Aspen, Colorado, USA – 2022

Sometimes, when working with a global star such as Alessandra Ambrosio, my inclination is to lean on simplicity and not worry about being too expansive in the wider narrative. She is the main event, not the snapper behind the lens, and the photograph should look out, not in. There are moments to show deep deference to those with whom you have the fortune to work and those are often my favourite moments.

That morning, high up at 11,000 feet at Aspen’s legendary Cloud Nine, we had to deal with an 8am blizzard. But from 5 am wake up call, I saw the falling snow as an opportunity not a threat. Meanwhile, Alessandra had been brilliantly styled in 1970s ski clothing and looked sensational although I knew she would be feeling the cold. This was not her natural habitat, but she is very smart and able to play to a prescribed role even though Cloud Nine in the winter is a long way from her home beaches in Brazil.

The simple portrait is of a beautiful girl. She happens to be at a famous place high in the Rockies in a snowstorm. Her clothing is a nod to Aspen’s coming of age in the 1970s. I don’t think we need anything more to grab and hold attention; there is a clear vibe. Aspen baby.