Visit California: A photography road trip across the Golden State
In September 2018, photographers Clément Chapillon, Ricardo Nagaoka, Francesca Allen and Brant Slomovic spent 10 days travelling across California. Commissioned by Studio 1854, in partnership with Visit California, the resulting photo series, editorials and films shed light on the lesser known sides of the state.
The Road Trip
California is the third largest state in the US and so the trip was split into two chapters. The group looped around northern California first – San Francisco, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Mendocino, Montgomery Woods State Reserve and finally Sonoma County – before flying south and exploring a handful of the state’s more balmy regions – Palm Springs, Los Angeles and Malibu.
The Projects
Each project and accompanying editorial was published on British Journal of Photography. Studio 1854 also commissioned a series of films that take a look behind the scenes of the commission.
Studio 1854 managed the project from conception to completion.
Francesca Allen: Women of California
"Allen meets the women she photographs at all times of day; to immerse herself in a person’s life it is important that she slots into their daily routine as best she can. 'I try and become a part of their world, even if it’s just for a moment,' she says. 'I like to think that I am a part of the photographs.'"
See the full series and read the British Journal of Photography article here.
Clement Chapillon: Californian Wilderness
"My main process is just to get lost. When I am lost I have these magical moments where I am able to truly connect with the people and the land. If I prepare too much, I cannot be surprised by what I see.”
See the full series and read the British Journal of Photography article here.
Ricardo Nagaoka: Gold Mountain
In the media “Asian Americans are rarely depicted. If we are, we are often forced into these clichéd tropes: the nerdy Asian, the submissive Asian, the exotic Asian. I am looking to create a genuine representation”
See the full series and read the British Journal of Photography article here.
Brant Slomovic: Wild Flowers
“I was a photographer long before I was a doctor,” says Brant Slomovic. “My mum was an avid amateur so we had a darkroom in our house – I would often spend weekends loading film onto spools.”
See the full series and read the British Journal of Photography article here.
Photographer Profile Films