From the beginning of my first projects in male model photography, I have been concerned with the question of how to stage photography in such a way that it not only depicts but also tells stories and makes moods tangible. One of my greatest passions is the use of black light. This special light has something deeply magical for me: it changes perception, brings the invisible to the fore and bathes even familiar motifs in a completely new, mysterious aura. I was particularly pleased to be able to build on the experience of photographer Barbara Frommann.
Especially when I work with male models, I like to use black light to transform their physicality into something strange and fantastic. In the studio, I can experiment in a controlled manner, darken the room and work specifically with fluorescent materials. UV-reflective contact lenses are used, which transform the gaze of my models into an eerie, almost supernatural glow. Such eyes are not just an effect – they give the whole portrait an almost mythical depth, as if the viewer is being drawn into another dimension.
But black light lives not only from small details, but also from the play on the skin. A fascinating medium is body painting with UV-active colors. When I create patterns on the naked or partially clothed skin of my models – sometimes filigree lines, sometimes large-scale ornaments – it looks as if the body itself becomes a living sculpture of light. Under normal light, much remains hidden, but in the UV light, the shapes emerge like runes, tattoos or mysterious signs that tell of another world. This is particularly appealing because it emphasizes the body on the one hand, but also alienates it and places it in an artistic context.
Black light in use in the Georgskapelle
In addition to working in the Brähler photo studio, I also have a special relationship with historical spaces – especially the Georgskapelle in the Old Cemetery in Bonn. This chapel is a place full of history, silence and sacred dignity. When I use black light in this room, a contrast arises that fascinates me again and again: the old walls, which breathe their centuries even in dim light, and the modern, fluorescent effects on the bodies of the models. This contrast between history and futuristic-looking light creates a visual language that has something unreal, almost sacred – as if ghosts of times past were meeting creatures from a future yet unknown.
Working with uranium glass, which glows mysteriously under UV light, adds another dimension. A simple glass, which you put in the hands of the model or in the background, begins to glow like an artifact from a forgotten epoch. Together with the UV contact lenses and the body painting, the result is an overall picture that is no longer just photography, but staging, narration, almost a play of light.
What excites me so much about this work is its versatility. In the Brähler photo studio in Wuppertal I have complete control: I can play precisely with shadows, angles and colors, vary the intensity of the black light and build up the effects piece by piece. In the chapel, on the other hand, I am more open to the space. There, the shadows are deeper, the contours rougher, and the black light unfolds differently because it interacts with the architecture. This creates images that not only showcase models, but also the aura of the place itself.
Black light transforms models into demons
For me, black light is a tool of transformation. It transforms young men into cool vampires, lustful demons, or hot-blooded werewolves, making them appear strong, vulnerable, sensual, and strange at the same time. It invites the viewer to embark on a journey into unknown spheres.
In the end, it’s not about using effects for the sake of effects. Rather, I want to use black light to create atmospheres that evoke emotions – fascination, amazement, perhaps even a little unease. Because it is precisely in this mixture that the power of photography lies for me: it should not only please, but also challenge, ask questions and stimulate the imagination.
Black light is my favorite tool for this – mysterious, magical and always a little unpredictable.
