his part in killing the mad titan Thanos and by extension, saving the world. It turned out, humankind was a sucker for a good redemption arc.

Loki's hands ached where they wrapped around the pen that he'd been using for nearly 4 hours to neatly place his name, written in neat runescript, on various pieces of merchandise that his fans (and wasn't that a strange thing!) presented to him. He used to think that he would have actually succeeded conquering the earth if he had a grasp on how to use social media and his charm; now, he just wanted the torture to end. An involuntary sigh left his mouth when he saw another print of himself in full battle gear being placed in front of him by a reasonably attractive young woman.

"Um, thank you," She stammered, giggling softly, and Loki spared her a painstaking smile, scribbling his name once again. The woman briefly caught his eyes. "Um, you're the reason- the inspiration for me. I became a stripper."

Loki blanked, feeling his eyes widen and blink on their own accord a few times. He wasn't sure if he heard the woman correctly, as the unusual statement made his brain freeze.

Loud snickering from behind the blushing woman interrupted the system error that he was experiencing in his head. It wasn't often that somebody managed to render him speechless. It looked like whoever was in line behind the stripper woman had taken advantage of that. Loki's eyes snapped to the short-haired person, who looked torn between cringing and breaking into embarrassed laughter.

The stripper left without a word, and as Loki picked up the cursed writing instrument once again, the short-haired person smiled at him kindly. "That was a little weird," They snorted, "And thanks, have a nice day Mr. Loki."

"When life gives you melons, you might be dyslexic," Another woman, that appeared to be the short haired person's friend, deadpanned and gave a cynical side-eye to the departing stripper. Loki heard snickering coming from the short-haired person and quietly joined himself. The woman noticed it, winking at him as she collected the newly signed t-shirt. "Bye," She smiled kindly.

It was a split second decision, really. Something about the cheeky way she addressed the situation sparked Loki's interest. "Wait, you forgot something, darling," His baritone called out to the departing woman. She turned around, confused, and hastily grabbed the standard issue photo that he was holding out to her. With a final grateful nod, she smiled and left.

If Loki's smile had returned for the time being, none of his teammates made any remarks on it. Only his brother, Thor, gave a couple of knowing looks to the Asgardian sorcerer.

The woman in question didn't think twice about the photo that she stashed in her backpack along with the signed t-shirt. The Comic-Con had been full of people and the lines were unfairly long. The sheer exhaustion after attending a 3-day long convention had set in and she was eager to simply come home back to her apartment and crash on the nearest soft flat surface. Upon arrival, she did exactly that, flopping down gracelessly on the couch, her backpack landing next to her with a careless thud.

Unloading her trophies was a short time affair: a single white tee with a dozen signatures on it, written in what she hoped was waterproof Sharpie; one mug, shaped like an Iron Man helmet; one poster, showing Spider-Man on a picturesque NYC horizon and a signed photo of one Loki. Strangely enough, she did not remember requesting it - not that she was complaining. Free merch was free merch.

The front side wasn't signed whatsoever. Overcome by curiousity, she turned it around. A phone number was written on the back of it, the handwriting neat and the letters obviously being inked out by a thinner, more sophisticated pen than the one Loki had used for scribbling on the tee. The woman gaped silently, not believing her eyes. Did Loki himself had given her his phone number?

One margarita and a hefty helping of Chinese takeout later, the numbers persisted staring back at her mutely, the neat cursive being almost mocking in its quiet. The woman's smartphone had found a comfortable place right next to the photo, equally mum regarding the unusual situation.

An additional margarita was needed to gather the courage required to actually type out the number in the receiver box. Fruity alcoholic concoction in one hand and phone clutched in the other, the woman's eyes squeezed shut tightly as soon as the dreaded "Hey, got your number today! :)" read delivered. She'd typed and erased the message several times, groaning in embarrassment. How the hell does one approach an alien god?

"Hello! May I ask your name?" The response came after a brief moment - a moment the woman had suffered through by taking too haste sips of her drink, her common since screaming her to not overdo it and wait at least a full minute before replying. Everything felt awkward and misplaced.

In no time, she was sending the screenshots of the conversation to her girl-advice group chat that consisted of her closest friends. Chatting with Loki turned out to be surprisingly easy and he was great at upholding conversation, something that couldn't be said about all those Tinder matches she had had back in the day.

Even if using proper grammar during a text message conversation was something she had to reacquaint herself with, she was glad he wasn't just another boring, shalllow, condescending-ass white boy. Despite the cultural differences and his lack of knowledge of things like pop culture and music - something he said he was working on since New Asgard became a sovereign state on Earth - they bonded over music and tattoos and generally being rebellious against society's standarts.

The invitation to dinner didn't come as a surprise for the woman. She agreed happily, looking forward to continue their conversation outside of the internet - if Loki's part of the chat was anything to go by, not only was he charming, but also quite intelligent. And easy on the the eyes, too. They had traded selfies at some point and the Asgardian didn't look any worse in a hoodie and sweatpants than he did in his battle leathers. Loki had appeared to truly have had integrated into Earth's society.

The night of the date, the continuous text exchange did very little to calm her nerves. Loki texted as much as an overeager teenage boy: every now and then he would double-text and grossly overreact to her sending a simple meme. In fact, he smugly conveyed the fact he'd single-handedly started a meme war between the Avengers and even Steve was forced to participate; something that was, allegedly, out of character for the blonde man.

She didn't mind. Not like she had many friends to have so much fun with. Even if it took her twice the time to do her favourite eyeliner style, it was worth it. She hoped Loki would appreciate the bold, but classy make-up and the dress and shoes combo that accentuated her assets. Her date expressed curiousity about her tattoos and the difference between her preferred style and the humans he spent most time with. She guessed secret agents were not particularly fond of anything that made them memorable so she held out quite the hope for... Showing off some of her tattoos in a more private setting.

In other, simpler words, the woman came in prepared for both a friendly, leisurely stroll and a quality night. Either way, it would be a time well spent.

Loki's shiny, raven hair was impossible to miss as he towered over the rest of the people waiting by the restaurant's entrance. He wore tailored black trousers and a simple cashmere sweater, perfect for the evening's damp, cool air. Tall and lithe, Loki was mouthwateringly handsome.

"Come here often?" She wormed her way through the crowd, causing the man to smirk down at her. Her cheeks flared from the tiny gesture alone.

"Just waiting for a friend," Loki uttered lowly, extending an arm towards the woman, which she gracefully accepted as they made way towards the entrance. "Reservation for Loki," The Asgardian stated to the hostess, who, after a rapid doube-take, led them to a private, secluded area in the back of the restaurant.

Loki shouldered the slightly awkward interaction with grace, paying no mind to the girl. His focus was solely on his date and he was nothing but gallant as he took the woman's purse and held out the chair for her to comfortably sit down. As a prince, he was taught well, she mused.

