Ever dream of cliff diving off the Amalfi Coast, road-tripping through Morocco, or trekking between fjords in the Norwegian wilderness? Of course. Who doesn’t! There’s something about travel that tugs at our hearts and nourishes our souls. As Eleanor Rosevelt said, “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”
Wherever your inner compass points, breathtaking photos by Lane Oliveri will awaken your sense of wonder—and maybe help inspire your next trip, too. The New York-based Oliveri has followed her lens—with BRANWYN in tow—from Marrakesh to Majorca to Seoul where she’s documented women adventuring and exploring in Merino Performance Innerwear.
Oliveri's shoots often unfold outdoors, planned with intention for perfect shots to happen organically, during real athletic activity, rather than being staged moments. “These are real women,” she says. “And we shoot in the wild to capture something real.” Each destination offers its own surprises—and each woman brings her own unique story.
While the locations of Oliveri’s shoots are ever-changing, one thing stays constant: She is capturing women through another woman’s lens. “When I first started shooting, one of the things that was really fascinating to me was how many times women would come up to me after the shoot and tell me this was the first time they’ve shot with a female photographer,” she says. “That changes everything. There is a great vibe going when a woman is really comfortable. It makes for imagery that you can't otherwise get — and one that I think women do really relate to and respond to.”
“One of my all-time favorite shoots would have to be a set I shot slack-lining in Majorca. It turned out to be one of the most relaxing shoots of my life. There's something to the sunshine in Spain, it has some sort of hypnotic element to it. The shoot was very playful and the time flew. We worked hard for these shots but it felt like one of those magical summer days when time stops and nothing else exists.” (Majorca, Spain)
“The more you travel, the more you realize people are overall good and kind. There are opportunities literally waiting for you —and as you see more of it the world becomes less intimidating and more connected.” (Puerto Rico)
“In Norway, I wound up working with a seasoned outdoors-woman and wilderness guide. She is a survivalist, often heading out on her own for months at a time, tracking down her own food, building and cooking over a fire, building shelter, and not seeing another human for weeks.” (Norway)
“Morocco was a life-changing trip. We did a road trip from Marrakesh to the Sahara and back. Driving through the Atlas Mountains, we hiked canyons, explored ruins and stayed in a beautiful old fortress, common to Morocco, called a Kasbah. As I traveled, however, I was increasingly internally confronted by my own Western values. We always want faster, faster, faster and more, more, more. But Moroccan culture is about really listening, creating actual memories and enjoying the time and work that goes into doing something rather than skipping past it. In fact, there's a Berber saying that roughly translates as: ‘He who hurries is dead.’” (Morocco)
“Korea was really interesting. Feminism is still largely a bad word there, but the movement is really bubbling beneath the surface. The woman we worked with had scrapes from skating and surfing, is in the midst of her studies to become a doctor, and was just this totally cool, adventurous woman carving out her own path.” (South Korea)
“The vast majority of the commercial media we’ve grown up with has been lensed through a male gaze and it’s time for that to change—for my daughter’s generation, and for all of us.” (Puerto Rico)
“These experiences; shooting on location while exploring active lifestyles and being in the great outdoors, have been so perfectly punctuated for me by being aware of the sustainability and quality of the BRANWYN product itself. It’s this beautiful, natural Merino, it's flexible, breathable, and truly made for women that move. All of that comes through in real time when you’re actually shooting with it in the hot sun, climbing, surfing or swimming in the sea. I love that all of these BRANWYN pieces have great durability and longevity, it's a refreshing contrast from the fast fashion junk we are all trying very hard to avoid. This is such a fun product to shoot because I absolutely believe in it.” (Capitol Reef National Park, Utah)
“There are many beautiful places out there and likewise, there are so many incredible people with unique stories to be told. My work is an expression of this through photography. I love working with BRANWYN because they want to celebrate that, to recognize that, and to make that part of the creative process. To me, that's incredibly special.” (Italy)
“I think the fear of the unknown starts to fall away when you travel. You realize that unfamiliar parts of the world aren't as different or as dangerous as we’re sometimes made to believe.” (Bali)
“Every shoot feels like a little adventure. We’re working, but we’re also outside, in motion, surrounded by nature and culture and people who surprise you in the best ways.” (Spain)
What’s the most amazing place you’ve ever taken your BRANWYN? We’d love to hear from you—and we’re dying to see your photos of course! Please drop us a line any time on Instagram at @branwynofficial or email us info@branwyn.com. Happy travels!
