Lady@Lake

The modeling shoot: Lady@Lake

The set was made at Lake Castel Gandolfo, following the light from sunset into the blue hour, with three different outfits worn by Lady Naomi.

It begins among the dry grasses around the shore, where the low sun passes through the light white fabric of the dress and brings out warm tones of yellow, beige and gold. Here the model appears relaxed and unhurried, balanced on the sloping ground, moving slowly in step with the direction of the light. The wide sheer sleeves turn almost into two lanterns when the backlight catches them from the side, and the background dissolves into a golden haze in which stalks, slope and pale sky blur together. In some frames her eyes stay closed, turned towards the warmth; in others they open towards the camera, with a calm that isn't looking for a pose.

Then the set moves into the water. On the rocks at the water's edge the dark lace absorbs the last warm reflections, while the pale pebbles and the green vegetation behind still hold the light of the ending day; later the model wades in up to her waist and turns towards the camera, while the rippled surface gives back her reflection and her wet hair keeps the final orange sparks on her shoulders. The profile of the hills sinks to a dark line and the sky shifts from pink to a deeper and deeper blue.

The final images are almost entirely blue: only her face rises above the water, calm, level with the horizon line, with her own reflection doubling it just beneath. There is also a moment seen from above, in the shallow clear water of the shore, where the body gives itself to the surface and the hair opens around the head like a small dark cloud among the stones on the bottom: the colour temperature is already nocturnal, the gesture stays suspended and silent.