In a lost place
“In a lost place” connects the mysterious atmosphere of an abandoned place with the glamorous image of fashion. The outcome is a photo series which transmits this interplay through pale lights, strong colors and modest outfits. The chaotic and poor condition of the location, which used to be a manufacturing fabric in Vienna, is eye-catching and does not decrease the elegance of the looks at all. In fact, it even highlights it and builds a strong contrast to the beauty of the models. But this contrast is what makes the whole project interesting.
The photos depict the atmosphere and vibes of the lost place. The disruption of beauty together with the bright lights shining through small wholes in the ceiling make you feel free on the one hand. On the other hand, a sense of melancholy is omnipresent which is reflected in the serious expressions of the models. The soft skin tones reinforce this effect and shape the whole series. In places like this, questions like “what happened here before?” and “what did it look like?” arise instantly. With attention to details – the dust, the green lockers, broken glass, etc. – there is no limit for imagination and dreaming. Why did they leave a chair here? Who has been here before? All these questions will never be answered. But this makes shooting photos in a lost place exciting. Another factor, which is unique to lost places, is the spontaneity involved in the whole creation process.
You cannot know for sure if you can access the location, what the conditions you find it in will be like and how the concept you previously created will fit with the whole environment. Thus, you need to be more flexible and open for spontaneous ideas. In the case of this series, we knew what the location would look like in general: high ceilings, light coming from the side and a lot of open space. But we had not known about the control cabinets nor the chair which was matching the outfits perfectly. Climbing on top of the cabinets was an ad-hoc decision, too. The only components, which were previously agreed on and organized, where the outfits. These consisted mainly of vintage clothes. The makeup should be kept natural to avoid a distraction from the whole setting. What is more, we hardly used any jewelry and too intense and bright colors. Overall, everything was simple but elegant. In the end, the decision to emphasize on simplicity regarding the fashion turned out to be the key element which helped to create this strong contrast between the dusty and moody location and the glamorous fashion sense.
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