In the Tension editorial series for Office Magazine, photographer Tre Koch explores the intersection of human physicality and the surreal through a collection of striking portraiture. The project moves beyond conventional editorial norms by weaving together organic form and stark architectural settings, resulting in a visual language that feels both intimate and alien. Koch utilizes natural light to ground his subjects in reality, whether they are reclined in minimalist domestic interiors or framed against industrial, raw-textured walls. The narrative is punctuated by innovative technique, as seen in the deliberate integration of 3D render and CGI elements, which manifest as digital disintegration effects or ethereal particles overlaying the skin. These VFX-driven compositions create a deliberate tension between the tangible and the constructed, as if the subjects are physically reacting to a shifting environment. By pairing these complex post-production interventions with raw, everyday urban backdrops and sharp editorial minimalism, the series investigates the boundaries of the body and identity. The use of unconventional styling—from sculptural white foam masks to striking leather gear—serves to elevate the portraits into cinematic vignettes. Each frame feels calculated yet raw, successfully pushing the magazine’s aesthetic toward a more conceptual, avant-garde territory that challenges the viewer's perception of the human figure within a modern, shifting landscape.
