Capture That Challenge: The BLUE Issue

In the fourth installment of our “Capture That Challenge,” teams of WALK photographers and stylists competed to articulate their own interpretations of our theme, BLUE, for a chance to have their photos featured in our Spring Issue. Photographer Madison Kahn, and stylists Julien Advancey  and Noel Zheng, were chosen not only for their highly experimental approach, but also for their multi-layered study of the color blue. “Inspired by the late Chinese artist, Ren Hang, we wanted to push the boundaries of beautifying the grotesque,” the team wrote of their winning photograph, which featured Audrey Goldberg. “The notion of postmodernism plays in the space between what is considered disturbing, playful, and haute couture, unlike the agendas that Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Cosmopolitan seek to entertain.”

Another team sought a more natural setting in which to explore the concept, linking the color blue to the water of a reflecting pool. “For our interpretation of ‘blue,’ we decided to create a magical, creepy wonderland, with our model getting lost in blue drips and reflections,” wrote the team, which was comprised of Arjun Doshi, Karen Yang, Nadira Berman, and Shirley Liu, whose work featured model Pearl Banjurtrungkajorn. “The confusing reflections create an optical illusion, further adding to the fantasy. What is the reflection and what is reality? We invite you to get lost in our fairytale world of blue.”

Yet another team, comprised of Miru Osuga and Irena Xia, tapped into blue’s presence in certain forms of light, employing a blacklight to allow models Aizhaneya Carter and David Thai to “[wear] the cloak of the universe on our skin.”

Images courtesy of Madison Kahn, Julien Advaney, and Noel Zheng; Arjun Doshi, Karen Yang, Nadira Berman, and Shirley Liu: Miru Osuga and Irene Xia