Astonishing Underwater Photos Look Like Baroque Paintings

Art from the Baroque period is famous for its exquisite compositions and ethereal use of light. While it might seem as if oil paints are the only medium which can achieve this aesthetic, visual artist Christy Lee Rogers proves that underwater photography can be as powerful in her dynamic series, Muses.

Featuring swirls of intertwined figures and flowing drapery, each stunning photo looks like a 17th-century painting came to life. Specifically, Muses borrows traits from Baroque masters, including Caravaggio's contrasts between light and shadow, Rubens' rich color palette, and Gentileschi's focus on movement. Unlike the work of these artists, though, Rogers' scenes do not take place in opulent interiors or mythological landscapes. Instead, they are set entirely underwater.

Each photograph featured in Muses was shot at night in an illuminated pool. This unique setup gives the pictures their soft, brushstroke-like quality and allows Rogers to bathe her subjects in light as they twist and tumble through the water.

Events in Rogers' own life inspired this concept of free-floating. After experiencing multiple losses in a short period, she decided she needed to fully dive into her practice—a decision that eventually sparked the series. “Any day could be my last, and I knew I would not forgive myself if I didn’t do everything I was capable of doing now,” she told PHOTOFAIRS. “So this was at the core of Muses; the inspiration that was pushing me forward.”