Landscape Photography
September 1, 2025

Photographer Spent Final Moments Saving the Film He Shot During the 1980 Mount St. Helens Eruption

On the evening of May 17, 1980, Robert Landsburg set up camp near Mount St. Helens in southwestern Washington. The 48-year-old freelance photographer had been visiting the volcano for weeks, all in the hopes of capturing its forthcoming eruption. He wasn’t the only one enduring the trek; when seismographs detected small tremors beneath Mount St. Helens in March 1980, countless scientists, photographers, and hikers descended upon the area, preparing for a dramatic blast.

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Health
September 1, 2025

Japanese Art of Shinrin-Yoku, or “Forest Bathing,” Is Beneficial for Us All

In the 1980s, Japan was facing a significant crisis in the workplace. Employees were experiencing record levels of burnout and stress, but luckily new studies suggested a possible—and timeless—solution. By 1982, the Forest Agency of Japan introduced the practice of shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing,” arguing that phytoncides, a chemical released by trees and plants, could boost the immune system. Now, decades later, it’s a well-known fact that spending time in nature can help alleviate stress.

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Museums
August 31, 2025

Subterranean Natural History Museum Is Draped With Landscaped Ribbons That Blend Into the Forest

Whether designing a baseball stadium, ballet theater, or museum, BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) always has something up its sleeve. The Hungarian Natural History Museum is no exception. BIG won an international competition to design the 23,000-square-meter institution thanks to its innovative concept that sees three landscaped ribbons creating a new space for science. Set in the Great Forest of Hungary’s second-largest city, Debrecen, the future museum will rise from the forest floor.

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Hotels
August 29, 2025

Populus Seattle: Luxury Hotel Where Art, Sustainability, Design, and Fine Dining Meet

Seattle is a city known for its breathtaking vistas alongside cutting-edge industry. But before it was a tech hub, this Pacific Northwest (PNW) jewel had a thriving timber industry in the mid-19th century. Warehouses and other buildings were constructed in the downtown corridor to support it, but their original purpose has long since passed. These buildings have been rehabbed into workspaces, housing, and, in the case of Populus Seattle, a luxury hotel.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.