Hello
I fell in love with automotive photography because each image tells a story. A lifted, off-roading truck represents exploration without limits while a slammed truck with clean wheels symbolizes dedication and attention to detail. When I photograph a car, motorcycle, motorbike, whatever it be, I live vicariously through their settings and pose.
Our study abroad trip challenged me to communicate the same adventurous, mindful, or unique stories, but with the audience living vicariously through the capturing of my experiences.
One of the most important lessons I have learned thus far as an artist is to never get comfortable and always explore in your field. This trip was absolutely amazing and I hope you can live vicariously through my page.
My name is Zoë, I also go by Z
London Recap
I could move to London in a heartbeat. The culture, the food, the experiences, the social environment, it all was so incredibly amazing to experience. This video is a recap of our time in London.
Aix-en-Provance Market
While traveling in France, one thing I had to adjust to was learning conversational French instead of relying on English to communicate.
Learning small phrases like “puis-je avoir,” which means “can I have,” “s’il vous plaît” which means “please,” or “merci,” which means “thank you” can gain you respect and patience within the culture. As I communicated, I learned the French don’t expect you to be perfect. They just expect you to try.
One day in Lacoste, we were invited to go to the Aix-en-Provence market, a French “flea market.” When we arrived, I went with a few other students to go get a coffee and explore.
I tried telling the owner that I didn’t know a lot of French. He responded in English, “you don’t know any French?” He looked worried about being able to communicate with me. When I wasn’t sure what to do, I quickly googled the models I was looking for.
He responded with a smile and proceeded to show me similar vehicles. I ended up with two hand-painted Porche’s, a 911 Carrera RS and a 934.
I was most anxious to travel to France because of the misconceived reputation that French people don’t like Americans. While I had some moments where I would mispronounce words or people would look at me with strange faces, it was really important to overcome those fears and try my hardest to communicate. If I were to travel back to France again, I would make sure I study conversational French and bring my phone with me everywhere.
When I ordered at the coffee shop, I said “puis-je avoir” and then my order. The lady asked me which size coffee I wanted, and I responded with “petit,” meaning “small.” She then asked if I wanted to dine there or take it to go. When I showed confusion, I took out the google translate app, handed her the phone, and motioned if she could type. After a bit of awkward typing back and forth, we finally were able to communicate that I wanted to sit at the coffee shop.
While it was uncomfortable and inconvenient to pull out my phone to communicate, I had to remind myself that I was a guest in France and had to adapt to their culture instead of expecting them to understand mine.
After coffee, we went to the market. The event was so large that I didn’t get to see everything. There were countless interesting stands full of clothing, shoes, ornaments, decorations, makeup, skincare, and almost anything you could imagine.
The stand that caught my eye was that of vintage, hand-made cars. I instantly spotted Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s, and Porsche’s. I was in awe walking around the tables.
At one point, I was stopped by the stand’s owner who spoke to me in French. At first, I felt confident about communicating which models I was interested in because I was familiar with the brands at the table. But I quickly realized that some model names, specifically those with letters and numbers, do not translate directly from English to French.
Manchester United
One thing I found interesting when hearing from Manchester United's marketing team was their marketing plan. Manchester United is adamant about posting on specific platforms such as Facebook and Instagram because those are the two most popular social media platforms for their target audience. Did you know Manchester United has 60.7M followers on instagram and 75.5M followers on facebook?
Carriéres des Lumiéres
One of the most moving experiences I witnessed while studying abroad was the St. Remy’s Carriéres des Lumiéres in Les Baux-de-Provence, France.
The Carriéres des Lumiéres is a museum space built in former quarries. The museum features three artists' digital presentations through projections onto the stone walls and floor. Each artist’s presentation lasts around 20 minutes, with about 5 minutes in between for the audience to rest and interpret their experience.
The museum is almost pitch black when you enter. The only sources of light are produced by illuminations projected throughout the venue. Each image displayed brings its own color scheme and tone, which overwhelms the overall vibe of the space. The rigid surfaces of the rock make each piece feel as if they are 3D, reaching out to you.
Entering the quarry is like entering a different world. You can’t help but be in awe from the moment you walk in.
Instead of VoiceOver style audio, the artists choose to feature music that relates and changes with every new section of work.
The messages are informative: lifestyle photos of families and farmers, wars, kings, and queens, cultural: musical instruments, beautiful women and men, nurtured children and babies, experiential: moving through landscapes, buildings, or fields, and recognizable: mentions of the Mona Lisa, Michelangelo’s God and Adam painting, and even inspirations from Starry Night.
