Photographer and filmmakerJan Van IJkenhas plunged into the mysterious world of plankton for his short filmPlanktonium.
Using a microscope, he takes us inside a world unseen by the naked eye.
These living organisms, which can take on alien-like forms, play a vital role on our planet.
They are divided into two main groups, phytoplanktonwhich are plantsand zooplanktonwhich are animals.
Phytoplankton accounts for half of Earth’s photosynthesis, making it one of the world’s top oxygen producers.
Zooplankton is an essential food source for many marine creatures, including whales.
Yet, for all of the plankton’s importance, there is still so much unknown.
The result is the 15-minute short filmPlanktonium.
Set to a haunting sound composition by Norwegian artist Jana Winderen, the images are presented without narration.
In this way, Van IJken allows the plankton to speak for themselves.
Planktoniumis a short film looking at the world of microscopic plankton.
Dutch filmmaker Jan Van IJken filmed a variety of plankton under a microscope.
He calls the result a voyage into a secret universe, inhabited by alien-like creatures.
This work highlights the importance of plankton, which are increasingly under threat from climate change.
The full, 15-minute short film is availableon demand.
