Apologies for the prolonged absence. Life happens sometimes. 
As someone who has to browse through hundreds of stock photos every year for her job, I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to come across a photo that doesn’t scream “Stick me in a human resources training video!” The difference between looking for a stock photo that doesn’t look like a stock photo and actually gazing at a photographer’s website for the sheer joy of gazing is pretty indescribable.
I was over on Society6′s website just two nights ago looking at all of the different gorgeous art prints, when a particular photo series caught my eye:
Photo by Heather Landis
If you’re a fan of YA lit and haven’t been living under a rock for the last 6 months, you know exactly which cover this beautiful photo belongs to. I was beyond excited to finally discover the photographer behind the print, the lovely Heather Landis (who has given me the thumbs up to plaster her awesome work all over this post.) Landis is not only a professional photographer, but a retoucher and illustrator to boot.
What’s more, Mara Dyer’s cover photo comes from Landis’ Abyss of the Disheartened photo series. I’ve posted a few here but I highly recommend you check out the rest on her website.
They are gorgeous, no? I’ve been completely intrigued ever since I saw the cover art and read the mysterious summary for Michelle Hodkin’s debut novel. I can only imagine the Simon & Schuster art director coming across Landis’ work and saying, “THIS. This one belongs to Mara Dyer.” Beautiful work, Heather.
For even more photo-ogling, be sure to check out her Flickr site, too.
I want to go swimming in a pretty dress! The only times I’ve ever gone swimming in clothing (aside from a suit, duh) was 1) in swim class where we had to take off the clothes in the water and turn them into flotation devices and 2) an accidental row boat flipping in college (lost one of my favorite shoes – sadface). Anyway, thanks for sharing! Love these photos!
Eeek, I’ve flipped in a boat before (well actually, canoe) before but I had my swimsuit on and didn’t lose any prized shoes!
Yep, those are some great photos. Heather is pretty talented.
Like Em above, I now want to go swimming in a nice summer dress. And read the book.
I think swimming in beautiful dresses make for the best kinda photos. That’s one exception to the No Sad Girls in a Pretty Dresses rule.
Oh how I love the cover for Mara Dyer and how I love these photos. Heather is so, so talented.
AGREED. Definitely looking forward to reading this book.
Gorgeous photos! So glad you discovered the photographer behind the book cover. I’ve been curious about that book because of the beautiful cover. I could just imagine how hard it was to take these underwater photos because my friends and I always try to come up with good ones whenever we have an underwater camera when we go swimming.
These are gorgeous images!
I’m no photographer but I’ve always been amazed at people who can take really good photos.
It makes me wonder how she set up that shoot.
Wow! Yes, I’ve seen and admired the cover for that book a lot on the Web. But seeing the other photos makes me want that photographer to shoot the cover of my book (if I ever finish the manuscript). Her photos are gorgeous!
Those are so gorgeous, in an eerie, mysterious way.
Great photos – what a cool find!!
I love it!!! That is so awesome that you found and shared with us. Extremely talented!
That’s so cool how you stumbled across her photos! I definitely recognized it the moment I saw the first picture.
Ahhhh THIS IS AWESOME. I love Mara Dyer’s cover, and these other photos are equally gorgeous. Awesome post!
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