BROKIS . 11
10 . BROKIS
TRAVELS
About the
photo shoot
When Jan and André Rabell asked me to shoot the new BROKIS
catalogue, I immediately thought about how best to arrange the
lights to show their incredible versality and highlight all their inherent
facets without changing their soul.
I imagined the lights in completely different situations and looked
for ways to show the end consumer that each of them can be used
in both traditional and modern, contemporary interiors simply by
changing the finish, the colour of the glass, the kind of metal, or
simply an electrical wire. It was a challenge to conceive this project
and to portray, in a very natural way, how one and the same model
of light can exist in different situations almost as if it were a custom
design.
I immediately began looking for suitable locations. This is an essential
aspect of any such project, since the right setting provides the
necessary balance. I wanted to tell the story of these magnificent
homes and how the lights change and take on different identities
depending on the time, from pure design during the day to magical
atmosphere from dusk onwards.
It was a complex challenge. I had to identify very different homes
with the potential to give a range of styles. My intent was to create an
exquisite setting for each light and convey a sense of sophisticated
elegance. There needed to be genuine charm and, above all, the right
ambience, something BROKIS clients could relate to and perhaps
even want to try imitating in their own homes.
Regardless of the venue, be it a private residence, a hotel,
a restaurant, or a studio, the first thing that a photographer must
assess is the quality of the light as provided by natural conditions
during the day and then, from dusk, by the carefully positioned lights,
which must fulfil both a utilitarian function and a purely aesthetic one.
After all, a light has three purposes: to furnish, to decorate, and to
illuminate.
While visiting the locations, I imagined the placement of the lights with
regard to their colour, size, and type. I approached this project as
a real interior design project, not merely a photographic idea. I worked
as if the owner of each house had commissioned me to create an
honest design. I thought about how the house would be even more
beautiful with the lights in it. It was a bit like thinking about a beautiful
woman, one with an excellent sense of style and high fashion who
I can embellish with unique and extraordinary accessories to achieve
even more shine and glamour. Lights are fundamental elements
inside a home, and it’s very important to devote attention to them
just like a sofa or a dining table or a kitchen. If you’re wrong about the
light, it spoils the whole atmosphere. I’m convinced of this, and that’s
why I was very happy to collaborate with BROKIS on this project.
Simona Sbordone
BROKIS Storyline
art direction and styling
