Brazilian photographer Daniel Antoniol conjures up fascinating images that defy reality, seamlessly fusing the mundane with the surreal. In his captivating photographic series, the moon becomes an object of whimsical interaction: Daniel appears to engage in an impromptu game of soccer with the celestial orb and, surprisingly, stores it in the trunk of his car.
Within the scope of Daniel’s artistic vision, the manipulation of perspective becomes his ingenious brushwork. Through skillful mastery of it, the moon is transformed into a tiny spectacle similar to a simple light bulb, seemingly weightless enough to cradle in your hand.
However, its visual charms do not end there. We see him pushing the moon in a wheelbarrow, deftly placing it in a lamp, and even lifting it into a sturdy box. With each click of his camera, Daniel Antoniol invites us to enter a realm where the extraordinary is commonplace and the laws of physics bend to his artistic will.
His love affair with the moon began during lockdown in 2020, while he was stuck on his parents’ country farm in the Minas Gerais region of Brazil.
The 36-year-old said: “The moon was a great companion during the Covid pandemic and it was with it that I managed, even in confinement, to go out and explore the world and the universe with my imagination.”
Although he now works as a civil engineer during the day, Daniel has always had a passion for photography.
During these isolated days of the pandemic, he looked to the sky for inspiration. ‘I came up with the idea of combining it with another passion; the moon and the universe,’ he said.
It can take Daniel several days to set up a shot before he has a frame he is happy with.
He said: ‘I take photos of the moon in all its phases, it’s a real passion.’
The photos themselves take a few hours to complete, as capturing the moon in sharp focus is no easy task.
After that, Daniel uses a collage technique to insert the moon into the original photograph. “A complete job, from photography to treatment, usually takes no more than a day or two,” he said.
To get these incredible images, Daniel uses a Canon T6 with a 75-300mm lens for the moon and an 18-55mm lens for the landscape.
Over the years, Daniel’s photos have become quite successful, but he ‘doesn’t dream of being a celebrity.’
‘[The photos] convey peace. This is my biggest goal with this piece of art.
‘Unfortunately going to the moon is an impossible dream. But through art, I can take people with me.
“My goal on social media has always been to bring good energy to people… My dream is to immortalize my art and the Moon has made it possible.”
