In Gabriele Viertel’s photos, female subjects float in a dark abyss. The fabrics of their elegant gowns billow around them, their bodies blossoming like exotic flowers. The German-born, Netherlands-based photographer prefers to shoot the majority of her work underwater. A dramatic, chiaroscuro lighting defines her photographs: her models’ pastel-colored dresses and pallid skin appear to glow against the black background. Viertel’s work is currently featured in the group show “Road to Elysium” at Heist Gallery in London.
