I use liquid nitrogen to transmute botanicals from soft biological things into something momentarily fragile beyond even the most delicate porcelain. I then gleefully smash or fracture these specimens and photograph the results – quickly before they disintegrate into oxidised mush.

THOMAS_AGP_ATxLMxAG_working_AnnaThomasSmashing2.jpg
Working images by Alina Golovachenko.

Working images by Alina Golovachenko.

Some people have called me an Artist, others a Photographer. I don't think I can honestly claim either of those titles having never done the hard yards in either of those specific educational spheres – my background is Architecture and Graphic Design.

What I can claim is curiosity, an affinity for process driven endeavours and a good enough knowledge of how a camera works (with google to fill in the gaps when necessary).  Combine that with an appreciation of botanical beauty in all it's permutations and fleeting variations and a pretty clear idea of what constitutes a pleasing array of deconstructed floral components paused mid-flight, and it seems to me – if I was forced to choose a title – that Botanical Alchemist is a comfier fit (despite never being an option in career choice drop down menus).