The Amazing Stuff

If you love food and pretty things, then Tal Spiegel’s Instagram account, Desserted in Paris, is about to become your favorite thing on the Internet. Based in Paris, Spiegel is both a pastry chef and a graphic designer.

Not only can he create seriously mouthwatering pastries, but he can also make them look completely gorgeous. The result is one of the most delicious Instagram accounts out there. Here’s a small sampling of his work.

A pistachio-cherry pastry that looks like a flip-flop.

A photo posted by Tal Spiegel (@desserted_in_paris) on Jul 23, 2015 at 2:36am PDT

A gorgeous chocolate design.

A photo posted by Tal Spiegel (@desserted_in_paris) on Jun 3, 2015 at 5:17am PDT

A little lemon sun.

A photo posted by Tal Spiegel (@desserted_in_paris) on Oct 7, 2015 at 11:49pm PDT

A raspberry meringue.

A photo posted by Tal Spiegel (@desserted_in_paris) on Oct 1, 2015 at 1:40am PDT

Another chocolate pastry (because you can never have too many).

A photo posted by Tal Spiegel (@desserted_in_paris) on Oct 4, 2015 at 2:40am PDT

We’re not sure exactly what this one is, but we like it.

A photo posted by Tal Spiegel (@desserted_in_paris) on Sep 30, 2015 at 2:00am PDT

Snapshots of food uploaded to Instagram can get old really fast, but these are too good to be annoying. It’s also kind of cool that his shoes often make it into the shot. Shoes and food are both popular Instagram subjects, after all. Combining them into one picture might sound awful, but Spiegel makes it work.

A lime and strawberry tart.

A photo posted by Tal Spiegel (@desserted_in_paris) on Sep 29, 2015 at 12:03am PDT

Some graphic eclairs.

A photo posted by Tal Spiegel (@desserted_in_paris) on Sep 27, 2015 at 12:30am PDT

We’re glad there’s photo evidence, because they probably taste as good as they look.

A photo posted by Tal Spiegel (@desserted_in_paris) on Sep 24, 2015 at 2:17am PDT

It would be so hard to eat this!

A photo posted by Tal Spiegel (@desserted_in_paris) on Jul 7, 2015 at 1:22am PDT

Pastries don’t have to be bright to be deliciously beautiful, though.

A photo posted by Tal Spiegel (@desserted_in_paris) on Sep 22, 2015 at 2:33am PDT

This one is like a tiny, edible collage.

A photo posted by Tal Spiegel (@desserted_in_paris) on Sep 13, 2015 at 1:00am PDT

We’re the first people to make fun of food photos on social media (even though we’re all admittedly guilty of taking them), but when the food looks this good, we can’t blame anyone for snapping a quick photo.

It looks like modern art, but this is bourbon vanilla buttercream, salted caramel, and praline.

A photo posted by Tal Spiegel (@desserted_in_paris) on Sep 8, 2015 at 1:08am PDT

(via A Plus, Design Taxi)

For your daily dose of drool-inducing aesthetic pleasure, check out the rest of Spiegel’s Instagram, which includes many more images of mouthwatering and beautiful desserts.

A lot of people don’t like tattoos because they think they’re aggressive and distasteful. But not every tattooed person is covered in dragons and flames. While I’m not about to judge anyone for their choice in how to decorate their own body, I understand why some people seem to generalize all tattoos as “bad,” just because they don’t see the more delicate versions of ink.

Well, that stops today! Here are 31 totally petite tats that’ll change how you see the art entirely:

1. An olive branch as delicate as the sentiment.

2. Just like a necklace, only permanent.

3. These crisscross flower stems are oh so petite.

4. The only bobby pin out of hundreds she’ll ever be able to find when she needs one.

5. Perpetual fall, aka, pure bliss.

6. No one ever said love was painless!

7. This love is all-encircling.

8. “Goodnight, Moon,” said the cacti.

9. It’s good to keep the ocean near you.

10. It’s nice to stay close to the forest, too.

11. A bright reminder to just keep smiling.

12. But honestly, what could ever make you happier than a tiny dinosaur?!

13. The world’s most adorable sailboat:

14. Coffee, anyone?

15. Or how about some nice, fresh fruit?

16. “I see you.”

17. Everyone loves little terrariums.

18. Origami is just as beautiful in 2D.

19. The little things in life…

20. Turns out, you don’t need to put a hole through your ear to decorate it, but a needle is still involved.

21. Whether you believe or not…this little alien is pretty cute.

22. We’ll never know what the prescription for these tiny specs is.

23. Sometimes all you need is a little simple geometry to keep you grounded.

24. The simpler, the better.

25. “Woof.”

