If you are a fan of landscape photography and haven't yet laid your eyes on one of Mathew Albanese's work that you are in for a treat.

Born in New Jersey in 1983, he has spent his childhood days moving between New Jersey and New York. As a child he had a fascination for miniatures and used to create smaller dioramas using household objects and his action figure collection.

Now, Matthew creates detailed dioramas of   outdoor scenes and landscapes using nothing but ordinary household items like spices, cotton, colored paper, glasses, steel wool and many other things.

Each diorama takes weeks, sometimes months to complete. "I sometimes spend weeks searching for materials specific to the world I am creating. I experiment with texture, color, and pattern."

He started working on his 'Strange World' project in 2008. Everything happened by chance, on fine day, Mathew accidentally spilled a canister of paprika and was inspired to create his first 'Parika Mars' diorama. "I had spilled paprika in the kitchen and instead of cleaning it, I was playing with it. It was the color and the texture and I just had the inspiration to create Mars out of it," shares the artist.

According to him, "Every aspect from the construction to the lighting of the final piece is painstakingly pre-planned using methods that 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."
Mathew has completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Photography from the State University of New York and has worked as a fashion photographer (I guess you can make this out by looking at the pictures on his dioramas, which are absolutely stunning). His dioramas are breathtaking and so realistic that one look at them and you can actually mistaken them to be real. He documents the entire diorama-making process in photographs and once he is done taking pictures, he destroys the dioramas as they are not built to last.

Mathew has exhibited his work at the Museum of Art and Design in New York, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, Winkleman Gallery and Muba, Tourcoing in France.

To know more about Mathew and his work, read on our exclusive interview with him.

Happy reading!

1. What led you into the world of art? Were you always inclined towards art?

As an only child, I enjoyed imaginative, solitary play. I loved miniatures and created scenarios intricately set with household objects and my extensive collection of action figures.

2. What specifically led you into the world of diorama photography? How did you get inspired to do these?

I was always obsessed with movie miniatures and one day by accident I was in my studio and spilled a bottle of paprika which sparked the idea of creating mars out of the red substance.

3. Your "Breaking Point" creation is stunning as it resembles a volcano. What equipment did you use to create it and could you please outlay the process for our readers.

Volcano, "Breaking Point", made out of tile grout, cotton and phosphorous ink. This model volcano was illuminated from within by 6-60 watt light bulbs. It was built on top of an old glass coffee table top.

Breaking Point

Breaking Point - Setup

I use anything, there is no specific equipment. I like to use whatever is available and it changes from piece to piece.

5. How long does it take you to create each of your "Strange worlds"?

It took me 7 months.

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Photographic equipment is very basic. I shoot with a Cannon 5D Mk2 and switch between a 24 and 16mm lens.

I use 600 watt flash point strobes and a mix of tungsten bulbs.

7. What sort of response do you get from people who have first only seen the photograph of a diorama that you have created and then seen the actual creation that you have made? What is the biggest compliment that you have received for your work?

People are usually shocked when they find out that my worlds are fabricated. I notice people usually pass the images by until they figure out that its fake.

8. Now for a funny one, what do you think will go through the minds of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin when they see your "Everything we ever were" diorama. This one is stunning too!

I'm sure they would not think much of it considering that they have seen the actual moon.

Everything We Ever Were

Everything We Ever Were - Setup

I would say always follow your passion don't give up and be patient it takes a very long time to see any kind of success and it takes a great deal of faith.

Thanks Mathew, for taking out the time and doing this interview with us. We'd like to wish you the very best for the future.

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