8 minute read

That Sinking Feeling

Slick, stylish, and sophisticated, Pat Nolan’s photography typifies the elegance and quirk of classic fashion – topped off with a unique aquatic twist

High-end fashion editorial is an opulent event: a luxurious enterprise, replete with flashy designs and extravagant settings, striking icons, and polished portraits. Aesthetically, these glossy depictions are painstakingly structured creations, carefully assembled to generate clicks and cash flow. After all, it’s intrigue that stimulates attention, and attention that sets trends. This enduring rationale not only keeps the commercial sector relevant; it keeps it afloat.

Lavish scenarios uphold the machine. The industry brims with the allure of beautiful people and places, but in time, even this routine becomes banal.

Although his latest project occupies this realm, Pat Nolan is an outlier. There’s nothing generic about these snaps, and that’s precisely why his first ventures into the genre command consideration. Born and raised in New Jersey, Pat’s background is sand and surfing. For a man preoccupied with the ocean, garments and supermodels are a somewhat alien affair.

True to his roots, a swimming pool floor serves as Pat’s catwalk. A friend and fellow surfer models the attire, the underwater arena a gala stage for an arresting collection of images. The findings are a captivating mix of tradition and subversion, recorded with the characteristic luster of a deluxe photo session.

“I love coasting across the waves, and I love branding. I wanted to draw on personal experience, and breach the world of fashion with a totally new slant,” he says.

“I used to spend childhood summers at my grandparents’ place, by the shore, near Pine Barrens. You’d get these amazing winter swells – really dramatic contrasts. Snow on the beach… incredible dunes and impressions. Surfing became a part of that nest egg. I’ve had this obsessive desire to chase those environments ever since.

“Put simply, I’m keen on building up a marketable portfolio – while also staying true to the exploratory, great-outdoors ethos I’ve always cherished.”

Currently based in California, Pat spent years cultivating a body of work within the photo department of a local surfing publication. Over time, his efforts gradually compounded. Teaming up with an assortment of prominent brands, content was created for a variety of product launches, helping him form a truly singular perspective.

“The exciting part is that it’s constantly different. I often find myself comparing it to skateboarding, where I have to indulge a lot of set-up shots and strobe arrangement. With water, there’s more diversity. People wouldn’t necessarily think it, but you get a lot of variety. That’s what’s kept me excited all these years. This project feels like a culmination.”

A man relaxes underwater, stretching his arms

Photo 2022 © Pat Nolan | FUJIFILM GFX100S and GF45-100mmF4 R LM OIS WR, 1/1600 sec at F4, ISO 320

Sourcing clothes from a nearby retailer, Pat aspired to create a plush ambience, minus the defining logos and exorbitant price tags. Plunging GFX100S into the water was made feasible via AquaTech’s EDGE Pro Housing – an impermeable casing specially designed for the camera’s protection.

“They provide these remarkable solutions for immersing your equipment. It doesn’t matter if it’s the icy Atlantic, or the warmer climate of California. Their frames are totally waterproof, irrespective of where you are.”

Offering a host of bespoke solutions, the company caters to a wide range of Fujifilm equipment, allowing users to taste the full breadth of underwater photography.

“AquaTech gives you a complete scope of motion. You ideally want your camera to be an extension of your hand, and this kit delivers exactly that. The ergonomics are equipped for fast-paced, high-intensity shooting. It’s so secure. Even when I get banged up down there, the kit is unscathed… completely untouched, every time.

“As for the main body itself, GFX100S was just fantastic. It has such an incredible sensor, which lends the photos that added edge. This was actually my first time using Fujifilm. I was curious how medium format digital would feel, but the whole system was honestly mind-blowing. The colors, the detail, the functional design… I haven’t encountered a camera that’s impressed me this much in a very long time.”

Ensuring that images remained lively and varied, the shoot encompassed an eclectic range of ideas. Before taking the dive, Pat had to ensure he’d settled all relevant specifics.

Given the circumstances, all parties knew that communication would be constrained. Those submerged became naturally attuned to their limited oxygen supply, and perhaps more notably, its steady depletion.

Operating in short bursts, Pat made sure his time was well-spent. Preparation was rigorous, with direction handled via pre-planned hand gestures.

“It was all about how many things I could do, per breath hold. When we both had the snorkel masks, it was easy. My stupid signals became the primary source of interaction. I’m lucky that Daniel – my model – received that guidance so well,” he sniggers.

