staudinger-franke reveals water barriers with submerged portraiture

staudinger-franke reveals water barriers through submerged portraiture
all images courtesy of staudinger-franke

vienna-based photography studio staudinger-franke have set their latest series underwater, revealing the ‘barrier’ between a human model and the transparent sheets under which they are submerged. 

the portfolio of photographs comprises portraits of women and men, separated from the viewer by a barrier of water. filled with colorful fish and aquatic botanicals, the pool both reflects light and reveals deep shadows buried within the layers of hair and plant life, adding an eerie tone to the gripping collection of images. hovering, and nearly breaching, the surface of the glossy film of water that somewhat conceals them, the models bear emotionless expressions and blank eyes, focusing the viewer’s attention on the overall ghostly condition they inherently communicate.

models are revealed through glossy layers of water 

the images focus the viewer’s attention on the overall ghostly condition they intend to communicate

models nearly breach the surface of the shiningly transparent water sheet

an emotionless quality characterizes the blank expressions of the underwater models

fish and aquatic life surrounds the models in water

the ‘barrier’ of water is expressed through the series of images

portraits of women and men are separated from the viewer by a barrier of water