Yann Arthus-Bertrand founded the Altitude Agency in 1991, which was the world’s first press agency and images bank specialising in aerial photography (500,000 pictures taken in more than 100 countries by more than 100 photographers). Yann Arthus-Bertrand made a picture inventory of the world’s most beautiful landscapes, taken from helicopters and hot-air balloons. The book from this project, Earth from Above (‘la Terre vue du ciel’) sold over 3 million copies and was translated into 24 languages.

Planet Earth – Angel Falls (HD) Video

Angel Falls – Base Jump Free Fall Video

Born and raised in London, Nick Brandt studied Film and Painting at St. Martins School of Art. He started photographing in December 2000 in East Africa, beginning the body of work that is his signature subject matter and style. He no longer directs, devoting himself full time to his fine art photography now.

Brandt’s first book of photographs, “On This Earth”, was published in October 2005, by Chronicle Books, with forewords by Jane Goodall and Alice Sebold (author of “The Lovely Bones”). He has had numerous one-man exhibitions between 2004 and 2006, including London, Berlin, New York, Los Angeles, Hamburg, Santa Fe, Sydney, Melbourne and San Francisco. He now lives in Topanga, California….

Few photographers have ever considered the photography of wild animals, as distinctly opposed to the genre of Wildlife Photography, as an art form. The emphasis has generally been on capturing the drama of wild animals IN ACTION, on capturing that dramatic single moment, as opposed to simply animals in the state of being. I’ve always thought this something of a wasted opportunity.

The wild animals of Africa lend themselves to photographs that extend aesthetically beyond the norm of 35mm-color telephoto wildlife photography. And so it is, that in my own way, I would like to yank the subject matter of wildlife into the arena of fine art photography. To take photographs that transcend what has been a largely documentative genre. Aside from using certain impractical photographic techniques, there’s one thing I do whilst shooting that I believe makes a big difference:

I get extremely close to these very wild animals, often within a few feet of them. I don’t use telephoto lenses. This is because I want to see as much of the sky and landscape as possible–to see the animals within the context of their environment. That way, the photos become as much about the atmosphere of the place as the animals. And being that close to the animals, I get a real sense of intimate connection to them, to the specific animal in front of me. Sometimes a deliberate feeling that they’re almost presenting themselves for a studio portrait.

Why the animals of Africa in particular? And more particularly still, East Africa? There is perhaps something more profoundly iconic, mythical, mythological even, about the animals of East Africa, as opposed to say, the Arctic or South America. There is also something deeply, emotionally stirring and affecting about the plains of Africa – the vast green rolling plains punctuated by the graphically perfect acacia trees. My images are unashamedly idyllic and romantic, a kind of enchanted Africa. They’re my elegy to a world that is steadily, tragically vanishing.

http://www.nickbrandt.comndt

Ford Obsidian SG One

What would you build if you had finances without limitations, a love for classic Mustangs and a passion for hot rodding? Forget everything you know and believe about classic Mustangs because were talking about something that’s never existed before. Something that says, You’ve achieved the highest levels success and perfectly reflects who you are. It must exceed the wildest dreams of even the most discerning enthusiast without disappointment or delay. It must redefine the standards by which all others are judged. It must be the absolute pinnacle of achievement. All of this requires the finest coach level craftsmanship, ingenious engineering, seamless integration of only the best components and several years to complete. As Ford cars go, this is as good as it gets! So, we proudly introduce you to the Obsidian SG-One Mustang.

Classic styling meticulously blended with sophisticated technology. A Twin supercharged and intercooled EFI engine with more horsepower than any factory Shelby Mustang , a new Corvette ZR-1 or a new Dodge Viper. They’ll know you’re coming with the beautiful but subtle supercharger whine, a camshaft idle you’ll love and a muscular exhaust sound thats not too loud on the inside yet intimidating on the outside. A fully integrated tube chassis with roll bar easily handles the power while a NASCAR style belly pan provides high speed aerodynamics. The body has been extended 7 over stock to comfortably sit virtually anyone up to 7 feet tall. Formula One style paddle shifters enable lightning fast and consistent gear changes.

