You’ve probably seen Instagram pictures of your hipster friends standing amongst fallen leaves or sipping on Starbucks as they stroll down the beach. Nature in fashion photography is one of the most popular trends of 2015, but it’s more than just a collection of pictures with excessive hashtags. Even the best of professional photographers are looking towards nature for their next editorial shoots.
The natural world has always been integral to our way of life – and it’s always been celebrated. Ancient societies based their rituals around it and depicted it in their art. Romantics devoted songs, paintings and epic poems to it. And now, when most people are more in touch with their Facebook feeds than their own gardens and we’re all more than a little nervous about the imminent threat of climate change, it seems that we ache to connect with our natural roots just as strongly as ever.
Fashion photography is no exception – in fact, nature in fashion photography is a union that makes a lot of sense. Fashion is about expression, identity, merriment and personal style. And nature is at the heart of where we come from; it defines where we, as individuals, fit into this big beautiful world. So join FIB as we examine some of the photographers who are capturing the vibrant essence of fashion, amplified by the exquisiteness of nature.
Cristina Hoch
Cristina Hoch is a self-taught, 22-year-old photographer hailing from Spain. Her subjects appear alone in the wilderness.
The intensity of their colours reflects the majesty of each setting. On her biography page she says:
“What I want to show through my photographs is the hidden beauty in the rivers, in the forests, in a glance, in the sea, in the empty and open spaces, in freckles, in simple details that my camera can’t miss.”
Zhang Jingna
The highly decorated Zhang Jingna uses her wealth of experience to create elegant, soulful photographs in natural settings.
Based in New York, Jingna is committed to helping other photographers through sharing photography tips on her blog.
Ailera Stone
24-year-old Ailera Stone was born in Lithuania but lives and works in the photography hub of London. Her photographs are vivid and imaginative, with each one telling a story.
Her shoots regularly take place in the outdoors, where adventure is never far away.
She describes her passion for photography on her website:
“I always liked to escape into other worlds through books, movies and music, but I found out that the best way to do that is by taking pictures. My photography is a way to capture moments and make them magical; bring the dreams into this world.”
Jovana Rikalo
Serbian photographer Jovana Rikalo takes stunning photographs with vibrant colours and surreal moods.
She plays with the relationship between her models and nature, giving her subjects the freedom to interact with their surroundings in innovative ways.
She says on her website:
“Photography has become my greatest love. Capturing emotions and milestones is now a big part of who I am, and the whole idea of perfectly freezing special moments & feelings pushes me to take risks, get creative and learn as much as I can about the art of photo editing.”
“When it comes to style & interests, I prefer the outdoors and eye-catching locations. I like to create unreal situations in the real world, and tell surreal stories with my camera. My mission is to create images that look unnatural, but feel real.”