"Usually I would ask 'what brings you to our little ball of water and dirt?' but I think we can skip that part," The woman stated with a sheepish grin, idly flicking through the menu and curiously eyeing the items that were unfamiliar. The desire to try something new fought with the possibility of accidentally ordering something too far out - like snails or other things that rich people fancied, for some reason.

Loki's greens briefly appeared over the top of his menu, grateful and sparkling. "I think it's best if we do just that," For a second, he looked away, before returning to the menu. "I can think of better things to discuss. I recall you didn't finish telling me about that college friend of yours, who was an anarchist... I'm dying to know..."

The waiter came and went, barely noticed by the pair, as they both poked at something that sounded the most familiar for both of them. Stoically, Loki admitted that Tony Stark did the booking for him and the woman reluctantly acquitted she wasn't very familiar with upscale establishments, being of middle-class background and working a middle-class job.

Interrupting the story she began telling hours ago, the woman took the time to point out the things she was familiar with on the menu and advised Loki to stay away from - like the aforementioned snails, and other things, slimy and salty things that she considered to be 'disgusting but rich people liked it for some reason'. The conversation slowly progressed into Loki telling her the mischief he got up to at the feasts Odin threw. The Asgardian shared the woman's disregard for influential people doing gross things to show off.

The food was good - it was really hard to miss with a traditional Italian lasagna - and seeing Loki shovel an obscene amount of food was an experience, but she didn't comment on it, tactful enough to consider his alien biology might have different dietary requirements that her human one. It was great, really, that she could order dessert and not feel guilty about it.

The gelato melted in her mouth like sweet ecstasy and she moaned with her next bite, only partly aware of how obscene really was the noise.

Loki's hand stuttered on it's way to his mouth. Wide-eyed, he stared at her lips, at her mouth, where her tongue lapped up the small drops of dessert from the spoon. "Why the split tongue?" The Asgardian finally gathered his wits, having had a good look of what he was sure was a trick of the eye at first.

She grinned, acutely aware of the effect that particular body modification had on men. "I like being different. I embrace the weird." She giggled, not at all ashamed, sticking out her tongue and wiggling both parts of it teasingly.

Loki's Adam's apple bobbed; "Weird?" He raised his eyebrow, fighting to maintain his previous cool composure.

She nodded. "Weird," She retorted coyly. "I usually don't divulge the details at least until the third date. Wouldn't want to scare my potential suitors off," The playful wink was the proverbial cherry on top. He was hooked, his eyes darkened, following the plump arch of her lips as she took another spoonful of the treat and savoured it, closing her eyes for a brief moment.

It was pornographic.

"Obviously, Midgardians don't know what's good for them," Loki scoffed in his usual bored monotone, fully aware of how fitful his attempt to conceal his excitement was. He sounded needy even to his own ears.

"And you do?" She pushed away the empty plate, chastely patting her mouth with a napkin. The raised eyebrow and the little smirk spoke volumes.

The grin he wore was hardly anything but feral; he asked for the waiter's assistance by flicking his wrist in an impatient fashion. Once the bill was paid and the woman's cardigan found its rightful place on her shoulders, Loki once again took hold of her arm, this time holding her smaller body against his larger one, taking care to slow down and keep his strides shorter.

She found the coolness of his presence refreshing in the moist, heavy air of the New York city.

"Where to, milady?" Loki asked her, looking down at the woman fondly.

"My place is a block away. Walk me, good sir?" She gave a delightfully easy smile in return.

He nodded, letting her lead the way, allowing himself to get a little bit lost in their shared presence, a little bubble of them in the middle of a busy city. It was as if someone had quickly turned down the volume of the honking cars and noisy pedestrians around them, leaving the soft breeze and the sun slowly descending below the skyscrapers. It felt far too short, partaking in the comfortable silence together, skin tingling under the thin layers of cloth where they were touching.

The sun was trapped in the strands of her hair as she smiled at him from her doorway, worrying her lip between her teeth. It was a bittersweet moment.

"A kiss good night for the good sir?" She asked hopefully, eyes darting between his face and his mouth.

Loki obliged, resting his palm flat on the door frame, towering over the woman as he gently slotted his thin, cool lips against her warm ones. The woman stood on her tippy toes, eager, placing a hand on his chest. The pair melted into the kiss - it had no business being this mind-blowing, brain-freezing for two people that have not met until that very day. The woman didn't refuse when Loki probed with his tongue, requesting entrance to her mouth; she licked into his own with fervor, fisting her hands in the soft fabric of his sweater.

With the hand that was free, Loki pulled the woman flush with himself, feeling the heat of her start a fire of its own inside of him. Her breathing rapid, the gesture only served to tighten her hold on his sweater, until a soft, barely audible moan slipped into his mouth, causing his brain to quickly reassess the situation.

Regretfully, Loki pulled away, clearing his throat. "Perhaps we should take this elsewhere," He meaningfully looked at the array of doors around them.

"I thought you'd never ask," She retorted with a fond eyeroll, tightening the grip on his sweater once more, to pull him inside her apartment and shut the door behind her. The awkward moments were few and in between; neither knew who reached for the other first, mashing their mouths with less grace than before, clutching at the other's arms and hips with hunger.

This time, Loki didn't hold back his own muted groans of satisfaction, shivering when the woman's hands snuck under his sweater and the simple tank top he wore underneath. Blunt nails scraped along his abs.

Step by step, she pushed him further inside her apartment, determined in her small quick strides. There was no mistake of their destination; no mistake in her desire: she was as hungry and as impatient as him. The crease between his eyebrows deepened, long arms extending to unzip the top of her dress to reveal a simple but tasteful black lacy bra covering her breasts. The woman barely noticed the action, stepping out of her dress as soon as it hit the floor.

He admired her. Inches of soft skin covered by intricate ink, some patterns bizarre and complicated, some beautiful in their simplicity. Loki couldn't wait to find out about the meaning behind every one of them, to trace the lines with his tongue and sink his teeth into the heated flesh.

The hands that were holding onto him for dear life tugged on his sweater and he chose to simply vanish it, too preoccupied with looking at the view in front of him. She gasped and her eyes met his: uncanny, magnetic emeralds shone with magic and power and desire.

"Fuck," She more mouthed than said, walking backwards in a trance until her shins hit the bed.

Loki grinned, advancing on the panting woman with the grace of a predator. "Darling?" His tone was innocent; his expression was anything but. His large hand encompassesed the side of her face, thumb running over her bottom lip in a possessive gesture that had her squirming in her place. He loved the way she just melted into his touch.

Their lips met again, slower this time. The kiss was once again graceful and unrushed, allowing them to explore the softness of each other's skin, mapping the arches and valleys with gentle strokes of their palms. The broad expanse of Loki's back was uneven, riddled with scars and blemishes, and she mapped every single one, blunt nails raking down it as she pressed into him, arching into his hands where he held her.