Enormous Brembo four wheel disc brakes with hydro boost provide fade-free stopping power in a hurry. A fully adjustable coil over suspension system is tuned for carving out corners while providing excellent ride characteristics. A performance rack and pinion steering system gives the utmost in road feel and goes precisely where you point it. Custom 18 front and 20 rear aluminum wheels and BF Goodrich KDW tires provide a nose down appearance with superior dry and wet weather traction and razor sharp handling and braking.

Inside, you’ll find power everything with bone chilling air conditioning. To ensure the highest level of your entertainment experience there is a 3,000 watt Kicker stereo system with Dolby 5.1 surround sound, DVD navigation, MP3, iPod, XM Radio, 60GB hard drive, Bluetooth and HomeLink. There’s even WiFi Internet access wherever your journey takes you. The cockpit is wrapped in the finest leather. Seating is fully adjustable with lumbar support, electronic control and heating. To keep the outside world from coming in and to provide the ultimate in year round comfort, the interior is fully lined with the latest in sound proofing and heat insulation. The latest instrumentation with Chameleon lighting provide vital statistics and allow you to adjust to just the right look. A touch screen LCD is integrated into the cars fuel injection system, stereo electronics and diagnostics. With access to a chassis dyno, you can precisely tune the engine from the cockpit. A fully integrated yet easy to operate security system ensures it stays in your possession. Lastly, full documentation ensures the ease of service and helps protect your investment.

Videos of Ford Obsidian SG One

VITAL STATISTICS:
Horsepower: 800+HP on pump gas (est) Over 1,000+ HP is possible w/tuning
Torque: 750 lbs. ft. on pump gas (est)
0-60: 4 sec. (est)

Top Speed: Could possibly be the fastest streetable Mustang ever
Weight: Approximately 3,000 lbs.
Length: 190.6 (7 longer, comfortably seats virtually anyone up to 7 feet tall)
Cost To Duplicate: Approx. $1.3M
ENGINE & DRIVE TRAIN:

• Obsidian 392 cubic inch engine (351W based), 800+HP on pump gas
• Big Stuff 3 fuel injection w/on-board computer mgt. & in-dash diagnostics
• Rotrex C38-81 twin superchargers & Active twin blow off valves
• Hogan custom aluminum intake manifold w/Viper twin throttle bodies
• Spearco custom twin air to air intercoolers
Custom billet aluminum pulley system, radiator core support & firewall
Aeromotive fuel pump & custom alum. fuel tank (sumped & baffled)
Doug Thorley custom headers, custom dual exhaust & aluminum tips
Tremec TKO 600 5-speed manual w/Master Shift paddle shifters
Mittler Brothers 9″ fabricated rear end housing w/Currie 31-spline axles

CHASSIS:

• Integrated tubular chassis, 4-point hidden roll cage & 4-piece belly pan
• Redesigned shock towers, rear frame rails, reinforced frame rails & jack pads
• Lowered center of gravity (for high speed stability & aggressive look)
• Engine & firewall have been pushed back (for better weight distribution)

SUSPENSION, BRAKES & STEERING:

• RRS Phase 5 front coil over suspension (Koni shocks w/Eibach springs)
• RRS rear 3-link coil over suspension w/torque Arm
• Brembo 14″ 4-wheel disc brakes w/4-piston calipers
• RRS power rack & pinion steering w/IDIDIT brushed tilt steering
• Power Brake Service hydroboost power brakes

DOCUMENTATION:

• Fully documented w/certified dyno sheet & custom owners manual

INTERIOR (17 CUSTOM INTERIOR PANELS):

• 2-seat conversion w/seats/boxes pushed back (for a modern sports car feel)
• Recaro custom ultra heated leather seats w/full lumbar support 4-point safety harness system
• Luxury carpeting, sound proofing & heat insulation Electronic A/C, Electric Life power windows, door loks & 3-speed wipers Kicker 3,000 watt sound system w/5.1
• Dolby digital surround sound DVD GPS Navigation, XM Radio, MP3, WMA, iPod, Bluetooth, 60 Gig hard drive, Mobile Wi-Fi Internet, HomeLink & more 10.5″ LCD touch screen monitor (operates electronics for vehicle) Keyless ignition, remote keyless entry & vehicle security system Stewart Warner gauges w/chameleon light package Hand crafted color matched dash board extends several inches over stock Hand crafted 2-piece door panels, headliner, center console & rear panels Leather wrapped billet steering wheel w/manual paddle shifters Lokar billet pedals & various billet accessories

