Throughout the Caribbean, there’s a lingering sense of magical realism that is used to explain esoteric events. Paintings, poems, and other works are created to seek out the unexplored regions of the mind, to uncover messages through “psychic” and magical means.

Enter the work of Victor Stonem, a 26-year-old photographer from the Dominican Republic. Victor captures an essence about his home country through a dreamy, sun-soaked surrealist lens. His images offer the viewer a sense of awe and wonder that captures the mystique and beauty of the Caribbean isles.

Below, Victor shares what fuels his inspiration in Santo Domingo and beyond.

Where are you based?

I just moved back from Barcelona to my hometown Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. I'd say it's one of the happiest places on Earth for me, or at least where I feel my happiest.

You have an eye for capturing the rich colors and vibrancy of your hometown, Santo Domingo. What stories do you like to tell through your images?

I like to tell the hidden stories and don't get to see the light of day very often: interiors, moments, or everyday details that go unnoticed by most people.

How did you develop your style as a photographer?

I'm inspired by light, an element of surprise, textures, and colors. One of the things that inspire me the most is the human endeavor that goes into everything we make. In the end, I think it's what I capture the most, too, such as architecture, interiors, and objects.

How did you get into photography?

I've always been a very visual person. From a very early age, I started gaining interest in everything related to the arts: drawing, painting, sculpture, architecture. I'd say my story with photography was almost an accident. I discovered photography through a point-and-shoot camera I found at home. I remember I started taking pictures of everything around me that caught my attention: architecture, how light moved and reflected on a surface, a corner of a room, patina on antiques, the contrast and interplay between different objects and their dimensions, and since then, I haven't stopped.

What is unique about Santo Domingo?

Its people, landscapes and natural resources, the food, fruit vendors on the streets, how sunny it is, and how quickly those sunny days can turn into stormy days out of nowhere due to tropical weather. The list goes on and on for me. There's also a little bit of magical realism here since absurd situations happen every day; it's part of the joy of living here.

Are there any particular places you've shot that hold sentimental value?

The first place that comes to mind is Las Terrenas, a fishermen's town located on the island's northern coast. I've been going there since I was born with my family and friends so you can tell it has a special place in my heart. It's filled with magic, the most breathtaking landscapes as you have the clear waters of the beach and the mountains with jungles right behind you, the best-fried fish is served there, and the hospitality and joy of its people make it an exceptional place. It's a town I've photographed many times, as I encounter new things every time I go, be it still life, landscapes, architecture…you name it. I think of it as one of the most refreshing places on the island; it's a thrill to visit.

What are five of your favorite places in the Dominican Republic?

1. Las Terrenas

2. The Colonial City of Santo Domingo, where many friends live, and almost every historical building can take your breath away. Every corner of this part of the city comes alive through its people playing dominoes on the streets, the way the sun hits the stone façades, all the hidden paths you can find in an afternoon stroll, and the smell of old catholic churches.

3. Puerto Plata, a city located on the north coast and known as the "Atlantic's Girlfriend," unlike Las Terrenas, this one is more formal and has incredible victorian architecture all over. The nightlife scene is also fantastic.

4. San Juan de la Maguana, where my parents grew up and where I believe most magical realism happens, from things like Santería to miraculous waters and legends.

5. The Malecón of Santo Domingo, for the perfect afternoon walks by the sea.

Which artists, photographers, or architects inspire you?

I love Virgilio Méndez's colorful take on every day of the black diaspora in the Dominican Republic, the cubist and surrealist shapes on Jaime Colson's work, and the absurd eroticism and frenetic situations in Nadal Walcot's paintings. That's for the Dominican side. Apart from these, I am madly in love with Giorgio de Chirico's surrealism, Giorgio Morandi's purist still life paintings, François Halard's photography, Irving Penn's genius, Diego Rivera's grandeur, the interiors of Renzo Mongiardino, and the sense of style of Marella Agnelli and Oscar de la Renta.

Where is one place you'd like to travel to in the future?

A big fish on my bucket list is Italy, it's a shame I haven't been yet, and I can't wait to fall in love with all the architecture and its history. Another place I'm dying to visit is Cuba.