{"id":64565,"date":"2022-02-18T14:00:41","date_gmt":"2022-02-18T05:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fujifilmnxtc.wpenginepowered.com\/?post_type=xstories&#038;p=4199464"},"modified":"2024-05-02T00:41:10","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T15:41:10","slug":"vogue-in-the-valley","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/nl-nl\/stories\/vogue-in-the-valley\/","title":{"rendered":"Vogue in the Valley"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"embed-responsive\"><iframe width=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mu4gVMI0sdA\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p><h5>Film, fashion, dance: Clasped in the pangs of scorching Nevada heat, THEGINGERB3ARDMEN create an invigorating cocktail of avant-garde artistry<\/h5>\n<p>Styled with a vigor that evokes the late Alexander McQueen, Chad Wagner and Steven Trumon create eccentric cinematic portraits \u2013 wacky, freewheeling photographs that are radiantly bold-faced and brash. Amidst the bustle of New York City, the dynamic twosome fashion glossy, dramatic imagery, brimming with color and character. Colloquially known as \u2018THEGINGERB3ARDMEN,\u2019 they\u2019ve shared collaborations and cameras for the best part of seven years, balancing the demands of a business that\u2019s deepened bonds both professional and romantic. Their brand has attracted a healthy range of commercial clients, but now it\u2019s 2022, and ambitions are more expansive. The scope is broader; ideas are bigger. Eager to survey California\u2019s wildest national park, the pair inaugurated this newest chapter with a flight to the infamous Death Valley, fortified with buckets of sunscreen and a brand new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/nl-nl\/products\/cameras\/gfx100s\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GFX100S<\/a>. In those forlorn wastelands, a canvas was framed, and the impressions left behind were truly extraordinary.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen Fujifilm asked us to engage with a national park, we wondered how many were around us in NY,\u201d Chad begins. \u201cThe closest we could find was Acadia in Maine, but it was freezing. With that off the cards, we went further afield. We wanted to get out of our comfort zone. We were excited to bring the diversity of the Big Apple to a more desolate space.\u201d Accompanied by a dynamic team of fellow creatives, Chad and Steven ventured into the valley with a resolute support network. Japanese designer Sho Konishi would contribute a breath-taking array of clothing, as would Guvanch \u2013 a remarkable young stylist hailing from Turkmenistan. Whilst friend and makeup artist Hilary Shawn handled all things cosmetic, Joe and Amanda Vellekamp kept video logs of the day\u2019s happenings. Chad and Steven would document a multitude of performative ideas, epitomizing their madcap spirit and frantic creativity. \u201cIt was such a concerted process. Everyone went above and beyond,\u201d Chad continues. \u201cThe space is just phenomenal, but I think it\u2019s stifled by certain stereotypes. All of the photos in our motel room were of typical cowboys, birds, guns. I thought we should bring our own feel to the desert\u2026 something a little more out of the ordinary. We were surrounded by shadow when we got there. Completely shrouded. When the sun rose, that was the invitation to experiment, and more importantly, have fun.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/THEGINGERB3ARDMEN-GFX-100S-GF63mmF2.8-2.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/THEGINGERB3ARDMEN-GFX-100S-GF63mmF2.8-2.jpg\" alt=\"A ginger-bearded man poses against a nocturnal skyline in Death Valley\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo 2022 \u00a9 THEGINGERB3ARDMEN | FUJIFILM GFX100S and GF63mmF2.8 R WR, 1\/125 sec at F2.8, ISO 3200<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><p>For Steven, leaving New York was an integral part of the process. It permitted a sense of liberty, and challenged him to build within environs he wasn\u2019t accustomed to. \u201cI don\u2019t think we would have been able to have such an amazing point of view if we didn\u2019t come here,\u201d he explains. \u201cOur color palettes aren\u2019t present because we\u2019ve never been in an environment like this before. We wanted to avoid the traditional fashion editorial, and this was the perfect place to do that.\u201d In conjunction with this freshness of setting, budgetary constraints would end up proving ironically beneficial \u2013 forcing the pair to use ingenuity and inventiveness. Fortunately, their equipment was more than up to the task. \u201cThe money placed limitations on us. Weirdly enough, I think those limitations made us more creative,\u201d Steven continues. \u201cIn those circumstances, GFX100S was a godsend. If we wanted more warping of the subject, we\u2019d use<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/nl-nl\/products\/lenses\/gf63mmf28-r-wr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> FUJINON GF63mmF2.8 R WR<\/a>. If we needed more detail, we\u2019d go telephoto with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/nl-nl\/products\/lenses\/gf110mmf2-r-lm-wr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GF110mmF2 R LM WR<\/a>. We can do close-ups, full body shots, extreme detail, whatever we need. With other cameras, when the shutter clicked, our entire perception wasn\u2019t right. But when we switched to Fujifilm\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt felt like our world changed!