Russell James on “The Lily Metaphor of 2015”
Need some inspiration to start 2015 off right? We’re getting ours from none other than photographer Russell James, whose experience with Lily Aldridge on our latest swim shoot gave him the motivation he needed to go the extra mile.
He suggested setting up Lily in the stunning—but quite precarious—shot above, standing on top of a giant rock on the beach with sheer, 90-degree drops on every side, and immediately took it back when he realized how dangerous it could be. But Lily insisted on doing it because she wanted to face her fears. “ I am afraid of heights and I WANT to do it,” she told him. And just like that, it was no longer about the shot.
“It reminded me that it is important to challenge yourself, to push your boundaries, face your fears and excel beyond them,” Russell shared on his Facebook page. He credits Lily with giving him his New Year’s Resolution: “…to not sit back on my ass and be an observer in life but instead face fear, insecurities and push my boundaries to do better.”
