Being a Lifestyle Photographer who is based in the midwest, more specifically - Columbus, OH…There is a part of me that longs for the landscapes of the Southwest. Before getting involved in the commercial and lifestyle photography world or photographing advertisements, circulars, emails and catalogues it was just me and my camera. I had no real plans to make a living in the photography world, I just took pictures of what peaked my curiosity.
So around 2015 I started making a point to just go out on the road and shoot what I wanted, when I wanted and most importantly…how I wanted. It evolved into a project called “41 Frames”. My favorite photo that I have ever snapped is the photo pictured above.
It was taken just outside of Marfa, TX near the Mexican border. I was on a road trip staying at El Cosmico (look it up) and felt a little restless sitting in my camper, so I hopped in the truck and went driving around aimlessly just before sunset, not knowing I was about to take my favorite photograph.
Tumble weeds were blowing across the road, the wind picked up significantly, and the temperature noticeably dropped a few degrees. Cue a summer night rainstorm in the desert. You could smell the rain coming, the hot and sun soaked pavement was about to get some much needed relief from the day of relentless heat.
I pulled my truck to the side of the road (I am not sure why...there wasn’t a soul for 100 miles in any direction) prepared my tripod and camera and climbed on top of the cab of my truck and waited. The storm creeped in closer and closer, the sun was setting lower and lower. I waited for the sun to be JUST over the horizon and within 5 shots, I had the image I would be forever happy with. It was the right place at the right time in my opinion.
I still chase these rare moments of satisfaction with my imagery. Wandering aimlessly on backroads for happy accidents like this.
This image is now in my living room mounted and professionally framed and takes up 1/3 of my wall. It is a constant reminder of how warm it was that day, I can still smell the rain in the air, the stillness of my surroundings and how the only sound I could hear was the click of my camera and the wind whipping across open and empty fields with its greatest obstruction being weathered barbed wire fences, long horn cattle and the occasional Pinyon shrubs.