I've saved one of my favourite shots of the Exxopolis Luminarium till last, this shot for me encompasses the essence of the experience.

It's a shame to be coming to the end of my Luminarium photos, not least because quite a few of them have made 'Explore' over the past couple of weeks, including two yesterday for the first time ever for me. Usually 'Explore' is something I just scrape into about once every three months.

To see more of my Explored shots, click here : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/sets/72157602147367611

This is one of my favourites from our recent trip to the Exxopolis Luminarium in Nottingham, possibly one my favourite Luminarium shots from the three I've visited now. I love the way the kid is just tearing round wanting to explore. You're not supposed to run or jump but try telling that to a small child when they've just walked inside the best bouncy castle ever......

More Luminarium shots here : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/sets/72157628714156471/det...

P.S.Anyone else having a particularly high number of views today, I've had over 8000 already so I'll probably end up with more than three times my normal number ?

I thought the original shot of the Levity III Luminarium, shown below, would make for an interesting flipped image, although from this image it's maybe a bit clearer whether it concave or convex ?.

Click here to see my other Luminarium photos : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/sets/72157628714156471

You can almost see the 'which way now ?' on the little boys face. The Exxopolis Luminarium isn't much of a maze though despite the impression given by some of my photos.

PS anyone noticed how this is pretty close to the flickr colours ?

For more this this and the other two Luminariums I've visited click here : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/sets/72157628714156471/

Seen in Explore, #83, July 10, 2012. My highest position in 18 months and the fourth consecutive day I've had a photo in Explore ! Thanks everyone.

“Drawing of Proposed Capsule To Aid Moon Exploration

1/5/1960-Chicago: A collapsible capsule designed to facilitate man's exploration of the moon, this unusual moon sac provides protection and mobility for future spacemen. This cut-away drawing shows how the pod-shaped vehicle allows two men inside to roll along the Lunar Surface simply by walking-as on a treadmill-in squirrel cage compartments at either end of pod. See negative for full caption.”

Also:

"DO-IT-YOURSELF MOON AUTO -- This unusual collapsible moon sac would provide both protection and transportation for men exploring the moon. Cutaway drawing shows how the pod-shaped vehicle would allow two men to roll along the lunar surface simply by walking a treadmill."

Above at, also probably taken from a press photo caption. On page five, and an excellent presentation:

www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/creel_lrv_experiences_alsj.pdf

www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/lrv_thermal_alsj.pdf

Both above credit: ALSJ website

'My' description, along with the image, at:

www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/collapsible-capsu...

“Credit”: Getty Images website

Very gratifying to ‘take’ something from them, instead of the other way around! They’re selling the ‘small’ (594 x 464 px (20.96 x 16.37 cm) 72 dpi | 0.3 MP) version of this image for $175. $499 for the “large” (3130 x 2446 px (26.50 x 20.71 cm) 300 dpi | 7.7 MP). Goliath takes one in the eye...yess!

Granted, only if/when somebody stumbles upon mine, who also happens to really want/need a high resolution version of it. But, hey, even if just ONE person can save $175 - $499, it’s a win. But I digress...

Unfortunately, the article affixed to the verso of the photo, although it features the photo, is irrelevant. The Chicago Daily News folks appear to have just pulled this out, since it is a very interesting, odd…and ridiculous depiction.

Among many other WTF questions, how did they see/know where they were going?

How about turning? Does one guy slow down, or just stop completely? How about for a tight/emergency turn? Backpedal...turn the other way? 😉

I do like the Dr. Octopus goggles though, along with the spacecraft’s external tri-rail elevator.

As zany as it is, it was ‘outside the box’ thinking, and it's what makes it so enjoyable. 😄👍

Artist unknown. However, it has a John Gorsuch look to it.

A visit to a Luminarium such as Levity III by Architects of Air is usually accompanied by a set of rules such as don't run, don't touch the sides of the structure, don't make too much noise. Try telling that to the kids though......

A wonderful artist’s depiction of what look like inflatable & interconnected (I think) structures/habitats(?) on the lunar surface. Actually, everything…other than the tractors & astronauts look to be inflated. To support such, note also the drape-like end closure, pulled back/up & fastened/ ‘pinned’ to allow egress of the tractor that the astronaut is about to ingress. The whole scene has a fun ‘bounce house’ look to it, capped off by those fanciful “stalagmitic” crater central peaks & ‘spires’. However, the single track design of tractors would seem to defy the laws of physics. 😉 Some sort of BB-8 thing maybe?

