The latest collection in Christoffer Relander’s We Are Nature series returns to the joys and wonder of childhood. Melding portraits with leaves, landscapes, and the occasional cat, the Finnish photographer (previously) superimposes human silhouettes with lush environments to explore the inherent connections between the two.
Relander created each image entirely in camera, using multiple exposures to layer the different components. With faint traces of a nose or ear peeking through the growth, the ethereal compositions sometimes mimic human features, like a spindly branch stretching upward in place of a spine.
Vol. VII is the most recent addition to the ongoing series and focuses on Relander’s children. He shares:
Watching them grow and discover the world has been a mirror to my past, drawing me back to memories of my childhood. Through them, I am reminded of the purity and raw connection to nature we often lose as adults. This shift in perspective has brought fresh energy to the project, allowing me to explore these themes of innocence, curiosity, and the natural world with new depth.
Find more of We Are Nature on Relander’s website, and follow his latest works on Instagram.