In today’s post, I want to share with you my dark fantasy photography project—or, as I like to define my style, a dark reverie photography.

At the end of last October, I spent a few days in Madrid, as I always do when I get the chance, both to work on new projects in the capital and to enjoy time with my loved ones. On this occasion, I was contacted by Natalia López (IG: Natalia López), , who told me she loved my photography style and asked if we could create something together. Naturally, I had no hesitation in saying yes. We were also fortunate to have the collaboration of the incredibly talented makeup artist María Calleja (IG: María Calleja), who did an amazing job. From the start, she immediately understood our vision and brought a fresh perspective to the concept, adding her own personal touch while staying true to the references we had gathered.

Like any creative or artist, I always seek inspiration—something that triggers the development of a final idea. In this case, Natalia was certain she wanted a fantasy-themed project, so we started with the costume. If you’re familiar with my work, you know I tend to lean toward a tenebrist aesthetic in my photography, and this project was no exception. As I searched for visual references, I came across images of moths and butterflies—delicate yet powerful creatures that instantly captivated me. And just like that, I knew exactly where I wanted to take this session. One image, in particular, stayed in my mind, refusing to let me rest until I brought it to life (it’s the left image in the opening diptych).

The entire concept of The Moth Queen revolves around the theme of rebirth, the pursuit of light that makes us shine, and the question: why do humans chase the idea of goodness the way moths chase light? However, the way we perceive light today is superficial—it is mere appearance. We often skip the most crucial step in reaching it: embracing our darkness and acknowledging the entirety of our existence. It is easier to pretend to live blinded by the light than to seek our own path through the darkness. Yet, if we never dare to take that path, we will always walk blind, guided by those who seek to control our thoughts and our being for their own gain. This is why I played with darkness in contrast to Natalia’s sweet expression and, for the most part, posed her with her eyes closed.

For the session, we had an entire morning to work, and the location couldn’t have been more fitting (despite some minor restoration inconveniences). The shoot took place in the Jardines del Campo del Moro, a stunning garden adjacent to the Royal Palace of Madrid, with access from Príncipe Pío. It’s a magical green space with charming, fairytale-like structures, such as theCork Cottage (which, unfortunately, was under restoration, preventing us from using it as a backdrop) and the Queen’s Chalet. Whether for photography or simply to escape the urban energy of Madrid, it’s a truly enchanting place to visit.

However, the most rewarding part—beyond the incredible teamwork that brought this project to life—was the news that our final images had been published in Edith Magazine, a Canadian fashion and fantasy magazine based in Ontario. You can grab a copy of the issue featuring The Moth Queen at the following link: December 2022 Issue #758. By doing so, you’ll also have the chance to discover talented photographers from around the world.

Thank you for reading this far! I’ll see you soon in the next post.

With love,

A.

P.S. To wrap things up, I’m also sharing a behind-the-scenes video from that day, which you can find on my YouTube channel 🎥✨