Excellent work by yet another exasperatingly obscure artist…”Calib”, “Aslib”, “Culib”, “Adib”??? It’s written in decent cursive, yet I still can’t make it out. Damnit though, it’s from 1965!

Whoever he/she is, seems to have been influenced by “Forbidden Planet” and…although chronologically a little too early, the depictions of the mysterious “Blair Cuspids”. Anyone remember the “stir” regarding them? I didn’t think so:

wearethemutants.com/2017/07/19/mysterious-monuments-on-th...

Credit: “WE ARE THE MUTANTS” website

I like the name; I think this site merits further perusal.

And finally, to complete the consternation, the ‘placards’, affixed to the left-hand end ‘cells’ of each structure. Are they manufacturer logos? If so, actual or fictional? A&D”? AED? An idle mind wants to know.

www.technologyreview.com/2007/11/27/222995/an-inflatable-...

Credit: “MIT Technology Review” website

These shots of the interior of the Exxopolis Luminarium were taken on a relatively dull day, it's amazing how the special translucent PVC material of the air inflated structure is able to still appear so vivid.

More Luminarium shots here : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/sets/72157628714156471

We'd travelled nearly two hours to Nottingham to see the 'world premiere' of the Exxopolis Luminarium so we made sure we were first in the queue. For the first 10 minutes or so we had the place almost to ourselves other than the occasional member of staff, one of whom I've included here to give some sense of scale.

Published in the 23rd August, 2014 Amateur Photographer Magazine as their online photo of the week.

To see my photos of other luminariums, click here : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/sets/72157628714156471

From the Architects of Air website : "22 years ago EGGOPOLIS luminarium was built in Nottingham with help from volunteers and the Community Service workers from the Probation Service. Eggopolis toured the UK together with learning disabled performers from Springwood Day Centre and became a feature of Nottingham playschemes before becoming the first structure toured by Architects of Air. It laid the foundation for a success that has seen the Architects of Air luminaria visited by over 2 million people in 38 countries around the world.

This year, in celebration of its 20th anniversary, Architects of Air is creating its 20th luminarium entitled ‘EXXOPOLIS’. EXXOPOLIS takes its inspiration from natural geometry and Islamic architecture. The principal dome – the CUPOLA - was inspired by the circular space of the Chapter House of Southwell Minster."

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My photostream is going to be rather UK based for the next few weeks as I attempt to catch up a bit with the second half of last year. Here's one of my favourite shots from the Levity III Luminarium which we visited whilst it was at Taurus Crafts in Lydney, Gloucestershire back in July 2011. This is the second of these air inflatable structures by Architects of Air I've visited, having first been to one in Oxford nearly twenty years ago.

"The first reaction is often one of delight at the unexpected beauty of the light. The radiance of the daylight transmitted by the coloured pvc of the luminarium is surprising in its luminosity and makes a direct impact on the senses.

Through labyrinthine tunnels and cavernous domes, visitors move in a medium of saturated and subtle hues. Vivid reflections of liquid colour spill across the curved walls creating a world apart from the normal and everyday. Visitors are excited to discover how different colours blend or resonate; how they transform faces and clothing. Some explore, following their maps through the maze immersing themselves in radiant colour."

Source : Architects of Air website

I know these shots of the Exxopolis Luminariums won't be to everyones taste, it may even appear they're computer generated graphics. It's one of those things that the photographs don't do the experience justice, if ever one is touring near you I'd highly recommend a trip along with your camera.

Seen in Explore #160, 15/07/12.

To see more of my Explored shots, click here : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/sets/72157602147367611

Another shot the 'The Tree', one of the main spaces of the Levity III Luminarium, an Air-inflated structure by Architects of Air. One thing I've neglected to say on these shots is that they are pretty much straight out of the camera, maybe the exception of levels tweak. You'd think I've massively increased the saturation but interestingly this wasn't possible.......

As you maybe can tell from the big smile on my daughters face the Levity III Luminarium was a big hit with kids. In fact, in a lot of cases it turned adults into big kids too and it certainly seemed to help people forget all their outside concerns whilst inside the vividly coloured labyrinth.

A young man walks throug a colorful luminarium. In March 2014, “Architects of Air" brought their amazing luminarium to Discovery Green in Houston, Texas. Led by artistic director Alan Parkinson, they created Miracoco. This inflatable structure, Inspired by the Lotus Temple in India, is a dazzling maze of tunnels corridors and domes all lit by natural light. Stunning rooms of blue, green and red await those who explore its colorful passages.

Another shot of the Blue dome of the Exxopolis Luminarium. Yesterday it was likened to an insect, a cat and a psychedelic Owl. Any more ?

