Cutaway model Zeiss Distagon T 2.8/15 ZM (2013) is a conceptual work by Christopher Williams that dissects the mechanics and hidden complexities of image-making through the lens of a Zeiss camera. Rather than focusing on the final photograph, Cutaway Model Zeiss places the apparatus itself at the center, encouraging viewers to contemplate the unseen systems that shape our visual perception. By showcasing the lens as a subject, Williams shifts the narrative from image to infrastructure, prompting reflection on the mechanics and precision behind what we often take as straightforward or “natural” views of reality. This work disrupts the traditional focus of photography by reminding us of the technology and human intention embedded in every image, urging a more critical engagement with the tools that frame our understanding of the world.

Known for his focus on the often-overlooked technical aspects of photography, Williams uses this cutaway model to reveal the intricate engineering typically concealed within a camera lens. By exposing the fine-tuned components—lenses, glass and metal parts—he draws attention to the complex machinery that controls how images are produced and how we see the world.