“We only ended up using one lens – FUJINON GF45-100mmF4 R LM OIS WR. I like the sharpness, the look, the feel. I prefer primes for video, but for stills, I like zooms more. In the short time you’re beneath, you need to adjust focal length on the fly. This lens was perfect for that.”

With lighting, a similar level of exactness was adopted. Forms and outlines were crafted with explicit application.

“The past two years I’ve obsessed over illumination patterns, and how they cut through water. That was a major source of stimulation. It diffuses light in this stunning way – beams shoot through in these weirdly biblical spotlight strips, unlike anything you’ll ever see on land.

“By the end of the day, all natural sources had disappeared – it was totally cloudy and overcast. We brought in these continuous lights, positioning them above the pool. I had my team hold them very close to the surface. The approach was motivated by an approximation of the sun, but stylized by the kit. I enjoy using off-camera flash and abstracted techniques, but I’m more of a fan of unaffected imagery. With that said, these snaps had a good mixture of both approaches.”

Light dispersals are but one ingredient in this gorgeous sunken concoction. Blue and indigo tinges splice the somber, isolated spaces – but then we’re quickly jolted by the pool’s distinctive tile patterning.

“At first, I thought I’d avoid aspects that disrupted the oceanic feel, but I think I ended up preferring them, included within the frame,” he explains. “It underlines the creative process, and how it’s all composed. It’s self-aware, and I like that.”

Following in the footsteps of many fashion-based photoshoots, Pat also integrates elements of the theatrical and surreal into his designs. In one, an introspective reading of a newspaper evokes the learned GQ gentleman, pondering the significance of current events. In another, an off-kilter amalgamation of reflections creates an outlandish body fusion – unsettlingly compelling in its avant-garde focus. Inverted frames reinforce this arty sensibility.

“The broadsheet stuff was centered around the traditional vogue editorial – sort of like the quintessential aristocrat, or landowner. With that one, I wanted to pay homage to the Slim Aarons school of thought. I adore what he did.

“As for the more experimental stuff, that’s caught my eye for a long time. I’m forever attracted to reflections – photography has this uncanny way of opening up otherworldly spaces. I’ve investigated a lot of those factors, particularly in post. I wanted to take advantage of that here, creating something that would really intrigue.

“With regards to the boundaries, you can’t see the walls of the pool, so I thought it would be cool to use the water as a spiritual substitute.”

In other examples, austere black & white contrasts punctuate Pat’s scrupulously shaped beam formations, highlighting a graceful interplay between liquid and light. The arrangements have echoes of Jim Marshall’s timeless contributions to the medium.

“As artists, we have passion and admiration for our influences, but it often doesn’t line up with our style. Black & white imagery – specifically Jim Marshall – I just dig that material. Over the past few years, I’ve taken that inspiration and ran with it, even when I know it’s not something I’d normally do.

“I don’t want to box myself in. The lighting accentuates the shadows so exquisitely. It’s super sullen and intense, perfect for this kind of project. It’s a visual tool that evokes a lot of emotion, and in the end, that’s what I’m here to do.”

Discover AquaTech’s comprehensive selection of Fujifilm housings today. Click here for more info!


CREATE/SEND/SHARE

see your image on our Social Channels

Share your image and story with us for a chance to be featured.

Success.
Please select an image
What would you like to share about this image and why would you like to share it?

Consumer Submission Terms and Conditions:

MY FUJIFILM LEGACY MEMORY
1. AGREEMENT TO THESE TERMS AND THE FUJIFILM PRIVACY POLICY: BY UPLOADING A SUBMISSION (as hereafter defined) AND CLICKING YOUR AGREEMENT TO THESE TERMS ON THE SITE, YOU ARE AGREEING TO BE BOUND, WITHOUT LIMITATION OR QUALIFICATION, TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND THE PRIVACY POLICY, AVAILABLE AT https://www.fujifilm.com/privacy_policy/?_ga=2.188005036.507021620.1563365952-1582032552.1552994675. Any information contained in a Submission, including image, contact information such as physical address and email address, and any other personal information submitted, will be used in accordance with FUJIFILM North America Corporation’s (“FNAC”) Privacy Policy and these Terms & Conditions. Each Submitter acknowledges that submission pursuant to these Terms and Conditions constitutes the necessary and proper permission for FNAC’s use of his or her Submission pursuant to these terms and the Privacy Policy. In addition, by uploading a Submission on the Site, each Submitter represents and warrants that he or she is at least 13 years of age. Yes, I’d like to receive more information regarding FUJIFILM products and services via e-mail (e.g. by newsletter or other marketing communication). I also agree that FUJIFILM North America can use my contact data in accordance with its Privacy Policy to inform me about FUJIFILM products and services by e-mail.