The soft flesh of her ass, barely covered by a scrap of black lace, was shamelessly grabbed - the woman didn't doubt there would be marks left - letting her feel his arousal pressed against her belly, hard and twitching. She didn't resist her desire to ge handsy and palmed it, taking note of the gasp and the twitch coming from the man occupied with the clasp of her bra. In no time, it flew away, forgotten somwhere the very moment Loki's palms took over her breasts, running a careful thumb over each nipple.

"Fuck," She parroted her previous statement, equally breathy and considerably more aroused.

"That's the plan," Loki's chuckle was hoarse.

She huffed, biting her bottom lip before reaching out to swiftly pop the button of his trousers, smirking at the hiss the friction of her palm produced against his cock. It shouldn't have surprised her that Loki was a commando kind of guy, but still, she gasped, partially from the ministrations of his clever fingers, partially from the mouthwatering sight in front of her. The thick, flushed length made saliva gather in the corners of her mouth.

He must've heard the audible swallow. "Not so haste, darling," He tutted, giving her relaxed body a gentle push, causing her to land on her back, heated skin against the soft duvet of her bed. "Let me taste you," A thud; Loki had dropped to his knees, using his large palms to spread her legs, opening her up to his eyes.

If his previous work hadn't made her so pliant, so aroused, she'd have been rendered speechless; instead, the woman arched her back, presenting herself and the desire that had pooled down below. The Asgardian chuckled, fingertips soft against the scratchy lace.

"Tease," The woman moaned, outstretching her arm to guide him but quite unable to reach him. She had to settle for squirming in her place, receiving a fraction of the desired traction against her swollen lips.

"Am I, love?" Loki asked her sweetly, caving enough to dip a single finger to run along the outside of her slit. It glided easily thanks to all the moisture gathered there, lips parting easily before his touch. The panties were vanished away promptly, another finger joining in immediately to rub slow, precise circles around her clit.

She keened low and long, fisting the fabric in her hand until her knuckles turned white. Loki knew what he was doing. It didn't take him very long to slide his long digits to the welcoming heat of her opening, dipping them inside until she began to make the noises he so craved. His mouth followed after that, long agile tongue drawing senseless shapes on the inside of her labia and dipping deeper, where her clit stood out engorged and slick.

He could smell the bittersweet of her arousal, mouthwatering and hot.

"Loki, fuck," She moaned, only half-coherent and partially aware of her own hips following his every stroke, every flick. He only advanced, hitting that sweet spot inside her with every stroke; the sparks traveling up her spine quickened with each time she changed his name like a prayer. "Loki, Loki, Loki..."

He growled, attaching his mouth firmly to her clit, and she arched for the final time, coming undone, squeezing around his fingers and gushing in his mouth, the obscene sounds covered by her own scream of delight and his impatient growling. The growling that sent shivers of aftershocks throughout her body.

"Darling, you taste so sweet," Loki groaned, still panting.

She took the time to open her eyes: Loki looked comically out of place in her bedroom, he dwarfed her bed and made her feel small, but it didn't matter at all at that very moment. His erection stood out hard and proud; despite the leg-shaking orgasm just moments ago, she wanted more, she wanted to taste him, she wanted to feel him inside-

With unsurprising agility, one swift motion was all it took for her to rest comfortably against the pillows, his throbbing member resting against the juncture of her thigh. She tasted her own release on his lips, however brief, whispering a weak, "Please," aching to feel the emptiness.

"As my lady wishes," Loki's cool breath ghosted over her cheek. She waited with baited breath until the tip of his manhood breached her, exhaling a moan into his neck and immediately wrapping her lips around a patch of skin as he stretched her so sweet.

Loki's arms shook slightly as he waited for her to adjust. He kissed her, soft and sweet; there was something vulnerable in him, something as sweet as the ache he'd taken away. Once he began to move, slow and fluid, all there was left was an all-consuming need to feel. As graceful as dancer and with a deadly precision, Loki pounded gasps, moans and screams out of the woman's slack mouth, kisses turning hungrier and sloppier by the second.

"So sweet," He cooed, relishing in the snug grip of her cunt around him.

She only keened in approval, too far gone and unused to the intensity of the feelings from a man with centuries of practice and the power of a god.

His thrusts slowed gradually until he was rutting into her, grinding his pelvic bone into her clit. The gasps and screams turned into drawn-out, longing moans; her hips followed his, meeting in a slow, sensual motion.

Loki was not a patient man. He withdrew - she gasped in protest - flipping the woman over on her fours with ease, taking but a split second to admire the curve of her body presented on display for him. Just for him.

With that thought burning in his mind, Loki sheathed his cock deeply inside her spasming cunt. It was nearly unbearably stimulating and only his own desire to prolong the bliss held back his own impending orgasm. That, and his own ego; he was naught if not a generous lover.

She slurred something, quiet and incorrigible, fucking back onto his cock as eagerly as he was plunging into her heat. The hand he'd placed on her shoulder promptly wrapped around her throat in hopes of lifting her close enough for him to hear the words but instead, it sent a full-bodied shiver throughout her. Loki grinned, tugging her that much closer.

The arch in her back looked quite uncomfortable yet she didn't mind; it was the exact opposite, in fact, her cunt tightened around him, drenching his shaft down to his balls. Her fingernails dug into the flesh of his thigh, the sting of pain going straight to his cock-

"Loki, I'm gonna, I'm gonna-" She slurred, gasping for air.

He weakened his hold on her throat enough to let her gulp the so-needed oxygen. It was her undoing: was it the rapid pace of oxygenated blood traveling to her brain or was it his cock, mercilessly pounding against her g-spot - she was violently spasming around his cock, much like she did around his fingers not too long ago.

It felt like ages, her crescendo coming in waves with no signs of stopping any time soon. Loki's continuous thrusts, his hips slamming into hers, her skin feeling like molten lava.

"Gonna fill your sweet cunt with my seed," Loki moaned lowly, holding her up by the throat, the other hand leaving fingertip-shaped bruises on the outside of her hips. "Mark you from the inside out," His voice had gone into primal territory, growling filling up the room.

"Please..." The woman rasped, oversensitive.

And he pleased, with a series of sharp thrusts, he buried himself to the hilt in her, the force of his release making her shudder and moan once against, going limp in his arms. Loki kept her in her place until every drop was inside of her cunt. Nothing was sweeter than that.

The Asgardian didn't bother with getting under the covers to hold her, conjuring a soft, comfortable throw in modest green, to cover their nudity. He didn't need the extra warmth but his companion was by far more fragile and sensitive to these things- Loki's fingertips traced the array of bruises he'd left in the wake of their passion, expression surprised as he found the woman smiling.

"Feels nice," She supplied meekly, eyes half-lidded, face trusting and open towards him.

He gave a small grin in return, placing a chaste kiss atop her head. "Yes, it does, darling."

