La Pianura
Milan-based artists, Carmen Colombo, a freelance photographer, and Debora Giugno, a fashion and personal stylist collaborated on the new editorial. The story merges the world of fashion with the discipline of reportage photography. The women in the shoot are not professional models who are captured in the Brianza area suburbs in Northern Italy.
The realism of the location that is presented from the perspective of a former local accepts an additional layer. The carefully chosen cast in classic outfits comes in contrast with the tranquillity of a small town. Nature is an additional character in the shoot, the deep greens which are altered to the less saturated, withered colors are accentuated with the nudes of the ground. The color palette emphasizes the changing seasons in the unchanging, static location.
Top Azur Trousers Aporeei
We speak with Carmen and Debora about the decision for casting, styling, and the importance of maintaining the true personality of every woman on set despite them wearing outfits tailored by a professional stylist.
Hi Carmen, Debora, so nice to have you on our mag! Tell about the main idea for this project of merging the world of fashion with reportage.
C: The idea was born as I like to tell stories about city suburbs, which often hide secret corners where the time seems to have frozen. Lately, I like to use fashion editorial language as it allows to develop a short story. It is interesting when there are no professional models but common people who represent in a more naïf way these tales.
Top Azur Trousers Aporeei
‘The idea was born as I like to tell stories about city suburbs, which often hide secret corners where the time seems to have frozen’
— Carmen Colombo
Left: Jacket Angelia Ami Top and Skirt Aporeei Right: Jacket and Trousers Alysi Shirt Azur
Let’s discuss the location. You chose to photograph in the Brianza area in North Italy. How does the location support the story, and what is special about it for you?
C: I was born in this area. It is home to me. I reconnected to these places with new eyes since I have been living in a big city. Those are typical places, where it is quite easy for me to create a set for a story, work on a mood. They are “everyday places”, main roads and hidden tops. Places where I deeply used my eyes and finally I took pictures.
The name of the editorial is La Pianura, which in Italian means The Plain. Plain as "simple" but also because of the place where the shooting was taken, in the area of the Pianura Padana, the biggest plain in Italy.
Top Vinage
Bag Aporeei
‘I love common people, as I like how they look natural in my shots, where I am searching for a static pose. I love very much the clumsy body language of those who are not used to standing in front of a camera’
— Carmen Colombo
The casting is of non-professional models. What is the difference while working with these women in comparison to the other projects and sets you’ve been on? What did you like the most?
C: I am not interested in using professional models for my personal projects. I love common people, as I like how they look natural in my shots, where I am searching for a static pose. I love very much the clumsy body language of those who are not used to standing in front of a camera. For commercial works, it is different as professional models often help the photographer to satisfy the customer’s requests.
Jacket and Trousers Alysi Shirt Azur
Jacket and Trousers Alysi Shirt Azur
‘It was very important that every girl felt at ease in wearing different looks but still maintained her authenticity and personality’
— Debora Giugno
While meeting the women, you have probably made a connection on a certain level. Do you remember an interesting story about one of the people you could share in terms of the profession, the background, or the reason to want to be a part of the project?
C: In this specific case, I did research on social media among friends of friends who could fit for this service. I love when I get in contact with somebody who accepts to be part of my work even if they do not immediately understand the story I want to tell and who accepts to see him/herself with different clothes without complaint on as they trust me, my camera. I think theirs is the most beautiful thing about the people I portray.
Total Look Gucci
Total Look Gucci
What was important in the process of styling different characters and choosing the right look for a person to be comfortable?
D: It was very important that every girl felt at ease in wearing different looks but still maintained her authenticity and personality.
I researched clothes that tell a story, and that fit with the Brianza surroundings. Therefore I mixed vintage clothing, designer clothing from recycled materials, and clothing with a vintage touch.
