It’s impossible to move these days without some reference to the great outdoors. The popularity of hiking and all that goes with it is undeniably at a peak, if you’ll pardon the pun. Off the back of that, outdoor clothing culture continues to be enriched by brands new and established, and their associated storytelling.
When we headed to France a couple of months back, we wanted to try and dial in to the Japanese concept of Komorebi. We’d been reading about this word that describes the concept of light filtering through the trees to create a unique sense of peace and tranquility and it felt like something we could capture through photography. At the same time, we were speaking to Passenger about the possibility of collaborating on some content and the stars seemingly aligned.
The rise to prominence of Passenger has mirrored the growth in people getting outdoors and most days, an average commute will see some instance of their familiar logo cropping up. Whether you’re standing impatiently on the platform waiting for your delayed train, weaving in and out of rush hour commuters, or you’re taking some time out to have an extended walk with the dog, Passenger has taken the outdoor aesthetic and applied it to everyday activity culture. This gear isn’t meant to pit itself against extremes like some outdoor brands, it’s for having a really nice time just appreciating normality, whatever that means to you.
Back to our trip to France, though. The autumn weather really showed its best side to us and the location provided a stunning backdrop to the escapades of our new mates, Ruka and Iggy. With them on the other side of the lens, we explored the stunning ancient forests a short drive from the French capital and had – it has to be said – a quite lovely time.
When you’re shooting in the outdoors, you need a few things to go your way. Firstly the weather turned up, which was a relief, but secondly, the location really made a huge positive difference.
The Forêt de Fontainebleau, is about an hour or so southeast of Paris. It has a long and layered history stretching back to prehistoric times, when its sandstone caves sheltered early humans. During the Middle Ages, it became a royal hunting ground, with the nearby Château de Fontainebleau serving as a major royal residence. In the 19th century, the forest gained new cultural significance as painters of the Barbizon School, including Millet and Rousseau, made its dramatic boulders, gorges, and shifting light central subjects in landscape painting. This helped to spark modern conservation efforts, so that today, the forest is celebrated not only for its artistic legacy but also for its biodiversity and its role as the birthplace of France’s protected natural areas. It’s also home to some of the best bouldering in the world, though we kept that particular practice for another day.
Instead, we went in search of the same light that inspired those pioneering painters whose work showcased the beauty that can be found in nature. You can see the full shoot in the forthcoming issue of Proper, but here’s a glimpse through the trees to show you how it played out.
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