Loretta Lux is a surrealist photographer / painter / graphic artist. I consider her the best at what she does, even if I can’t quite explain what it is she does.

Sure, the technical aspects are easy enough to understand, generally. Lux photographs children, for the most part, with carefully controlled studio lighting to wash out shadows. With her computer, she then digitally replaces the background with her own specially selected paintings and/or photographs. Further digital manipulations may include the addition or removal of props, and color alterations.

Beyond that, Lux works magic. Her favorite subjects are children, especially when they are young enough to still have that weird prepubescent out-of-proportion look, digitally warped further by Lux after the photo shoots. Their expressions are blank, into which you might read deep emotion or a total emotional void. Their poses are often just a wee too posed – quite intentionally – evocative of many Old Master portraits.

The hairstyles and wardrobes are chosen to elicit memories of times past; I keep thinking Rockwell or Wyeth. The settings and lighting – especially the frequent removal of perspectives and shadows – draws you into a dream world sometimes bordering on nightmare.

Indeed, some of these portraits are decidedly creepy. Like “Village of the Damned” meets “Eraserhead” creepy.

Check out the samples below, or go straight to the official Loretta Lux website to feast on dozens more.

The Drummer	Sasha and Ruby 3
Boy in a Blue Raincoat 1	Dorothea

Hodgepodge Grumblebeak

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