METAL Magazine

Sep 2025

METAL Magazine presents The Peel, an editorial photography project that explores the interplay between organic textures and human anatomy. Photographer Yulia Plakhotnikova captures a series of intimate portraits, utilising raw, minimalist compositions to examine the relationship between skin and surface. The series features a recurring aesthetic of bleached tones and sculptural styling, with subjects adorned in pressed flowers, textured makeup, and intricate illustrative tattoos. Through the use of soft, diffused light and precise macro framing, the work draws attention to tactile details, creating a surreal and visceral visual narrative. Techniques such as prism lens distortion and low-key chiaroscuro lighting are employed throughout to shift between abstract and observational portraiture.

Editorial, Vertical, Raw

Soft Light

Magazines

Editorial