Here's what couples look like when they sleep — in surreal time-lapse photos

Wednesday 26 October 2016 13:59 EDT

(Gallery Johannes Faber)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Paul Maria Schneggenburger has always been fascinated with sleep."It’s an unconscious state of mind where scientists still haven’t really figured out yet what’s going on," he says.

Early in his career, Schneggenburger would take pictures of sleeping people where ever he saw them: "On the park bench, trains, at the party."

In 2010, he had the idea to take six-hour exposures of sleepers: first himself and then couples, families, and anyone else he could convince to come into his Vienna studio. Shot on black sheets in a dimly lit room, the images are intimate and surreal.

"The Sleep of the Beloved" is an ongoing series. Schneggenburger invites anyone who is interested to contact him about recording their own sleep.

Check out a selection below.

"The Sleep of the Beloved I"