Think for a moment about the Tolkien-inspired visions flashing though the mind of Robert Plant as he penned the mystical lyrics to “Ramble On.” Vast landscapes with wandering figures, uncertain of their destination, but driven by their journey. Now get ready to scroll down and get the same feeling.
Photographer and model couple TJ Drysdale and Victoria Yore have been traveling the globe together creating wanderlust-inspiring portraits that seem to be torn from the pages of tales about Middle Earth - or any other fantasy world you may fancy the most.
Despite the emotion present in the images from "Follow Me Away," Yore says creativity has driven the project more than romance.
“Honestly, the fact that we are dating really doesn't play into our work at all! From the very beginning, with absolutely no feelings involved, we always worked together very well as a creative team,” she said. “The photography is inspired by our surroundings and by nature. The travel is inspired by our wanderlust and need to get out there and explore the earth.”
Being in a close relationship and working together with such regularity has allowed the pair to produce work at a rapid rate.
“A photographer should never even suggest that a model should push herself and do that 4th shoot of the day in Iceland in the winter,” Yore said, explaining the challenges of working with her partner. “But, being a creative couple, this type of convincing is almost second nature.”
Conversely, always having someone nearby who is willing and driven to create can be a huge positive, she added.
As the photos have gained popularity across the web, the couple has had to explain away accusations of the images being over-produced or composites. Yore says the photos are much more spontaneous than they might appear.
“When we say our photos aren't staged, we mean that no pre-planning goes into them at all,” she explained. “Our photos are no more staged than a mother telling her children to run in front of that mountain and smile for a photo. Many people don't believe us when we say the images aren't staged, but it is the truth!”
The two primarily use a Sony A99 and off-brand lenses, she added.
“Twas in the darkest depths of Mordor, I met a girl so fair…” - Robert Plant (1969)
You can follow Drysdale and Yore, yourself, on Facebook or Instagram.
All photos used with permission of TJ Drysdale and Victoria Yore.
I understand your point. However, people that are killed or injured because they chose to do something stupid should be held responsible for their actions. They should not be allowed to pawn the fault or cause onto something someone else has done without incident. Even with a disclaimer people will still do stupid things. The photos are awesome.
On a photo set or location, the Photographer IS RESPONSIBLE for everything that goes wrong. Think not, I suggest you stock up heavy on Liability Insurance. People fall off these canyon walls ALL YEAR LONG. The minute I saw that photo, I recognize how IRRESPONSIBLE it was to place a model in that position. Photo vs LIFE? Not an equitable trade.
Thanks for your comments everyone!
Model here! I am 100% aware of how dangerous everything I do is. Terrence actually had no say in what I did for this shoot. He was across in the viewing area taking landscape photos when I, without his knowledge, walked out and climbed up on this area as he looked on dumbfounded. He could have tired everything to get me back but I wouldn't have gone so he may as well shoot me there. Again, I know I put my life in danger, however I am at least aware of canyon wall safety and free climbing techniques so that I can avoid falls at all costs. If the rocks were unstable in any way I never would have done it. :) Also, I have yet to see photographers getting upset about all the Hong Kong skyscraper
I comment about the fools on the ledges all the time. The worst part is kids whose survival part of their brain is not yet fully developed will mimic those on the towers and Dubai sky scrapers and are highly likely to die.
I know attempting to tell youth anything is like pissing in a hurricane and expecting to hit the cup, but I will say this...
I told my son at a very young age. At 62, having lived a very colorful and exciting and RISKY life as a pilot, scuba diver, rock climber, spelunker and photojournalist finding myself in the very bowels of 47 states in the USA and dozens of cities, hamlets, cracks and crags in four foreign countries, I can tell you the five most dangerous words in the English language.
"No problem... I got this!"
It's what every dead child looked back and told his mom as he stepped off the curb, absolutely certain he would make it to the other side.
It is what every dead man said, when he raced across the street in front of the bus, unaware of the pickup truck passing the bus on the opposite side. "No problem! I got this!"
They are the words that must be spoken, or imagined in one's head, before they climb out onto the limb, "No problem! I got this!" for if they thought this was the day they were going to die, they would never climb out on that limb.
The 12 people each year who fall to their death from the walls of the Grand Canyon, all thought in their mind, "No problem! I got this!" as their wives or their husbands, girlfriends and cousins yelled at them, "It's too risky! It's not worth your life!" the dead person yelled back with a smile, "No problem! I got this!"
The sport bike rider who passed me on a curve on Echo Bay road three years ago, me doing 35 mph, when the curve said 25 mph, surely the rider, absolutely confident in his riding skill uttered the words as he passed me at 60 mph, a speed he was sure was within his skill level, "No problem! I got this!"
As I made the turn just seconds behind him, I saw him hit the unknown, nearly invisible sand on the road as he shot off the 80 foot cliff into a dry lake bed covered in boulders. When his bike hit, it broke into three pieces, the back wheel was next to his body which was face down in the dirt... the engine was about 30 feet to his right and the front forks and tire were about 40 feet in front of him.
His friends rushed down to aid him, but he was dead on impact. When his best friend and riding buddy came back up the hill, he said to me. "He's dead! He calls his mother every night, how will I tell her tonight that he is dead?" Then he said the dumbest thing he could say to me, "He's military, he is an excellent rider!"
One more stupid than the other. There are no good riders, when there are unknown variables... at that point there is only LUCK!
It took six hours to remove his body from the canyon floor. "NO PROBLEM! I GOT IT!"
The words one MUST SAY IN THEIR MINDS in order for them to do things that get them killed. Because if they said, "You know! The odds are very good I am going to die today!" They would step back on the curb, they would wait for the bus to pass, they would not leap across the cliff that had loose sand or rock that waited until today to break loose and certainly, they would not pass me on a curve doing 60 mph, an impossible speed to recover from if any number of unseen variables came into play. Like unseen loose sand.
I told my son, nothing makes me shiver with fear more than when he tells me, "No problem Dad! I got this!"
I am sure he said that when he went over the handlebars on his motorcycle and broke his back at age 18, when he swerved and attempted to go up on a sidewalk, but hit the curb instead driving the rear peg of his bike through his ankle and out the other side. "NO PROBLEM! I GOT THIS!"
I know! I know! I was young once too... I know I am a DICK for even bringing up the topic, making the observation.
Ahhhhh youth!
It always works out the way you plan... until that moment it doesn't!
Yes! I have done many risky things. I've been lucky! And will remain lucky... until that moment I am not.
"NO PROBLEM! I GOT THIS!"
Jon Dize
http://dizeman.com
"I am 100% aware of how dangerous everything I do is." So was everyone who fell off the Grand Canyon to their death. Being 100% certain is required to put them in that position.
RELATIONSHIP GOALS <3