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This Artist’s Food Photography Is Out Of This World

Aug 16, 2018 | 9:15 AM

Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!

Spacey Scans

When viewing the work of photographer Navid Baraty one might think they are peering through a telescope into the vast mysteries of space. Blue bodies that look like planets, sparkling flecks that appear to be stars, and even pitted an cratered asteroids seem to lurk in the shadows. Despite looking like celestial snapshots, Baraty is photographing food.

Baraty once worked as an engineer, but left that life behind to become a prolific photographer. While he snaps his shutter for a variety of clients, his oddest work is in food photography. His series is called the Wander Space Probe and looks as though it required a far-seeing telescope. No such satellite exists, however. He creates these marvelous displays of cosmic possibility by carefully arranging bits of food.

spacey scans

Making planets with coconut milk and food coloring, he adds texture with salt, cinnamon, and other spices. He usually makes stars from baking soda. He captures his images on a flat-bed scanner, leaving the lid open to create darkness.

“While they are purely fictional, I like to think that perhaps my creations actually could exist somewhere in the vast unknown of the cosmos.” —Navid Baraty

Odd Is Art

Do you also create with a unique medium? Share your strange creations and enter Deviant Art’s Unconventional Art Contest. You can win a trip for two to Orlando to join the Ripley Art team for a day—not to mention a slew of other exclusive prizes like a trip to LA and a chance for your work to be featured in Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

It’s easy: create some Odd Art inspired by our book, Odd Is Art. Using a mix of materials is encouraged. Ripley artists have used everything from duct tape to gunpowder, even spices like Navid Baraty. Just embrace the odd and create!

Ripley’s and Deviant Art’s Unconventional Art contest is open now through August 20th. Check out the official rules, prizing, and most importantly, inspiration.

Source: This Artist’s Food Photography Is Out Of This World