This is a different kind of photosynthesis. The work of artistic duo Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey consists of giant swaths of living grass mounted on gallery walls. The subtle gradations and changes of color in the grass might not look like much up close, but from afar they form photorealistic images of cows, human faces, and sprawling landscapes.

The trick is that Ackroyd and Harvey’s works are literal photos — they’re just printed on plants instead of paper. Their process came out of an accidental discovery that blocking grass from receiving any light would cause it to turn yellow. From that initial finding, they began to experiment with beaming film stills onto grass using a projector. The photos usually take eight days to fully expose.

Thanks to a new species of grass that stays greener, longer, the duo have been able to keep their works looking fresh for up to 18 months. All the better for nature-deprived art audiences. Check out some of Ackroyd and Harvey’s natural photography below. [Wired]

Tags: Dan Harvey, Heather Ackroyd, Photography