by Yvette Depaepe
Published the 28th of February 2025 

Let's start with a quote from ~Richard Dawkins~ 
'Mysteries do not lose their poetry when solved. Quite the contrary; the solution often turns out more beautiful than the puzzle and, in any case, when you have solved one mystery you uncover others, perhaps to inspire greater poetry.'

'The cage' by Marc Apers

Mystery in photography is an intriguing concept that invites the viewer to explore the unknown and engage with the image in a deeper way. It’s about leaving space for imagination and often presents a sense of suspense, ambiguity, or curiosity.

How can we evoke mystery in our photographs?

OBSCURED SUBJECTS OR HIDDEN FACES
Photographs where a subject is partially hidden or their face is obscured can evoke a sense of intrigue. The viewer is left wondering about their identity, their emotions, or what might happen next. For example, a person standing with their back to the camera or a figure blurred by a mist can create a sense of distance, prompting questions about who they are or why they are there.

'The widow' by kenp

'My Love' by Dasha_and_Mari

'Night Road' by Patrick Foto

'Fly to you 2' by Terry F

UNUSUAL LIGHTING
Light plays a significant role in creating mystery. Photographers often use harsh shadows or soft, diffused light to obscure parts of the scene. A beam of light cutting through a dark space or partial illumination creates focus, but leaves the rest of the image in the dark, inviting the viewer to explore what might lie beyond what’s visible.

'Elves Woods' by Kirill Volkov

'Day blush' by Yvette Depaepe

'Last Light of Autumn' by Paolo Lazzarotti

'Angel' by Alex Saberi

DREAMLIKE OR SURREAL ELEMENTS
Surrealism often overlaps with mystery in photography. A dreamlike quality can be achieved through techniques like double exposure, motion blur, or unusual color grading. This makes the scene feel disconnected from reality, leaving room for multiple interpretations or feelings of confusion and curiosity.

'Irresistible' by José Ignacio Gil Blanco

'Learn to fly' by Pink Sword

'Full Moon Mystery' by Hosam.Karara

'lost in the forest of sciccors' by Hari Suiistiawan

REFLECTIONS AND MIRRORS
Mirrors or reflective surfaces can introduce a mysterious element to a photo. A reflection might show a different angle or reveal something unexpected, creating a visual puzzle for the viewer to solve. It’s a way of layering information within a single frame and encouraging curiosity about what is real and what is reflected. 

'Shattered Reflection' by Ruslan Bolgov

'Altar' by Luc Vangindertael (laGrange)

'Mirror, mirror ….' by Els Baltjes

'snapshots of my thoughts' by larazanarini

BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY
Stripping away color can heighten contrast, reduce distractions, and add a timeless or melancholic tone that encourages the viewer to look deeper into the details of the composition. 

'Let's find some place to get lost …' by Yvette Depaepe

'Hopefulness' by Marc Huybrighs

'Woman passing by...' by Teruhiko Tsuchida

'Birds' by Jacqueline van Bijnen

UNFINISHED STORIES
Mystery can also be conveyed by leaving the narrative incomplete. A photo that captures a single moment in a larger story can encourage the viewer to imagine what led up to that moment and what might happen next. This can be achieved by showing just part of a scene or including only fragments of a larger event.

by Teruhiko Tsuchida

Untitled by Jay Satriani

'Unfinished symfony' by Ben Goossens

'Unfinished Talks' by Leszek Paradowski

UNUSUAL ANGLES AND PERSPECTIVES
Shooting from unexpected angles or viewpoints—like from above, through a window, or at an oblique angle—creates a sense of disorientation or mystery. These perspectives often make familiar scenes look unfamiliar and encourage the viewer to engage more deeply with the composition. 

'Winter' by Jure Kravanja

Untitled by Nicolas Schumacher

'Beehive Buildings' by Jesús M. Garcia

'sun salutation' by Christine Frick

SOFT FOCUS OR BLURRED MOTION
By intentionally blurring parts of the image or creating motion blur, photographers can obscure details and create a sense of mystery. The lack of clarity makes the viewer focus on the emotions or the atmosphere of the scene rather than the literal details.

'It starts to rain' by Teruhiko Tsuchida

'Mystery of Venice' by Wael Onsy

'on the way home' by Roswitha Schleicher-Schwarz