Time after time, she didn't expect much out if their date. The sex was nice, nice enough for both of them to want seconds and thirds after their rushed first time - but it wasn't like she expected him to hand around. It was a pleasant change from the usual mutual ghosting she'd done with her previous partners, but Loki had texted again and they had resumed their conversation via text like nothing had happened.

No, that would be incorrect. Now, she had a wonderful friend who was a great conversationalist and an even better lover. There was no pressure to put a label on their relationship so the woman didn't bother with it; it didn't seem like Loki cared about the label, either, so she left the topic alone and enjoyed things the way they were. It wasn't like she had a line of suitors anyway.

She couldn't help the smile that creeped onto her face when she unlocked her phone and saw a video call request from other than Loki himself. She still had thirty minutes worth of lunch break to waste and this was a wonderful time to chat with a friend.

"Stark, hand it back or I swear to Norns-" Loki's voice sounded agitated and far away, accompanied by sounds of a struggle; the bearded, smug face on the screen was not who she expected at all. Only years of customer service and low bullshit tolerance combined stopped her from freaking out seeing none other than Tony Stark smirking at her from the screen of her phone.

"Yes?" She arched an eyebrow, taking note of the anger of Loki's tone.

"Hi, I don't think I need to introduce myself," Stark babbled, eyeing her - disheveled and with a wall full of sticky notes and miscellaneous items acting as the background to her video. "Reindeer games refused to show you to us so we decided to persuade him," Tony's grin grew wider, muted whispers being rapidly exchanged in the background all the while Loki screeched "BROTHER!" and various expletives at the top of his lungs.

"You could've, I dunno," She paused, unimpressed. "Asked me to dinner, like a normal person. Instead of stealing, you know, like a thief," The eyeroll that she performed had the team worried her eyes would fall out of their sockets.

"I merely borrowed his phone, don't be dramatic," Stark huffed, and for a moment, she could see various other people trying to look at the screen and by extension, at her. "So, what is it that you do? Because Smurf over there wouldn't..."

"Oops, bad signal. Sorry, can't hear you properly," Her side of the call suddenly shook and in a moment, she ended the call, not at all willing to deal with people that lacked boundaries. Sure, it might have been Iron Man, but if he was planning on being a snooping asshole, she wasn't gonna go down with that easily.

Exactly five minutes after she had clocked out, an incoming call from Loki had her equal parts excited and mortified. What if..? But he was apologetic. And very angry, swearing in his native language - something that he'd promised to teach her at some point.

"So, Clint did it?" She sipped her beverage, strolling home with the phone pressed snugly against her ear.

"Most of it was his fault, yes," Loki grouched on the other end of the call.

"I vote we get back at him. Invite me over, if he's so inclined to see me, and watch him get humiliated in front of everybody," It wasn't a secret she had her own mischievous tendencies.

"As much as I appreciate your vigour, darling, I doubt the Widow will appreciate you verbally castrating the Hawk in public," He replied sourly, his voice still betraying the faint notes of interest.

"I have a backup plan!" She stated without a hitch. "He'll embarrass himself and I'll be your alibi."

"I'm listening," Loki perked up immediately.

They decided to not to stall and schedule the 'family dinner', as Thor himself dubbed it, for the next available weekend. Loki had made sure Tony's AI had been made aware the trickster would be gone all day, and it took him very little magic and effort to pop in and out of the tower for the five minutes that were needed to execute their prank.

His friend barely managed to keep the snickering at bay as they ascended the elevator to the common floor where the dinner was being held. Not only that, but the woman spouted an area of dark purple love marks, barely obscured by the low turtleneck of her blouse.

She made her introductions and they made theirs. "This affair could use some background noise," She remarked off-handedly, casting a meaningful glance at the TV.

Tony Stark was known for being a great host so he entertained her wishes, flicking on the huge flat screen with a flick of his wrist.

The team froze.

"I... -" The woman stared at the screen, mouth hanging wide open at the scenes that played out. "... am not going to kinkshame, but please turn it off," She stated in a small voice, seemingly unable to tear her eyes away from the mass of tentacles commencing erotic assault on a woman's body.

Wordlessly, the TV shut down, immersing the room in stunned silence. Loki face-palmed, the slap of his palm against his face echoing in the eerily quiet room.

"Loki!" Captain America, red as a tomato, instantly accused the most obvious person.

Except, he had forgotten one thing. "Loki was with me all day," The woman replied, unkindly. "Do you need more proof?" She tugged on the hem of her turtleneck, exposing an inch of skin marked blue.

The good Captain's face changed the shade once again, venturing very well into beetroot territory. "Who was the last one to use the TV?" Rogers asked, now with a hint of anger, as he stared at a guffawing Bucky.

"I believe it was Mr. Barton," The AI piped up, mechanical voice sounding almost insinuating. Or, perhaps, it just appeared that way.

[12setsofchopsticks]

A Post About Goldfish

To be clear: we are talking about the animal, not the delcious cheesy snack.

So. Kingyo--or Goldfish as we say in English--are my favorite animals. I’ve always kept them as pets and loved watching them in ponds. However, since moving to Japan I haven’t quite had the resources to start up my own tank. Sad!

Luckily, Japan loves goldfish too and I’ve had a whole bunch of really cool opportunities to see some really beautiful fish!

To give you a better understanding of my favorite fish, let me tell you a few things about them (For the sake of this blog post, I won’t be talking in scientific terms but will instead use more common language)! The first thing you have to understand about goldfish is that there are essentially three different “kinds” of goldfish that you typically see. Those kinds are:

Common goldfish, Fancy goldfish, and Koi

Common goldfish

(PSA to please not put your goldfish in a bowl like this!)

Common goldfish are exactly what you think they are. Just your regular orange fish, although they do range in color from black to olive to pale yellow and white and everything in between. These are the guys that you see at pet stores for about 15 cents each and they tend to have an (unfair!) reputation of being short-lived and disposable. This is probably because, due to their hardiness, availability and price, they are often used as feeder fish—meaning if you have a hungry predator pet (like a turtle) that requires live food to survive, you probably go to Petco a few times a month and stock up on those 15 cent lil guys. However, given the right conditions (AKA if your lil buddy is living in the proper sized aquarium rather than a miserable existence in one of those so-called “goldfish bowls”), it is not unheard of for regular goldfish to live many years and sometimes grow to obscenely and unusually large sizes. 

In Japan, these fish are also famously featured in the festival game 金魚すくい, 金魚掬い( Kingyo-sukui), which means “goldfish scooping.” It’s a common game for children where they use a paper net to catch as many goldfish as they can before the paper deteriorates in the water. 

Whatever the children can catch in bowl, they can then take home as their prize! I played this game once and it was a lot of fun, but surprisingly difficult. I did catch myself a friend, but I decided to release it back into the pool with the other fish because I didn’t have a cozy tank for it to come home to!

