Mars — Dune field at the Nili Patera caldera of Syrtis Major
Mars — Dune Field at the Nili Patera Caldera captures one of the most active dune fields on the Red Planet. Imaged by the HiRISE camera aboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on 8 February 2015, this scene showcases intricately sculpted sand dunes formed by prevailing winds atop a dark volcanic lava bed, inside an ancient caldera near the Martian equator. The undulating ridges and ripples are not only visually stunning but also signify ongoing surface dynamics — sand migration and the modification of Martian landscapes by wind.
Nili Patera’s dune field stands out because scientists have observed — using repeated HiRISE imaging — that the sand here moves rapidly by Martian standards, reshaping the dunes far faster than previously expected. The barchan shapes and ripple patterns show both the scale of wind-driven change and the complexity of sand transport in Mars’ thin atmosphere. By tracking the migration of these features, researchers have learned that strong but rare winds can move sand dunes significant distances, revealing details about Martian climate, atmospheric energy, and the rate at which rock is eroded and redistributed.
The image for this print was sourced directly from original, high-fidelity HiRISE sensor data and carefully processed for scientific accuracy and clarity, preserving the fine structure and tonal detail of the dune landscape.
HiRISE, operating on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter since 2006, provides unprecedented views of the Martian surface at resolutions finer than a metre. It has advanced planetary science by allowing precise studies of surface processes, geology, and atmospheric change.
This open edition is printed in large format using the giclée process on premium 250gsm archival matte paper, offering superb texture, detail, and enduring quality, making the energetic patterns of Mars’s shifting dunes both accessible and captivating.
Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Radiance Series
Radiance is our series devoted to image-born works — pictures made by light itself. Drawn from observatory archives and scientific instruments, these pieces begin as high-fidelity sensor images: Mars at meter-scale detail from HiRISE, deep-sky vistas from JWST and ESO/ESA observatories, wide-area surveys, and even terrestrial science—oceanic, geological and biological imagery—where structure and texture emerge directly from the data.
The craft is exacting. We source the highest-resolution originals, reconstruct large fields (for example, stitching complex Mars terrains), and make restrained, evidence-minded adjustments to reveal tone, micro-contrast and fine structure without losing the character of the capture. Each image is then prepared for print at generous sizes—profiled, proofed and tuned with our specialist UK printers—so dune morphologies, dust lanes, cloud bands, crystalline patterns and microscopic architectures resolve with quiet clarity.
Printed on museum-grade papers, Radiance presents planetary, earthly and microscopic worlds with archival discipline and a sense of presence you can stand in front of — photographs in the deepest sense: light recorded, honoured, and given room to breathe.
Printing & Materials
Our Radiance series is produced in collaboration with specialist fine-art printing partners using museum-grade 250 gsm archival giclée paper.
Each print is made to order with exceptional precision and colour accuracy, using pigment-based inks for long-term stability and rich tonal depth.
Prints are carefully rolled in acid-free tissue and shipped in rigid cardboard tubes to ensure they arrive in perfect condition, ready for framing.
All materials and processes are chosen for their longevity, texture, and fidelity to the original artwork, reflecting our commitment to quality and craft.