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

LOOK: These Photos Aren't What You Think They Are

This shot of lighting above a lake is absolutely stunning -- extreme weather photography at its finest.

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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.

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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.

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Another behind-the-scenes look.

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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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trees

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