It's often hard to pull off a travel editorial in which colonialism or white-centric elements are nonexistent. The formula in fashion magazines is often a cacausian girl placed in an exotic setting, where she mingles with the locals in thousands of dollars worth of clothes. One often asks the question of why local models are not used in their own setting? It just never seems right when 4,000 dollar Prada shoes are shot next to an elephant.
However, I surprisingly like this editorial, and it includes stunning shots (like the one where she is on the wooden plank, the closeup with the hat ...)
What I think makes this editorial work is Demarchelier's photography and Daria's modeling. Unlike Mario Testino, who often shoots exotic locales in painfully bright chaos, Demarchelier's work in this feature is more toned down, much more sombre than Testino's but still maintains a dreamlike quality. It shies away from the extravagant, and the overplayed. It's hard to make this concept new , but Daria pulls this off with an ease and allure. Overall, I quite like this editorial. Your thoughts?
scanned by ladyflash at tfs
EDIT - TWO MORE PICTURES ADDED .. the last two of the gallery are new - I didn't think her solo shots could get any better!