# Deceptive Ballet Photography This Swan Lake Photo Appears to Have its Subjects Floating on Water By Cadhla Gray | Published 2015-08-22 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/swan-lake-photo References: [petapixel](http://petapixel.com/2015/08/19/shooting-a-swan-lake-photo-with-wet-plate-collodion-photography/) & [alextimmermans](http://www.alextimmermans.com/portfolio/story-telling/) This striking Swan Lake photo reminisces on the stunning ballet classic, beautifully capturing the [power of dance](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pointe-hyper-royal) and nature combined. Alex Timmermans shot this for his 'Story Telling' project, a series of highly contrasted [surreal images](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/optical-flow). The photo was shot using a [wet plate collodion process](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nonnas-cam) which was introduced in the 1850s and gives a more dramatic, antique aesthetic quality to the photos. The shallow pond this was shot in allowed for platforms to sit under the ballerina and the swan, while the cloudy weather helped with achieving the right exposure to bring out the bold white colors. Though it would add to the magic of the Swan Lake photo, the swan is in fact fake, as a real one would have been more than just camera shy. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.7/10 - Popularity: 76% | Activity: 88% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Photography](https://www.trendhunter.com/photography) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Antique Aesthetic Photography:** Utilizing antique photography techniques to capture artistic images. - **Surreal Storytelling Photography:** Creating highly contrasted images to convey surreal stories. - **Deceptive Visual Art:** Using visual art to create illusions and trick the viewer. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Photography:** Incorporating antique photography techniques to create unique and visually pleasing images for various industries. - **Fine Arts:** Exploring surreal storytelling through photography and other visual mediums to create captivating artwork. - **Advertising:** Using deceptive visual art in advertisements to draw attention and create memorable campaigns. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Ballet-Inspired Split-Toe Footwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/air-rift-black-swan.md) - [Luxury Swan Art Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/porsche-swan-art-car.md) - [Ballet-Inspired Altheticwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/en-pointe-collection.md) - [Gracefully Dynamic Skyscrapers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bond-tower.md) - [Balletcore Collaborative Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gelkinetic-fluent-1.md) - [Reflective Public Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flowers-and-butterflies-are-dancing.md) - [Whimsical Feminine Runway Shows](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wild-rose-sparrow.md) - [Painting-Immersive Photo Exhibits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-ground-exhibition.md) - [AR Cultural Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dansez-versailles.md)