THE HUSHED GRANDEUR

Quiet beauty is often taken for granted. However, Juriaan Booij’s film, “Waver” for designer Shao Yen, illustrates the value of a simple, well- executed idea. In “Waver,” the models emerge like delicate birds discovering their winter down for the first time. Booij reveals the soft and sensual nature of Yen’s pieces through subtle gestures: A shot of a graceful hand combing the feathery fabric of the dress implores us to feel it ourselves, a gentle shift of the torso exposes the intricate layers of the garments. Even the music underscores the harmonious balance of the overall piece. Perhaps what’s most striking, though, are the moments in the video that could stand alone as photographs in their own right, without movement or sound. They are a testament to Booij’s eye, Yen’s pieces, and the understated loveliness of the film.

Andrea Diaz for PhotoSynth