Computer chip close-ups resemble cityscapes

This Motorola 68030 chip looks like a snapshot from a Googlemaps cityscape. Image Christoph Morlinghaus

Smartphones, laptops, drones, technology have been so integrated into our modern lives that it’s easy to take for granted how our gadgets even get to do what they do for us. One professional photographer then decides to take a closer look into the microchips that are the center of our modern gadget-centric lifestyle.

Christoph Morlinghaus used to photograph motherboards for Cisco three years ago and grew fascinated with the miniature world that he discovered under the lens. He went further with the idea last year and took shots of microprocessors that he acquired from online forums, reports Wired.

This monstrosity is the setup that Morlinghaus utilized to capture the amazing details on his microchip photos. This includes the seven-foot bellows and a couple of 12-inch closet lights to illuminate his subject. Image Christoph Morlinghaus

Each shot was done with three-minute exposures using a Sinar P2 8×10 camera with a 50mm f2.8 lens. The shots were so meticulous that Molinghaus had to do retakes with the slightest disturbances such as AC units vibrating when turned on or trucks rumbling past his studio. His Computerwelt set took around a week to complete.

The results resemble cityscapes taken from a bird’s eye view with apparent shadows falling on streets and alleyways.

The Computerwelt album, along with his other works, can be found here.  Alfred Bayle