Blue colors a dome-shaped room in a luminarium. In March 2014, “Architects of Air" brought their amazing luminarium to Discovery Green in Houston, Texas. Led by artistic director Alan Parkinson, they created Miracoco. This inflatable structure, Inspired by the Lotus Temple in India, is a dazzling maze of tunnels corridors and domes all lit by natural light. Stunning rooms of blue, green and red await those who explore its colorful passages.

You would think getting good shots inside a brightly coloured structure such as the Levity III Luminarium would be easy but it wasn't. For a start it was packed with people when really all you want would be a couple, light levels were quite low in bits of it and then there's just the whole thing of trying to make good compositions when everywhere you look is so dazzling.

Including stained glass (stained plastic ?) windows inspired by the designs of Roger Penrose, the Cupola of the Exxopolis Luminarium was an impressive place.

From Wikipedia : "Penrose is well known for his 1974 discovery of Penrose tilings, which are formed from two tiles that can only tile the plane nonperiodically, and are the first tilings to exhibit fivefold rotational symmetry. Penrose developed these ideas based on the article Deux types fondamentaux de distribution statistique (1938; an English translation Two Basic Types of Statistical Distribution) by Czech geographer, demographer and statistician Jaromír Korčák. In 1984, such patterns were observed in the arrangement of atoms in quasicrystals."

A young woman basks in the colorful light in a luminarium. In March 2014, “Architects of Air" brought their amazing luminarium to Discovery Green in Houston, Texas. Led by artistic director Alan Parkinson, they created Miracoco. This inflatable structure, Inspired by the Lotus Temple in India, is a dazzling maze of tunnels corridors and domes all lit by natural light. Stunning rooms of blue, green and red await those who explore its colorful passages.

In March 2014, “Architects of Air" brought their amazing luminarium to Discovery Green in Houston, Texas. Led by artistic director Alan Parkinson, they created Miracoco. This inflatable structure, Inspired by the Lotus Temple in India, is a dazzling maze of tunnels corridors and domes all lit by natural light. Stunning rooms of blue, green and red await those who explore its colorful passages.

In a place like a luminarium your imagination can run wild. Down this passage way I see a giant iridescent worm looking back at me through the tunnel hole. His head is turned to the left so only part of his left eye is visible. A shadowy outline of his body can be seen through translucent material below the hole. I am not an artist be the photo on the right is a depiction of what my mind saw. I read an article that said the human brain is "programmed" to recognize faces. When we look at shapes one of the patterns we naturally recognize are faces. (Some of us more than others evidently. The guys in the white jackets will pick me up soon!) Too bad, not real but it is only colored light and shadows.

BTW, I am really good with clouds.

Anyone getting bored yet with these shots from the Levity III Luminarium ? I hope not as I've quite a few to go and I'm finding their vivid colours an antidote to the rubbish weather we've had for the last few weeks.

The day we visited Exxopolis at the Lakeside Arts Festival in Nottingham the weather was overcast but if anything that seemed to make the colours more vivid. Even with a bit of work on them in Lightroom / Photoshop my photos don't really capture the intensity of the colours.

Seen in Explore #445, 9/07/12

Passageways basked in the colorful light wind through a luminarium. In March 2014, “Architects of Air" brought their amazing luminarium to Discovery Green in Houston, Texas. Led by artistic director Alan Parkinson, they created Miracoco. This inflatable structure, Inspired by the Lotus Temple in India, is a dazzling maze of tunnels corridors and domes all lit by natural light. Stunning rooms of blue, green and red await those who explore its colorful passages.

Looks the opening credits to a James Bond film. I'm not sure who's playing 003.5 though.

Interior of the Eggopolis Luminarium, photographed in South Park, Oxford.

This shot is for those wondering what a Luminarium looks like from the outside, this is the Exxopolis Luminarium at the Lakeside Arts Festival about a month ago.

Shots from three different Luminariums : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/sets/72157628714156471

As seen on the Flickr blog : blog.flickr.net/en/2013/10/10/luminariums-on-tour/

The amazing colourful interior of the Levity III Luminarium which we visited at Lydney on the edge of the Forest of Dean last Summer. This one's for those that were disappointed I'd not caught the edge of the right-hand curve on yesterdays upload but didn't like to say......

A young woman basks in the colorful light in a luminarium. In March 2014, “Architects of Air" brought their amazing luminarium to Discovery Green in Houston, Texas. Led by artistic director Alan Parkinson, they created Miracoco. This inflatable structure, Inspired by the Lotus Temple in India, is a dazzling maze of tunnels corridors and domes all lit by natural light. Stunning rooms of blue, green and red await those who explore its colorful passages.

