I’ve been coming to the desert for my whole life. People have all kinds of reactions when they step foot into a deep canyon or stand on the edge of a 300-foot cliff. At first they are intrigued, looking around, agape by the beauty, and then it hits them, and they pull back, suddenly afraid of how small and impermanent they feel. But slowly they work out of the shock, realize what’s around them, see the beauty, and understand the power of this landscape and their existence. (NSFW — Contains Nudity)
IMPERMANENCE II — A performing-art desert nude series
For Impermanence II, my collaborator was Katie Alderson –– a performing artist who I’d seen perform at a couple local events. She was petit, pretty and had a confident edge to her. I had seen some of her movements onstage and after a few conversations, knew that she would bring a dimension to the series that I hadn’t anticipated originally. (NSFW – Contains Nudity)
IMPERMANENCE I — The beginning of a desert nude series
I didn’t want “Impermanence” to be the standard girl-gets-naked, strikes-a-sexy-pose, turns-you-on kind of photoshoot. I wanted this to be art. I wanted it to illicit a deeper sense, something that made you pause and appreciate not just the beauty, but a deeper meaning. (NSFW – Contains Nudity)
Why do I shoot alone?
I recently had one of my all-time best days of shooting. And of course, I was alone. I endured freezing rain, massive, powerful gusts of wind and shivered until the night turned to light. If this sounds torturous… well, that’s because to some degree it was. But at the same time it was invigorating, it was exciting and when the darkest midnight hues warmed to light, baby blue, it can be more than worth it.
Breaking the rules: Shooting into the sun
On a recent hike into the high country near Aspen, Colorado, I was asked, “Aren’t you not supposed to shoot into the sun?” I didn’t really know how to respond, so I said that once rules are “mastered” they can be broken. But honestly, I’m not so sure I agree with that.
Antone Flats: Hiking above the Escalante and Death Hollow canyons
It’s May and summer was creeping through the grass. The air was heating up and the ground was beginning to crack. The last of spring showers were drizzling overhead and …