The results are scattered all across the beaches of Normandy, especially on Omaha beach which played host to a particularly large battle.

“In my work, I’m always looking at small things that I don’t see other than through the electron microscope, so it’s neat for me to see a bit of history,” Robbie says. “The remnants of this battle over 60 years ago are still sitting around in the sand.”

The project is a true collaboration between art and science, displaying coloured microscopic photos of iron leftover from the Second World War. “(Weber) sees these tranquil beach scenes and, using the microscopes, I can see the shrapnel in the beach sand,” Robbie says.

Although they’ve already shown some of their work at a photo-reporter festival in Saint-Brieuc Bay, France, the project is still very much in progress. Weber is planning another trip this spring armed with a camera-equipped drone to capture the beaches from the viewpoint of the invading forces.

Robbie is also interested in seeing if he can tell the difference between axis and allied steel. “A lot of the answers are just hidden from view in the beautiful landscapes that (Weber) takes,” he says.

But there’s certainly no rush. As Weber points out, “these sand grains are probably not going to last for 100 years. They are going to last for 100,000 years.”