Artist transforms travel photos with paper cutouts

By Chuck Thompson, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 9:22 AM EST, Mon November 2, 2015
Rich McCor's clever takes on familiar world monuments have earned worldwide attention. Photos like this one of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris made him an overnight Instagram sensation.
Unique vision —
Rich McCor's clever takes on familiar world monuments have earned worldwide attention. Photos like this one of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris made him an overnight Instagram sensation.
Courtesy Rich McCor
Londoner McCor's project started on a whim when he snapped this photo of the city's Big Ben clock tower. "A young girl and her father came round and asked to see the photo I'd just taken," McCor says. "They asked if I had more of these. That encouraged me to see what other icons I could shoot."
Where it all began —
Londoner McCor's project started on a whim when he snapped this photo of the city's Big Ben clock tower. "A young girl and her father came round and asked to see the photo I'd just taken," McCor says. "They asked if I had more of these. That encouraged me to see what other icons I could shoot."
Courtesy Rich McCor
McCor shot this one of Copenhagen's landmark Cirkelbroen bridge for Lonely Planet, which sponsored part of a trip around Europe.
Alien abduction —
McCor shot this one of Copenhagen's landmark Cirkelbroen bridge for Lonely Planet, which sponsored part of a trip around Europe.
Courtesy Rich McCor
McCor added some whimsy to Charles Petillon's already whimsical "Heartbeat" temporary installation of 100,000 white balloons in London's Covent Garden.
Escape artist —
McCor added some whimsy to Charles Petillon's already whimsical "Heartbeat" temporary installation of 100,000 white balloons in London's Covent Garden.
Courtesy Rich McCor
"It's just a hobby, it was only in June I started doing it," says McCor of his pictures. "Now it's taken off and gone viral. I went from 5,000 followers on Instagram to about 60,000 in a week." Shots like this one of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen are one reason for the popularity.
Classic modern portrait —
"It's just a hobby, it was only in June I started doing it," says McCor of his pictures. "Now it's taken off and gone viral. I went from 5,000 followers on Instagram to about 60,000 in a week." Shots like this one of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen are one reason for the popularity.
Courtesy Rich McCor
"It's totally just for fun, for my own amusement," says McCor about his pictures. "When I started doing it I was just Instagramming for myself and friends." This inventive London Eye image has helped him make new friends.
Wheels in the sky —
"It's totally just for fun, for my own amusement," says McCor about his pictures. "When I started doing it I was just Instagramming for myself and friends." This inventive London Eye image has helped him make new friends.
Courtesy Rich McCor
There was no need to go inside the Paris Louvre to see its most famous exhibit when McCor positioned the Mona Lisa on its roof.