Renowned for his travel photography across Africa, Antarctica, and South America, Lev Mazaraki has now shifted focus to the extraordinary intricacies of the natural world that escape casual observation. His latest project embraces macro photography to uncover hidden geometries in sand, coral, and mineral surfaces—revealing a surreal visual landscape that connects fine art and nature in an unexpected dialogue.
In stark contrast to sweeping panoramic scenes, Mazaraki’s new series zooms into the textures of Namibia’s ancient dunes, Icelandic geothermal springs, and coral beds of the Great Barrier Reef. These elements, often overlooked, are transformed into vivid compositions that resemble abstract paintings. According to an article on ArtDaily, this shift in scale prompts viewers to reassess what qualifies as beauty and encourages a new appreciation for detail that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Much like Georgia O’Keeffe’s floral close-ups or 19th-century scientific botanical illustrations, Mazaraki’s work demonstrates how magnification can elevate the familiar to the realm of the sublime. His compositions draw direct visual parallels to the works of abstract masters like Mark Rothko and Wassily Kandinsky. In morning light, the sculpted curves of desert dunes mimic expressive brushstrokes, while the vivid colors in Iceland’s mineral pools appear as intentional as a palette of paint.
Beyond the visual intrigue, Mazaraki’s photographs are deeply tied to place and meaning. Locations such as the Atacama Desert—where rainfall is a once-in-a-decade event—and the sacred dunes of Namibia carry cultural and ecological weight. By capturing the unique identity of these regions, he turns every image into a layered story. An art curator from London commented that “each frame serves not just as a photograph, but as a cultural artifact and a piece of environmental documentation.”
His meticulous process includes advanced techniques such as focus stacking and natural lighting, ensuring that every detail is rendered with clarity and depth. This technical mastery transforms small-scale subjects into grand artistic statements, capable of holding their own in galleries and auctions.
The art world has responded with enthusiasm. In 2024, Christie’s sold several macro photography works for prices reaching $200,000. Collectors are recognizing the unique value in pieces that blend authenticity with abstraction. Mazaraki’s work is scheduled for exhibition at Photo London 2025, affirming the medium’s rising stature in contemporary photography and its crossover appeal to fine art audiences.
Galleries like Saatchi have begun featuring macro photography alongside paintings, validating its narrative strength and emotional resonance. These images offer more than aesthetic pleasure—they carry stories of exploration, science, and environmental urgency. For example, the melting glaciers of Patagonia, captured in chilling detail, become symbols of our changing planet. As noted by a Latin American ecologist, “Art that visualizes ecological vulnerability gives a voice to the Earth itself.”
Mazaraki’s photographs serve as poignant reminders of what we often miss. By distilling the monumental into the microscopic, he invites viewers to discover a quieter kind of grandeur—one that exists in the folds of a sand dune, the edge of a coral branch, or the layered crust of a mineral spring. His art is not only a visual feast but also a call to reflection, urging us to look closer, care deeper, and preserve more earnestly.
