'Archetypal' captures the elegance and simplicity of a vast and diverse landscape from a rarely experienced perspective. Some landscapes only become visible after you take off.

Occupying more than 20,000Ha in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia, Lake MacLeod is a vast inland salt lake that supports a system of wetlands featuring one of the largest inland mangrove communities in the world. These communities provide a natural habitat for a countless variety of birds, fish and other animals. The wetlands are serviced by ocean tides, which flush seawater into channels below and out through vertical shafts, sinkholes, and other surface vents within the lake.

Author: Steven Stanley Manolakis is a photographer based in Sydney. His images of Australian landscapes photographed from above provide a unique view of what lies surrounding us.

Captured from a meta-level perspective, his work inspires reflection on the complexity of systems and individual disposition. He addresses the lack of nuance in contemporary thought processes through the comprehensive topography of Australian landscapes. Each image encourages the viewer to appreciate the complexity of the landscape, from general outline to intricate detail, before arriving at a deeper understanding of systems and individual placement within. Lastly, he guides the viewer from complexity to simplicity, providing structure to chaos by focusing on composition, form and design. Upon departure, one is left with feelings of hope, meaning, and a secure state of being.

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