MPB Meets: Wally Koval from 'Accidentally Wes Anderson'

For fans of the director Wes Anderson and his distinctive visual aesthetic, the Instagram account Accidentally Wes Anderson is a treasure trove of charming photos. With 1.8 million followers, the page curates lovely locations around the world that exude Anderson's signature style. Founded by Wally Koval in 2017, this community-led account features photographs that capture the quirky symmetrical compositions, pastel hues, retro fonts, and storybook charm that define Anderson's cinematic worlds. Watch and read on to learn more about the viral Instagram account and the people behind it.

The Story Behind the Viral Instagram Account

WK: In June, I believe, of 2017, I started an Instagram account called Accidentally Wes Anderson. I started it as a travel bucket list for myself and my wife, Amanda, who is now my partner in crime in all things AWA.

[I told myself] Once a day, every day, Wally, you're going to find an interesting place that you would hope to go to one day and you're just going to post it on Instagram because that's a platform that's familiar to you and you're going to post what it is, where it was and when it was built, and you're going to credit the photographer and you're just going to compile these places.

WK: Over the course of 2017 and 2018, the community grew very quickly and Amanda and I started to go on our own adventures and we were receiving photo submissions from the community all over the world. We started sharing the more in-depth stories behind each of these photos, which turned into a book.

Why Wes Anderson?

WK: I've always been touched by his work, and it's been something that has spoken to me. And something about it: the characters, the symmetry, the aesthetic—AWA is this intersection between distinctive design and unexpected narrative. So if it's the photo, that's great. But if it's just a pretty pink picture and there's no story behind it, it's not us. So it's more than the aesthetic. It's what's behind the facade.

I think there are a number of pieces that go into an AWA shot. Yes, from a Wes Anderson perspective, symmetry is number one. Aesthetic, colour—those are all things. But what we always say is there's something about, “You know it when you see it.” 

Wes Anderson's sets are so perfectly particular. Every single piece is...perfectly placed and it's there for a reason. What we're doing is taking an aesthetic and applying it in a real-world scenario.

Marjorie Becker (Chief Adventure Photographer for Accidentally Wes Anderson): Going back and studying his films that I haven't seen since college has really helped me think more creatively about framing and perspective. Sometimes having something a little bit asymmetrical, but in an interesting way, and you see a detail coming out of the corner that tells a story and adds whimsy. That's what I'm looking for—that kind of whimsical feature that's going to make it seem a little funky and fun.

What Gear To Use?

MB: When we first get our shot list, I typically want to do a little bit of research on the history.

I usually walk into the scene and assess it, and oftentimes we capture it in two ways at the same time where Wally is doing video and I'm doing photography.

We can almost read each other's minds as far as what the priority at that moment is. And it's been a really amazing dynamic that we've developed as a team.

I shoot on a Nikon D850 and 90% of the time I use what I call my “Goldilocks lens” (a 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR). It's neither too wide of an angle and it's not too close up—it is really just that sweet spot in between.

(Read MPB's Nikon D850 review.)

How To Take Wes Anderson-Style Photographs

Here are some additional tips for capturing the distinctive Wes Anderson aesthetic in your photography and videography: 

Symmetry

Pay attention to symmetry in both your composition and within the elements of the photo. Position subjects in the dead center of the frame, or create mirror images on either side.

Flat Perspective

Shoot straight rather than from extreme angles— keep the camera completely level with the subject to minimize perspective distortion. Avoid wide-angle lenses that distort space.

Colours

Use a soft, desaturated colour palette favouring pinks, blues, yellows, mints, and other pastel hues. Shoot in open shade to remove harsh shadows and blowouts. Boost vibrance slightly in post to make colors pop.

Retro Props

Use old-fashioned items like old telephones, classic cars, vintage furniture, toys, and stationery for a nostalgic storybook feel. Shoot them as if they are characters themselves. Tabletop shots overhead work well.

For more tips and techniques, expert interviews and camera gear guides, check out the MPB content hub.