In his "Greetings from Mars" series, photographer Julien Mauve imagines life as a tourist on the Red Planet -- selfie-stick and all.
In his "Greetings from Mars" series, photographer Julien Mauve imagines life as a tourist on the Red Planet -- selfie-stick and all.
The artist combines the unknown Mars landscape with familiar vacation photography. <br />
The artist combines the unknown Mars landscape with familiar vacation photography.
Combining extraordinary landscapes with stereotypical tourist poses, Julien Mauve explores humanity's endless pursuit of self-definition.
Combining extraordinary landscapes with stereotypical tourist poses, Julien Mauve explores humanity's endless pursuit of self-definition.
"We might ask ourselves, 'Do we travel to discover new places, change of scene, new cultures, or do we travel to look for pictures of ourselves and to prove that we exist?'" Mauve says.
"We might ask ourselves, 'Do we travel to discover new places, change of scene, new cultures, or do we travel to look for pictures of ourselves and to prove that we exist?'" Mauve says.
"I like to observe people, I like to see how they act, how they use pictures to convey their feelings," Mauve says.
"I like to observe people, I like to see how they act, how they use pictures to convey their feelings," Mauve says.
Mauve captured the photos in the United States -- in the Grand Canyon and Death Valley, among other places.
Mauve captured the photos in the United States -- in the Grand Canyon and Death Valley, among other places.
"As with the Wild West, we could imagine a point where Mars would become a touristic destination," says Mauve.<br />
"As with the Wild West, we could imagine a point where Mars would become a touristic destination," says Mauve.
Mauve used post-production tools to remove plants, and to make color calibrations.
Mauve used post-production tools to remove plants, and to make color calibrations.
His conceptual photography is operating in a space between fiction and documentation -- not completely unlike the carefully edited "reality" people depict their lives to be on social media.
His conceptual photography is operating in a space between fiction and documentation -- not completely unlike the carefully edited "reality" people depict their lives to be on social media.
"Technology makes us do silly stuff but it is also what allows us to dream of space exploration and a brighter future," Mauve tells CNN.
"Technology makes us do silly stuff but it is also what allows us to dream of space exploration and a brighter future," Mauve tells CNN.
"Using the Red Planet as a background was a way to emphasize our behaviors as tourists living in the 21st century," Mauve says.
"Using the Red Planet as a background was a way to emphasize our behaviors as tourists living in the 21st century," Mauve says.
"I have always wondered what it would be like to discover a totally different world, lifeless, full of wild landscapes," the photographer says.
"I have always wondered what it would be like to discover a totally different world, lifeless, full of wild landscapes," the photographer says.
Mauve intends to make a point both about the world as it is, and as it might become. "It's a humorous way of showing how we are today while making us think of what the world could become in the future."
Mauve intends to make a point both about the world as it is, and as it might become. "It's a humorous way of showing how we are today while making us think of what the world could become in the future."
Mauve is based in Paris and creates staged, cinematographic and narrative photography series.
Mauve is based in Paris and creates staged, cinematographic and narrative photography series.
His work often deals with how human interaction is influenced by development and technology.
His work often deals with how human interaction is influenced by development and technology.
Loneliness, nostalgia and imagination are recurring themes.
Loneliness, nostalgia and imagination are recurring themes.
Similarly to "Greetings from Mars," his "Lonely Window" explores online behavior and existential questions. That project includes portraits of faces entranced by computer screens in front of them.
Similarly to "Greetings from Mars," his "Lonely Window" explores online behavior and existential questions. That project includes portraits of faces entranced by computer screens in front of them.
"Greetings from Mars" was awarded the 2016 Sony World Photography Award, in the professional conceptual category.<br />
"Greetings from Mars" was awarded the 2016 Sony World Photography Award, in the professional conceptual category.
Mauve has been awarded several other prizes, including the SFR Jeunes Talents prize for young photographers in 2013.
Mauve has been awarded several other prizes, including the SFR Jeunes Talents prize for young photographers in 2013.