PHOTOS: Artist uses creative cutouts to make better landmarks

For British artist Rich McCor, standard pictures of world landmarks — unexciting snaps we’ve all seen countless of times — just won’t “cut” it. So, the 28-year-old Londoner transmogrifies travel photographs using intricate paper cutouts to create something you’d have never noticed before in a historical site.

What led you to remodel these iconic world landmarks using cutouts?

I was trying to find a different way to photograph iconic landmarks in London; by combining photography with my papercutting skills I came up with the idea of turning Big Ben into a wristwatch. After that, I started looking at the various landmarks and architecture around me in a different way, and I kept on taking photos.

How do you decide what cutout put in each landscape?

I’m not sure how but I think I’ve trained my brain to look for quirky shapes and ideas in architecture and everyday objects.It’s a pretty good mental exercise.

What’s your process in creating these pictures?

I research for ideas by looking at famous landmarks from wherever I’m planning to visit. Sometimes ideas instantly come to me and other times I don’t think of them until I’ve been thinking about it for a while. When I get there, it usually takes me about 15 minutes to get the shot exactly how I want it. I think I probably look a bit silly to passerbys!

Sometimes you add an interesting historical explanation to your photographs. Are you a big enthusiast of history?

When I first started these photos it was for my Instagram account @paperboyo and I thought including quirky facts about the location I’d taken the photo would be a fun additionfor my followers. I love doing the research for it, so I’ve kept on doing it. I’ve discovered some amazing facts about all the places I’ve visited.