Beyond The Edge of Darkness

• Photographer
  Melanie Schoeniger
• Technical Info
  Iphone Se, Sometimes With Macro Lens Clip, Cheap Underwater Camera, Affinity Photo To Alter Colors
• Photo Date
  2021-2023

This series reimagines the feeling of awe I experience when diving: and the vast mysterious sea is my stage. These images utilize unique perspectives that highlight bioluminescence and surreal colors inspired by coral reefs and nudibranchs, and they envision how underwater species sense the world via ultraviolet and infrared sight. As our oceans are in a vulnerable state, it is my hope that my focus on beauty and wonder will spark reflection about humanity’s role in our interconnected ecosystems.

Melanie Schoeniger is a photographic artist from Germany. She seeks to reveal the beauty and essence of nature as a means to create awe and uncover secrets behind all stardust. This work unpacks the wonder of being alive and explores themes such as perception, interconnectedness, the human condition and our place in the larger scheme of things. The principal intention of each image is to evoke a deep connection with nature while protecting and preserving it for future generations. As a Photolucida 2022 Critical Mass Top 200 finalist her work is published and exhibited internationally.