\u201d Chad exclaims. \u201cWe\u2019ve never had this much cinematic prose in our work before. The dimensions are crazy. That\u2019s lost on a lot of other systems. The 100S is very intuitive, and we don\u2019t have to work too hard. The connection between us and the subject is foregrounded. We wouldn\u2019t have been able to achieve these results with any other gear.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat sensor really is so intelligent,\u201d Steven muses.<\/p>\n<p>With numerous concepts at play, examining THEGINGERB3ARDMEN\u2019s ideas is essential to understanding them. Without question, these are curious, abstract incarnations that warrant attention and exploration. We kick-start the discussion with \u2018the haircut\u2019, a stark procedure captured in sinister shades of black &amp; white.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/THEGINGERB3ARDMEN-GFX-100S-GF45mmF2.8-1.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/THEGINGERB3ARDMEN-GFX-100S-GF45mmF2.8-1.jpg\" alt=\"Somewhere in Death Valley, receives a stark haircut, cast in black &#038; white tones\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo 2022 \u00a9 THEGINGERB3ARDMEN | FUJIFILM GFX100S and GF45mmF2.8 R WR, 1\/125 sec at F8, ISO 100<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><p>\u201cI had long hair at the start of the shoot. We knew we wanted a pompadour look at some point, but after that, I was just tired of it,\u201d Chad recounts.<\/p>\n<p>Steven smirks. \u201cWe had a heart to heart. He just doesn\u2019t know what to do with his hair. He\u2019s always wearing hats! We were trying to figure who was going to pull on that Japanese shirt dress. I didn\u2019t think Chad\u2019s hair would look right in that outfit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Chad nods in agreement. \u201cI just find that hair is extra weight. Serious spiritual communities get rid of it for a reason. Stripping ourselves of ego, in the desert. That was the idea, which I guess is somewhat austere when you say it out loud. We didn\u2019t have the tools, so we used my beard trimmer. It took a while, and I can\u2019t say it was the most pleasant trim I\u2019ve ever received!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In combination with its symbolic implications, this abandonment of hair also served to underpin the otherworldliness expressed in the \u2018monk\u2019 photos. Self-described reiki healers, mysticism is an inherent characteristic of Chad and Steven\u2019s imaginings, emphasizing their belief in the supernatural. Deliberately invoking Peter O\u2019Toole\u2019s star-defining turn in <em>Lawrence of Arabia<\/em>, they effortlessly blend the filmic with the figurative, creating a fascinating mixture of styles. \u201cWe shaved the head and went for a real T.E. Lawrence feel,\u201d Steven describes. \u201cSho Konishi designed that one. His clothes are just incredible. We wanted an extra level of drama with all that wind, so we clipped an additional piece of fabric to the back, and Amanda kept throwing it up in the air. There\u2019s something so simple about adding an extension of the physical body, to create a spiritual space. Both elements inform each other, and they exist beautifully in tandem.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Chad gazes intently at his partner, pondering this transcendent dimension. \u201cIt\u2019s how we approach our shoots. We come from a very spiritual place,\u201d he interjects. \u201cWe\u2019re not religious, but we both believe our being isn\u2019t limited to our bodies. That energy is a huge part of our existence.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp_flexbox col2\">\n<li><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/THEGINGERB3ARDMEN-GFX-100S-GF63mmF2.8-10.jpg?width=581&#038;height=363\" alt=\"Dressed in a flowing white gown, a man seeks spiritual solace in the sands of Death alley\" width=\"581\" height=\"363\"  data-recalc-dims=\"1\"><\/li>\n<li><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/THEGINGERB3ARDMEN-GFX-100S-GF63mmF2.8-7.jpg?width=581&#038;height=363\" alt=\"Clad in a flowing white gown, a man embraces the winds of Death Valley\" width=\"581\" height=\"363\"  data-recalc-dims=\"1\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><p>Braving harsh sandstorms and sweltering temperatures, Chad and Steven would be at the mercy of the elements for their \u2018cupcake\u2019 photos \u2013 a poppy get-up inspired by the aesthetics of Harry Styles\u2019 Fine Line period. For these pictures, Steven would exhibit his dancing abilities, draped in a banana chiffon skirt-suit, courtesy of Guvanch. \u201cThe unforgiving habitat made it so much more fun,\u201d Chad snickers. \u201cThe \u2018cupcake\u2019 look was photographed during an actual sandstorm. I got about 40 shots and then we had to quit because of the conditions. It was weirdly exciting, though.\u201d Examine this particular selection and one photo seems to personify the violent onslaught of weather: a light-hearted image of Steven suspended vertically in mid-air, frozen like a salmon in flight.<\/p>\n<p>\n&#8220;That shot was really funny,\u201d Chad remarks. \u201cThe humor that lives in Steven is catching. People love it.\u201d<br \/>\n\u201cI guess it does stick out,\u201d Steven agrees, grinning.<br \/>\n\u201cI kept telling him to straighten his body! It\u2019s just sand. It won\u2019t hurt!\u201d<br \/>\n\u201cI practically rebounded off the floor!\u201d The pair clown and taunt each other, a warm reminder of their affectionate connection.