ben zank composes surrealist portraits that explore human connection with nature

born, raised and based in new york, ben zank is a journalist-turned-photographer that creates surrealist images — most of the time featuring himself — that bend our reason. guided by his dreams and subconsciousness, zank explores humans connecting with nature as well as a rare sense of isolation.

all images by ben zank

in his surreal portraits, ben zank combines lines, geometry, the human body, nature and color into a composition that can be read in many directions. full of suspense, his work talks about gravity, entanglement, stillness, and that precise moment, the one before the fall. there are some recurring themes, like the idea of using clothes to encompass more than the body, or still bodies that are sometimes falling and other times just blending with nature.

in his pictures, it’s clear that zank wants to be as far as way as possible from his comfort zone. coming from the city, the images are always taken in the country side, creating a dialogue between nature and the human body. minimalist in character, the composition directs the viewer’s attention into the subject, that under careful inspection, reveals all the layers of the image, sometimes provoking, other times more melancholic.

if you like ben zank’s work, make sure you follow his work on instagram. 

project info:

photographer: ben zank