Photographer Daniel Stier reveals the bizarre world of scientific research

Daniel Stier’s recent series Ways of Knowing instantly catapults you straight into the world of scientific research. A fascinating study into the self-built technology of the world’s brightest brains, these images are intriguing and extraordinary. Daniel captures a range of experiments using human subjects, having visited state-of-the-art research institutions across Europe and the USA.

The serious, humourless expressions of the volunteering doctors and students are fantastic, as they sit indifferently surrounded by intricate wires and metal contraptions. Daniel’s crisp, clean style beautifully picks up on the details surrounding these enormous machines, like the tired blue carpet and outdated desk chairs. These nods to the past create a wonderful contrast to the modernity and innovation also captured and it’s what makes this series so compelling.

The photographs form part of Daniel’s new book also called Ways of Knowing, which is billed as “a curious outsider’s view into the world of science.” It features essays from physics professors and academic writers, and images without captions. Hoping to open up a dialogue between art, design and science, the viewer is asked to create their own narratives within the book.