Macro Photos of Entire Cityscapes Captured Within a Single Drop of Rainwater

Photographer Dusan Stojancevic depicts metropolises contained within tiny droplets of rainwater. For the past 15 years, he has revealed minuscule cityscapes that hide in the beads of liquid. Towering buildings, expansive bridges, and glittering lights are reflected in the tiny dots sitting on metallic surfaces. They’re visually divorced from the actual piece of architecture they’re echoing and instead offer a surreal look into seemingly alien worlds.

Stojancevic’s photographs are of places across the globe, with an emphasis on New York City. His trip to the Big Apple represents the current peak of his project, but it first began with just a photo from his window in Serbia. After discovering its magic, he honed his craft. “I kept this technique and photos away from public,” he writes, “as I wanted to show it to the world first. And what a better way to do it with the greatest city in the world, New York!”

Most of the raindrop photos are digital images, although some are shot on film. Regardless of the media, however, each is captured using a macro technique and completed without the manipulation of Photoshop. “That is why it has flaws in sharpness and a lot of blur,” Stojancevic points out, “but that is something that gives some kind of artistic touch to it.”

Above: Manhattan, New York City


Blue Mosque, Istanbul


Ada Bridge, Belgrade


Sagrada Familia, Barcelona


T.C. Usce, Belgrade


Grand Central Station, New York City


Church of Saint Sava, Belgrade


National Library, New York City


National Assembly, Belgrade


Brooklyn Bridge, New York City


Empire State Building, New York City


Genex Tower, Western gate of Belgrade


Empire State Building, New York City

Dusan Stojancevic: Website | Instagram | Facebook
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Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met and Manager of My Modern Met Store. She is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned her BFA in Illustration and MFA in Illustration Practice. Sara is also an embroidery illustrator and writer living in Seattle, Washington. She runs Bear&Bean, a studio where she stitches pet portraits and other beloved creatures. She chronicles the creativity of others through her website Brown Paper Bag and newsletter, Orts. Her latest book is Threads of Treasure: How to Make, Mend, and Find Meaning Through Thread, published in 2014. Sara’s work has been recognized in Be Creative With Workbox, Embroidery Magazine, American Illustration, on Iron and Wine’s album Beast Epic, among others. When she’s not stitching or writing, Sara enjoys planning things that bring together the craft community. She is the co-founder of Camp Craftaway, a day camp for crafty adults with hands-on workshops in the Seattle area.
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