Environ
Environ is a story about offering a safe environment for artists to develop, imagine, and create. This space disassembles limitations and allows to grow by embracing new ideas. Environ, as a concept, is one of the layers that helps the story to unfold and invites into the phase of contemplation on the merge of the inner world with the outside space.
As the team explains, “Safe places like Zirka (in French, Environ), hidden but reachable, for everybody to feel free, invite you to experiment.” Through contrasts between black and white and color photography, softness and strength, the narratíve unfolds into a story of self-confidence and presence at this time and place, allowing oneself to ‘be.’ The character created through styling decisions and hair and makeup is versatile, authentic, and is living in the moment. Another layer has to do with femininity that is explored through the character, the general atmosphere, the interaction with space, the work with light and fashion. The intention is to engage with contrasts and create an accepting environment that allows one to be free.
Photography by Lina Mendoza Styling by Kassandra Schneider and Valerie Specht MUAH Emily Schembera Photographer Assistant Sebastian Huber Model Mina Kaminski at Agency Tigers Management
‘ZIRKA — in French, Environ — represents just such an 'environment,' a safe place for artists to try things out and grow beyond themselves.’
It first needs a protected space to unfold to the full potential. The story is about the interplay of protection and blossoming. ZIRKA — in French, Environ — represents just such an 'environment,' a safe place for artists to try things out and grow beyond themselves. It envelops and warms, providing courage that can also be taken off, layer by layer, discovered, reassembled, inviting for experimentation.
‘Soft and natural lights with a white background allow to focus on sensual observation of moments and details to create a space for intimacy and closeness to the person.’
Soft and natural lights with a white background allow to focus on sensual observation of moments and details to create a space for intimacy and closeness to the person.
Safe places like Zirka, hidden but reachable, for everybody to feel free, invite you to experiment. Elements of the everyday, interesting textures and surfaces — it's about a contrast between a minimalistic white space and the loud outside world, with the intention to bring calm to both places.
The hair and makeup we chose are very discreet to put the naturalness in the front. There’s a thoughtful interplay with lights and the environment to emphasize highlights and natural beauty. It’s straight but also playful with poses to embrace the love of the feminine body.
‘We wanted to experiment with lights and shadows through trees and textures in the background. But as soon as we got outside, the sun hid behind the clouds.’
Working with available lights can be challenging. Our concept was to create a balance between a soft light in the studio and a harsher and more playful light of the sun. We wanted to experiment with lights and shadows through trees and textures in the background. But as soon as we got outside, the sun hid behind the clouds.
It was exactly this coincidence that did not destroy our concept but rather strengthened it. The story got calm, the environment didn't impose itself, and the light was dimmed by the clouds, giving a softness and glow that would not have happened with hard light.
