Instead of focusing on a round of ads that use rugby as a medium to sell a message, we thought we’d take a closer look at the magic behind the art direction.
New Zealander Ross Brown is a magician behind the lens. His images are classical, inherently elegant, and meticulous in detail. He combines a mastery of light and form, mood and atmosphere, with a strong emotive quality and sensitivity to his subject matter. Working closely with agencies to help shape the brand and myth around rugby in New Zealand, he’s done a magnificent job with the most feared team in the world, the All Blacks. He does this by combining art direction and technical proficiency to create stories in one picture – have a look at the team in their traditional war stance greeting you in the forest like an army preparing for hostilities. Note the mist behind them that creates the impression of a tribal God in the same stance. It transcends a simple message and tells a story instead. Advertisers work hard to achieve this for their clients and the magic of working with Ross has amplified an already impressive subject. We’d love to work with him one day!
You can explore more of Ross’s impressive work beyond rugby on his site here.
