8 Heads High is a series of scanning electron microscope images showing prepared single algae magnified 5,000 times. Each individual mono-cellular organism floats isolated against a black background, in the style of traditional portraiture. The microscope reveals a highly detailed image of a microcosm, which the human eye is unable to perceive otherwise. Appearing in various forms and sizes, the algae are among the oldest existing species and are responsible for about 50% of the fixation of carbon dioxide in the world.

Created in cooperation with Universität Köln Culture Collection of Algae; Universität Bayreuth, Bayerisches Polymerinstitut and Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg

Bayreuth and Cologne 2016