Ford GT40 (2005)

The 2005 Ford GT is one of the hottest cars on the market right now. It offers world-class performance and stunning looks at a price that undercuts the competition from Ferrari and Lamborghini. But how does a company known for full-size trucks and $20,000 Mustangs make the quantum leap from mass production to exotic car construction?

Join us for an interactive factory tour of the Ford GT’s build process. We’ll watch as the basic aluminum chassis transforms into a 550-horsepower, midengine sports car. Extensive photography, and detailed narration, will walk you through everything from the high-tech paint procedure to the intricate assembly and quality control processes.

Certainly the final product resembles the original GT40 in appearance and philosophy — an American sports car designed to beat the best from Ferrari — but the new Ford GT goes far beyond this historic agenda in the use of 21st-century technology and advanced assembly protocols. Get ready for an exciting look at how one of the world’s largest automakers tackles the challenge of producing a limited-production supercar.

Pictures of Ford GT40

Ford GT40 Spec

VEHICLE TYPE: mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door coupe

ESTIMATED BASE PRICE: $100,000

ENGINE TYPE: supercharged and intercooled DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, Ford EEC-V engine-control system with port fuel injection
Displacement: 328 cu in, 5374cc
Power (SAE net): 500 bhp
Torque (SAE net): 500 lb-ft

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 106.7 in Length: 181.6 in Width: 76.4 in Height: 43.5 in
Curb weight: 3000 lb

C/D-ESTIMATED PERFORMANCE:
Zero to 60 mph: 4.0 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 9.2 sec
Standing 1/4-mile: 12.2 sec @ 116 mph
Top speed (drag limited): 185 mph

ESTIMATED FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city driving: 12 mpg
EPA highway driving: 18 mpg
Top Gear Ford GT40 Review

Top Gear Ford GT40 Challenge

Audi Perfection – The Unique Audi quality

Cool video featuring Audi cars and the quality behind them.

Audi Locus Concept

The Audi Locus Concept is a sporty coupe which adopts an organic design language made of flowing curves. The author is Turkish designer Ugur Sahin. You can view the design mock ups on http://www.carbodydesign.com/archive/2007/05/06-audi-locus-concept/

Top Gear – Corvette ZR1 vs Audi R8 V10

Cool video of race between Corvette ZR1 vs Audi R8 V10

Audi R8

The car has a 420 horsepower high-revving V8 engine and all-wheel-drive. It uses the mid-engine Lamborghini Gallardo platform and costs $114,200, positioning it squarely against the BMW M6, Porsche 911, and Aston Martin Vantage.

The car features a choice of LED or Xenon headlamps surrounded by LED running lights and indicators. LEDs are also used in the engine bay to make the impressive V8 visible even at night.

Both a standard manual and an automated manual transmission are offered. Claimed zero to 62 mph time is 4.6 seconds, though this number is likely conservative.

Interior

The interior has a driver-oriented cockpit architecture, integrating the driver between the dashboard and the high centre console. The instrument panel above the console is angled slightly towards the driver. The flat-bottomed steering wheel is a typical feature of the sportiest Audi models, and also enables comfortable sports car entry and exit.

The sports seats are trimmed as standard in a Leather/Alcantara combination, or optionally in full leather. Alternatively, the R8 can also be fitted with bucket seats, specially developed by quattro GmbH. There is plenty of room for the two occupants, with comfort levels well beyond the norm of high-performance sports cars. There is space behind the seats to stow large bags, or even two golf bags. The luggage compartment at the front has a capacity of 100 litres.

With numerous trim variants and applications in Piano finish or Carbon sigma, there are few limits to the range of customisation options for the interior.

Pictures of the latest cool car from Audi, the R8.