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/THEGINGERB3ARDMEN-GFX-100S-GF110mmF2-18.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/THEGINGERB3ARDMEN-GFX-100S-GF110mmF2-18.jpg\" alt=\"A man in a yellow chiffron suit-dress flies through the air\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo 2022 \u00a9 THEGINGERB3ARDMEN | FUJIFILM GFX100S and GF110mmF2 R LM WR, 1\/1250 sec at F9, ISO 800<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"wp_flexbox col2\">\n<li><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/THEGINGERB3ARDMEN-GFX-100S-GF110mmF2-15.jpg?width=581&#038;height=363\" alt=\"Dressed in a yellow chiffron suit-dress, a man dances amongst the sands of Death Valley\" width=\"581\" height=\"363\"  data-recalc-dims=\"1\"><\/li>\n<li><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/THEGINGERB3ARDMEN-GFX-100S-GF110mmF2-9.jpg?width=581&#038;height=363\" alt=\"Dressed in a yellow chiffron suit-dress, a man dances amongst the sands of Death Valley\" width=\"581\" height=\"363\"  data-recalc-dims=\"1\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><p>\u201cI really love those colors, that vibe. The counterpoint of masculine and feminine elements is really striking,\u201d Steven adds. \u201cAnd, of course, we have to acknowledge Guvanch \u2013 his garments really made those photos sing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>How does one shift the expected energy of Death Valley, and transform it into something refreshing and unseen? For THEGINGERB3ARDMEN, this was the goal with all images \u2013 but it&#8217;s especially noticeable in their \u2018cyborg\u2019 conceptualizations, modelled by Hillary Shawn. Reminiscent of Daryl Hannah\u2019s turn as Pris in Ridley Scott\u2019s <em>Blade Runner<\/em>, the cyberpunk influence is as undeniable as the beauty of Sho Konishi\u2019s meticulously crafted designs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe thought of her as a time-traveler. An alien,\u201d Chad confirms.<\/p>\n<p>Steven outlines Konishi\u2019s inspirations. \u201cHe\u2019s very enthused by Mad Max, Dragon Ball Z. The futuristic, Barbarella vibe also played into that green sulfur suit I ended up wearing. I felt I was living out a childhood fantasy!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/THEGINGERB3ARDMEN-GFX-100S-GF63mmF2.8-13.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/THEGINGERB3ARDMEN-GFX-100S-GF63mmF2.8-13.jpg\" alt=\"Dressed in a high-collared black &#038; green suit, a man gazes intently at the camera in Death Valley\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo 2022 \u00a9 THEGINGERB3ARDMEN | FUJIFILM GFX100S and GF63mmF2.8 R WR, 1\/125 sec at F10, ISO 160<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"wp_flexbox col2\">\n<li><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/THEGINGERB3ARDMEN-GFX-100S-GF63mmF2.8-23.jpg?width=581&#038;height=363\" alt=\"A woman gazes beyond the frame, dressed in a silver cyborg-style suit\" width=\"581\" height=\"363\"  data-recalc-dims=\"1\"><\/li>\n<li><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/THEGINGERB3ARDMEN-GFX-100S-GF63mmF2.8-22.jpg?width=581&#038;height=363\" alt=\"n the rocky formations of Death Valley, woman poses in a silver cyborg-style suit\" width=\"581\" height=\"363\"  data-recalc-dims=\"1\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><p>Beneath the surface, everyone has a story to tell. We all hide behind fronts and facades, concealing authenticity with veils stretched thin and threadlike. For this project, THEGINGERB3ARDMEN found clefts in those barriers. Discovering the importance of expression, theirs was manifest and true.\u00a0<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Film, fashion, dance: Clasped in the pangs of scorching Nevada heat, THEGINGERB3ARDMEN create an invigorating cocktail of avant-garde artistry Styled with a vigor that evokes the late Alexander McQueen, Chad Wagner and Steven Trumon create eccentric cinematic portraits \u2013 wacky, freewheeling photographs that are radiantly bold-faced and brash. Amidst the bustle of New York City, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":64566,"template":"","category":[2084,1006,1202,10414,10463,1937,10169,13039,3701,320,565],"post_tag":[],"class_list":["post-64565","story","type-story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-be-inspired","category-cameras","category-category","category-gf110mmf2-r-lm-wr","category-gf63mmf28-r-wr","category-gfx-series","category-gfx100s","category-mirrorless-digital-cameras","category-gfx-series-mirrorless","category-products","category-stories"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-22 05:18:15","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/nl-nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story\/64565","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/nl-nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/nl-nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/nl-nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/nl-nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64566"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/nl-nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64565"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/nl-nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/category?post=64565"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/nl-nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_tag?post=64565"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}