catherine nelson's labyrinth landscapes submerge viewers in a fictional flood of flora

catherine nelson’s labyrinth landscapes submerge viewers in a fictional flood of flora
(above) submerged no. 1, 2016 | pigment print from digital photograph

at the start of june, designboom featured photographer catherine nelson‘s ‘worlds’ — a series of spherical landscapes pieced together from hundreds of individual photographs shot across the world. the digitally stitched, miniature planets blur the line between fiction and reality, forming fabricated universes that see flora and fauna meet bodies of water and animal wildlife in an orb of carefully-placed imagery. 

nelson’s latest body of work continues to expand the potential of photography beyond its traditional scope. combining her training as a painter with her expertise in cinematic visual effects, the artist’s mesmerizing ‘submerged’ series forms immersive natural environments and labyrinth landscapes for viewers to get lost in. 

submerged no. 2, 2016 | pigment print from digital photograph

these submerged worlds induce a child–like sense of wonder and a desire to explore the unknown. seen from below the surface of water, a twisting maze of aquatic botanicals reach towards the sky. at the bottom of the frame, knotted plant limbs begin as dark tangled webs trapped the shadowy depths of the ocean, becoming delicate floral blooms and colorful lily pads by the time they arrive  at the top of the composition. 

each of nelson‘s carefully-constructed photographs comprises countless images painstakingly pieced together over the course of several months. with no single vantage point, the visual effect forms a fantastical and dynamic impression. nelson, represented by michael reid gallery, invites viewers to find their own meaning within the image before them.

submerged no. 3, 2016 | pigment print from digital photograph

submerged no. 4, 2016 | pigment print from digital photograph

unstill life no. 1, 2016 | pigment print from digital photograph

unstill life no. 2, 2016 | pigment print from digital photograph

unstill life no. 3, 2016 | pigment print from digital photograph

unstill life no. 4, 2016 | pigment print from digital photograph