Extreme Weather Art By Matthew Albanese Is So Real, You Won't Believe It's Staged (PHOTOS)

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.