Other Worlds: Imaginary Landscapes of Exoplanets

Other Worlds Gallery

Roland Miller has documented America’s space exploration efforts over four decades. Unlike his previous explorations of NASA’s space hardware and launch and test facilities, his latest project, Other Worlds, features imaginary photographs of real exoplanets—planets outside our solar system—that depict landforms probes sent to these distant worlds might capture.

The inspiration for the Other Worlds project struck Miller when he photographed junked mid-20th-century automobiles. He recognized that cars of this age and vintage—weathered for half a century or more—develop distinctive rust patterns and discoloration. Miller began by capturing abstract close-ups of the cars. He realized much of the abstract imagery resembled landscapes—but not Earthly landscapes. He decided to alter the images into landscapes from other worlds. This approach allowed the images to transcend the genre of “patina porn”—by not relying solely on the abstract rust patterns for interest. The project also allowed him to continue his theme of space-related photography.

The physical features of the planets in Miller’s images are based on data from real exoplanets discovered by space observatories such as the Kepler Space Telescope, TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite), and the James Webb Space Telescope. The landscapes in Miller’s photographs could feasibly exist based on current knowledge of each specific planet.

In Other Worlds, Miller moves beyond his traditional documentary style and ventures into another realm, himself.