After Summer: Roberto Badin's photobook gets under the skin of Basque coastal life

Born in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Roberto Badin discovered photography at the age of 14. His professional career began in fashion, but he later moved into studio-based, still-life photography, and his work became known for its uncommonly clean graphic quality and sophisticated touch.

In 2018, Roberto published his first book, Inside Japan, which presented a different perspective on the Asian nation's cities. It was a hit with the press and public alike, with two consecutive reprints, and was featured in several exhibitions in France, including the International Photography Festival in Aries.

In 2019, Roberto won a number of accolades and awards for his McDelivery campaign, including the prestigious Cannes Lions and a Yellow Pencil from D&AD.

Now comes his second book, Après L'Été (After Summer), which pays tribute to his love of the Basque Country.

Coastal dreams

"When you grow up facing the sea, the feeling of the ocean never goes away," he recalls. "What impressed me the most when we settled on the Basque coast was the light and different changes in the atmosphere, which proved to be even stronger off-season.

"Unlike a trip, where we arrive at a destination with a blank gaze, walking the streets of a familiar environment becomes challenging. Confronting yourself daily with the same details and atmospheres, everything can seem almost too bland to be interesting. It is precisely this challenge that interested me: the simplicity of things, the fascinating aesthetic of everyday life."

His exploration was exclusively by foot, and he noticed that I always stayed within a 4km radius of his home. "This ritual became a journey with imaginary boundaries, leaving free rein to intuitions and chance as I walked. Unintentionally, I polarised my eternal sources of inspiration: architecture, cinema and literature, reminding me of George Perec and what he called 'l'infra-ordinaire'."

He emphasises that the project is not about emptiness but rather what is around it and within it. "It's about observing a fragment of reality as I see and feel it, without the pretension of telling any other story than the one. You can make yourself by looking at the photographs. What we really see and what we discover over time, simply by observing closer."

The book includes a text contribution from the journalist and stylist Ana Cardinale and is available to buy directly from Robert's website.