Striking ultraviolet portraits reveal skin imperfections invisible to human eye

These striking “ultraviolet portraits” reveal the imperfections of people’s skin that are invisible to the human eye.

The series of images — titled “RAW” — shows 20 different faces combined with close-up details from the model’s body.

Shot with special camera equipment, the pictures show the marks and spots on the skin that are caused by UV light.

“Each model offers the viewer an intimate view of his own being, which he cannot even perceive by himself,” photographer Pierre-Louis Ferrer, 31, said.

“This relationship of intimacy and trust is the opposite of our society where selfies and social networks project an idyllic vision of our lives.”

Ferrer added that he is “fascinated by the possibility to see beyond the visible.”

“I wanted to build a portrait series in UV to offer a more sensitive way to see people,” he said.

Ultraviolet light is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum with a wavelength below around 380 nanometers.

The human eye can generally detect “visible light” between wavelengths of 380 and 700 nanometers.

UV radiation can cause surface damage to the skin, resulting in freckles and sun spots.

But special camera sensors can detect UV light that would otherwise be invisible to humans and reveal the skin imperfections it causes.

“This series illustrates the raw and natural character of the human being, revealed by the technique of ultraviolet photography,” Ferrer, a former optical engineer, said.