I was commissioned by Land Rover to shoot their safari experience featuring the new Defender 110, tasked with capturing the trip in the style of a high-end travel journal. Rather than focusing solely on car photography, this project emphasized the subtleties of form and the beauty of the wildlife and landscapes we encountered. Over the course of 8 days, we road-tripped through Namibia and encountered a wide range of wildlife, from lions and giraffes to snakes and eagles. We also witnessed some of the most striking landscapes and sunsets you'll ever see, coupled with the excitement of serious off-roading that really challenged the vehicles. Shooting on the move presented many challenges for myself and DOP Matthew Ham. Despite the intense heat, fine dust, and rugged terrain, we managed to capture stunning shots while bouncing along in our respective vehicles.
This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime job that I'll never forget, and it set a benchmark for all future travel shoots to come. With the backing of an epic crew, we came away with loads of laughter, memories, and beautiful images. And though this was technically a car shoot, the vehicle was more of an accessory to the environment as a whole - a hint of what lucky clients could hope to experience. Here's to a job well done!
Client - JLR (Land Rover Experience)
Agency - Accenture Song / Spark44
Producer - Ellée Prior
Global Account Director - Fiona Pilgrim
Photographer - Sam Bénard
DoP - Matthew Ham
Drone Pilot - Dave Young
Assistant - Robin Bernstein
