Stunning, Old Hollywood-Style Portraits of Mystical Women in an Ethereal World

By Alison Nastasi

Dec. 3, 2015

The ancient bones of the British countryside and the ethereal world of a darkened room become characters in the photography of UK-based artist Ellen Rogers. But it’s her mysterious cast of women, drenched in jewels, vintage gowns, and lush textiles that draw us deeper into Rogers’ mystic realm.

The darkroom has been part of Rogers’ life since her father taught her the rituals of photography at a young age. She takes inspiration from religious, mythological, and spiritual texts, using an all-analog process. “My work is a result of hours of darkroom work, ranging from straight silver gelatin to varying alternative processes,” Rogers tells Flavorwire by email. Fashion and foreign culture play a large role in her photos, evidenced by shoots in Slovakia and beyond. She works with fashion stylists to dress her models. “But, of late, it’s often done on the fly,” she explains.

Rogers sets her muses in other mediums (like an analog-style videogame called Decoherence ) and has created several short films. It’s easy to see references to silent cinema, or perhaps the work of modern masters like Guy Maddin, but the narrative she weaves comes from a deeply personal connection to her dreamy influences and the process of constructing another world.

©Ellen Rogers

Imogen Heap

©Ellen Rogers

Molly Crabapple