Volkswagen Arteon re-imagined by award-winning photographer

Unveiled  at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, Sonders, an early adopter of all-digital photography, worked with models Shelby Bay and Krislian Rodriguez, along with a Phase One XF IQ3 100 megapixel medium format camera to craft a dramatic set of images with the Arteon as a key ingredient.

Sonders has been shooting fashion, celebrity and automotive scenes for editorial and advertising clients for nearly two decades, and his work has been showcased on dozens of magazine covers and numerous video campaigns.

His production company also specialises in augmented and virtual reality applications, using his expertise to construct images that blend the real world with the digital one. The Arteon project is the first time his work has been displayed in a museum gallery format.

"It's important to capture a car's essence," says Sonders. "I develop an emotional attachment to my cars, and they each have a personality in their designs. The Volkswagen Arteon has a beautiful modern edge, from the shoulder lines to the grille, and I wanted to do it justice."

The shoot visualises the Arteon in a techno vibe, with retro influences and touches of classic grace. Sonders says he was inspired by 80s synth wave music and the visuals that it spawned, which drew him to the Los Angeles space with the grid ceiling of LED-lit panels.