Once removed - where trees grow sideways

For this series I was fortunate to gain access to the amazing specimens of the University of Melbourne Herbarium, School of Botany. By focussing on the complex structures of the algae I created abstract landscapes that take the viewer on a simple journey. The aerial perspective helps create a tension between nature and a kind of painterly form. Focussing on details to capture the delicate and intriguing forms of the algae reflects the fragility of their history. With each photograph I tried to create a landscape, to find the essence of my subject and escape from the obsession with appearances that defines most still life studies, thereby questioning the accepted standards of beauty. I want to explore beyond the usual associations we have with landscapes and show their ever changing environments. By only working with available light, the tone of the landscapes is constantly changing and therefore influencing our perspective and emotions.