MORPHING NOMADIC CAMOUFLAGE

PHOTOGRAPHY + CREATIVE DIRECTION : @caroline.w_3

FASHION DESIGNER : @jeanpaullespagnard

MAKE UP : @art_s.f.x

FACE ART : @ashisonlex

STYLING : @floor_ribbens

TEXT BY CAROLINE WAGNER

My project explores the idea of camouflage in fashion photography, inspired by Peruvian artist Cecilia Paredes, who blends subjects into their backgrounds using textiles and body painting. However, I want to take this concept further—creating a true harmony between the model and the location, where they don’t just blend in but become part of the environment.

A dance between presence and illusion, where the body morphs into creativity itself. Like a nomad, it shifts between worlds, adapting and blending. Fabric, skin, and makeup merge, dissolving boundaries of identity and space. In collaboration with Jean Paul L'Espagnard, fashion becomes a second skin—an expression of fluidity and transformation.

I aim to contrast industrial backgrounds with organic, nature-inspired clothing, like a modern nomad adapting to their surroundings. The viewer should experience a moment of confusion—unsure at first where the model ends and the background begins—yet still sense the difference through the use of hard shadows and artificial lighting. A strong beam of light will highlight the models, emphasizing their presence while maintaining the illusion of unity with the space.

To reinforce this vision, I want the images to have a distant, wide perspective, creating a sense of emptiness while allowing the composition to fill the space like a painting. The images should feel immersive and impactful rather than just fashion portraits.

To bring this to life, I have reached out to renowned fashion and costume designer Jean-Paul L'Espagnard, whose work perfectly aligns with my concept. His designs balance the desire to stand out while still merging with the background, often incorporating trompe-l’oeil effects. His influences from nomadism and Latin America fit seamlessly into my vision of contrast and integration within space.