Photographer/Diorama Artist Matthew Albanese constructs and photographs unreal real looking landscape scenes using readily accessible materials. Scroll through some of his work and be amazed at their realism, effort and the materials. Can you figure out what Matthew used to make each scene before reading it? No, no you can't.

Matthew Albanese: "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."









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.









Cotton, salt, cooked sugar, tin foil, feathers & canvas.











Glass, plexiglass, tile grout, moss, twigs, salt, painted canvas & dry ice. The waterfall was created from a time exposure of falling table salt.





Painted parchment paper, thread, hand dyed ostrich feathers, carved chocolate, wire, raffia, masking tape, coffee, synthetic potting moss and cotton.







Painted parchment paper, thread, hand dyed ostrich feathers, carved chocolate, wire, raffia, masking tape, coffee, synthetic potting moss and cotton.











Tile grout, moss and bottlebrush trees.





A beam of colored light against a black curtain, composited trees, strobe light through holes in cork board.





Walnuts, poured and cast candle wax, wire, glitter, peanut shells, flock, plaster, wire, dyed starfish, compressed moss, jellybeans, sponges, wax coated seashells, toothpaste, clay, figs, feathers, Q-tips and nonpareils.









Steel wool, cotton, ground parsley and moss.





















via [FeatureShoot]