Lifestyle and commercial photography for one of the world’s biggest outdoor brands.
Last year Here Now Films teamed up with environment influencer Sophie Hellyer and explorer Anna Blackwell to launch Kathmandu’s new Autumn range to the UK outdoor market. The mission was simple, test Kathmandu’s new range across 3 different environments in one day of action-packed adventure… and capture the whole day with lifestyle and commercial photography and a short brand video.
Sophie Hellyer and Anna Blackwell are two well-known names in the sustainability and outdoor scenes. Speaking at outdoor events and hosting retreats and wellbeing movements the two are a potent mix of adventure and sustainability. Kathmandu is one of the biggest adventure apparel companies in the Southern hemisphere and are looking to jump on the growing market of casual outdoor ware that the likes of Patagonia and North Face have owned for the last five years.
We wanted to evoke the excitement of the weekend away, the leave on Friday returning just in time for work on Monday after two days of walks, waterfalls, forests and food. This is what Kathmandu is all about, accessible adventure but adventure non the less. Cornwall is an interesting place, defined by the people who call it home the county has a thirst for the wild and cold water runs in its veins. For every town, there are one hundred coves, rivers, forests and cliffs. The weekend adventure is the norm. As die-hard weekend adventurers ourselves we knew the best places for a whistle stop tour. The only challenge was whether we could fit it all into one day.
Between each location both Anna and Sophie would change outfit, three locations would mean three separate each so 6 outfits in total. Each location would need us to take both lifestyle photography and film each shot needed for the brand film. It was going to be tight.
Rough Tor – Bodmin Moor
We arrived at the Moor bright and early and immediately we hit a road block. Looking up to a tall granite tor (a name given to miniature Rocky Mountains found across Cornwall) we saw nothing but low hanging cloud. The cloud would mean the drone wouldn’t be able to see anything, no drone photography or videography would be possible plus we need to keep line of sight of the drone at all points which would be impossible in thick cloud. On top of that, there was the more important issue that there was a strong possibility of getting lost. Rough Tor, pronounced rowta by the locals, is one of Cornwall’s highest Tors. It can be seen across most of Eastern Cornwall and is a popular walking spot for local hikers and fell runners. Its granite has been weathered over time by harsh winters to reveal deep cracks and fissures. It’s also a popular place for those looking for the local wild ponies that live free across the Moore. After twenty minutes or so the cloud cleared, and we began the climb. It was worth the wait. At the top Sophie and Anna could be seen between low hanging cloud with sun rays shinning through. We stopped for a quick cup of coffee before grabbing a few lifestyle photographs and then headed down for the next destination.
Cabilla Woods – Near Bodmin.
Cabilla is home to the UK’s largest temperate rainforest. The forest hugs a steep sided river worn valley whose steep sides create a microclimate a few degrees higher and a little wetter than the surrounding harsh Mooreland. Entering Cabilla is a magical thing. Gnarled oak trees, tightly packed and covered with ferns look like something from a fairytale. Walking to the valley floor we find a rushing river and a path that criss-crosses over moss covered boulders and fallen logs. Sophie and Anna changed outfits and we began the process of working through the shot list. At the top of one side of the valley is a granite tor, completely covered in trees other than one peak that pokes out from the canopy. This was a perfect location for the drone to capture the two adventurers amongst the trees. Photography and video done we stopped for a spot of lunch. Cabilla today has been transformed into a wilderness and wellness retreat with beautiful handmade glamping units to match.
Tregardock
On the North Coast of Cornwall between St Isaac and Bude is a little-known beach well off the beaten track. Parking on an old farm lane you walk for 20 minutes through fields and gullies before arriving at the Tregardock. We love this beach for a number of reasons. In summer, it’s still empty, other than those in the know and the local weekend warriors. A brilliant surf beach Tregardock is surrounded by steep cliffs and most importantly caves and waterfalls. This would be where we’d stop for our last scene of the day. With a tent overlooking a sunset we filmed and photographed Sophie and Anna as they relaxed after a long day of adventuring. One last time we put the drone in the air to capture some drone photography and videography before getting a few lifestyle photographs as well.
