Palm Beach
Any photographic series on Palm Beach must surely pay homage to its two storied hotels: The Breakers and The Colony. Both landmark locations are tightly woven into the history of this idyllic community and have played host to legendary events. When Slim Aarons talked about “attractive people, doing attractive things in attractive places” he was giving a nod to these celebrated destinations.
From my eye, The Colony is less about what goes on within, whether it be the cocktail parties, the endless poolside conversations or the bingo nights, and more about the emphatic sense of place offered by its storied pink façade. As much as any other hotel in the world, the entrance of The Colony is a microcosm of the community. The coral colour of the colonial style building and the green of the palm trees fuse in that subtle alchemy that is Palm Beach and meanwhile, those who arrive at the hotel are doing so to have fun not work. The Colony is the flag bearer of “Team Palm Beach”.
I stayed at The Colony for a couple of nights before our shoot began and walked the nearby roads deliberating over what to do. The 1947 building is so tall and the entrance roads are so close to the building that it would be difficult to find a spot to celebrate the institution and tell a foreground story.
But I realised there was one place on the bend of the road going southeast from Worth Avenue where I could get a car in the frame. The problem was that to get some space for my composition, the car would be going away from me. I mused over this riddle for a day and then, over an evening cocktail at the Colony, I found my solution.
The idea was solid, but we then had to execute it before the traffic became too steady. Frida Aasen - the Norwegian supermodel - played her role just as I asked and I walked along behind the slowly moving car.
I think this photograph does what I wanted it to do, just as the Colony Hotel does what its guests want it to do.