No, not the inside of Spiderman's lair, but a detail of the tree structure that holds up one of the five main spaces in the 'Architects of Air' new Luminarium which we visited as part of Lakeside Arts Festival in Nottingham recently.

From Architects of Air' website : "The completed structure occupies half a football field and rises to the height of a 3-storey house. EXXOPOLIS took 6 months to build with 55 people contributing to the making. It used 3,000m2 of plastic in its construction in 9,000 individual pieces joined with 6 kilometres of seams."

Seen in Explore #419, July 8, 2012.

.....and back to the Exxopolis Luminarium in Nottingham. Standing at over three storeys high I think the Cupola seen here is the largest space yet created by Architects of Air.

From the Architects of Air website "This year, in celebration of its 20th anniversary, Architects of Air is creating its 20th luminarium entitled ‘EXXOPOLIS’. EXXOPOLIS takes its inspiration from natural geometry and Islamic architecture. The principal dome – the CUPOLA - was inspired by the circular space of the Chapter House of Southwell Minster.

More Luminarium photos here : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/sets/72157628714156471

To commemorate the 20th luminarium, and to celebrate its long association with Nottingham, Architects of Air returned to its roots to involve local people. In partnership with Lakeside Arts Centre local community groups were enlisted in the ‘Windows Project’ workshops to make the intricate ‘stained glass’ windows of the EXXOPOLIS CUPOLA based on a tiling design by Sir Roger Penrose."

Ani takes my picture inside a luminarium. In March 2014, “Architects of Air" brought their amazing luminarium to Discovery Green in Houston, Texas. Led by artistic director Alan Parkinson, they created Miracoco. This inflatable structure, Inspired by the Lotus Temple in India, is a dazzling maze of tunnels corridors and domes all lit by natural light. Stunning rooms of blue, green and red await those who explore its colorful passages.

A young mother and her child are silhoutted in the colorful light in a luminarium. In March 2014, “Architects of Air" brought their amazing luminarium to Discovery Green in Houston, Texas. Led by artistic director Alan Parkinson, they created Miracoco. This inflatable structure, Inspired by the Lotus Temple in India, is a dazzling maze of tunnels corridors and domes all lit by natural light. Stunning rooms of blue, green and red await those who explore its colorful passages.

The Tree is the center of this dome. I see the tree but I also see "eyes" everywhere! In March 2014, “Architects of Air" brought their amazing luminarium to Discovery Green in Houston, Texas. Led by artistic director Alan Parkinson, they created Miracoco. This inflatable structure, Inspired by the Lotus Temple in India, is a dazzling maze of tunnels corridors and domes all lit by natural light. Stunning rooms of blue, green and red await those who explore its colorful passages.

A passageway is basked in amazing colors inside the luminarium, "Miracoco". In March 2014, “Architects of Air" brought their amazing luminarium to Discovery Green in Houston, Texas. Led by artistic director Alan Parkinson, they created Miracoco. This inflatable structure, Inspired by the Lotus Temple in India, is a dazzling maze of tunnels corridors and domes all lit by natural light. Stunning rooms of blue, green and red await those who explore its colorful passages.

A pssageway winds inside a luminarium. In March 2014, “Architects of Air" brought their amazing luminarium to Discovery Green in Houston, Texas. Led by artistic director Alan Parkinson, they created Miracoco. This inflatable structure, Inspired by the Lotus Temple in India, is a dazzling maze of tunnels corridors and domes all lit by natural light. Stunning rooms of blue, green and red await those who explore its colorful passages.

In March 2014, “Architects of Air" brought their amazing luminarium to Discovery Green in Houston, Texas. Led by artistic director Alan Parkinson, they created Miracoco. This inflatable structure, Inspired by the Lotus Temple in India, is a dazzling maze of tunnels corridors and domes all lit by natural light. Stunning rooms of blue, green and red await those who explore its colorful passages.

My youngest daughter enjoying a bit of rare down time inside the Exxopolis Luminarium. Considering the spaces are promoted for meditation it's no surprise given the vibrant colours and maze like quality of the air inflatable structure that most kids just want to run around and make noise.

Seen in Explore, #347, 16/07/12

Fun in color. In March 2014, “Architects of Air" brought their amazing luminarium to Discovery Green in Houston, Texas. Led by artistic director Alan Parkinson, they created Miracoco. This inflatable structure, Inspired by the Lotus Temple in India, is a dazzling maze of tunnels corridors and domes all lit by natural light. Stunning rooms of blue, green and red await those who explore its colorful passages.

