"Sometimes, when I look at space photographs, it looks like spices sprinkled on the sky," freelance photographer Navid Baraty told NPR's The Salt.
At first glance, you'd think these were snaps straight from a NASA spacecraft — but upon further examination there's more than what meets the eye. I love deceptively simple projects like this. It reminds me a lot of those easy (science-based) water tricks, or the ones with Coca-Cola!
Baraty has been making stellar images — yes, pun — out of household food items. He places coconut milk and spices into a glass, beaker, or plate, then scans the images. The results are startlingly lifelike.
A fan of NASA, Baraty was inspired by astronomy photos. "I'm kind of surprised at how realistic you can create a cosmic theme in a scanner. People thought they were real photos for a long time."
The gorgeous images aren't replicas of real planets, though astrophysicist Adam Frank says they're pretty lifelike.
"The one that was more bluish-green [the first photo in the set below] reminded me of Uranus or Neptune," he told The Salt.
I was so taken aback by how cool the images were that I decided to play a little game. I tried guessing what materials were used in each "food painting" — and I totally failed.
Can you guess the foods and household items used to construct these earthly images of outer space?
SHARE if you thought these images were cool and unique!
1. Do you think there are blueberries in this one?
2. Maybe it's fluorescent...oregano?
3. Maybe it's just a scan of an orange?
The secret ingredient in #5 is completely transformed. Click to see it on the NEXT page!
4. This has to be table salt, right?
5. This is obviously Jell-O... It has to be.
6. Raspberries?!
Please SHARE if you are impressed!
