Friday Happy Hour: Body Paint Turns Models Into Human Chameleons

If you’ve never thought much about bodypainting and how it can lend to stunning photographs, check out the work below by award-winning artist Johannes Stötter. This week we’re also featuring an amazing video by Eric Cheng shot from a drone, imagining what cities would look like if you could see Wi-Fi signals, and some photography business plan tips from wedding photographer Sal Cincotta.

Photos of human chameleons in nature

“Fine-art-bodypainter” Johannes Stötter says he’s inspired by nature-related themes, evident in these beautiful images, for which he’s won the Bodypainting World Championship in 2012. (via Laughing Squid)

LensProToGo launches new blog for tips, tutorials, gear reviews

Our friends over at LensProToGo launched a brand new blog this week called LensProToGo Labs, which will offer industry news, new product alerts, tips and tutorials, product reviews. The great thing about the folks at LensProToGo is that they’re all shooters, so you can trust that they’re on top of their game. As a special promotion, follow them on Twitter @lensprotogolabs for a chance to win a $50 gift card to LensProToGo every day this week.

Eric Cheng uses drone to capture thrilling surf video

We typically associate drones with warfare, but photographers are also using them as “eyes in the sky” to capture amazing footage. This month, photographer Eric Cheng strapped a GoPro HERO3 to a DJI Phantom quadcopter and sent it several hundred feet into the air above Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz, California. The resulting video is thrilling – for both the incredible shots and daredevil surfers. (via Gizmodo)

Eric Cheng also spoke at Luminance 2012 as Director of Photography at Lytro. Lytro cameras use light field technology to let you focus your images after capture. Check out his inspiring talk below.

Nature photographer Tim Plowden wins 1st prize in photography competition

PhotoShelter member and nature photographer Tim Plowden took home first place in the British Deer Society’s open photographic competition for his image of roe deer taken near Dereham in mid-Norfolk. Congrats on the win!

Images show what cities would look like if we could see Wi-Fi

“Who doesn’t love free WiFi?” says artist Nickolay Lamm. “Although we use it often, we rarely think about how it works.” Nickolay decided to take on that ignorance and create illustrated renderings of what the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and Central Park in New York City would look like if we could see Wi-Fi signals. The complexity of colors and shapes in these images might mean you never take free Wi-Fi for granted again (at least until the next frustrating time you can’t connect). (via Co.Design)

Wedding photographer Sal Cincotta on running a successful photography business

St. Louis wedding photographer Sal Cincotta runs a successful business that he chops up to crafting a business plan from the get-go.

He shared his tips for building out this plan with Resource magazine – some pointers include:

• Start with a mission statement
• Write a vision statement
• Conduct some marketing analysis
• Describe your service
• Think about your finances

Sal regularly speaks at WPPI and creativeLIVE. See all his tips here.