Light is the sole reason why life exists. It provides us with warmth; it allows us to see; it nourishes all the living things on this planet. Many painters, especially the masters of Old Renaissance Period, have recognized the importance of light and its intimate connection with nature and life itself. In their paintings they gave tribute to light, giving the impression that their paintings had a light source hidden within them. Al Hogue, the artist who created the paintings that you see before you, has studied their techniques for many years. As time went by, light permeated not only his paintings by also his life, becoming his sole philosophy.

Shanghai-based artist Hong Yi, also known as Red, used 750 pair of socks to create a rather unusual sock portrait of famous Chinese film director Zhang Yimou. Yi, which is famous for her Coffee Stain Portrait, spent over three weeks on the project and used black, white and grey socks. (Photo by Ohiseered.com)

The 8th annual Miss International Queen beauty pageant was held in Pattaya in Thailand. The twenty-one contestants from fifteen countries were all born male, so the Miss International Queen 2012 pageant is not an average beauty pageant.

Photo: Panvilas Mongkol, a contestant from Thailand, waits for the start of the final night of Miss International Queen 2012 transgender/transsexual beauty pageant in Pattaya November 2, 2012. Some 21 contestants from 15 countries, all of them born male, compete in the week-long event for the crown of Miss International Queen 2012. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)

Campari has officially unveiled the full imagery for the 2015 Calendar, entitled “Mythology Mixology”. This year’s iconic calendar, which stars the beautiful French born actress Eva Green, is the 16th edition in the collection and is dedicated to celebrating Campari’s unique and intriguing history and the intrinsic stories linked to twelve of its best-loved classic cocktails. Here: Eva Green poses for the month of July. (Photo by Julia Fullerton-Batten/Campari Calendar 2015)

The Thufa hill in Reykjavik, Friday, October 28, 2016. Parliamentary elections will be held in Iceland on October 29, 2016, more than 250,000 voters are called to elect the new parliament, 63 members of the Althing parliament. (Photo by Frank Augstein/AP Photo)

Racegoers in attendance on Ladies Day at Ascot Racecourse on June 21, 2018 in Ascot, England. Ladies Day is the biggest day in the racing calendar and brings with it all the glitz and glamour as those attending don their best outfits. Ascot Racecourse is steeped in Royal history, first founded by Queen Anne in 1711, with the first race in her honour held on August 11, 1711. This year’s Royal Ascot began Tuesday, June 19, with races every day until Saturday, June 23. (Photo by South West News Service)

Television personality Farrah Abraham (C) enjoys adult entertainment as she hosts the VIP Back Door Key party at the Crazy Horse III Gentlemen's Club on August 4, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The newly launched VIP membership program offers patrons exclusive entrance to the club through the back door. (Photo by Bryan Steffy/WireImage)

An official (R) measures the size of a whale shark (Rhincodon typus) carcass on the shore of Teluk Betung beach in West Sumatra, Indonesia, 08 October 2019. The dead whale shark washed ashore at Teluk Betung beach on 07 October 2019. (Photo by Rajo Batuah/EPA/EFE)