2. IMAGE AND PHOTO DESCRIPTION SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
A. Each photo submission (each, along with the required submission form and any provided description, a "Submission") that you as the Submitter determines to submit to FNAC must be uploaded to the submission website at http://www.fujifilm-x.com/en-us/ShareMyFujifilmLegacy (the “Site”) and accompanied by a fully completed submission form located on the Site. Each submitted photo may be no larger than 10 MB, no longer than 2000 pixels in the longest dimension, and it must be formatted as a JPEG, TIFF, GIF, PNG, or BMP. Any description you provide relating to the image may be no more than 1500 characters, including spaces. The Submission may reflect any topic or subject matter, but must be the original work of the providing Submitter, and must depict an original photographic creation. The Submission must have been captured using a FUJIFILM X Series camera and lens (i.e. any FUJIFILM XF or XC lens) or GFX System camera and lens (i.e. any GFX lens).

B. No commitment is made by FNAC to review, consider or post any Submission, and FNAC reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to deem any Submission as inappropriate, unworthy, or unsuitable for posting for any reason, and at any time with no obligation to inform, explain, or justify its reasoning


C. The Submission(s) must not infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, rights of privacy, publicity or other intellectual property or other rights of any third party person or entity, and by uploading a Submission you represent and warrant that: (a) the Submission is your personal, sole, and original creation and has not been derived from, reproduced, or copied in whole or in part from any work by a third party person or entity; (b) the Submission does not violate or infringe any intellectual property right of any kind, including but not limited to any copyright, trademark, trade name, publicity right, or other proprietary right of any person or entity; (c) the Submission is your personal, sole, and exclusive property; (d) any person(s) depicted in the image has given his or her approval for the submission; and (e) no person or property depicted in the image is depicted in a misleading, misrepresentative, or false fashion;


D. The Submission(s) and its title and description are subject to the following content guidelines, and may not, in any instance, in FNAC’s judgment:


(i) Contain, depict, reflect, promote or endorse nudity, profanity, obscenity or pornography; content that is sexually explicit or suggestive, violent, derogatory, disparaging, or defaming; or potentially hazardous content, behavior or activities;

(ii) Contain, depict, reflect, promote or endorse the sale, distribution, possession, use, or abuse of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, firearms, knives or other weapons; or any particular social or political agenda, issue or message;

(iii) Appear to duplicate or replicate a previously received Submission;

(iv) Contain, depict, reflect, promote or endorse any third party owned trademarks, logos, copyrights, images, or trade dress (such as clothing bearing a distinctive logo, a third party’s artwork, or materials from movies or published in other media) including third party products;

(v) Contain, depict, or reflect any identifying information relating to any person depicted, (such as license plate numbers, personal names, email addresses or street addresses), and including any likeness or other information of famous individuals (such as past or present celebrities or public figures, or individuals impersonating them);

(vi) Contain, depict, reflect, promote, endorse or communicate content inconsistent with the reputation and corporate image FNAC and/or FUJIFILM Corporation wish to communicate; and/or

(vii) Violate any law, or reflect, advocate or promote any activity that may violate any law.

Submissions determined by FNAC to violate any of the above content guidelines are subject to rejection. FNAC reserves the right to take all necessary measures to remove any given Submission as it deems appropriate in any given instance, and/or to change any Submission title or description provided at any time and for any reason.


E. If the Submission(s) contains, reflects or incorporates any materials, content or elements that are subject to the rights of third parties, the Submitter is responsible for obtaining, prior to providing the Submission, any and all releases, permissions and consents necessary to permit the use and posting of the Submission by FNAC and its parent and affiliate companies (including without limitation, FUJIFILM Corporation). This includes obtaining the written release, permission and consent to use any name, image, likeness or property of any person who, or items that appear in or are identifiable in the Submission(s). Where a minor appears in or is identifiable in any given Submission, the Submitter is responsible to put a written release, consent and permission into place with the appropriate parent or guardian of such minor. FNAC reserves the right to request documentation reflecting these releases, permissions and consents from any Submitter at any time, and to undertake measures to remove the posting of any given Submission(s) pending receipt of such documentation.