26. This space scene is too cute to handle.

27. She’ll never get this tune unstuck, but that’s a good thing.

28. A beautiful reminder to go see the world!

29. Become one with the lightning.

30. This script is just so thin and perfect; “Miracles in February.”

31. I never thought I’d think a pair of scissors was so beautiful.

Uh oh, now I’m feeling the itch to go back under the needle. Sorry, Dad. These are all so beautiful…I’m jealous!

California’s wildfires are not to be taken lightly. They sweep over the land, incinerate entire towns and forests, and leave destruction in their wake. Every day, firefighters battle to keep the flames away from homes and businesses, while residents are sometimes forced to evacuate.

It seems hellish, but Los Angeles-based photographer Stuart Palley sees another side to the fires, as well. In these blazes, he sees majestic beauty.

For the past few years, Palley has been taking long-exposure night shots of the fires in California.

Stuart Palley

These exposures allow him to capture glowing light, trails of embers, and all of the stars beyond.

Stuart Palley

The series is called Terra Flamma, andit comes after tireless years of work.

Stuart Palley

Stuart Palley

He also captures the entirety of the landscape, showing how fires relate to the land on a larger scale.

Stuart Palley

The blue and green lights on the left are artificial lights, and the orange light on the right is the blaze.

Stuart Palley

Images like this highlight the ways in which these devastating fires affect people, as well.

The large-scale shots really emphasize how massive California’s forest fires can become.

Stuart Palley

In case you’re wondering, that ring of light is from a helicopter, not a UFO.

Stuart Palley

Stuart Palley

Stuart Palley

Stuart Palley

Stuart Palley

Stuart Palley

His work also pays homage to the brave men and women who battle these blazes.

Stuart Palley

Stuart Palley

Stuart Palley

(via Colossal, PetaPixel)

Palley is no fool when it comes to the power of California’s fires. Each time he goes out to shoot, he takes precautions to ensure both his safety and the safety of any firefighters who may be working close by. He’s also completed a U.S. Forestry Service course on wildfires. Safety first, everyone!

You can see the rest of Terra Flamma and more of Palley’s work on his website, as well as on Twitter and Instagram.

For a more objective view of what Palley’s facing on photoshoots, check out this coverage. Even President Obama is worried about what’s going on in the Golden State:

There’s no doubt that the Church of Santa Maria Tonantzintla in San Andres Cholula, Mexico, is beautiful from the outside. From its patterned, red facade and the pretty blue detailing on its bells to the tree-lined entrance, it’s a charming sight to behold.

The church dates back about 500 years, when the construction started. For a variety of reasons, though, it wasn’t completed until the early 20th century.

Virtual Tourist / Rene Aparico

Still, it retains a traditional Mexican, or New Spanish, baroque style. This style is similar to the ornate European style, which featured a lot of flourishes, intricate details, and colors, but in the Mexican style, it also saw a lot of indigenous influence.

Take a moment to appreciate that detailing on the spire.

Flickr / Russ Bowling

Inside, the walls and ceiling are a riot of figures and details, full of color and life.

Virtual Tourist / Singito

There are hundreds and hundreds of human figures, reflecting figures from both the Catholic faith and the indigenous religions, making the church a unique blend of the cultures.

Virtual Tourist

Even its name is reflective of the blending of these cultures. “Santa Maria” refers to the Virgin Mary of Catholic tradition, while “Tonantzintla” means “the place of our mother” in the native language, after the Aztec goddess Tonantzin. Both names reflect the worship and honor of a female figure, and bring the two religions, which might seem very different, to a common ground.

Each figure has been carefully painted.

Virtual Tourist

They also represent both the native and white populations, based on their coloring, hairstyles, and facial features.

Pedro Hernandez

In addition to human figures, the plaster decorations also include flowers, fruit, birds, masks, and abstract imagery.

The outside of the church, with its gates decorated.

Virtual Tourist / Gomita

(via Atlas Obscura, Virtual Tourist)

If you’re ever in Mexico and want to get a real feel for the history and culture of the region, Santa Maria Tonantzintla should definitely be on your itinerary. Its blending of diverse cultures and beautiful styles is guaranteed to be a sight worth seeing.

There are many beautiful, unique churches around the world that reflect their local character: