Sunday, September 18, 2011

Desert Circus Magic!






Sometimes, we just have to say yes.

A facebook message turned into an amazing adventure into the world of dramatic photography in the deserts of Southern Caifornia. For 3 weeks and 13 separate shoots Jim Millay from North Carolina and I along with a handful of artists from the area created magic in the form of photography of circus and artistic performers and models in the scenery of the majestic desert we call home.

Jim, a photographer who clearly enjoyed a good adventure, had emailed me about an idea he had to create photographs of circus performers in the desert. Though I had never met Jim before, the fact that he was interested in driving out to California from North Carolina to do the project intrigued me... and I accepted.


Each day we would race out to the chosen location to shoot at sunset (this is only after I had worked 8hrs, and stopped at home for a quick costuming/makeup session!) Jim spent his days spotting new locations and arranging to pick up other performers in other towns. He spent his nights camping out in his van or with family a couple towns over. The project was difficult and testing for everyone involved but was a wonderful opportunity that looks to be the start of a friendship between artists separated by thousands of miles- but pulled together for the love of creating magic...desert circus magic that is.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Journey to the Center of the Earth....or Close Enough

I had the opportunity this past weekend to go on an amazing adventure and experience the most amazing desert canyon in Southern California. What was more exciting was how little information we gathered on the area beforehand- this gave us an amazing opportunity to explore as if we were discovering it ourselves. Painted Canyon, in Mecca California is part of the San Andreas Fault Line and can be seen clearly from above when viewed from Keys View in Joshua Tree National Park. We ducked behind some large boulders to find what is known as Ladder Canyon-a "Slot Canyon" made from a narrow passage through the fault line. The trail is accessible through a series of ladders secured throughout the hike. Much of the hike is within two walls- a hike through a crack in the earth- how exciting to realize this when about halfway through the adventure....Enjoy photos of Painted Canyon and Ladder Canyon. (Ladders are secured and maintained by volunteers- no ladders=no hike!)