I visited the Eggopolis when it was in Oxford almost twenty years ago so I was keen to visit Levity II when it came for a week to Taurus Crafts in Lydney, Gloucestershire.

The best way of describing it is to compare it to being transported to the inside of a huge bouncy castle. The BBC video weblink here gives some idea but the intensity of the colours is something you can only experience in person : www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-14263104

Needless to say, I've more shots to come.

1610_LaChapelle_49

A young woman takes a photo of the colorful light in a luminarium. In March 2014, “Architects of Air" brought their amazing luminarium to Discovery Green in Houston, Texas. Led by artistic director Alan Parkinson, they created Miracoco. This inflatable structure, Inspired by the Lotus Temple in India, is a dazzling maze of tunnels corridors and domes all lit by natural light. Stunning rooms of blue, green and red await those who explore its colorful passages.

Small rooms off off the Red Dome appear like eyes inside the inflatable structre, "Miracaco" . In March 2014, “Architects of Air" brought their amazing luminarium to Discovery Green in Houston, Texas. Led by artistic director Alan Parkinson, they created Miracoco. This inflatable structure, Inspired by the Lotus Temple in India, is a dazzling maze of tunnels corridors and domes all lit by natural light. Stunning rooms of blue, green and red await those who explore its colorful passages.

A young woman basks in the colorful light in a luminarium. In March 2014, “Architects of Air" brought their amazing luminarium to Discovery Green in Houston, Texas. Led by artistic director Alan Parkinson, they created Miracoco. This inflatable structure, Inspired by the Lotus Temple in India, is a dazzling maze of tunnels corridors and domes all lit by natural light. Stunning rooms of blue, green and red await those who explore its colorful passages.

For me 'the Tree' seen here was the most impressive space inside the Exxopolis Luminarium. The Cuploa is bigger but the complexity and originality of the structure of the Tree points the way towards a new type of architecture that is only possible with air inflatable structures

More Luminarium shots here : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/sets/72157628714156471

A young woman basks in the colorful light in a luminarium. In March 2014, “Architects of Air" brought their amazing luminarium to Discovery Green in Houston, Texas. Led by artistic director Alan Parkinson, they created Miracoco. This inflatable structure, Inspired by the Lotus Temple in India, is a dazzling maze of tunnels corridors and domes all lit by natural light. Stunning rooms of blue, green and red await those who explore its colorful passages.

A family walks through a luminarium. In March 2014, “Architects of Air" brought their amazing luminarium to Discovery Green in Houston, Texas. Led by artistic director Alan Parkinson, they created Miracoco. This inflatable structure, Inspired by the Lotus Temple in India, is a dazzling maze of tunnels corridors and domes all lit by natural light. Stunning rooms of blue, green and red await those who explore its colorful passages.

A woman looks at what appears to be an eye of a green monster. That what it looks like to me anyway. She is actually looking at the tree room in the luminarium, Miracoco. In March 2014, “Architects of Air" brought their amazing luminarium to Discovery Green in Houston, Texas. Led by artistic director Alan Parkinson, they created Miracoco. This inflatable structure, Inspired by the Lotus Temple in India, is a dazzling maze of tunnels corridors and domes all lit by natural light. Stunning rooms of blue, green and red await those who explore its colorful passages.

A mother and daughtern basks in the colorful light in a luminarium. In March 2014, “Architects of Air" brought their amazing luminarium to Discovery Green in Houston, Texas. Led by artistic director Alan Parkinson, they created Miracoco. This inflatable structure, Inspired by the Lotus Temple in India, is a dazzling maze of tunnels corridors and domes all lit by natural light. Stunning rooms of blue, green and red await those who explore its colorful passages.

The center dome of thr luminarium, Miracoco, features its own star field on the cieling. In March 2014, “Architects of Air" brought their amazing luminarium to Discovery Green in Houston, Texas. Led by artistic director Alan Parkinson, they created Miracoco. This inflatable structure, Inspired by the Lotus Temple in India, is a dazzling maze of tunnels corridors and domes all lit by natural light. Stunning rooms of blue, green and red await those who explore its colorful passages.

In March 2014, “Architects of Air" brought their amazing luminarium to Discovery Green in Houston, Texas. Led by artistic director Alan Parkinson, they created Miracoco. This inflatable structure, Inspired by the Lotus Temple in India, is a dazzling maze of tunnels corridors and domes all lit by natural light. Stunning rooms of blue, green and red await those who explore its colorful passages.