David Maisel's 'The Fall'

As discussed at the New Yorker, where I learned about the series, Maisel's photographs "can make Earth’s surface look more alien than terrestrial." Some images, like those of the halted developments on the periphery of Madrid (bottom), are particularly barren; the artist describes them like "the surreal aftermath of a bombed out city or an alien landing field." Removed from the context of the country's economic collapse, the photographs take on an aesthetic beauty that is akin to abstract paintings on canvas.

The Fall is on display at Haines Gallery until 12 March 2016.