Behind the Scenes of the Bestiary Project: The Mermaid The Bioluminescent Mermaid
In Nocturnia’s Bestiary project, each mythical creature we bring to life is a blend of art, narrative, and teamwork. Today, I’d like to share the story behind one of the most enigmatic characters in this series: our take on a mermaid. This photoshoot, as captivating as it was challenging, was a collaboration where every detail told a unique story about the duality of beauty and rawness in this legendary sea creature.
In our bestiary, the mermaid is not the classic figure of flawless, seductive beauty; she represents a different, bolder aesthetic one that is wild and untamed. Inspired by ancient legends, we set out to create a mermaid whose beauty was more extravagant and primitive, as if she were a creature from the depths, evolved in the darkest and most extreme conditions. Instead of a polished face and figure, we wanted to highlight a charm found only in the unusual and the raw. This included harsh elements, vivid colors, and a hint of mystery that suggested both attraction and danger.
The Creative Process with the Team
To bring this vision to life, the team worked together on every step of the project. During planning, we discussed ideas on how to portray the mermaid as “almost human” yet unusually extravagant. Working closely with our stylist and makeup artist, we experimented with metallic tones and textures that evoked scales and underwater reflections. Shadows in the makeup and sharp accessories gave her a haunting, almost unsettling allure that added depth and a backstory to the character.
On set, we carefully played with light and shadow to capture that duality of beauty and rawness. We used a deep blue filter to emulate the dim light of the ocean depths, which bathed the scene and wrapped the mermaid in a dark, mysterious atmosphere. The model embraced her role wonderfully, creating movements and expressions that transported us to the depths of the sea, where this creature could be both alluring and dangerous.
The Magic of the Final Result
The end result was an image that captures the essence of this unique take on the mermaid. She’s not just a beautiful figure; she’s a creature with a story to tell a story of beauty found in the extravagant and the unconventional. Every detail, from makeup to lighting to the model’s pose, presents a mermaid who could be both a dream and a nightmare.
This mermaid photoshoot for the Bestiary reminds us that beauty is not always polished and perfect. Sometimes, it’s in the strange and raw where true magic resides, and at Nocturnia, that’s exactly where we want to explore and reveal the wonder lying in the unknown.
and a backstory to the character.
On set, we carefully played with light and shadow to capture that duality of beauty and rawness. We used a deep blue filter to emulate the dim light of the ocean depths, which bathed the scene and wrapped the mermaid in a dark, mysterious atmosphere. The model embraced her role wonderfully, creating movements and expressions that transported us to the depths of the sea, where this creature could be both alluring and dangerous.
Stay tuned...
The final results of this shoot will be published very soon! In the meantime, you can read the following post to discover the behind the scenes of ‘The Angel’ or other post from our WebBlog.
