Che Chorley entrusted us with his dream.
This intrepid adventurer and gifted fine art photographer cycled 5000km along the South Australian coast in the worst winter on record. Battling howling winds, torrential rain and bitter temperatures, Che wanted to document the truth of the ride; its rawness, its realness, its heaven, its hell.
He came to us with a series of stunning images, featuring his trademark nuances of colour, light and shade, which had us gobsmacked over the beauty and power of Mother Nature. Che wanted a coffee table book to complement his exhibition, but we saw so much more.
Our job as art directors was not simply to bind the images and observations together, but to contextualise them and give the finished publication a strong sense of narrative. To honour the authenticity of the journey, the book needed to be physically striking and emotionally moving. Che is a determined guy with a heap of grit and fortitude; he gave his heart and soul to this expedition, continuing even after finding out he had a baby on the way. With his partner’s blessing he persevered, but we know how much he must have grappled with that decision, especially during the trip’s tougher moments.
We’re so very proud of the end result, LAND SEA YOU ME. We were thrilled that Che loved our interpretation of his work and we were beyond chuffed when the book recently scooped Australia’s highest design accolade—a Pinnacle, whilst also being awarded a Distinction and Judge’s Choice. We may not have hit the saddle, but we’ve loved being part of Che’s ride.
