This shot of lighting above a lake is absolutely stunning -- extreme weather photography at its finest.
But it's not what you think it is. The photo was actually constructed by Matthew Albanese, a visual artist who specializes in photorealistic three-dimensional artwork.
Albanese was first inspired to create these nature scenes by a spilled canister of paprika, which turned into a mini Mars landscape, according to the bio on his website. He's since made everything from erupting volcanoes to stunning coral reefs.
Another behind-the-scenes look.
Take a look at some more shots of Albanese's work below, and check out his upcoming book, Strange Worlds, which will be available in September 2013.
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