Fancy goldfish

Oh, these guys are my little loves! Fancy goldfish is kind of an overhead term that is actually comprised of many different varieties of strange-looking goldfish! They have been selectively bred over hundreds of years of fishkeeping to accentuate various bizarre deformations such as bulging eyes, brain-like growths on their heads, and many other unusual traits. However, almost all fancy goldfish can be distinguished by their split “fantail” and more egg-shaped body compared to their common cousins. Similarly to their common cousins, though, fancy goldfish also come in a vibrant multitude of colors, but my favorites are the red and orange ones. While some varieties of fancy goldfish appear kind of ugly and alien-looking, others can be supremely beautiful. I just love these little suckers.

These are the kinds of goldfish that I love keeping, partly because they are truly stunning fish, but also because they have really wonderful personalities (and YES, fish CAN have personalities!). Here is a picture of my beloved pet fancy goldfish (Ryukin variety!), Lips, may god rest his fishy soul RIP.

Fancy goldfish are everywhere in Japanese culture, specifically in art. I often see them on stationary, fans, and other textiles as well and, of course, I always buy things with goldfish on them because I am a huge sucker. Recently, I was super lucky to actually catch a fancy goldfish ART EXHIBIT with Shota!! It was called the Artaquarium (he really knows the way to my heart) and it was so so cool!! 

There were dozens of really intricate aquarium tanks with different species of fancy goldfish (there were other kinds of fish too) and I was super fangirling out over them. I don’t think Shota knew what the difference between a telescope eye goldfish and a celestial eye goldfish is (spoiler: Telescopes have bulging eyes that face outward whereas Celestials have bulging eyes that face upwards) but agreed that it was an awesome exhibit.

Koi goldfish

Finally, we have Koi. These are the super big and beautiful fish that you often see in garden ponds. While koi look just like bigger goldfish, they are actually considered an entirely different species that common and fancy goldfish! It’s true that they are both in the same family—goldfish and koi are both species of carp—however, their ancestral heritages are not at all the same! Goldfish were developed nearly two thousand years ago in ancient China by selectively breeding Prussian carp. Koi, on the other hand, were developed in Japan from the common carp and became a popular hobby in the 1820s. Today, there are over 20 recognized varieties!

SO, what is the physical difference? Well, of course if you have ever seen koi fish in a Japanese garden, you might know how enormous they can get. On average, a koi can reach up to about 3.3 feet in length, but goldfish, which are generally smaller, usually only grow to about a foot in length. Koi also have little whisker-like things called barbles at the corner of their mouths which they use to sift around the bottoms on ponds. Koi fish also have a reputation for being much longer-lived than their common and fancy cousins—likely due to the fact that people who have koi often keep them in large ponds with adequate filtration where they can live a happy life mucking about in the silt and detritus, versus your regular carnival fish that you put in a makeshift bowl made from a two-liter bottle of diet coke (yes I did this, but we all make mistakes). Generally, koi have a lifespan of around 50 years but with proper care they can live to be over 100 years old; the oldest koi fish on record was a fish named Hanako who lived to a be a whopping 225 years old! Maybe you are thinking that I am “full of carp” (LOL) because there is no way a fish could live that long! BUT her age was scientifically verified by counting the rings on her scales, similar to how you would count the rings on a tree to determine it’s age.

One time, I was with some friends of mine wandering around a part of Tokyo called Ueno and we just happened upon this enormous and wonderful KOI SHOW. Like, it was this whole giant area filled with 50 gallon tubs of water that all had between one and three koi in them and it was marvelous. 

These koi were slightly different than your run-of-the-mill koi that you might see in any old pond—these were competition-bred, show quality koi, meaning that, rather than the <$10 you might pay at a pet store, these guys can fetch a price tag anywhere between $1,000-$10,000. Of course, many things can affect this price, like color, pattern, age, and size. The most expensive koi fish was sold for today’s equivalent of 2.2 MILLION DOLLARS. Let that number sink in for a second. That’s the cost of my college education EIGHTY TIMES; or the cost of a house in my hometown—and a really nice one at that. Not sure if there were any fish of quite that caliber at this event I found myself at, but damn, that must have been some fish.

CONCLUSION / LIFE UPDATE 

OKAY so now y’all know everything about goldfish. Congrats on making it through this post, it took me a long time to write. SO LONG, in fact, that I have a very important edit/announcement to make since I began writing this post, and it’s that I finally splurged and got MY OWN fish tank here in Tokyo! Its 60 liters (Liters? What are those?) and it’s the new forever home for two very genki ryukin goldfish. The red and orange one is named Shippo, which means ‘tail’ in Japanese and the little calico is named Sprinkles, which means ‘jimmies’ in Bostonian. They are both slightly (re: very) naughty and love messing up my plants and have also eaten every cleaner shrimp that I have attempted to introduce into the tank ecosystem.

Welcome home, fellas!

[jeremystrele]

An Architect’s House That Melds Traditional Japanese And Ukranian Ethos In A Modern Shell

The Shkrub House is a project by Sergey Makhno Architects, for the family of Sergey Makhno himself. Located in Kozyn, a village in the suburbs of Kyiv, Ukraine, the unusual home measures in at 370 square metres. It was here that Sergey Makhno began his architectural journey more than 15 years ago, before he chose to live here. The new house design is evolved from two distinct aesthetics, one being a contemporary Ukrainian style sprung from old traditions, and the second being the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi that finds beauty and harmony in imperfection. A modernised take on a thatched roof overhangs wooden wall slats across the exterior, building character, though nothing compares to what lies within…

Sergey Makhno reflects on the journey of his home design: “Thanks to Japan, I learned to love Ukraine. When I went to Japan for the first time and saw how they appreciate their heritage, I understood that Ukrainian culture is extremely rich but we rarely rate it highly. Japan has given my country back to me. It has opened my eyes and, most importantly, my heart to the wealth I have always had–my homeland. Even if I wanted to do Japanese design–it would not work. Because I’m Ukrainian. I create Ukrainian design transmitted through the lens of Japanese perception of beautiful”. A sculptural figure, “Rain” by Nazar Bilyk, gazes up at the family home, guarding the family.

A Zen garden springs up around the modern exterior. Much of the garden flourished without human hand, growing on wasteland around the site over the course of a few months–apt to the Japanese belief that the stone itself must choose where to lie. The natural habitat drew in squirrels and nightingales to live amongst it. An awesome window breaks the interior open to the outside.

The home is almost completely surrounded by a minimalist concrete enclosure. It has two entrances, one from the façade and another from the courtyard that the family have fallen in love with. Entering the home via the courtyard walks you past an attractive terrace that is illuminated with designer lamps created by Sergey Makhno.

A stone path enters the garden gallery through Japanese maples and cherry trees.

Thatching and wood are architectural materials traditional in both Ukrainian and Japanese cultures, and so became a fitting choice for this melded design.

