Anyone who has suffered from sleep-paralysis will know that it’s a terrifying experience. For those of you who haven’t heard of this bizarre phenomenon, it’s basically a temporary inability to move or speak that occurs when you’re waking up or falling asleep.
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This temporary paralysis is often teamed up with haunting visions or sounds. Some may also feel pressure or a sense of choking. Conceptual photographer Nicolas Bruno has suffered from this horrifying condition since he was 15 and in order to confront his visions and feelings of fear, he discovered that converting his sleep paralysis into photoshoots provides a powerful therapeutic outlet. Even if you’ve never experienced sleep paralysis yourself, this photo series is an impactful insight into the bone chilling hallucinations that are seen by people who do:
Bruno says he created this haunting yet beautiful photo set by jotting down notes about his visions and referencing them by using, “numerous strange props to convey conceptual meaning and mystery.” The result is this series of otherworldly images that Bruno says are “a bittersweet homage” to his nightmarish visions.
For more on sleep paralysis, check out this truly disturbing documentary. Scarier than any horror movie.
