German photographer Paul Schneggenburger captures the unconscious dynamics between couples in their sleep. In this haunting, yet beautiful, photo series titled “The Sleep of the Beloved”, Schneggenburger takes a single long exposure photograph of sleeping couples. This occurs in a bedroom in his apartment from midnight to six the next morning. Couples are asked to lie on dark sheets and are lit by the glow of candlelight in the room.  

Taking long-exposure photographs acts as a recording of images that are merged into one. This resulted in a shots of two intertwined white bodies connected through blurred lines and faint shadows. Jolting, writhing and sweeping movements are captured by the photograph, which add to the visual merging of bodies. They lay unconscious and separate on the dark sheets, but the photos see them as one breathing organism, bridging the gap between two different dreamscapes. As they slumber, the couples unconsciously express their secret desires towards one another through a speechless conversation that Schneggenburger explores in this complex,raw series.

Learn more about the artist and his concept for the series here ! 

Images from Paul Schneggenburger via demilked