Robert Overweg is somewhat of an enigma in the photography world. A self-professed ‘photographer in the virtual world’, the Dutch photographer-cum-graphic designer is inspired by the possibilities he sees in the gaming world and is acclaimed for his ability to traverse across the physical and virtual. How does he do it? In an interview with Co.Design, he says it is “a combination of forcing glitches and finding them”. While these can be technical glitches, Overweg has also found a way of hacking around the games. When playing Left 4 Dead 2, he went in the opposite direction when told to go a certain way and ended up “find[ing] this beautiful building. From a distance and a certain perspective this would be a normal building”. His photos are all unedited screenshots.

In his latest Flying and Floating (pictured) series, Overweg transforms the urban landscape of third-person shooter Mafia II into surreal and whimsical compositions, complete with missing garages and fire escapes that float in mid-air.

Overweg says of his work “Continuing to photograph in the virtual world I am trying to find new ways to photograph in and through the virtual world. Trying to achieve the image where a photograph becomes more than the game. No editing or collage involved”.

A limited-edition print costs 220 Euros to 1,400 Euros (about US$315 to US$2,000) depending on size, finish, and mount.

via [Co.Design]