Japanese zen gardens characterise each corner of the site.

250 Tons of stones, and several perspectives shape the garden.

A giant rockery provokes layered foliage.

Majestic garden statues and traditional Ukrainian zoomorphic pottery is viewed amongst fragrant conifer and freshly mown herbs.

A stone doorstep continues the Zen garden theme.

The front entrance of the house stands strong like a fortress, with thatched turrets turned on their heads.

Solar panels perch on the rooftop.

The family wanted an interior that felt like home, rather than a show home. The main focus of this design was not the color of the flooring or the like, but beautiful kids’ noise. Whichever way you plan a modern interior to disguise the craziness of life with kids, life with kids prevails in all its glory. Everything inside this place means something dear to the homeowners, right down to the rug pattern, which was created by middle son Hikaru before he turned 2 years old.

The interior clay wall effect is executed in an ancient technique used in Ukraine for traditional hut building. The wall and ceiling are decorated with wood sourced from eleven old abandoned houses, which is not only uniquely beautiful but wonderfully ecological.

A rustic coffee table is sympathetic to the organic shape of the walls, and to the massive antique ceramic jug collection that fills one wall from floor to high ceiling. Makhno found a love for Ukrainian ceramics as a child, whilst playing in the yard of his grandparents’ house in the village. He found his very first ceramic jugs here, cleaned them up and enthusiastically searched to expand his collection that includes clay products from Trypillia, 5–2nd Millenium BC.

The cool clay walls absorb phone signals and all the worries tied along with.

The living space is divided into three parts, which includes an open plan kitchen, dining area, and a lounge.

Accents of red and teal add to the warmth of the natural decor.

Huge windows bring the garden inside.

The two floors were united, giving the gift of space and light.

An open fireplace heats the huge expanse.

The simple yet warm dining area is the family’s favorite place. Every seat at the table offers a great view, either to the living room, garden or terrace.

Japanese tea ceremonies hold a special place in the heart of Sergey Makhno, and in this home it is the teacup that reins supreme over the wine glass.

The dining area on the terrace is another special spot, filled with unique pieces.

A colossal dining table pendant lamp hovers above chunky modern dining chairs.

A live edge dining table meanders toward a lesser wall of pottery.

Sunlight plays over deeply textured walls.

Intriguing artwork stops footfall at every turn.

The house is actually equipped with two kitchens. The minimalist kitchen that stands in open plan with the living room is furnished with a contrasting wooden table that was a flea market find.

Several generations of Hutsul have dined at this 1935 table, which now stands in lieu of an island in this modern kitchen.

Sleek furniture contrasts against a rugged canvas.

The second kitchen is a closed space that was designed according to Ukrainian traditions.

An authentic “mysnyk” is mounted above the table, which is shelves for dishes.

Sergey Makhno ceramic tiles colour the backsplash. An exit to the garden gives a feeling of free-flowing energy.

The name of the house, “Shkrub”, is a fictitious word that Sergey and his wife Vlada affectionately call one another, which simply put means love. “It is respect and patience. It is home. It is sons. It is 10 years together”. It is how they are named in each other’s phone books.

Years of memories paint a personal touch around the home.

The staircase to the second floor is edged with glass balustrades.

The red and teal touches thread through the entire interior.

Ginger “Tetrapods”, a designer tile by Sergey Makhno Architects, mark the ascent to the second floor. These attention grabbing tiles were inspired by the massive concrete tetrapods that are installed on coastlines to resist wave impact and prevent beach erosion.

Upstairs, a gallery hall leads to the bedrooms. 16th century ceramic tiles provide decor up here, and guardian angels watch over the doors of the children’s bedrooms.

As Sergey’s parents are frequent guests in this house, one of the bedrooms has been dedicated to their stay. The connection between grandchild and grandparent is strong, and in Ukraine it is believed that grandparents love grandchildren more than children. Decor in the grandparents’ room is very simple and restrained. A low Japanese style bed skims the floor, beneath plain yet strong bedroom pendant lights.

Sculptural tiles fill the headboard wall, accentuated by ambient light.

Separate zones make up the master suite: The relax and recreation area, a study, a shower room and bathroom. Here the headboard wall of a tatami bed represents a clay cliff, symbolising primeval beauty, in a unique technique implemented by the Kelsis studio.

Cobalt blue artwork powerfully disrupts the naturally neutral palette of the room.

The study area in the master bedroom has a window that looks down over the living room and into the garden.

Metal lamps designed by Sergey Makhno Architects studio.

This dramatically dark bedroom scheme belongs to Sergey’s eldest son, Ivan, who is away studying in Italy with a view to continue his father’s business.

A Sumi-e-style monochrome art piece depicts distant landscapes at the head of the bed, which is traditional in the wabi-sabi philosophy.

500 year old oak covers the floor.

Kaws figurines and ceramic art-toys DIDO decorate Ivan’s room, which were created by his father.

Low bedsides wing the tatami bed.

Sergey Makhno Architects lights softly illuminate the moody black decor.

Wallpaper in the shared kids’ room was designed by Sergey Makhno, with chaotic blues spots dashed onto craft paper. Ukranian animals were then painted on by famous Ukrainian artist and ceramist, Serhii Radko.

Mustard yellow wall paint contrasts brightly with the blue mural wall.

The animals in the wall mural symbolise family.

Moving into the final kid’s room, a bespoke storage wall has archways built into it, where special toys can be kept out on display.

The biggest archway arcs over the bed, with book nooks recessed into each side.

Kid’s spaces were designed to encourage amazing imaginations and free creativity.

A walk in closet looks like a high-end fashion boutique.

Quirky accessories colour a monochrome bathroom…

… But it’s the unique bathtub and sink that stand out as hero pieces.

Another show-stopping bathroom basin puts a splash of teal up against a bright yellow tile wall.

This creative use of copper is designer tiles by Sergey Makhno, which decorate the guest bathroom.

Two versions of “Grass” and “Earthquake” tiles fill the walls around the vanity.

Thatch detail.

Ground floor plan.

First floor plan.

Perspective drawing.

