This image was achieved by deforming a 3d model. The renderings (Mental Ray) have been merged with Photoshop, also used to draw broken glasses and scratched and damaged paint.

See also:

Meta-Vegan

A rendering with some tweaking, because not all little green men are equal and thus, at least, this little fellow is green for a reason.

Android head under electron microscope

An attempt, not truly rigorous, to recall the aesthetics of the images in grey tones obtained via electron microscope.

Restlessness

Three sequential close-ups digitally realized by Flavio Masi.