Odd Apples — Special Edition

From perfect pink ladies to rough-skinned russets: a gorgeous study of the wondrous variety of apples

William Mullan’s obsession with apples began when he saw his first Egremont Russet at a Waitrose grocery store outside of London. Fascinated by its gnarled, potato-like appearance and shockingly fresh, nutty flavor, Mullan searched for and photographed rare apple varieties. In Odd Apples, each apple is lovingly rendered and styled according to its individual “personality”―a combination of its looks and flavors. The apples are set against complementary brightly colored backdrops; they are peeled or unpeeled, cut or whole, skin shriveled or perfectly smooth and shiny.
This odd charm combined with the hitherto unknown makes these photographs fascinating studies of a supposedly commonplace fruit. Mullan embraces its distinctive aesthetic qualities completely and invites us, in this attractive gift book, to embark on a visual expedition into the world of the apple.
By day, William Mullan (born 1989) works at an artisanal chocolate factory in Brooklyn, and by night, he photographs fruit. British-born, New York-based Mullan came to photography as an autodidact, and his talent was quickly recognized. His Odd Apple project developed into an influential and much-talked-about series, reviewed by the New Yorker, the New York Times and i-D Magazine and released as a sold-out run of prints on his website.

"Every time an apple tree grows from seed, an entirely new cultivar is born. The fruit from that tree will be the first and only of its kind, never known or tasted before."

There are estimated to be 7,000+ named cultivars of apples globally, a comically intimidating number. Some of these apples look like frogs; some look pink inside; some look psychedelic, and others look like stars. Through photographs of rare & curious apples, “Odd Apples” celebrates the enchanting diversity and odd nature of apples, expanding our perception of what they look like and taste like.