10 Images To Inspire Your Creativity

By Aimee Mahmoud

New York Fashion Week, Sochi Olympics, Youtube makeup gurus...it looks like we're starting off the  season with some excellent resources for creative inspiration. What exactly do we mean by "creative inspiration"? We all have an inner artist - be it a passion for books, film, cosmetics, photography, or something as simple as people-watching. Becoming inspired enough to write a poem or novel, a song, paint a picture, create an outfit from scratch, or participate in a public dance recital, can do a world of good for yourself and others - even if you don't necessarily make it public! And if you haven't already discovered your "divine spark", we strongly encourage you to explore. That being said, here are 10 random images that are sure to get the proverbial Muses singing.;

1. New York Fashion 

The world's most fashionable public event took place last week in the "capital city of the world" - New York City, of course. Dozens of high-profile fashion designers from around the world, as well as hundreds of fashion reporters, media personalities, and fashionistas flocked to the week-long runway show, sponsored by Mercedes-Benz. The objective is for fashion designers to showcase their new Spring and Summer catalogs, effectively setting new fashion trends, all the while showcasing their flare for art and eclecticism. True, it's sometimes difficult to view clothing as being anything but artful; however, taking the time to look through the latest edition of Vogue magazine, it's almost mind-blowing how fashion designers, photographers, and models take so much creative license in their advertisements and runway designs. Here on the right we see a Tweety Bird inspired outfit by the eccentric fashion duo, "The Blonds". To the left, designer Philip Blond surprised audiences by crashing the runway in a custom-designed astronaut suit decked out with Swarovski crystals and and pumps!

2. Sochi Olympics 2014

Team USA figure-skater Ashley Wagner celebrates her score at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Wagner wowed the crow with a sultry, limber routine set to the music of Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond". How many of us can recall wanting to take up figure-skating as children? I know I did! And ended up making my parents a few hundred dollars poorer, in the process.

3. Out-Of-This-World Makeup

Thanks to YouTube, the ever-popular trend of makeup and fashion tutorials has spawned a legion of incredibly talented makeup gurus, some who have even gone on to become international celebrities thanks to their amassment of channel subscribers and video views. Here, a young model and makeup guru, Walk In My Eyeshadow, demonstrates a stunning, galaxy nebula-inspired look that is sure to prove to nay-sayers that makeup is an art-form in it's own right - not merely an outlet for vanity.

4. Jane Goodall's Goodbye Hug

 The 79-year-old wildlife activist and ethnologist is best known for her award-winning, 45 years of research on wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania, and to this day remains active as the world's foremost expert on primates. A video was released yesterday by Animal Planet showing a female chimpanzee named Wounda giving Goodall a tender hug before being released back into the wild. Goodall and her crew discovered the wounded chimp several years ago near the Congo, and took her to The Jane Goodall Institute's Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center, where she was nursed back to health and was just yesterday released back into her natural habitat - but not before bidding Goodall and her crew a farewell that will make even the most hardened cynic teary-eyed.

5. Bioluminescent Jellyfish

 No, that isn't Photoshop! Bioluminescent Jellyfish ARE real. Jellyfish tend to inspire both fear and aesthetic appeal - beautiful and graceful yet foreboding and sometimes even deadly. Taking the meaning of "looks that kill" to a new level, bioluminescent Jellyfish species like the Atolla, or "alarm", exhibit a type of bioluminescence on account of their diet of zooplankton. The Atolla Jellyfish has been theorized to emit a ring of glowing light when threatened.

6. Alabama Couple Journeys Amidst Violent Ukraine Riots - To Adopt Four Orphans

By now, most of the world has been made aware of the increasingly bloody, politically-fueled riots throughout parts of Ukraine that have injured hundreds and claimed the lives of dozens - and few foreigners are foolhardy enough to take the risk to journey to the chaos-torn country, least of all to participate in a goodwill mission. Interestingly enough, that's exactly what one Alabama couple set out to do - photojournalist David Bundy and his physician wife, Lisa, have become the proud adoptive parents of four Ukrainian orphans, pictured here.

 7. 21st-Century Neo-Pagan Festivals

Looking a bit like something out of Star Wars or a Bjork music video, photographer Charles Freger captured these images of European neo-Pagan "Wild Man" festivals and costumes, and has so far dedicated 12 years to traveling through parts of Eastern and Western Europe, documenting and photographing these modern-day renditions of ancient ceremonies. 

8. Carnival Season in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

The world-famous carnival season kicked off last week in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Fun-loving people, elaborate costumes, lively music, good food, and plenty of drinks; Brazil's carnivals attract millions of visitors from all over the globe in search of a good time. Similar to American Mardi Gras celebrations, a "King and Queen" are often crowned to lead the parade. Here, a spirited dancer shows of her feather and crystal-bejeweled outfit.

9. Old Hollywood Icons 

 This rare photo of 1950's Hollywood icon Vivien Leigh (best known for her starring roles in classic films like 'Gone With The Wind' and 'A Streetcar Named Desire') and husband Laurence Olivier in a 1951 theater performance of "Anthony and Cleopatra", rediscovered and published by the Running Press; captures not only the respective actors'/spouses' acting talents - but conveys a clear portrait of their passion towards one another - in what was perhaps precursor to 21st-century, high-profile A-list courtships!

10. First Sunrise of New Year

 A little too late to wish you all a Happy New Year, right? Oh, well. In case you didn't see it the first time, here's an image captured by Japanese astrophotographer Keisuke Iwaya of New Years first sunrise. 'Nuff said.