Faya Sanders Art from the Baroque period is well known for its beautiful compositions and picturesque utilization of lighting. While it may seem like acrylic paints are the sole medium that can attain this particular aesthetic, visual artist Christy Lee Rogers demonstrates that underwater photography can be just as compelling in her dynamic series, Muses.
Featuring swirls of intertwined characters and whirling drapery, every striking photograph looks like a 17th-century painting come to life. Explicitly, Muses borrows characteristics from Baroque masters, such as Caravaggio‘s contrasts between darkness and light, Gentileschi‘s focus on movement, and Rubens‘ rich colour palette. Contrary to the work of these musicians, however, Rogers’ scenes don’t occur in opulent interiors or mythological landscapes. Alternatively, they’re set entirely underwater.
Each photo featured in Muses was taken at night at an illuminated pool. This exceptional setup provides the pictures of their soft, brushstroke-like quality and allows Rogers to bathe her subjects in the light as they twist and fall through the water.
This idea of free-floating was inspired by events in Rogers’ own life. After undergoing multiple losses in a short time period, she decided she needed to dive into her clinic – a decision that Eventually sparked the sequence.