Recommended Reading:  A Terraced Japanese Garden House Filled With Sculptural Art

Related Posts:

A Terraced Japanese Garden House Filled With Sculptural Art

Wood Slats Add Texture and Warmth to These Homes

Simple Open Plan Living

Kiev Apartment Showcases Sleek Design with Surprising Playful Elements

Minimalist Japanese Prefab House

Japanese Style Interior Design

[drewebowden66]

An Architect’s House That Melds Traditional Japanese And Ukranian Ethos In A Modern Shell

The Shkrub House is a project by Sergey Makhno Architects, for the family of Sergey Makhno himself. Located in Kozyn, a village in the suburbs of Kyiv, Ukraine, the unusual home measures in at 370 square metres. It was here that Sergey Makhno began his architectural journey more than 15 years ago, before he chose to live here. The new house design is evolved from two distinct aesthetics, one being a contemporary Ukrainian style sprung from old traditions, and the second being the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi that finds beauty and harmony in imperfection. A modernised take on a thatched roof overhangs wooden wall slats across the exterior, building character, though nothing compares to what lies within…

Sergey Makhno reflects on the journey of his home design: “Thanks to Japan, I learned to love Ukraine. When I went to Japan for the first time and saw how they appreciate their heritage, I understood that Ukrainian culture is extremely rich but we rarely rate it highly. Japan has given my country back to me. It has opened my eyes and, most importantly, my heart to the wealth I have always had–my homeland. Even if I wanted to do Japanese design–it would not work. Because I’m Ukrainian. I create Ukrainian design transmitted through the lens of Japanese perception of beautiful”. A sculptural figure, “Rain” by Nazar Bilyk, gazes up at the family home, guarding the family.

A Zen garden springs up around the modern exterior. Much of the garden flourished without human hand, growing on wasteland around the site over the course of a few months–apt to the Japanese belief that the stone itself must choose where to lie. The natural habitat drew in squirrels and nightingales to live amongst it. An awesome window breaks the interior open to the outside.

The home is almost completely surrounded by a minimalist concrete enclosure. It has two entrances, one from the façade and another from the courtyard that the family have fallen in love with. Entering the home via the courtyard walks you past an attractive terrace that is illuminated with designer lamps created by Sergey Makhno.

A stone path enters the garden gallery through Japanese maples and cherry trees.

Thatching and wood are architectural materials traditional in both Ukrainian and Japanese cultures, and so became a fitting choice for this melded design.

Japanese zen gardens characterise each corner of the site.

250 Tons of stones, and several perspectives shape the garden.

A giant rockery provokes layered foliage.

Majestic garden statues and traditional Ukrainian zoomorphic pottery is viewed amongst fragrant conifer and freshly mown herbs.

A stone doorstep continues the Zen garden theme.

The front entrance of the house stands strong like a fortress, with thatched turrets turned on their heads.

Solar panels perch on the rooftop.

The family wanted an interior that felt like home, rather than a show home. The main focus of this design was not the color of the flooring or the like, but beautiful kids’ noise. Whichever way you plan a modern interior to disguise the craziness of life with kids, life with kids prevails in all its glory. Everything inside this place means something dear to the homeowners, right down to the rug pattern, which was created by middle son Hikaru before he turned 2 years old.

The interior clay wall effect is executed in an ancient technique used in Ukraine for traditional hut building. The wall and ceiling are decorated with wood sourced from eleven old abandoned houses, which is not only uniquely beautiful but wonderfully ecological.

A rustic coffee table is sympathetic to the organic shape of the walls, and to the massive antique ceramic jug collection that fills one wall from floor to high ceiling. Makhno found a love for Ukrainian ceramics as a child, whilst playing in the yard of his grandparents’ house in the village. He found his very first ceramic jugs here, cleaned them up and enthusiastically searched to expand his collection that includes clay products from Trypillia, 5–2nd Millenium BC.

The cool clay walls absorb phone signals and all the worries tied along with.

The living space is divided into three parts, which includes an open plan kitchen, dining area, and a lounge.

Accents of red and teal add to the warmth of the natural decor.

Huge windows bring the garden inside.

The two floors were united, giving the gift of space and light.

An open fireplace heats the huge expanse.

The simple yet warm dining area is the family’s favorite place. Every seat at the table offers a great view, either to the living room, garden or terrace.

Japanese tea ceremonies hold a special place in the heart of Sergey Makhno, and in this home it is the teacup that reins supreme over the wine glass.

The dining area on the terrace is another special spot, filled with unique pieces.

A colossal dining table pendant lamp hovers above chunky modern dining chairs.

A live edge dining table meanders toward a lesser wall of pottery.

Sunlight plays over deeply textured walls.

Intriguing artwork stops footfall at every turn.

The house is actually equipped with two kitchens. The minimalist kitchen that stands in open plan with the living room is furnished with a contrasting wooden table that was a flea market find.

Several generations of Hutsul have dined at this 1935 table, which now stands in lieu of an island in this modern kitchen.

Sleek furniture contrasts against a rugged canvas.

The second kitchen is a closed space that was designed according to Ukrainian traditions.

An authentic “mysnyk” is mounted above the table, which is shelves for dishes.

Sergey Makhno ceramic tiles colour the backsplash. An exit to the garden gives a feeling of free-flowing energy.

The name of the house, “Shkrub”, is a fictitious word that Sergey and his wife Vlada affectionately call one another, which simply put means love. “It is respect and patience. It is home. It is sons. It is 10 years together”. It is how they are named in each other’s phone books.

Years of memories paint a personal touch around the home.

The staircase to the second floor is edged with glass balustrades.

The red and teal touches thread through the entire interior.

Ginger “Tetrapods”, a designer tile by Sergey Makhno Architects, mark the ascent to the second floor. These attention grabbing tiles were inspired by the massive concrete tetrapods that are installed on coastlines to resist wave impact and prevent beach erosion.

Upstairs, a gallery hall leads to the bedrooms. 16th century ceramic tiles provide decor up here, and guardian angels watch over the doors of the children’s bedrooms.

As Sergey’s parents are frequent guests in this house, one of the bedrooms has been dedicated to their stay. The connection between grandchild and grandparent is strong, and in Ukraine it is believed that grandparents love grandchildren more than children. Decor in the grandparents’ room is very simple and restrained. A low Japanese style bed skims the floor, beneath plain yet strong bedroom pendant lights.

Sculptural tiles fill the headboard wall, accentuated by ambient light.

Separate zones make up the master suite: The relax and recreation area, a study, a shower room and bathroom. Here the headboard wall of a tatami bed represents a clay cliff, symbolising primeval beauty, in a unique technique implemented by the Kelsis studio.

Cobalt blue artwork powerfully disrupts the naturally neutral palette of the room.

The study area in the master bedroom has a window that looks down over the living room and into the garden.

Metal lamps designed by Sergey Makhno Architects studio.

This dramatically dark bedroom scheme belongs to Sergey’s eldest son, Ivan, who is away studying in Italy with a view to continue his father’s business.

A Sumi-e-style monochrome art piece depicts distant landscapes at the head of the bed, which is traditional in the wabi-sabi philosophy.

500 year old oak covers the floor.

Kaws figurines and ceramic art-toys DIDO decorate Ivan’s room, which were created by his father.

Low bedsides wing the tatami bed.

Sergey Makhno Architects lights softly illuminate the moody black decor.

Wallpaper in the shared kids’ room was designed by Sergey Makhno, with chaotic blues spots dashed onto craft paper. Ukranian animals were then painted on by famous Ukrainian artist and ceramist, Serhii Radko.

Mustard yellow wall paint contrasts brightly with the blue mural wall.

