name: Thin Places, SIREN
photographer: Reuben Wu | @reuben
Reuben Wu is known for pushing the limits of photography—and in his latest series Thin Places, he’s done it again. Using drones, lasers, and long exposures, Wu “draws” with synthetic light across vast, untouched landscapes, turning nature into glowing, sculptural dreamscapes.
What makes Thin Places so striking is that everything you see is captured in a single shot, on location. No Photoshop tricks or post-production magic—just light, timing, and pure creative precision. Wu uses high-res gear (a 102MP Fujifilm medium format system, if you’re curious), guiding drones by hand to paint lines of light across the land like a brush on canvas.
The name Thin Places comes from a Celtic idea—those rare spots where the line between the physical world and the spiritual one becomes thin. Wu channels that vibe perfectly, using light to shape the way we see natural spaces, without ever actually altering them.
This series builds on his earlier work, especially SIREN, shot on Lake Michigan during a surprise aurora in 2024. That moment sparked a shift in Wu’s style—from bold light beams to more atmospheric, sculptural forms. In Thin Places, the light doesn’t just illuminate; it interacts, floats, and hovers like it belongs there.
One standout piece, Surface Tension, was created at a remote salt lake. A drone sweeps a custom laser just above the water, casting a curtain of light that mirrors the stars above. It’s surreal, hypnotic, and somehow feels both alien and deeply rooted in Earth.
If you’re into drone light photography or sculptural landscapes, Reuben Wu’s Thin Places is a masterclass in blending technology with natural wonder.
