“It’s like I was searching for a freedom that cannot be described in words; and that’s a path I believe we’re all on in some way or form.”
A Lifelong Journey into Art and Expression
Christy Lee Rogers (Instagram) grew up surrounded by the endless horizons and vibrant natural beauty of Hawaii. Her earliest encounters with photography were simple yet profound—using disposable cameras to capture fleeting moments. However, it was at sixteen, when she became the subject of her high school boyfriend’s photography, that her passion truly ignited. Watching him develop film in a makeshift darkroom sparked a deep fascination, and when he gifted her a second-hand Nikon 35mm camera, her creative journey took a decisive turn. That same year, she enrolled in a high school photography class, an experience she found electrifying. While she had always sought solace in the arts—whether through acting, filmmaking, painting, or poetry—photography introduced her to a new kind of magic, one she couldn’t yet fully define.
Over the next fifteen years, Rogers honed her craft in solitude. She shot countless images, yet dissatisfaction often led her to discard negatives and tuck away prints. The latter half of that period became an obsessive exploration of water’s artistic potential. Eschewing traditional photographic tools like light meters and professional lighting, she relied solely on instinct. Her experiments were relentless, seeking an elusive element that hadn’t yet revealed itself. Then, in 2008, after years of trial and error, she achieved a breakthrough. The collection Siren was her first fully realized underwater series, and it marked the beginning of a signature style that would define her artistic voice.
Water had always been an integral part of her life, but it wasn’t until she moved to Los Angeles that she recognized its profound influence on her imagination. She found herself longing for the ocean’s embrace, dreaming of rainstorms, and yearning for the soothing presence of the sea. Her first underwater photoshoot in Los Angeles was unconventional—at a time when submerging models was not a common practice in photography. Yet, that experience was transformative. It solidified her obsession with water as both a medium and a muse, setting her on a path of relentless experimentation that would shape her distinctive approach.
Christy Lee Rogers: The Pursuit of Freedom Through Photography
For Rogers, art is more than an aesthetic pursuit—it is a quest to understand humanity in all its complexities. She seeks to capture the raw contradictions of existence: its beauty and chaos, love and loss, vulnerability and strength. Photography became her means of exploring these themes, providing a visual language for the ineffable. Her images offer glimpses into a world that hovers between reality and mystery, where light and motion dissolve the familiar. Through her work, she searches for a form of freedom that defies verbal explanation—an experience she believes is universal, yet deeply personal.
Although she began taking photographs in her teenage years, she waited until her thirties to share her work publicly. The delay was not due to hesitation but rather an internal process of refinement and self-discovery. She needed time to develop a language that resonated with her vision. When she finally released her art to the world, it was met with intrigue and admiration. Her ethereal, submerged figures—reminiscent of Baroque paintings—captivated audiences, drawing comparisons to the chiaroscuro techniques of the old masters.
Her photographic approach is unconventional, challenging both technical and physical limits. Water introduces an unpredictable element, bending light in ways that defy traditional photography. By working at night, she amplifies the drama of shadows and highlights, intensifying the sense of movement and emotion. Her subjects, immersed in water, experience a paradoxical state—weightless and free, yet struggling against breathlessness and disorientation. This duality mirrors the human experience, embodying both serenity and struggle within a single frame.
The Creative Process: Crafting Worlds Beyond Reality
Rogers’ artistic process thrives on fluidity and intuition. She embraces an organic approach, allowing spontaneity to guide her vision. For her, a rigid, structured environment stifles creativity. She prefers working with a minimal crew, ensuring that the atmosphere remains immersive and undisturbed. Distractions are the enemy of her process, which requires complete mental and emotional presence. To achieve the dreamlike quality of her work, she must enter an almost meditative state—one where reality dissolves and imagination takes the lead.
Music and cinema are powerful catalysts for her creativity. The visual storytelling of Baz Luhrmann, the surreal worlds of Fellini, and the cinematic mastery of James Cameron deeply influence her artistic sensibilities. She finds inspiration in the grandeur of nature, the complexity of human emotions, and the boundless possibilities of science and technology. From classical painters like Rubens to avant-garde designers like Iris Van Herpen, her influences span centuries and disciplines. This eclectic mix fuels her desire to create imagery that transcends time, bridging historical artistry with contemporary innovation.
Among her most cherished works is Muses of Avatar, a commissioned series inspired by Avatar: The Way of Water. Created for James Cameron and Disney, the project challenged her to push beyond her comfort zone. It was particularly meaningful given her deep admiration for Avatar, a film that embodies the same themes of fluidity, transformation, and interconnectedness that she explores in her photography. This collaboration not only reinforced her artistic vision but also validated the path she had forged—one where water, light, and movement converge to tell stories beyond the limits of reality.
Christy Lee Rogers: A Vision for the Future
Water has long been the foundation of Rogers’ artistic exploration, but it is not the only medium she has embraced. In addition to photography, she has ventured into painting, drawing, music, and writing. Though she has yet to publicly release these works, the act of creation in different forms fuels her imagination and expands her artistic vocabulary. Each medium offers a new way to interpret the world, providing fresh perspectives that feed back into her visual storytelling.
Her dream projects are as ambitious as her art. She envisions taking her underwater photography to the next level—by shooting in actual outer space or a simulated zero-gravity environment. The idea of capturing weightlessness beyond Earth’s atmosphere aligns seamlessly with the ethereal qualities of her work. Space, like water, represents both freedom and isolation, a duality that continues to fascinate her. The prospect of blending these elements excites her, offering endless creative possibilities.
Another passion project is a sci-fi novel she has been writing—an immersive, otherworldly narrative that allows her to explore new dimensions of storytelling. She dreams of one day publishing it and adapting it into a film. This endeavor represents a natural evolution of her artistic journey, expanding her ability to craft evocative, visually rich narratives beyond the confines of still photography. Whether through images, words, or new experimental mediums, Rogers remains committed to pushing boundaries and creating work that transcends the ordinary, inviting viewers into worlds of wonder, movement, and emotion.
