<div><p>If you've never heard of "sleep paralysis," consider yourself lucky. It's a scary condition that only effects a small number of people. </p><p>Basically, when your mind is not quite asleep and not quite awake, you can experience strange visions, feelings of helplessness, and the fear that a shadowy figure is watching you.</p><p>Photographer Nicholas Bruno has lived with this condition his whole life, and uses his frightening experiences to influence his work.</p><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/2263565640-3.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/2263565640-3_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/2263565640-3-1.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/2263565640-3-1_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/2263565640-3-2.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/2263565640-3-2_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><p></p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>"In order to obtain the full effect that I wish to achieve," Bruno writes, "I use numerous strange props [...] which are for the most part hand crafted by myself using techniques of woodworking, blacksmithing and sewing."</p><p>He says that photography "became my way of battering through my terrorizing sleep paralysis experiences and expressing myself in ways that I never thought I could."</p><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/2263565640-3-3.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/2263565640-3-3_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/2263565640-3-4.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/2263565640-3-4_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/2263565640-3.png" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/2263565640-3_GH_content_550px.png 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><p></p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>You can see more of Bruno's spooky photography at <a href="http://www.nicolasbrunophotography.com/">his website</a>, just be careful you don't run into any of his creepy subjects in your dreams!</p><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/2263565640-3-5.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/2263565640-3-5_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/2263565640-3-6.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/02/2263565640-3-6_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></div>