Haunting Romance in the Woods
This editorial for Exhibition Magazine Spring/Summer 2015 places models Harleth Kuusik, Molly Bair and Sophie Touchet in a forested, almost mystical setting. Photographed by Daniel Jackson, the series juxtaposes high fashion against a natural backdrop that feels both intimate and slightly unsettling. The mood is heightened by worn furniture scattered throughout the clearing and makeup that looks intentionally smudged, suggesting moments of raw vulnerability within a stylized world.
Atmosphere and Styling
The environment plays a starring role, giving each shot a narrative quality that goes beyond typical fashion photography. Light filters softly through the trees, casting gentle shadows and lending the images a cinematic quality. Dilapidated chairs, faded fabrics, and unexpected props create tension with the couture pieces, emphasizing the contrast between elegance and decay. The styling is deliberate yet understated, allowing textures, layering, and form to become part of the story rather than dominate it.
Model Presence
Harleth Kuusik, Molly Bair, and Sophie Touchet carry the editorial with quiet strength. Their expressions range from distant contemplation to subtle engagement with the surroundings, making the images feel lived in and personal. Molly Bair’s statuesque frame contrasts with Sophie Touchet’s softer presence and Harleth Kuusik’s sharp intensity, creating a visual dialogue across the series. Each model interacts with the setting in a way that feels organic, lending a human touch to the otherwise ethereal environment.
Daniel Jackson’s Vision
Daniel Jackson’s direction balances mood and detail, capturing the interplay between natural light and shadow, model and environment. His lens emphasizes texture and depth, letting the viewer notice everything from fabric weave to the way leaves scatter across the forest floor. The result is a set of images that feel timeless yet contemporary, poetic yet grounded.
Why It Resonates
This photoshoot works because it is intimate without being contrived, dramatic without feeling staged. It marries fashion with narrative and nature, producing a series that is both haunting and romantic.
Credits
Magazine: Exhibition Magazine Spring/Summer 2015
Models: Harleth Kuusik, Molly Bair, Sophie Touchet
Photographer: Daniel Jackson
Fashion Editor: Tony Irvine
Hair: Esther Langham
Magazine: Exhibition Magazine Spring/Summer 2015
Model: Harleth Kuusik, Molly Bair, Sophie Touchet
Photographer: Daniel Jackson
Fashion Editor: Tony Irvine
Hair: Esther Langham
