Yes, it looks a lot like Mars. But what you’re actually seeing is 12 pounds of paprika, cinnamon, nutmeg, chili powder, and charcoal. Strange Worlds, a new series by artist Matthew Albanese, features photographs of small-scale models made from unlikely, everyday ingredients. Think a diorama you would have made back in elementary school, but you know, totally amazing. “Every aspect from the construction to the lighting of the final model is painstakingly pre-planned using methods which force the viewers perspective when photographed from a specific angle,” he explains. “Using a mixture of photographic techniques such as scale, depth of field, white balance and lighting I am able to drastically alter the appearance of my materials.”
More images after the jump.
Tornado made of steel wool, cotton, ground parsley, and moss
Sugarland made out of 20 pounds of sugar, Jello, and corn syrup
This one is a mixture of many different materials: tile grout, moss, and bottle brushes (pine trees). It was built on top of a standard outdoor patio table (water glass). The sky is canvas painted blue. Coloring was again achieved by shifting white balance.
Landscape made of cotton, tile grout, and faux fur