Black and white portrait of a model holding onto a metal railing against a blurred urban background

Monochrome fashion editorial portrait of a model sitting on a stone wall with a city street background for HERO Magazine

Black and white editorial image of a male model in a white shirt standing near stone walls and lush foliage.

Model in a long black coat captured from a low angle with arms outstretched against a bright sky.

Black and white editorial portrait of a seated male model in a tailored suit and slides against stone architecture

Model wearing a feathered hat and embroidered black garment standing before ornate double doors with motion blur.

Black man dancing in a long dark coat and polka dot trousers outdoors against a stone block wall for a HERO Magazine editorial project.

Model seated on a pathway wearing a patterned suit jacket, shorts, cap, and two-tone brogues.

Model leaning against a stone wall in a belted jacket and wide trousers for HERO Magazine

Monochrome portrait of a topless man wearing a dark patterned cap, holding a white lily flower outdoors.

Model in a dark tweed jacket and white trousers dancing on a cobblestone street in front of a large historic building

Low-angle monochrome fashion editorial portrait of a young black man wearing a white shirt and dark trousers against a plain sky.

Monochrome fashion editorial image of two male models running outdoors wearing knit scarves with pom-poms for HERO Magazine.

Model with long dark hair wearing a patterned jacket and beaded cap standing by a window for HERO Magazine.

Model kneeling outdoors wearing a cap, long-sleeved top, trousers, and boots with clear heels

HERO Magazine Liberté! 2026

About

For the Liberté! project, HERO Magazine explores the intersection of sartorial rigor and expressive movement through a compelling series of black-and-white editorial portraits. Captured by photographer Sungmin Kim, the series leans into a cinematic aesthetic that prioritizes high-contrast lighting to accentuate the tactile qualities of luxury textiles, from intricate knitwear to structured tailoring. Fashion editor and stylist Kevin Lanoy crafts a visual narrative that feels both timeless and grounded, utilizing a diverse cast—including models Achille Genet, Alexander Acquah, Baptiste Vivo, and Eden Manscour—to inhabit a series of quiet, urban, and natural settings. The imagery channels a sense of deliberate poise, with portraits oscillating between introspective stillness and dynamic motion, often employing natural light to carve out the subjects' features against stone-hewn backdrops. Through the deliberate use of analogue and film-inspired techniques, the project feels tactile and grounded, eschewing digital perfection for a gritty, graphic finish that highlights both the texture of the garments and the raw, unadorned environment. Makeup artist Emilie Mattei complements these compositions, ensuring the focus remains squarely on the interplay of light, shadow, and architectural line. Ultimately, Liberté! serves as a masterclass in editorial minimalism, demonstrating how monochromatic photography can elevate fashion into a profound study of posture, silhouette, and artistic expression within the broader luxury fashion landscape.