About Me

Hi! My name is Irene. I’m a writer and photographer based in Nanaimo, B.C. Born and raised in a small town in Austria, I’ve called the west coast of British Columbia home since 1996. I hold a BA (2009) and MA (2013) from the University of Victoria, focusing on English and Germanic Studies. My MA studies, in particular, have influenced my artistic vision with their focus on German Romanticism and early Expressionist cinema.  I wrote my thesis on Romanticism (Ludwig Tieck's "Der Runenberg"), Expressionism (Murnau's Nosferatu), and vampires and I think that gives a bit of insight into the naming of this website and my approach to photography. 

As a self-taught photographer, I have experimented with many types of photography, but I’ve culled my interest to landscape, portrait, and fine art photography, often blending the three to create ethereal, dark images. Digital photography allows me to shape images that transcend reality and help me to portray what I see as uncanny encounters with the Sublime. I draw inspiration from fairy tales, literature, folklore, and the landscape of Vancouver Island. The stories that inspire me most are stories about painful transitions, liminal spaces, and the cost of knowing too much. My artistic influences include F.W Murnau, Caspar David Friedrich, Franz von Stück, Brooke Shaden, Tim Burton, and Abigail Larson.

I’m a member of the Harbour City Photography Club and the Nanaimo Writers Group. When I’m not creating, I like to fill my head with stories and images and can be found reading a wide range of books, watching endless hours of television and movies, indulging in video games, or wandering around the many parks in Nanaimo to admire trees and rocks.

Harbour City Photography Club Photo Salon has honoured me with a CAPA bronze medal for my portrait “Red Riding Hood” (Portrait Category, 2018) and an Honourable Mention for “Fragmented” (Digital Art Category, 2019).
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All pictures (unless otherwise stated) on this website are taken by me and as such they are my creative property.  If you'd like to use them or are interested in purchasing a print, please contact me through e-mail or the below form.

The portrait of me was taken by Amanda Smith from Giant Black Albatross.Harbour City Photography Club Photo Salon has honoured me with a CAPA bronze medal for my portrait “Red Riding Hood” (Portrait Category, 2018) and an Honourable Mention for “Fragmented” (Digital Art Category, 2019).

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