A person in a striped jacket shown in a blurred black and white motion sequence.
A series of eight close-up photos showing someone wearing a plaid winter coat with fur trim and a beard in dark lighting.

The concept


The core of this concept lies in the simplicity of nature and quiet presence; it is an exploration of how subtle light and organic, layered textures can reveal authentic emotion.


Guided by an evocative lens, this shoot seeks to capture a story untold—and to inspire the viewer to create a narrative of their own.


The Setting


This project took place at a single location in a remote, public access cabin in Swatara State Park, Pennsylvania. The log cabin, built in 1939 by local industrial-arts teacher Armar Bordner (1904-1994) and members of his class using materials found on-site next to the picturesque Acrigg's Falls, is preserved within the park (source).

A person in a dark denim jacket holds a ceramic mug while standing against a rustic log cabin wall.
A series of moody portraits showing a person with a red beard wearing a plaid jacket against a dark background.

The Setup


Just after it finished snowing 2-3" that morning, we hiked 1.5 miles in the snow with a foldable wagon full of lighting equipment, wardrobe changes, and styling accessories in tow. The interior of the cabin was very dark and only lit by the large paneless windows. The studio lighting and modifiers I used for the interior shots included a godox v1 in an octobox on 1/8 -1/16 with diffuser and reflector. The styling was a combination of northern rustic outerwear and british sporting style. The colors palette was consistent with neutral browns, navy blue, army green, and slate grey.

Someone drinks from a mug while sitting on a rustic log cabin porch in winter with snow visible outside.
Person in plaid winter coat and fur hood sits in shadowy wooden cabin interior.
A person with long hair and beard gazes thoughtfully into the distance while sitting on a wooden bench in winter.
Someone in winter attire with a fur hat and boots stands on a snowy porch with a red wagon wheel in the background.
A person in a fur hat and dark jacket smiles while walking through a snowy winter forest landscape.
Person wearing brown tweed coat and cap stands against rustic log cabin wall in moody lighting.
A person in a brown coat walks through a snowy winter landscape with blurred motion effects.
A couple in winter coats and hats share an intimate moment in a snowy forest setting.
A person in a light-colored coat poses against a snowy background in a black and white photograph.
A sequence of four snowy winter forest scenes shows someone attempting to lift a large snow-covered rock.
Person wearing winter clothing stands in snowy landscape with rocky outcrops visible in background.
A person in a dark navy jacket sits in front of rustic wooden walls while drinking from a tan ceramic mug.
A person sits alone in a dark stone corridor, appearing distressed and hunched over in a contemplative pose.
A series of winter portraits showing someone wearing a fur-trimmed hooded coat with flowing red curly hair in snowy scenery.

the models


This photoshoot was dependent on the snow for mood setting, and so a moments-notice availability was critical. Dylan agreed to be my model, and he is a good one at that- he even pulled the wagon the whole way! I decided to be featured in a few of them as well, but chose to keep him the center of the narrative.