The photographs are micrographs of slices through chemical crystals and were made using polarized light microscopy. The chemicals are cooked up in the laboratory using recipes made by the artist throughout his career. The recipes were not designed as such but discovered through research one small step at a time over many years. Once the chemicals have been synthesized, smears of them are placed on glass slides and then made to crystallize. Due to their relatively short life span, they must be photographed immediately before decomposition occurs.

The pictures are in no way designed, nor are they digitally enhanced. Although the well-known artist keeps a detailed recipe book, the imagery can never be reproduced exactly. This is because there are always intrinsic errors made during the cooking of the chemicals. In addition, it is impossible to have full control over all the environmental factors that dictate the growth process.