Each image fades or flashes in and out and glides across the setting as it matches the pace and audio of the presentation.
While some of the visuals are light and positive, there are also moments of strong negative imaging: women being touched by men, individuals going to war, or negative interpretations of characters or situations. All of which are supported with vibrant color grading, sharp imagery, and the crescendo of music.
You cannot speak or take flash photography throughout the entire venue. I think this further encourages each audience member to be fully immersed in the presentation. It also adds to the inclusion of tourists and guests in France, individuals who may not understand enough French to participate in a verbal presentation.
The imagery was insanely powerful. I could feel goosebumps creep up my spine and through my cheeks as each story progressed. At times, I couldn’t help but feel tears come to my eyes.
You truly cannot beat exhibition art. Having the ability to place your audience into the environment where your story takes place is unbelievably life-changing, something words or pictures alone could not communicate.
As an artist in a world moving towards things like augmented reality and virtual reality, I tend to question the relevance and
effectiveness of advanced technology. While I still believe that an experience in person, like the Carriéres des Lumiéres, cannot be beat, I now understand and accept the relevance of technology-based exhibitions. An immersive experience can take your relationship with your audience to the next level.
Rome Recap
Our time in Rome was spent visiting with the Rome Business School, touring the Colosseum, seeing the Vatican and exploring other famous historic Roman areas. Something interesting to see at each historical landmark were the physical evidence strategies. These are things like souvenirs, memories, experiences, anything you can collect. At every landmark there were stands full of post cards, pins, and other knick-knacks to collect throughout Rome. You couldn't help but buy something everywhere you went.
Rome Business School
When we arrived in Rome, Italy, we spent most of our time at the Rome Business School. The Rome Business School is tailored towards graduate students, creating an environment where they can learn from and ask questions to professionals in their field.
Our time there was spent hearing from professionals in the Fashion, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, and Business fields. The four speakers were Giuliana Baldo Chiaron, a Professor in fashion business, Derrick Jones, owner of Derrick Jones Studio, Giosué Prezioso, a Professor in arts and culture business, and Francesca Pollinici, the General Manager of Institutional Events at the International Council of Museums.
One of the topics we discussed was how fashion represents our history, culture, and economic status. But instead of thinking of fashion as pieces of fabric, we were challenged to think of it as a form of expression. Similarly, we identified the difference between a trend and a style. Trends represent a more temporary change to maybe “fit in” or “follow” social media, and style represents something more long-term that an individual adopts into their personal identitiy.
Something that caught my attention when discussing fashion was the statement, “products are influenced by the relationship between a consumer and a brand.” When brands produce quality advertising with quality products, their relationship with their consumer strengthens and the customer is more likely to refer to the company to others. Similarly, their relationship weakens when they lack producing the product they advertise or promise.
Throughout the presentations, we also were informed about the importance of “Made in Italy” and its branding. This is where I realized how different Italy is industry-wise compared to the U.S. “Made in Italy” has been protected since the 1980's. The title alone communicates high-quality, iconic, clear, and valuable products. These items are commonly found through referrals or recognition to the name.
In contrast, the term “Made in the U.S.” is viewed with less value. This could be from the lack of labeling on our products or the fact that we outsource from other countries to make our everyday items. While we may describe U.S. production as “unoriginal,” I learned that Italy, as well as other countries, view the U.S. as innovative, future-forward, and courageous.
We also learned how business stereotypes are built over time. A continuous message brought up was how Italy’s branding abroad does not match Italy’s sociocultural branding. When we think of Italy, we tend to think of the food, views, and religion. However, Italy has been trying to fight that stereotype for years.
Dolce & Gabanna is a great example of this, especially with their most recent “Light Blue” advertisements. They have started incorporating more provocative messaging while still
keeping their “traditional” or “iconic” values through jewelry or landscapes. While Italy is proud of its culture and history, they are starting to employ other values within their advertising to break this stereotype.
Our time at the Rome Business School was extremely informational. The Rome Business School is filled with countless intelligent, experienced, and welcoming individuals. I am so grateful I got to meet them and form an understanding of business and marketing abroad.
Museo Ferragamo
Although I am not a fashion student, I thoroughly enjoyed the Ferragamo Museum because they do not only target those interested in fashion.
The Museo Ferragamo represented their history through countless pieces of artwork, open for anyone and everyone to interpret.
Museo Ferrari Maranello
When I found out we would have the opportunity to talk with a Ferrari representative and tour the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Maranello, Italy, I could not stop smiling. Cars have been a huge part of my life, and I have developed a great appreciation for the unique design and power behind each vehicle.
