MATTE PAINTINGS/SETS/GENERAL GOOD TASTE FROM THE ORIGINAL STAR TREK

This is a collection of my favourites from the screen caps gallery on this A* Star Trek site. Although I've never really been a die hard fan of Star Trek (it's not that I don't like it, but it's never on any more so I haven't had a chance to learn all the facts I need to declare myself a proper fan, booo!!), judging from these shots the original series would be right up my street - a bit silly but very handsome nonetheless. The backdrops are all paintings, with which the underlying goal was "to give each planet a distinct appearance, with sky colours, rock formations and architectural styles different from those on 20th century Earth". Well, I'm loving the amazingly camp purple/orange/pink/glittery colour scheme that seems to have been assigned to each and every other planet in the universe but ours :(

These sets have definitely inspired me to get hold of some infrared colour film, which (it has become clear to me now) was designed solely to turn your local park into a Star Trekkian wonderland in various shades of lavender.

Also, check out the décor in number eight! Am I the only person who suddenly has an urge to revamp my bedroom into an alien throne room/space boudoir now?

MICROSCOPIC IMAGES/LUSH COLOURS

A cigarette paper, water bears, and a diatom taken from the Telegraph website. 

I love the alien world that tiny things inhabit, miniature habitats that are right under our giant noses are completely surreal and beautiful and sometimes even look as if they could be the set for a bad 60s sci-fi movie (which is never a bad thing). The first image, for example, reminds me of Fantastic Planet (below) (and also a little bit of He-Man - anyone else?). It almost seems to me as if a similiar picture must have inspired some of the film, however I highly doubt that such detailed microscopic images of rizlas were available in 1973. The second, of water bears, could be right out of any Studio Ghibli film! I guess my point is that when people imagine alien worlds and impossible creatures what they often end up with is just a bigger version of something that has been sitting next to them the whole time, I think that's kinda weird but cool at the same time.