Daniel Antoniol: Conjuring Surreal Realities with the Moon

Brazilian photographer Daniel Antoniol possesses a remarkable ability to transcend the boundaries of reality through his mesmerizing imagery, seamlessly blending the ordinary with the surreal. In his captivating photographic series, Antoniol turns the moon into a whimsical protagonist, engaging in surreal interactions that challenge our perceptions of the cosmos.

Within the realm of Antoniol’s artistic vision, perspective becomes his ingenious brushstroke. Through skillful manipulation, the moon is transformed into a diminutive spectacle reminiscent of a mere lightbulb, seemingly weightless enough to be cradled in one’s hand.

But Antoniol’s visual enchantments extend far beyond mere manipulation of scale. We witness him playfully integrating the moon into everyday scenarios – from a spontaneous game of football to the improbable act of stowing it away in the trunk of his car. With each click of his camera, Antoniol beckons viewers into a world where the extraordinary is commonplace, and the laws of physics bend to his artistic will.

This fascination with the moon was ignited during the lockdown of 2020, while Antoniol found himself confined to his parents’ countryside farm in the Minas Gerais region of Brazil. Amidst the isolation, the moon became a source of solace and inspiration, prompting Antoniol to embark on a creative journey that would capture the imagination of viewers worldwide.

Despite his daytime occupation as a civil engineer, photography has always been Antoniol’s passion. During the isolated days of the pandemic, he turned his gaze skywards, combining his love for photography with his fascination for the celestial realm. Setting up each shot can take several days, with meticulous attention to detail required to achieve the desired composition.Capturing the moon in sharp focus presents its own set of challenges, requiring hours of dedication and precision. Antoniol utilizes a collage technique to seamlessly integrate the moon into his photographs, a process that typically takes no more than a day or two from start to finish.

Armed with a Canon T6 and a keen eye for composition, Antoniol continues to captivate audiences with his surreal imagery. Yet, despite the acclaim his work has garnered, he remains humble, eschewing notions of celebrity in favor of a deeper purpose. For Antoniol, photography is a means of conveying peace and inspiration to others, a medium through which he can transport viewers to distant realms and evoke positive energy.

As he dreams of immortalizing his art, Antoniol sees the moon as a symbol of possibility and transcendence. Through his work, he invites us to join him on a journey beyond the confines of our reality, where the impossible becomes possible, and the beauty of the cosmos awaits.