Alchemy
Abstractions of Water and Time
Curated Collection 2026
by Michael Jurek
Alchemy
Abstractions of Water and Time
I captured these abstract patterns and surreal colours from a helicopter that had been specially prepared for this photography tour. The helicopter’s doors had been removed, and everything had to be stowed away absolutely securely.
Once you’re in the air, nothing separates you from the landscape and the open sky. At first, your senses are overwhelmed.
Salty Grid
The series of the salt pans in the Camargue is the portrayal of the earth's surface as an animated, colorful canvas. These images capture a slow, elemental alchemy. They are portraits of landscapes carved not just by space, but by time and evaporation. Step closer and lose your sense of scale.
The roar of the wind is deafening, and the air at this altitude feels raw and incredibly alive. The wind tugs violently at the equipment, and I realised immediately why it’s forbidden to change lenses and why a camera strap is compulsory.
For more than two exhilarating hours, the world unfolded beneath us like an endless gallery of living art.
Shadow Geometry - no. 07/08
Horizon Block - no. 03/08
Alchemy
Viewed from above, the Camargue reveals its full beauty, and it is a real challenge to cope with the sheer sensory overload. Every fraction of a second demands a decision: how tight should the frame be? How can I capture these flowing forms in a perfect composition before the helicopter changes direction?
You are forced to make aesthetic decisions in fractions of a second whilst hovering hundreds of feet in the air, balancing the intensity of the flight with the pursuit of perfect, serene geometry.
Silent Crossing - no. 07/07
Salty Peninsula
Wandering Water- no. 07/09
Silent Arteries - no. 08/09
The photographs in this series are the result of this intense experience. The poetry of nature, captured in two hours filled with magic and joy. This series transforms saline landscapes into picturesque masterpieces – a fascinating collection for galleries and art collectors.
