Some places tell stories of their own. Abandoned buildings, rooms filled with traces of the past, and an atmosphere that would be almost impossible to recreate artificially. For photographers, such locations can be a remarkable source of inspiration.

"Sound of Seduction I" was created in one of these lost places. Together with my former private photography group, the "Lichtfänger" (Light Catchers), and our model Josephin, we set out to explore unusual subjects, fascinating lighting conditions, and new photographic ideas.

Exploring with the Light Catchers

Our group photoshoots always had a special character. Of course, we wanted to create interesting photographs, but enjoying the creative process was just as important.

We experimented, developed new concepts, and explored unusual lighting techniques. Sometimes the focus was on a particular subject, sometimes on a distinctive approach to lighting. What mattered was our desire to try something beyond the ordinary.

The abandoned location we had chosen for this shoot offered ideal conditions. One room seemed more interesting than the next, with fascinating backgrounds, textures, and countless possibilities for photographic compositions.

Between Decay and Elegance

For the "Sound of Seduction" series, we chose a concept that might seem unusual at first: a model, a double bass, and the raw surroundings of an abandoned building.

Josephin's sensual presence was intended to be the central element. Not provocative or overly explicit, but subtle, artistic, and memorable.

The double bass became the defining visual element. Its curved shape, warm wood, and impressive size created an intriguing contrast with the elegant silhouette of the model.

Behind them stretched a room whose damaged windows, graffiti, and visible signs of decay contributed an atmosphere of their own.

It was precisely these contrasts that fascinated me: sensuality and transience, elegance and decay, soft shapes against a rough and weathered backdrop.

Available Light or Flash?

During this photoshoot, we worked with both available light and flash photography. However, I can no longer say with certainty which technique we used for the photographs in the "Sound of Seduction" series.

Even looking back at the original RAW files provides no definitive answer. The exposure settings are compatible with either approach.

We also used our flashes in a completely traditional way, without TTL metering or similar automatic systems. Old-school photography, you might say.

But perhaps this technical uncertainty is not particularly important. What remains from that day is not a record of camera settings, but the photographs themselves and the memories of a wonderfully creative experience.

One Photograph, Two Original Interpretations

I originally published this photograph in two versions: one in colour and the other as a monochrome interpretation.

Both have their own distinctive character. While the monochrome version emphasises shapes, contrasts, and the graphic quality of the scene, the colour photograph brings out the warm tones of the room and the wood of the double bass.

For the later Painterly interpretation, I deliberately chose the colour version. It provided the ideal foundation for an artistic transformation in which light, colour, and the distinctive atmosphere of the location could play an even greater role.

When Decay Becomes Painting

For the Painterly interpretation of "Sound of Seduction I", I wanted to preserve the distinctive atmosphere of the original photograph while placing greater emphasis on its painterly potential.

The colour photograph offered an ideal starting point. The warm brown and ochre tones of the walls, the dark wood of the double bass, and the bright window light already created an almost painterly palette in the original image.

These qualities become even more pronounced in the artistic interpretation.

Between Impressionism and Post-Impressionism

Stylistically, the interpretation draws on an expressive form of Post-Impressionism, complemented by Impressionist influences.

Contours become softer, surfaces partially dissolve into painterly textures, and colours take on a stronger expressive role.

This is particularly noticeable in the walls, windows, and floor of the abandoned room. Where the photograph still reveals individual marks of damage, graffiti, and scattered debris, the Painterly version develops a more unified composition of colour, light, and texture.

The double bass remains an important visual anchor. Its curved shape and warm wooden tones connect the model with the painterly surroundings.

In this way, the original lost-place photograph evolves into an image that feels less documentary and more atmospheric.

The Sensuality of a Moment

Despite the transformation in visual language, the original concept behind "Sound of Seduction I" remains intact.

The model's sensual presence, her connection with the instrument, and the intriguing contrast with the abandoned surroundings continue to define the image.

For me, this is one of the most fascinating possibilities of my Painterly work: a photograph does not have to lose its original meaning to gain a new artistic form of expression.

Sometimes, it is enough to emphasise certain qualities while allowing others to recede into the background.

A photographic moment can then become a new interpretation with an atmosphere of its own, while remaining closely connected to the original.

An Image That Preserves Memories

When I look at "Sound of Seduction I" today, I see more than a model with a double bass in an abandoned room.

I also remember the photoshoots with the Light Catchers. The joy of experimenting, the unusual locations, and the many ideas we brought to life together.

These are the memories that make photographs particularly valuable to me.

The Painterly interpretation adds another layer to that story. It transforms the original scene into a painterly visual world without erasing its photographic origins or the memories of its creation.

And that makes "Sound of Seduction I" another example of what Behind the Art is all about: the stories, thoughts, and experiences behind my images – and the possibilities of taking those images further through artistic interpretation.

Discover "Sound of Seduction I" as Wall Art

The Painterly interpretation of "Sound of Seduction I" is also available as Wall Art. If you would like to explore this distinctive combination of sensuality, music, and the raw atmosphere of an abandoned place in its painterly form, you can find the artwork in my PICTRS Art Shop.

Discover more stories behind my photographs and their artistic interpretations in my Behind the Art project.

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