Gray Malin in Aspen
I have to confess that I am not a skier. Yet I admit, the idea of ‘Après-Ski’ at least does pique my interest from time to time!
Earlier this year, I couldn’t help but notice these beautiful images shot by American fine art photographer and author, Gray Malin. Shot on location at the iconic, five-star ski lodge, The Little Nell, in Aspen, Colarado, the photos were released in January 2020 to tie in with the 30th ski season of the prestigious lodge that opened in 1989.
The series, titled Gray Malin in Aspen, highlights the glamour of Aspen’s ski culture – with a vintage twist. These photos to me resemble something you might have seen in travel posters, calendars or Christmas greeting cards of the 1950s and 1960s. They have the same soft, muted tones, sense of whimsy and innocence that was typical of the era.
The shoot took place over a full week, with Gray crafting scenes from his interpretation of Alpine society and moments that make Aspen Snowmass so special. Models dressed in classic ski clothing were playfully positioned on the slopes and also alongside vintage props including Goyard and Louis Vuitton trunks, a 1950s Porsche and a cute Bernese Mountain dog.
For artist Malin, highly regarded for his aerial shots, this series represented his first ski-specific retro collection that includes on-the-ground images. Other prominent Aspen locations featured in this series includes Buckhorn Cabin on Aspen Mountain, Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro on Aspen Highlands and Lift 1A, which once was renowned as the longest ski lift in the world when it opened in 1947 as Lift 1.
“I am so thrilled to have been able to work with The Little Nell on this special photo series. My goal was to capture a vintage perspective on the undeniable glamour of this iconic location while conveying the sense of inclusiveness that is synonymous with Aspen’s ski community,” said Gray Malin.
“Styling vintage props and clothing from the 1950s-1980s against the stunning winter backdrops of Aspen was something out of a dream – I could feel the nostalgia in each photograph.”
The wardrobe of skis, props, sweaters, scarves, mittens and hats was provided courtesy of Vintage Ski World in Carbondale, Colo.
Gray Malin has donated 10 per cent of all his website sales from the Gray Malin in Aspen series to Protect Our Winters (POW), the leading non-profit climate advocacy group for the winter sports community.
Select images from the collection were showcased in the Living Room and Lobby at The Little Nell earlier this year. Signed and numbered prints are available as limited editions on the Gray Malin website here and at the hotel’s retail boutique.
You can view more of Gray’s eye-catching imagery on his Instagram page here.
*All images © Gray Malin www.graymalin.com @graymalin and provided courtesy of The Little Nell www.thelittlenell.com
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