Here's a collection of art for the DIGIT-AL age as these fascinating illusions of landmarks, places and even a banana are made using just a pair of hands. The quirky collection of images were created using hand models and body paint to create visions of a castle, church, and two footballers flying into a tackle. London based photographer Ray Massey KNUCKLED down to capture the images with each of the designs each taking a day to paint and shoot with the help of hand artist Annie Ralli. Together they made a FIST of also bringing to life a pen and pencil pot, a ribbon, mosque and cute wildlife adaptations of a daisy and a ladybird. Each image sees the hands and fingers carefully crossed, bent, or partially hidden to the millimetre to cleverly angle the palms and digits into the lifelike images. The intricate detail was then painted on the shapes and blended in to create the illusions, including one creation that sees a hand arch down to appear to become a banana skin. In others a sporting trophy is created by two joined hands bending at the knuckles and two hands are cleverly pushed together to form what appears to be a cosy bed. Ray said professional hand models had to be used for the shoot because fingers are often so unattractive to look at. He said: "Hands are always particularly difficult to shoot, they are not pretty items, they're basically very ugly. "The benefit of a good hand model is not just having good hands, it is also important to be able to pose your hands. "So we had to employ professional hand models. Our biggest concern was to use proper body painting materials, in order not to damage their skin. "Most of the images took four to six hours to paint, the rest of the day is spent capturing images and the hand painting artist adjusting elements accordingly.
OFFERING a glimpse into the past, a mash-up of old and new photographs show how the world’s biggest cities have changed .
More weather chaos is heading our way, with ice and snow already hitting areas across Birmingham .
A brave praying mantis makes an unusual friend in an Oriental garden lizard .
From foster care to the MAGICAL world of cosplay, a young girl’s dreams become reality after being adopted by a photography loving couple .
An American black bear mimics John Travolta’s famous Saturday Night Fever dance move by hurling its arm in the air .
CARRYING a fully grown goat on his back, this five-year-old boy is a child shepherd in the mountains of northern Ethiopia .
WITH STUNNING colours and serene scenes, these photographs capture the otherworldly beauty of the English coast .
A tiny puppy who lost his front legs after being hit by a train has been given and new LEASH of life with a set of wheels .
DIPPING his head into the vase of water, this little squirrel takes a refreshing break from an afternoon of eating .
EXPERTLY camouflaged, this clever panther chameleon knows how to catch its prey by surprise .
A little brown bear cub shows his doting mum that she is always on parent duty as he uses her as a scratching post .
Sitting all alone on drift ice in the Arctic Ocean, this lonely little fella looks lost .