Otherworldly Biomimicry

Adapted to vanish in an alien world.

DIGITAL ARTTEXTURED PHOTOGRAPHY

Fran

1/31/20252 min read

As I mentioned in my last two entries, I’ve started experimenting with the human figure, especially faces—preferably exotic ones with exaggerated expressions. For this piece, I reused the same two stock photos of female models that I had previously used in Blurred Duality, intentionally combining them in a disproportionate way to create a face with an almost alien appearance.

With this intriguing figure before me, I decided to design a skin texture that mimics the natural camouflage developed by certain insects, reptiles, and other animals on our planet to blend into their surroundings—as if it were an evolutionary adaptation of this being on its own planet.

To achieve this, I used four different textures: a wooden blind, a banana plant trunk, a wooden door, and a stack of basalt blocks cut into sections.

I quickly began to get the results I was looking for, and almost effortlessly, every adjustment to the blending modes or the duplication of a layer revealed stunning new possibilities to bring this creature’s crypsis to life. I selected the four variations I liked the most, but I’m certain I’ll revisit this project and experiment with new possible skins for this mysterious being.

Click on the images to enlarge.