Extraordinary Miniature Landscapes Created by Photographer Matthew Albanese

I was blown away when I came across the fantastic table top landscapes of Matthew Albanese. Have a look.

"My work involves the construction of small-scale meticulously detailed models using various materials and objects to create emotive landscapes. 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. 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." —Matthew Albanese

This stunning picture, which looks like a picturesque shot of mountains and rolling grass at sunset, was actually created by artist Matthew Albanese using faux fur (for the fields), cotton wool (clouds) and sifted tile grout (mountains)

Matthew at work creating the above image.

“New Life I” was constructed using painted parchment paper, thread, hand dyed ostrich feathers, carved chocolate, wire, raffia, masking tape, coffee, synthetic potting moss and cotton.

"What collectors of my art fail to realise is that the models themselves look dramatically different in person. The image comes alive only when the camera is set at the precise point of viewing, giving it an artificially created sense of depth.'

 ~ Matthew Albanese

The tornado was made of steel wool, cotton, ground parsley and moss.

Set for the tornado image

 Set for the tornado with parsley as trees.

Albanese applying the finishing touches on the tornado landscape.

“DIY Paradise” was constructed from cotton, salt, cooked sugar, tin foil, feathers & canvas.

 Set for the paradise landscape image above

 This image of a burning volcano was created using tile grout, cotton, phosphorous ink, and lit from within by 6 to 60 watt light bulbs

 Set for the remarkable volcano landscape image above.

Albanese uses cotton wool , gels and excellent lighting to make his amazingly realistic clouds

"Icebreaker"
25 pounds of sugar cooked at varying temperatures (hard crack & pulled sugar recipes) It’s basically made out of candy – salt, egg whites, corn syrup, cream of tartar, powdered sugar, blue food coloring, India ink & flour. Three days of cooking and two weeks of building (click on image for a larger view)

Detail of Icebreaker image. 

“Aurora Borealis” was made by photographing a beam of coloured light against a black curtain to achieve the edge effect. The trees were composited from life. The stars are simply strobe light through holes in cork board.