February 2014 | Erik Almas Photography

Included in Archive’s 200 Best AD photographers World Wide 2014-2015

I’m very honored to, again, be included in Luerzer’s Archive’s 200 Best Advertising Photographers Worldwide. This time for the latest 2014/15 listing.

This is the 5th time I have been included in this great company of exceptional photographers, and just as honored every time…

 

 

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Genlux_Art_1438_Wip_1_Cropped_Flat_by Erik Almas - Advertising and editorial photographer

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McCann_ResWat_Kenzo_II_Portfolio_Wip_Final_by Erik Almas - Advertising and editorial photographer

Working with Westin Hotels & Resorts


I last year travelled to 11 countries and criss crossed the US many times over on assignments for different advertising  agencies.

Some of this travel was done for Westin Hotels and Resorts.

The campaign I was hired to photograph was to represent and speak to the pillars of Westin as a brand. The foundation of what drives them as a premium hotel are 6 pillars;  “live well’, “sleep well”,  “eat well”, “play well”, “feel well” and “work well”.

I love when a client comes to me and say; these are the things we believe in and what we stand for. And I love getting an assignment that has an intention and a storyline!

With a tagline like “ sleep well” I get to dive in and ask myself ; What does “sleep well” mean to me? What does “sleep well” look like? What does it feel like? What are the light, tone, texture, color and emotions of sleeping well? How is it reflected in who you are as you wake up?

And what is it in context of travel?

With 260 days of travel in 2013, where and how I sleep at night truly matters and this assignment became very personal to me in how I related to the Westin Pillars.

It helps me as a photographer to make each image I take personal. To find a way to relate to the brand and the image to be created…

It then is not an image executed for a client but an image I relate to and care about. An image I can infuse myself into both on a visual and emotional level.

 

As an image maker this grounds me. It grounds me to seek what the ideas and story mean to me personally so that me and who I am get reflected in the images created.

In the case of Westin it was easy.  They focus on the things that are hard when you travel a lot for work. To eat right, to exercise and to wake up rested. The things that can truly make a difference while on the road.

In this campaign I was graced with great art direction and ideas and the heart of the campaign also became very personal.

 

Hope you like the images!

 

Starwood_Westin_Feel_Well Starwood_Westin_Live_Well Starwood_Westin_Sleep_Well Starwood_Westin_Eat_Well Starwood_Westin_Play_Well Starwood_Westin_Work_Wellsecuredownload