A woman with makeup and dark hair reading a newspaper titled 'DER STANDARD' outdoors.

Photography / Series

Caithy’s World

A drag queen’s journey

In a world filled with dazzling performances and extravagant costumes, it's easy to get caught up in the glitz and glamour of drag queens. But there is so much more to these incredible individuals than meets the eye.

Where words fail, eyes speak.

Our series received the People's Vote Award and an Honorable Mention at the reFocus Awards. What stays with me is the courage behind these images: the choice to be seen as yourself, with all the strength and vulnerability that brings.

A woman with dark hair and bangs poses with a large, fluffy white feathered costume in a black and white photograph.

The art of transformation

I watch René become Caithy. Makeup, costume, concentration: so much care before the performance even begins. Photographing that transformation means paying attention to the person as much as the character.

A woman with dark, straight hair and bangs, gazing through white feathers that partially cover her face and eye.

Backstage is where the magic happens

With Caithy and the performers at Drag Show Wien, I see the work before the applause. The concentration, trust and small gestures behind the curtain are part of the story too.

Close-up black & white photo of a woman with dark straight hair and bold eye makeup, partially hidden behind fluffy white feathers.

Art speaks where words are unable to explain.

I want these images to make room for a closer look. Beyond appearance, beyond the easy label. There is a person here. A story. Perhaps something of ourselves, if we stay long enough to notice.