Underwater photographer Elena Kalis makes fairytales a reality and turns the ordinary into dreams. Looking through her lens is like being transported into an imaginary land. Based in the Bahamas, Kalis makes use of the nearby ocean as her studio. Her models may be holding their breath but they express deep, whimsical emotions in complex poses that can only be achieved in water. In some portraits, they are literally walking through a magic portal that is the surface. For her Alice in Waterland series, we follow Alice as she steps into a crystal blue looking glass and floats down an invisible tunnel to have tea with the Mad Hatter. It is a story told a thousand times over, but Kalis manages to bring a fresh perspective with just the natural beauty of nature. Other characters that she visits in her work include Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid, and Sailor Moon. Every day colors and items such as tea cups, toys, and umbrellas look brand new and warped. This surprising palette works exceptionally well in the context of her surreal scenes and subjects. The success of her images can be attributed to practiced technique, but most importantly a ‘wish I’d thought of that’ creative vision.
This year, 
Toronto based photographer