The Face Magazine
The Race is Worth the Fight
Aug 2025
For The Face Magazine, photographer Alasdair McLellan captures entertainer Ethel Cain in a sweeping editorial titled The Race is Worth the Fight. The series channels a gritty, cinematic aesthetic, alternating between high-contrast studio portraiture and moody woodland captures. McLellan leans into monochrome palettes and analogue film techniques to frame Cain through various sculptural and textural elements, from ornate masks to heavy corduroy and structured tailoring. Fashion styling by Danny Reed informs the project's varied silhouette, ranging from oversized knitwear and gathered smocks to precisely tailored blazers. The editorial is supported by the work of hair stylist Anthony Turner and makeup artist Lynsey Alexander, with manicures provided by Jenny Longworth, collectively refining a visual narrative defined by both soft, directional light and raw, atmospheric backlighting.
Editorial, Vertical, Monochrome
Magazines
Editorial
