Eyes as Big as Plates is a whimsical series by Finnish photographer Riitta Ikonen and Norwegian photographer Karoline Hjorth that features senior citizens donning organic materials like twigs and grass. Ikonen says that the collaborative project originally began as “a play on characters and protagonists from Norwegian folklore” but has since evolved into a collection of images exploring “mental landscapes” that reflect a return of body to nature with the use of scavenged materials.

There's a lovely sense of humor to the series that places the elderly in natural landscapes. Their organic outfits simultaneously camouflage them into their surroundings and make them stand out as unique individuals. The choice to use seniors to present personifications of nature is also especially interesting and refreshing. There's an aged beauty in both the subjects and their costumes.

Update: Eyes as Big as Plates is running a Kickstarter campaign to help fund a book featuring seniors from all around the world.

Eyes as Big as Plates: Blog

Riita Ikonen: Website

Karoline Hjorth: Website

via [Ian Brooks]