Note: Contains nudity.

The work of German photographer Elena Helfrecht is like emotional alchemy, combining dark symbols to unearth visions of beauty and despair. Inspired by the folklore and forest landscapes of Bavaria, her photos often include sylvan imagery, the moon, nude bodies, shadowed rooms, and the co-relation between life and death, dreams and awakening. Her breathtaking portfolio explores various themes, such as femininity and masculinity, as well fables and nightmares. Whether it’s a dead bird in a nocturnal embrace, or a hornet on a salivating tongue, Helfrect translates the intangible human experiences of fear, desire, and grief into portraits of awareness and self-reflection.

Images © Elena Helfrecht