Although I have more experience and knowledge within the modified car community, I was very excited to learn about the storytelling behind the traditional luxury automotive business.
Our day began on the “Red Campus,” an area designed for research, discovery, and innovation. This is where the museum is located.
When we entered the museum, we were directed to a special
classroom. The bookshelves were filled with various steering wheels, brake calipers, and car parts. The front of the classroom even featured the chassis of an F1 racing model.
The museum’s speaker greeted us with a set of slides covering innovation, teams, marketing, and branding.
It was especially interesting to hear about the uniqueness of the brand. Did you know that only after buying five Ferraris, you can purchase LaFerrari or build your own “one-of” car?
My biggest takeaway from the speaker was the phrase “next one, best one.” With limited production at a high price, Ferrari is constantly challenging itself with each vehicle to create something even better than before. With a field in social strategy and digital content creation, I interpret this quote as “more time yields higher quality results.” As artists, we constantly find ourselves comparing our work to the people around us. But in reality, if we utilize our time towards learning, growing, and practicing our craft, we can create even better products.
The next part of our day was the tour of the Enzo Ferrari Museum. The museum starts with the first Ferrari, the 250 LM, next to the most recent Ferrari, the 916 GTB. Each car stands next to its rolling chassis, so the audience can see what goes into each model.
The museum continues with some of the most iconic models in chronological order, the 228 GTO, F40, F50, Enzo, and LaFerrari, followed by an example of a most recent custom build.
The tour then continues with an introduction to the famous F1 team, models, and their history. There is even one room where you see each F1 design in chronological order. They are featured on a slanted surface so that the front of the vehicle is right at your feet.
The museum concludes with a throwback to some of the first models of Ferrari, the 250 GTO and 125 S, followed by some of the most recent models, the SF90 and 926 GTB.
This experience was absolutely life changing for me, not only as a student but also as an automotive photographer. Getting the chance to dive deeper into the luxury markets’ advertising strategy and seeing all of the most iconic Ferrari models was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Museo Ferrari Recap
As a car enthusiast, the Ferrari museum was easily one of my favorite excursions, hands down. I couldn't leave museum without purchasing a lego, duffle bag, and mug because the logo is so iconic.
Reflection
I can almost guarantee you that if you ask anyone who has ever traveled or studied abroad, they will say that the experience was transformative.
They may say that the cultural experience was the most eye opening, or maybe it was the food, the people they were with, or the stores they shopped at that made them realize how different life truly is around the world.
I believe that to be absolutely true. Traveling abroad causes you to notice little things that you have in your everyday life that others might not have or do differently.
However, the biggest lessons I have learned have been about myself.
As you become independent in college, you learn to manage time, buy groceries, and take care of yourself, all of the important adulting things. But the biggest topic that I never hear anyone talking about is how hard being social can be.
In Savannah, I have become extremely independent. I have a small inner circle that I hang out with and talk to. I spend most of my time alone working, exercising, and making art.
But the one thing I regret doing before going on this trip was isolating myself. While I love my independence and enjoy being alone, I wish I had prepared myself to be more social and engage with people before I left.
Entering new countries can cause total culture shock. You are experiencing completely new environments and trying to adapt to cultures you may never have been exposed to before. Your travel group will be full of people of all different backgrounds, experiences, feelings, and things that make each of us unique.
As I was trying to calm my anxiety from traveling and push myself to be social, I noticed myself lacking in communication and patience. I became more closed-off and struggled with expressing how I felt. I found it difficult to adapt to being around people 24/7 while trying to avoid sticking out as an American tourist.
While I was able to keep it together a long time, learning to go with the flow and ignoring any other feelings that may arise, it was the underlying fears and anxieties of not having time alone that overall caused me to feel overwhelmed and overstimulated sometimes.
Throughout this trip, I learned to be more self-aware. Not only with what I am feeling and why, but also communicating and noticing how my actions may affect the people around me. While we never mean to take emotions out on others, it is important to acknowledge how others may be affected and take responsibility.
My biggest piece of advice before traveling, if you are an introverted extrovert like myself, is to push yourself to be around others before you leave. I believe this will help you avoid being consumed by emotion while trying to travel and enjoy new experiences.
I had an incredible, mind-blowing experience while studying abroad. I learned so much about business and marketing strategies in ways that a textbook or pictures couldn’t even begin to explain. I saw countless beautiful views, ate many incredible dishes, and learned more about myself than I ever knew I would. If you can travel abroad, I highly suggest you do. I truly believe it is a once-in-a-lifetime, life changing opportunity.
