ITERATION - A Fractal Journey Through Coral Life
Iteration originates from a close exploration of corals — an immersion beyond the surface to observe the hidden complexity of living forms.
Using specialized high-magnification macro lenses designed to push the boundaries of close-up imaging underwater, the film reveals a dimension normally invisible to the naked eye. At extreme scales, coral structures unfold into intricate geometries, fractal patterns, subtle movements and fluorescences emerging from the darkness, transforming the reef into a constantly shifting landscape of light.
As the observation moves deeper, the boundary between organism and abstraction begins to dissolve. Complex forms reveal themselves as variations of simple, recurring principles — patterns that repeat, evolve and transform across different scales, from microscopic structures to the architecture of the entire reef.
Iteration is a visual investigation into this dialogue between scales: a journey through the hidden geometries of the underwater world, where technology becomes a means of looking closer and rediscovering the extraordinary complexity of living forms.
The film also marks a return to an earlier collaboration. Its soundtrack is taken from Meanwhile, a film created in 2015 by the same two authors, Sandro Bocci and Maurizio Morganti. The same music, created more than ten years ago, now accompanies entirely new images — a different visual world shaped by the same creative relationship.
In this sense, Iteration is also an iteration itself: the same sound returning after a decade, transformed by new images, new technologies and a deeper exploration of the living world.
Images & Editing: Sandro Bocci
Music: Maurizio Morganti
Music originally composed for: Meanwhile (2015)
A film by: Sandro Bocci
STILLFRAMES
BTS
Special thanks to Onnik.it for providing the exceptional Laowa Pro2be lenses used in the creation of Self Similar. These unique tools made it possible to explore the microscopic world of corals from an extraordinary perspective, revealing hidden details, geometries, and structures beyond the limits of the naked eye.
Produced by Julia Set Lab
Release date: late 2026
Spacial Thanks to Onnik.it, Squalo 2000, Aquariomania, Coral Fantasy.