Peter Sutherland: A Walk With Palladium

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Centralia: "I like this shot of Daniel because he is a homie of mine going back about 10 years.

Centralia: "I like this shot of Daniel because he is a homie of mine going back about 10 years. During the shoot he never complained once and seemed to survive on beef jerky and beer."

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NYC: "I love this shot of Sean (also a homie) because we were in the Freedom Tunnels in NYC. It’s a

NYC: "I love this shot of Sean (also a homie) because we were in the Freedom Tunnels in NYC. It’s a classic graffiti spot and is setting for the documentary film 'Dark Days,' directed by Mark Singer."

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Missle Silos: "This photo was taken in a truck stop in Kansas, Veronica is a good friend and the

Missle Silos: "This photo was taken in a truck stop in Kansas, Veronica is a good friend and the other guy, Ed, is a true eccentric maniac and silo expert. This was one of the most memorable shoots for me."

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Oil of LA: "Nate (again a homie), is shown here exploring an abandoned oil refinery in LA. I love

Oil of LA: "Nate (again a homie), is shown here exploring an abandoned oil refinery in LA. I love this shot because it is feels like cinema, perfect for LA! I think the entire crew learned a lot of on this shoot, there are oil drills all over LA that are just barely hidden from plain view."

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Berlin: "This was taken in an abandoned military listening station in Berlin. We were on the 10th

Berlin: "This was taken in an abandoned military listening station in Berlin. We were on the 10th floor of this building and the wind was blowing and it was 0 degrees. It was exciting to explore this building because it was huge and had a very cool decaying structure as you can see here."

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London: "On this trip we learned about pirate radio. These were once pirate radio transmitters only

London: "On this trip we learned about pirate radio. These were once pirate radio transmitters only accessible by boat. Matt Mason is a pirate radio expert and got to climb around on them while I snapped photos!"

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Detroit: "I have been a long time fan of Johnny Knoxville since the Big Brother days, and I was

Detroit: "I have been a long time fan of Johnny Knoxville since the Big Brother days, and I was born in Michigan, so this was a winning combination."

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LA: "This photo of the LA river was taken from the 6th Street bridge just outside of downtown. It’s

LA: "This photo of the LA river was taken from the 6th Street bridge just outside of downtown. It’s featured in all kinds of movies and I’m pretty sure Per Welinder skated here in one of the old Bones Brigade movies. It’s loaded with celluloid nostalgia."

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Tokyo: "This seemed like some sort of strange dream being in a massive drainage tunnel on the other

Tokyo: "This seemed like some sort of strange dream being in a massive drainage tunnel on the other side of the planet with Pharrell. It still doesn't seem real!"

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From the start, Peter Sutherland has been the go-to photographer for Palladium and its ongoing exploration series. Despite being a boot brand, Palladium’s dedication to urban exploration has brought them across the world in search of adventure and some captivating visual landscapes which remain largely unknown. Sutherland recently embarked on a journey alongside Pharrell Williams as they traveled to Tokyo. We asked the photographer several short questions as well as had him run down his favorite campaign images from the past.

Head over to our Palladium microsite for more details.

How did this opportunity present itself with Palladium?
It started organically by working with Vice mag for many years earlier. I’ve been lucky enough to shoot all the Palladium campaigns.

What was your first experience in Tokyo like?
I went there in 2001, I was filming KAWS while he was installing a show there. It was cool, it seems like it was becoming a place for international artists and musicians. I remember visiting again in 2004 and seeing Pharrell on a huge BAPE TV screen in Harajuku.

How has your perception of Tokyo changed since your first trip?
I’ve probably been there seven times so it’s become a comfortable place. I have my spots, I have friends there etc. Maybe it has a more somber vibe now after the tsunami.

Despite a growing number of amateur photographers, what separates professionals from amateurs?
I don’t know, that is becoming a very blurry line, I think anyone can take good photos if their heart is in it. I guess the only difference at this point is that the pros get paid.

How (un)important is technological development to photography?
I don’t care so much about new gear, but I also don’t resist using it. The camera is just a means to an end for me. I have never wanted to control everything and I think that is what new technology gives you, is more control and options. I think it’s all good if you want to go tech or stay analog, it’s up to the person. I personally shot the campaign on a Canon 5D Mark II.

What is the most rewarding thing to come off this all?
It made a lot of people think about our dependency on (nuclear) power and I think the film and photos are an exciting way for people to get a sense of what it’s like in Tokyo.

How do you think Japan will bounce back from all these developments?
On a cultural level I think they will look to themselves more instead of curating so many things in from other places. I think it brought them closer together. The disaster is a complicated thing and it will probably force them to make changes, hopefully the rest of the world will do the same.

What was it like working with Pharrell?
It was fun, I think he is a great artist and his creativity comes through in his personality. He is not fond of heights I learned. When I am shooting, I always work with my brother Andrew. The three of us got along pretty well and
it felt like we were on an adventure that started underground at g-scan and ended high above Tokyo on a skyscraper.

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