The Teeth of Time

Photographer

Liam Man

Category

Fine Art Photography - Night

Company

Submission Group

Professional

Year

2025

Country / Region:

United Kingdom

Rock-dominated topographies appear timeless, yet they are relentlessly being reshaped by the forces of geology. These three natural wonders, defined by their towering pinnacles, are visually similar, yet each has its unique erosional story. "Moonrise Sprites over Storr" depicts the wintery Old Man of Storr, in Scotland. A landscape that was revealed in a dramatic moment of geological upheaval when a landslide stripped away softer rock, exposing the towering basalt pinnacles. "Shore Bound" captures the Reynisdrangar sea stacks, found off Iceland’s southern coast. Gradually carved by the ceaseless pounding of ocean waves, it was eventually severed from the mainland. Steeped in lore, aAccording to Icelandic folklore, the Reynisdrangar Trolls [sea stacks] were created when two trolls were attempting to drag a three-masted ship to shore. In their haste they did not notice that the sun was rising. As the rays of daylight hit them, they (and the ship) were instantly turned to stone. "The Last Stand" showcases the Earth Pyramids of Platten, nestled in the Italian Dolomites. Their narrow spires were painstakingly shaped one raindrop at a time as protective boulders shielded the loose earth below from being washed away. A small stand of trees perches precariously on a crumbling tower on the verge of collapse. "The Teeth of Time" is both a geological study and a commentary on the idea of convergence: the recurring tendency in nature for different forces to produce similar forms, echoing patterns across environments and timescales. Photographed at night using bespoke aerial lighting rigs and long exposures, this series isolates and reframes these geological structures. Shaped over millennia by the forces of gravity, water, and wind, they are now sculpted again: this time by light. Under precise artificial illumination, their forms are not altered, but redefined. Contours are revealed, and details made visible that would otherwise remain hidden.

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