The animals in the wall mural symbolise family.

Moving into the final kid’s room, a bespoke storage wall has archways built into it, where special toys can be kept out on display.

The biggest archway arcs over the bed, with book nooks recessed into each side.

Kid’s spaces were designed to encourage amazing imaginations and free creativity.

A walk in closet looks like a high-end fashion boutique.

Quirky accessories colour a monochrome bathroom…

… But it’s the unique bathtub and sink that stand out as hero pieces.

Another show-stopping bathroom basin puts a splash of teal up against a bright yellow tile wall.

This creative use of copper is designer tiles by Sergey Makhno, which decorate the guest bathroom.

Two versions of “Grass” and “Earthquake” tiles fill the walls around the vanity.

Thatch detail.

Ground floor plan.

First floor plan.

Perspective drawing.

Recommended Reading:  A Terraced Japanese Garden House Filled With Sculptural Art

Related Posts:

A Terraced Japanese Garden House Filled With Sculptural Art

Wood Slats Add Texture and Warmth to These Homes

Simple Open Plan Living

Kiev Apartment Showcases Sleek Design with Surprising Playful Elements

Minimalist Japanese Prefab House

Japanese Style Interior Design

[harrietentwistlephtography-blog]

Written component.

Black and white vs. colour photography.

During my first year of A level photography I have become increasingly interested in how photographers can interpret the same subject matter to create such different effects and moods by choosing colour or black and white or even a touch of colour splash. Consideration of viewpoints such as birds eye, worms eye etc. can also affect the mood of the photograph; looking at abstraction within a shot and of course the use of editing and photo manipulation using software such as adobe Photoshop. The human view and neurological processing of colour has fascinated neuroscientists since the invention of colour photography during the early 20th century, as according to the University of Tübingen our brain “influences our perception of it (colours) to such a degree that colours could be called an illusion”.

Black and white images appear to be more dramatic and theatrical than colour. A lack of colour in a photograph often draws more attention to the light and shadows with backlit subjects and abstract shadows given more recognition in black and white images. In our everyday lives we see the world in full colour, so to view the world from a different perspective in black and white offers a much more artistic and dramatic viewpoint. Some of these elements are lost within colour photography.

Colour photography’s main benefit is that it catches the eye and helps inform the viewer of much more than meets the eye. Colours are not only aesthetically pleasing but can tell the viewer more about the picture itself such as a warm colour scheme alluding to an autumn scene, cool colors showing winter, bright greens showing spring and so forth. Colour schemes can also portray moods such as cold tones represent feelings of despair and isolation, while a warmer tone might suggest hope and love. Some of these elements are lost with black and white photography.

Focusing on landscape photography looking at the work of Galen Rowell for colour and Jerry Uelsmann for black and white, both of whom capture the enormity of landscapes in drastically different ways through their use of colour or black and white. 

Artists such as Galen Rowell use colour to his advantage to draw in the viewer to each different aspect of the photography from the contrasting warm orange tones of mountains to the cool blue tones of  skies and lakes. All accentuated with features such as reflections in the water to double colour in the photograph. Galen Rowell was born in California in 1940 becoming a keen climber from a young age, he began to take photographs during his treks to show friends and family the places he had visited , eventually becoming a full-time wilderness  photographer in 1972 focusing on landscapes around the world. He began his first professional assignment with a cover story for national geographic.

Rowell had his own very special technique combining the use of  colour, natural, density filters and an f-stop of f/8 greatly to his advantage to take full control of all factors of his photograph. Combined with the famous philosophy he strongly believed in of “being in the right place at the right time”.

The main interest of my investigation is Rowell’s use of colour to his advantage. 

Rowell uses the rule of thirds perfectly to place points of visual interest in the intersections of the lines to balance the subject of the photo enabling us, to interact with it naturally. For example two organic landforms at either side of a photograph frame it, giving it symmetrical balance and distribute the elements evenly along with the two points in the mid-ground, placed on the top left and right intersections. This is very important as many scientific investigations have proven that when viewing photographs that the majority of people’s eyes normally and naturally focus on one of the intersection points as opposed to the middle point of the image. By considering the rule of thirds, you can make your image more naturally appealing. To view the image rather than working against it. He has managed to do this due to the vantage point from which the picture is being taken.

Contrastingly, David Fokos was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1960. Fokos’ grandfather gave him his first camera at age 11; by his teens Fokos was developing and printing his own images.

By the late 1990s he was transitioning from his career as an audio design engineer into a full-time fine-art photographer. Fokos believes his artistic skill came from his college study of engineering and Japanese art history, along with self-education coming from 30 years of image making. Since the young age of 11 years old Fokos has shown an innate talent for image-making; instead of the usual family holiday pictures Fokos was already showing a love for landscapes with a good eye for composition, most noted for  taking pictures of the patterned cobble stone streets and towering dark church spires. Fokos stated that as a high school student “the work of Ansel Adams inspired me to photograph the landscape with a view camera”.

David Fokos’ work has been displayed in exhibits across the world , from the  United States ,Russia,Japan and Switzerland amongst more. His work is frequently published and has been featured in  huge companies such as Microsoft and Texaco. Also being featured in the Museum of Fine Art, Houston, the Museum of Photographic Art in San Diego, and the Boise Art Museum, among others.

The main interest of my investigation is Fokos’ use of black and white to his advantage as he believes “ Colour is such a powerful element in an image” But the emotional response Fokos tries to create through his images are not dependent or necessary of colour but rather in the defined lines, light and form; therefore Fokos believes that “colour would only be a distraction in my work” .

In his photographs Fokos captures dramatic and striking images of large, dark imposing rocks etc. Fokos often uses natural and direct vantage points, capturing images head on in a straight forward manor without using unusual angles and distortion; this emphasizes the harsh geometric shapes of angular rock formations with triangular jagged edges and gives his work deep and intense feelings of strength  portrayed in the natural environment. In one particular image a rock formation is the main focus and it is placed in the foreground to attract the most attention, however Fokos has also considered the importance of the background; making it a lighter colour and diverting interest with the prolonged shutter speed of the sky to add a blurred effect giving the photograph a feeling of movement and excitement. 

Fokos also uses the rule of thirds brilliantly by placing two intersections on the main focus of his pictures to attract the most attention to it. Also, he sometimes places the horizon of the sea along one of the intersections, perfectly splitting the photograph, this is known as the golden ratio. The asymmetrical balance of the central focus of the image creates misbalance further adding interest to the composition of his image. In a particular image of a rock on the beach the dark and sharp rock formation and grey sky compares to the light grey almost white colour of the sea and sand which adds a strong contrast and interest to the image. With the harsh lines and sharp points of the rock also starkly in contrast to the smooth and soft texture of the fog covered still sea.

In conclusion, in the comparison of the work of Rowell and Focus I believe monochrome and coloured images both have advantages, dependent on the individual photograph.