3. LICENSE FOR FNAC TO POST AND POSTING GUIDELINES: Upon submitting a Submission, each Submitter grants to FNAC, its parent and affiliate companies, a royalty free, irrevocable, perpetual and worldwide right and license (but without any right of sublicense) to modify, adapt, and reproduce the Submission, and to use and display the Submission, in whole or in part, either (i) on the FNAC Instagram (@fujifilmx_us), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/FujifilmXUS), or Twitter (@FujifilmX_US) Account, as a social media post; or (ii) on a FNAC or parent/affiliate company website (such as, without limitation, www.fujifilm-x.com), including without limitation, as a homepage banner. Submitter understands that any use made of the Submission will be commercial in nature, and may be in connection with the promotion of a FUJIFILM branded product. This right and license is granted in return for FNAC’s review and consideration of the Submission and in return for the potential opportunity for publicity resulting from FNAC’s posting and tagging of the Submission, and without any right or expectation of the Submitter to receive any further compensation (directly or indirectly) of any kind. FNAC and its parent and affiliate companies shall have no obligation to provide further notice to, or to obtain any further approval from, the Submitter. All Submission postings to be made by FNAC will be subject to the following posting guidelines:


A. If FNAC posts any given Submission, FNAC will use commercially reasonable efforts to credit the Submission on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by tagging the Submitter’s handle as provided to FNAC through the Site. FNAC will credit each Submission on the FNAC website with the Submitter’s first name and last initial, and Instagram handle if and as applicable. If city and state information is provided, FNAC may reference that information as well in connection with any given Submission posting. Note that FNAC does not guarantee that any given Submission will be posted.


B. FNAC is not responsible for any unauthorized third party use of any Submission. Without limitation, this includes any copying, reproduction, distribution, re-postings, forwarding, linking to, or re-publication made by any third party at any time.


C. FNAC shall have the right to modify each Submission, including but not limited to, altering, and editing any provided description. By uploading a Submission, each Submitter agrees that he or she shall have no right of approval, no claim to additional compensation and no claim (including without limitation, claims based upon invasion of privacy, defamation, right of publicity or copyright) arising out of any use, alteration, modification, editing of any or all of the Submission.


4. FUJIFILM SITE CONTENT AND PROPERTY: The trademarks, service marks, trade names, logos, designs, images, and content at any time displayed on the Site, including but not limited to FUJIFILM, INSTAX, FinePix, BUILD YOUR LEGACY, any other trademarks, logos, designs, and intellectual property and the FNAC posted content and images, shall at all times be the sole property of FNAC and/or its parent and affiliates, or shall be the property of third parties (such as any given Submitter) used by FNAC with any necessary and proper permissions in place. Nothing contained on the Site should be construed as granting, by implication, estoppel, or otherwise, any license or right for any Submitter, or any third party, to use any trademark, service mark, logo, design, trade name, product name, content or image displayed on the Site without the prior written permission of FNAC. For absolute clarity and without limitation, no Submitter or third party is permitted to post, display, publish, forward, link to or re-publish any images of FNAC or any Submission(s) of any other party unless specifically authorized to do so in writing by FNAC. Neither FNAC nor its parent or affiliate companies are sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or otherwise affiliated or associated with, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or any other social media platform.


5. NO REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, AND LIMIT OF LIABILITY:

A. FNAC DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS RELATING TO THE SITE AND TO ANY IMAGES OR CONTENT POSTED ON THE SITE, EXPRESS AND IMPLIED, TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. FNAC ALSO ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY, AND WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR, ANY DAMAGE TO, OR VIRUSES THAT MAY INFECT, ANY SUBMITTER’S OR SITE VISITOR’S COMPUTER EQUIPMENT OR OTHER PROPERTY, OR FOR ANY LOSS OR CORRUPTION OF ANY MATERIALS, IMAGE, CONTENT, OR DATA ON ACCOUNT OF ACCESS TO, USE OF, OR BROWSING IN THE SITE, OR RELATING TO OR BY REASON OF A SUBMITTER’S SUBMISSION OF ANY MATERIALS, IMAGE, CONTENT OR DATA TO THE SITE.

B. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING OR OTHERWISE ANY OTHER PROVISION HEREOF, IN NO EVENT SHALL FNAC'S TOTAL LIABILITY TO ANY SUBMITTER OR SITE VISITOR FOR ALL DAMAGES, LOSSES, CLAIMS, LIABILITIES AND CAUSES OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) EXCEED THE AMOUNTS PAID BY SUCH SUBMITTER OR SITE VISITOR TO FNAC, IF ANY, IN CONNECTION WITH SUBMITTING MATERIALS, IMAGES, CONTENT OR DATA TO THE SITE, OR IN ACCESSING THE SITE, AS APPLICABLE. IN NO EVENT WILL FNAC BE RESPONSIBLE IN ANY INSTANCE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION LOST PROFITS, LOST OPPORTUNITIES, OVERHEAD OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES, LOSS OF USE, OR DAMAGE TO REPUTATION OR GOODWILL) EVEN IF APPRISED OF THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCH DAMAGES.


6. COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND TAKE-DOWN PROCEDURE: If you believe in good faith that any material, image, or content appearing on the Site infringes your copyright, then you (or your agent) may send us a written notice that complies with this provision, requesting that the applicable image, or content be removed. Note that by submitting this written notice, you acknowledge and agree that FNAC may forward your written notice (to include your, or your agent’s, personal contact information) and any related communications received by FNAC to the original Submitter of the allegedly infringing content. Furthermore, by submitting this notice, you acknowledge and agree that FNAC’s sole responsibility to you upon receipt of such notice will be to remove the allegedly infringing image or content, and you acknowledge and agree that you will have no further right or remedy against, or as to, FNAC for its original posting of the Submission on the Site, although you may have other rights and remedies as to the Submitter.
Your infringement notice must be sent to [email protected], and must include the following information:


A. A copy of your specific image or copyrighted work that you are claiming has been infringed;
B. identification of the FNAC posted image or content that is claimed to be infringing or the subject of infringing activity, and information reasonably sufficient to allow FNAC to locate such image or content on the Site;
C. the name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address of the complaining copyright owner;
D. a statement that the complaining party has a good faith belief that use of the image or content by the original Submitter is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; and
E. a statement that the information in the notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that the complaining party is authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.
F. a physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner.
Within ten (10) business days of receipt of a written notice meeting the above-referenced requirements, FNAC will take down the allegedly infringing image or content, and notify the Submitter of such image or content of your claim / infringement allegation. FNAC will not re-post the removed, allegedly infringing image or content until it receives written notice from the complaining party that the dispute has been resolved. The process outlined in this provision is the exclusive process to be used to complain to, or otherwise advise, FNAC about any infringement of your rights by any Submitter or any Submitted image and/or content posted on the Site.
7. PRIVACY POLICY: Personal information contained in a Submission or otherwise communicated to FNAC will be used in accordance with FNAC’s Privacy Policy, which can be found here: [INSERT LINK TO PRIVACY POLICY]. In addition, and as stated above in Section 6, your contact information may be shared to a party complaining of infringement. By uploading a Submission, you hereby agree to the Privacy Policy.

8. MISCELLANOUS TERMS:

A. By uploading a Submission, a Submitter is communicating with FNAC electronically. Each Submitter consents to receive communications relating to the Submission from FNAC electronically, generally by email. FNAC may communicate by e-mail, or by other electronic methods such as through social media communications. Each Submitter agrees that all agreements, notices, disclosures and other communications that FNAC provides electronically satisfy any legal requirement that such communications be in writing.

B. All Submissions are administered by FNAC from its offices in Valhalla, New York, United States of America. These Terms and Conditions are governed and interpreted under the laws of the State of New York without regard to its conflict of laws provisions. Each Submitter agree that any claim or dispute against FNAC arising out of or relating to the use of the Site must be resolved by a court located in the Eastern District of New York, unless otherwise agreed upon by all parties. Any claim or cause of action arising out of or related to a Submission must be filed within nine (9) months after such claim or cause of action arose, regardless of any statute or law to the contrary. In the event any such claim or cause of action is not filed within such 9 month period, each Submitter specifically agrees that such claim or cause of action shall be forever barred.

C. These Terms and Conditions and the Privacy Policy, which are part of these Terms and Conditions and are incorporated herein by reference, set forth the entire understanding and agreement between the Submitter and FNAC with respect to a Submission. Each Submitter acknowledge that any other agreements between with respect to a Submission is superseded and of no force or effect. If any provision of these Terms and Conditions shall be determined to be unlawful, void or for any reason unenforceable by a court or other legal authority of competent jurisdiction, then that provision will be severed from these Terms and Conditions and will be deemed replaced by an equivalent enforceable provision that, as nearly as possible, reflects the intent hereof. The severance of any individual provision of these Terms and Conditions will not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.

BY UPLOADING A SUBMISSION, EACH SUBMITTER AGREES
TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
AND THE PRIVACY POLICY.

  • Should be Empty: