These images are made primarily in-camera, not through heavy post-production. Based on interviews and summaries of her process, Christy Lee Rogers photographs subjects underwater, often in swimming pools at night, using bright off-camera lighting.

The signature look comes from light refraction and movement in water. Because light bends differently when passing between air and water, bodies immersed at different depths appear distorted, layered, and fluid. Combined with motion in the water and carefully placed lighting, this creates the dramatic, painterly effect.

In short, the key ingredients are:

• subjects submerged underwater
• shooting at night or in controlled dark conditions
• strong off-camera lights
• using natural refraction, movement, and varying water depth
• capturing the effect in-camera rather than relying on digital manipulation

So the surreal appearance is largely a result of underwater physics, lighting, and timing rather than a special post-processing trick.