A dream within a dream

Edgar Allan Poe’s seminal poem A Dream Within A Dream contains the key lines: All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream. Poe reflects upon the eternal theme for creatives, the relationship between real and imagined, dreams and visions. Artists need the ability to dream, to observe what others don’t see - and yet, for them, the time slips away like sand between the fingers. In this portrait series, I have photographed creative professionals and fellow artists I have encountered over the years. Steering away from the conventions of portraiture, I have used multiple layers of color lights and projections to create a surreal atmosphere transcending the everyday, into the world of dreams and imagination. A space where art and creativity emerge. There is no post-production coloring or effects, everything is made in-camera, live during the studio shoot. The series is a contemplation of the artistic people’s talent of imagining milieus, feelings and impressions, which do not necessarily exist. On the other hand, it questions the images artists want to convey of themselves and what is real and what is not.