Powerful Waves Crashing With the Force of Mythical Gods and Sea Creatures

Rachael Talibart - Wave Photography

“Sedna”

With her series Sirens, Rachael Talibart continues to elevate wave photography to an artform. Working with high shutter speeds, the English photographer freezes water in time, immortalizing each powerful drop. Her passion for stormy weather was shaped by her childhood on the south coast of England, and her sensitivity in capturing waves has made her a premier outdoor photographer.

Ongoing since 2016, Sirens sees Talibart photographing waves at just the right moment. Each frame is titled after a mythical sea creature or Norse or Greek god. In Loki, an alien face appears in the waves, bringing the Norse god crashing down on the viewer. While at other times, the form of the wave itself recalls the god after which it's named (e.g. Medusa).

As a constant source of inspiration, the ocean continues to push Talibart in her photography. “For me, the ocean will always be a potent source of inspiration,” Talibart shares. “It makes small, unimportant things of us all yet, at the same time, it is exhilarating and profoundly life-affirming.”

Talibart will bring her Sirens series to the Brighton Photography Gallery for a solo exhibition opening in September 2018. Her book Sirens is also available for purchase via her website.

British photographer Rachael Talibart is known for her powerful photographs of waves.

Rachael Talibart - Wave Photography

“Goliath” Giant warrior (Hebrew)

Rachael Talibart - Wave Photography

“Mishipeshu Roars” Underwater panther (Native American)

Rachael Talibart - Wave Photography

“Pounce”

Wave Photography by Rachael Talibart

“Nyx” Goddess of the night (Greek)

Rachael Talibart - Wave Photography

“Sea nymph”

Wave Photography by Rachael Talibart

“Niobe”

Wave Photography by Rachael Talibart

“Nonook” King of bears (Inuit)

Photo of a wave by Rachael Talibart

“Loki” Trickster god (Norse)

Rachael Talibart - Wave Photography

“Maelstrom”

Wave Photography by Rachael Talibart

“Medusa” Snake-haired Gorgon (Greek)

Rachael Talibart - Wave Photography

“Poseidon Rising” God of the Sea (Greek)

In her series Sirens, each wave is titled after a mythical sea creature or mythological god.

Wave Photography by Rachael Talibart

“Oceanus” Titan Lord of the Sea

Rachael Talibart - Wave Photography

“Raptor”

Photo of a wave by Rachael Talibart

“Leviathan”

Photo of a wave by Rachael Talibart

“Ligeia” Derived from Greek λιγυς (ligys) meaning “clear-voiced, shrill, whistling”. This was the name of one of the Sirens in Greek legend. It was also used by Edgar Allan Poe in his story ‘Ligeia' (1838).

Rachael Talibart - Wave Photography

“Anapos” Water god (Greek)

Photo of a wave by Rachael Talibart

“Ceto” Primordial sea goddess (Greek)

Rachael Talibart - Wave Photography

“Kraken” Giant sea monster (Norse)

Rachael Talibart: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to use images by Rachael Talibart.

Related Articles:

Stunning Photos of Surging Ocean Waves Frozen in Time

Endlessly Mesmerizing Wave Cinemagraphs Bring the Powerful Ocean to Life

Photographer Spends Hours in the Ocean Capturing the Different “Moods” of Waves

The Powerful Force of the Ocean Captured Inside Crashing Waves

Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart is a Staff Editor and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. Since 2020, she is also one of the co-hosts of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. She earned her MA in Renaissance Studies from University College London and now lives in Rome, Italy. She cultivated expertise in street art which led to the purchase of her photographic archive by the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia in 2014. When she’s not spending time with her three dogs, she also manages the studio of a successful street artist. In 2013, she authored the book "Street Art Stories Roma" and most recently contributed to "Crossroads: A Glimpse Into the Life of Alice Pasquini." You can follow her adventures online at @romephotoblog.
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