It’s a truth universally acknowledged that life moves quickly; decisions are made so readily that the consequences barely seem tangible. When we order that latté to go, do we really consider the fate of the takeaway cup once we’ve dismissed it to the rubbish bin? That’s where “Every Cup Counts” comes in. Using motion dolly time lapse, director Phil Kibbe presents an exploration of the unintentional environmental impact our takeaway habits can have, and introduces a solution in compostable cups from Green Paper Products.
Appropriately focusing upon images of nature and change, interlaced with bustling footage of modern life, the video provides a stirring environmental message that does not come off as preachy or condescending. The video presents facts in such an unassuming and honest way that the message of the video is far more resonating than it would have been using any other method.
Essentially serving to remind us that we do hold the power to make choices that can benefit the environment, and ultimately make a difference, the video provides—in the creators’ words—”a visual portrait of the disposable age, and the solutions that lie ahead”.
Sarah Ann Loreth, a self-taught photographer from New Hampshire, crafts her high-concept images based on the work of her favorite writers, poets and musicians.
“Sometimes I do exercises where I’ll pick a line in a poem and try to think of a visual concept to go along with it,” she told us. “But my best concepts come to be in that half consciousness between dreaming and awake. I keep a notebook in my bed to write as I dream.”
From that notebook, Sarah plans every extraneous detail of her shoots, many of which are executed with multiple shots layered together afterwards in Photoshop.
“I tend to think of [candid photos] more as a practice in spontaneity. I’m a planner at heart and I like feeling prepared when going into a photo shoot.”
Since last October, Sarah has been participating in Flickr’s wildly popular, user-generated 365 Day photography project, which requires users to shoot and upload a different image every day. From her first submission almost a year ago, Sarah has created almost 300 wildly different and inventive images which both stay true to her roots as a photographer and visibly chart her skill level growing. For all the good it’s done, though, it’s still taken its toll on her.
“The 365 project has been absolutely hateful and stressful and so unbelievably rewarding,” she tells us. It is just the perfect project to learn and grow at an astounding rate. But some days really get the better of you. I don’t upload daily anymore due to health issues but I don’t care if it takes me three years. I’m going to finish this project. These days, I upload when I can and don’t when I can’t. It’s a low stress project.”
While she features in the bulk of her own images, Sarah also loves to shoot with her intern Dawn (“She’s a fantastic model and needs no direction.”) and favors “the girls who are willing to do absolutely anything to get the good shot…I like models who are brave and not afraid to try anything.” Her ideal subject, though, is a little more well-known.
“My dream shoot would absolutely be with Lady Gaga. I admire her openness, creativity, and chutzpah. She is the epitome of me of fearless and willingness to go the distance for her art. And really, I think it would just be such a trip.”
