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Adam Makarenko Photographs Fantastical Nature Dioramas

Upon viewing Adam Makarenko's photos of snow-capped mountains, turbulent waves, and rare wildlife, one might picture the artist as a fearless world explorer. But Makarenko, who also works as a director and cinematographer, actually creates these images without leaving his studio: They are photos of tiny dioramas he painstakingly builds. Makarenko's work toes the line of believability but almost always betrays its artificiality after a few moments of inspection. While his jagged cliffs and flowing rivers are all sculpted, the artist does occasionally employ real bees that hover over his landscapes like giant monsters.

Upon viewing Adam Makarenko’s photos of snow-capped mountains, turbulent waves, and rare wildlife, one might picture the artist as a fearless world explorer. But Makarenko, who also works as a director and cinematographer, actually creates these images without leaving his studio: They are photos of tiny dioramas he painstakingly builds. Makarenko’s work toes the line of believability but almost always betrays its artificiality after a few moments of inspection. While his jagged cliffs and flowing rivers are all sculpted, the artist does occasionally employ real bees that hover over his landscapes like giant monsters.

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