A beautifully imagined moment
An artist carefully constructs his most fleeting visions
By
Lauren Hansen
Published

Copyright Adam Ekberg, "Burning skull," 2014, Archival pigment print
(Image credit: Courtesy of ClampArt, New York CityHis ethereal photographs have that gloriously coincidental feel, like he just happened across these unlikely events — a skull burning on the Cape Code dunes)

Copyright Adam Ekberg, "A camera in the forest," 2008, Archival pigment print
(Image credit: Courtesy of ClampArt, New York CityBut the reality is so much better. These moments are the calculated, often laborious result of an artist creating what his vibrant mind conceives."Ever)

Copyright Adam Ekberg, "A disco ball on the mountain," 2005, Archival pigment print
(Image credit: Courtesy of ClampArt, New York CityThe behind-the-scenes stories of how the images are created read like elaborate stage notes to a theatrical production."To create the image, 'A disco ball o)

Copyright Adam Ekberg, "Eclipse," 2012, Archival pigment print
(Image credit: Courtesy of ClampArt, New York City"For the image 'Eclipse' I wanted to make a celestial event happen with an everyday object," he says. And so, Ekberg stood in the front yard of his Tampa ho)

Copyright Adam Ekberg, "Occurrence #2," 2012, Archival pigment print
(Image credit: Courtesy of ClampArt, New York CityEkberg's complicated creative process is all part of his exploratory art. Drawing inspiration from multimedia artists like Roman Singer, Félix González-Torr)

Copyright Adam Ekberg, "Sparkler on a frozen lake," 2006, Archival pigment print
(Image credit: Courtesy of ClampArt, New York CityAdam Ekberg's show Orchestrating the Ordinary is on view at ClampArt in New York City through February 14. To see more of his calculated performances,)
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Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.