These Wildlife Photos Aren’t What They Seem

My photo project Wildlife is a series of black-and-white film photos showing some of the most amazing and beautiful animals in the world. But these photos aren’t what they appear to be.

These photos were all shot at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. I carefully chose my use of film camera and a high ISO film with the maximum amount of grain (Delta 3200 or HP5 pushed to 1600). The idea was to use the features of the film and camera to hide any hint of fakery.

In person, the painted backdrops fool no one, but through the single lens of a camera, they are transformed into sprawling landscapes. The animals themselves border on the uncanny valley when viewed in real life, but the thick grain hides any and all imperfections in the taxidermy.

What is left is an image that can be easily seen as real and honest.

You can see the whole project on my website.


About the author: Lucus Landers is a Brooklyn-based photographer and camera maker. You can find more of his work on his website and Instagram.

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