When I was a wee tike back in elementary school, I always relished to opportunity to create a diorama for any class assignment. However, when I was a teacher, I discovered that my love of the process was not shared by most students.

Any road, Seattle-based artist and photographer Derrick Lin builds cinematic miniature dioramas from everyday materials like cardboard and office supplies. His tiny hand-painted figures visualize emotions like loneliness, nostalgia, grief – shot in a stunning, perfect light setting.

Why don’t more adults build dioramas ? Maybe I’ll build one during the next heatwave.