Promise of Sunrise

At the end of July, Conundra had suggested we head out to the desert for another sunrise photo shoot.

Sunshine Of Life

BUT, the day we went out, it rained all morning, I posted about it then, and ever since we have been hoping for another opportunity to catch another desert sunrise.

Paradise Morning

And then this past weekend things fell into place and we had a most magical morning in the high desert, we traveled back into the hills north of Lucerne Valley and Johnson Valley.

Outbound

I can't tell you how fun it is to work with someone so talented and enthusiastic and our work together has really come a long way since our first shoot in June '08. I would shoot her every other weekend if I could!

Shining I Rise

A Thousand Kisses Deep

I'm really thrilled with the work we do together, my heart smiles every time I see her.

Promise Of Sunrise

We also have work in an upcoming show in Indianapolis, IN. Ironically one of the photos from our morning in the rain, it is such an honor to be selected for this particular show, many amazing artists will be there and the show also features a panel discussion on the topic of the place of the art nude in public venues.

"The best part of beauty is that which no picture can express." ~Francis Bacon

Two Deserts Two Shoots Two Incredible Models

One at the sea and one at the gold mine.

Dreamstate

 Saturday morning 3:30am, Brooke (Rebelflowers Photography) arrives and it's practically a routine now, we load her cameras into RocksAnne and we roll out, destination desert, this particular Saturday we were picking up some Sunshine, A Muse In The Desert aka Cheryl, and our destination was the Salton Sea.

The Call Of The Sea

This is a favorite spot out on the west shore, an area that was once a US Naval test site, not much left anymore outside of the pier, a couple of small concrete buildings and some left over telephone poles, it was used off and on from 1939 to 1979.

Water Church

 We began at the dunes just after daybreak then took the trails back to the pier and the seaside, this sea seems like a natural anomaly of beauty & death, it is unique place with it's surface 200' below sea level.

One Eyed Monster

Monday began a bit earlier as Brooke and I loaded up RocksAnne and headed to the high desert and back to the Lester Dale Mine with the amazing Greenbirdgirl.

Desert Views

 On this day we were all going to shoot at some point, but it was so much fun working with Greenbirdgirl again as it had been almost 4 years to the day since the last time we had gone out to the desert together.

Through The Window Light

 This is also a great location, a few abandoned buildings in the desert overlooking Johnson Valley.  

 We worked well past the time of day I usually quit, it was another great day. Two really fun shoots with two amazing and creative people in two fantastic locations, good times! 

Legs

 "You just have to live and life will give you pictures." ~Henri Cartier-Bresson

6000 Sunrises

I caught a portion of a television commercial the other night while I was cooking dinner, something that was said caused me to really think about what I do.

Whispers

The voice-over stated at the age of retirement the average person will see another 6,000 sunrises.

In The Moment

I love sunrise as a photographer, with the sun low in the sky the light must pass through the greatest amount of atmosphere which creates the golden hue we see. And my own theory is that at dawn the air is cleaner then in the evening, so the light is cleaner also.

All In My Head

6,000 sunrises does seem like a lot, until you begin counting them. This morning has passed so just by writing this blog I am now down to 5,999. Take away days of cloud cover and days of rain, subtract days when other matters take precedence over shooting. Subtract days of illness or injury and days that get cancelled or rescheduled for one reason or another and pull out days for editing. Remove all the days I cannot be out there shooting and how many are left?

Aware, Awake & Alive

Over the past few years I suppose I've witnessed my share and many times had the great fortune of having a camera with me, but when I look forward at what's to come, where I want to be and what I wish to accomplish, I think I need a little bit more then 6,000.

One Good Woman

This television advertisement started a discussion among seniors on Yahoo Answers and no doubt something similar inside companies selling retirement plans. One thing for certain it got me thinking, about my work and what it takes, about chasing a dream and sharing it, and about that time I can no longer do what I love.

Desert Sun

"To learn the magic of light, get up before sunrise...and watch." ~Ted Grant

Zanck Eiffel

The art of Zanck19 and my photography, Zanck is an amazing photo manipulation and retouch artist based in France. Isn't this the magic of the Internet when you can meet and collaborate with people anywhere in the world! More of Zanck's work can be found on his dA portfolio here and on his dA pages here.

Together

The image above is from an incredible day out in Lucerne Valley with 3 of the most amazing people I know, Pearl, NevaehLleh, Conundra and I somehow managed to all get together on the same day and shoot in the high desert, this image is from an abandoned ranch that Pearl & I found on a previous photo shoot.

Beware My Dream

This photo comes from my most recent shoot with Madrid which was our first ever shoot together and there are sure to be more, she is a phenomenal person and amazingly talented.

One Eye Dodge (Pinup Car)

This image comes from the day Pearl & I worked at the Flying F Ranch, this old Dodge truck was perfect for a David Winge styled Pinup!

Silver Screen (I See You)

Believe it or not Zanuck never saw this image of Pearl in color, as I never posted but a black & white version, the depth of this image at full size is amazing.

Views Of Heaven (Wait Until)

Both of these images come from a shoot at the Salton Sea and the first ones Zanck did using my photos, ironically Pearl and I had been discussing using wings and at one point even brought some with us as a prop, but never used them.

Still Harbor (Fake Natural)

"You become things, you become an atmosphere, and if you become it, which means you incorporate it within you, you can also give it back. You can put this feeling into a picture. A painter can do it. And a musician can do it and I think a photographer can do that too and that I would call the dreaming with open eyes." ~Ernst Haas

The Calling

I am THRILLED to share that I have an image chosen to be included in "Unclothed, Exposing the art nude" at the StutzArtSpace in Indianapolis, IN November 4-23

The Calling

 

Ironically this image came from what was supposed to be a desert sunrise shoot, but once we got up there we encountered rain, dark skies and more rain, which in the end didn't matter too much because when you work in nature you have to be ready to just use what you find and go with it.

Believe

 Meggy and I have worked together numerous times since June, 2008, she's even more excellent when you encounter the unexpected.

Highway Blues

A true artist's model, amazing and talented. Meggy can take an idea, grasp it and go with it, she surprises me with her ability to convey my message.

Shine On

Be Thou The Rainbow

We'll be shooting more in the future for certain.

I've Got A Dream

Meggy is an exceptional model and as a person she's all heart and I'm so jazzed that one of our images was chosen from all the entries, she represents my vision in my work. And as an added bonus she's awesome!

No One To Blame

"Human gesture and expression are the essence of photography. It's not about lights or fast lenses and fast film. It's the ability to capture a moment in time. To capture the spirit of someone in that magic box is wonderful. It's what I fell in love with as a kid." ~John Shearer

Photo courtesy of GroovaciousK