Things Look Like Things

June 16, 2007 9:21 PM

Things Look Like Things is an interesting photoblog concept; the author spends his flickr-browsing hours finding visual similarities between images & creating themed sets, usually with a small amount of accompanying text. I'm doing a terrible job of selling it, but the results can be really compelling. Via.
posted by jonson (28 comments total)

This is really fun.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 9:29 PM on June 16, 2007

That is so neat! Thanks for this post! :)
posted by Phire at 9:37 PM on June 16, 2007

[jonson, i just checked your profile and - that's one cutie of a child you got there. Precious. That's all :)]
posted by Foci for Analysis at 9:38 PM on June 16, 2007

Cool and cute!
posted by rob511 at 9:42 PM on June 16, 2007

How can we know what a bat dreams?
posted by OverlappingElvis at 9:49 PM on June 16, 2007

This is very cool, and it is the sort of aesthetic eye that I would like to have in my own photography, this sort of gestalt view of the world. Thanks for the find jonson.
posted by exlotuseater at 10:03 PM on June 16, 2007

Any one else think OE threw one in from left field?
posted by oddman at 10:03 PM on June 16, 2007

Very cool. Thanks!
posted by cerebus19 at 10:23 PM on June 16, 2007

Love this, absolutely stunning! I think the author is female, though.
posted by Squee at 10:34 PM on June 16, 2007

Hey Foci, thanks! She is a happy, happy little kid, which pleases me beyond rational explanation.
posted by jonson at 10:54 PM on June 16, 2007

These are terrific! He makes some really interesting connections that I never would have thought to make but that fit so beautifully together. Thanks, jonson!
posted by LeeJay at 10:59 PM on June 16, 2007

Nice.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 12:05 AM on June 17, 2007

After seeing the Influence of Cupcakes one, I really want a cupcake.

...And after looking at the front page, I really want a cupcake bush.

Good stuff!
posted by Many bubbles at 12:07 AM on June 17, 2007

These are absolutely fantastic. I'd love to have the eye to actually intentionally shoot in themes like this, but I'd settle for simply seeing and recognizing the similarities while browsing through huge groups of shots.

I can do neither, so I'll just stick to shooting what I normally do and admiring this blog. Thanks jonson, I love this post.
posted by Stunt at 12:20 AM on June 17, 2007

Hi, i am missing how the 3 photos in the bat dream are connected. 1)sleeping bat 2) flying bat 3) stormy sky.

Please explain it to me...i am slow.
posted by tarvuz at 12:21 AM on June 17, 2007

I like. Reminds me of One Eye (pictures at the bottom) by the same guy who wrote "Black Hole"
posted by OrangeDrink at 12:41 AM on June 17, 2007

I'd love to have the eye to actually intentionally shoot in themes like this

to me, it's precisely the unintentionality, so serendipitously re-read that makes this really compelling. thx jonson!
posted by progosk at 12:41 AM on June 17, 2007

tarvuz, to me there are a couple of interpretations:

1. The shape of the clouds is reminiscent of bat's wings
2. The shadow on the underside of the clouds looks like a giant bat

Both I think fit with theme of the site (they resemble one another) and the title of the set: "What a Bat Might Dream." He's a asleep dreaming of flying and ultimately being as large as the stormy sky. My two cents anyway.
posted by LeeJay at 12:46 AM on June 17, 2007

what would take this to another, higher plane, would be its synesthetic extension to accompanying audio simulacra.
posted by progosk at 12:49 AM on June 17, 2007

This is great. Lovely and inspiring.
posted by empath at 1:56 AM on June 17, 2007

This one delighted me. Imaginary paths in real places. Thanks jonson.
posted by imperium at 4:53 AM on June 17, 2007

She's a she! Check out the right side for links to her other sites.
posted by taz at 5:14 AM on June 17, 2007

You're so right - I apologize for misgendering the site's author, indeed a woman, not a guy.
posted by jonson at 7:30 AM on June 17, 2007

Ooh, I wanna do one!

1
2
3
4
posted by lostburner at 9:01 AM on June 17, 2007 [1 favorite]

lostburner, I can't tell you how surprised I was not to see a penis when I clicked on your #4 link.
posted by jonson at 9:21 AM on June 17, 2007

Great post jonson. Some awesome links bewteen photos.

I'm partial to this one.
posted by fnord at 11:27 AM on June 17, 2007

Nice post! Thanks. Lots of good browsing material here.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 3:18 PM on June 17, 2007

This one is my favorite. I love the fantastic story it is telling.
posted by MythMaker at 11:33 AM on June 24, 2007