Welcome to the Private Gallery - PRIDE

Behind-the-Scenes (BTS)

Scroll down to see BTS pics and story. These images were shot in the Southern California desert when it was 125 degrees! The open desert was the ultimate test of endurance. Being in direct sun, the sand absorbed the heat intensifying the effect. It was like standing on a hotplate. One of the models dropped from the heat exhaustion. The sand was too hot for bare feet, so they had to wear sandals and take the long walk around the back of the dunes to not disturb the texture and lines of the sand. Notice their feet aren't showing in the final image. Walking through sand dunes drains your energy. You have to take three-foot steps up the hill, only to move a few inches at a time since the sand slides down, which is worse if your carrying gear and 20 foot fabrics. Although the high winds caused the sand to sting and make it almost impossible to do the shoot. The micro fine sand gets into everything, from the camera equipment to food. One single grain of sand can disable and damage a camera, so the gear has to be wrapped and sealed! Everything gets wrapped or bagged including your cell phone! Getting the models into position where the wind had one model's fabric up but another model's down was difficult and wore them out. The models had to face the wind blowing sand into their eyes while trying to create poses that looked strong but "natural", which took several hours to get the one group image. Sometimes my passion and commitment for getting the shot can get me into trouble in dangerous conditions, such as once sitting on a cactus that put hundreds of needles in my ass, but I didn't stop shooting! And never did anyone say during this desert Pride shoot "I'm done!" Their commitment for months prior to the shoot getting themselves ready, and during the long shoot day, gave me both motivation and pride. Afterwards seeing their pride and joy of what we created made it so worth it!

It's a four hour drive to get there. Thus, an all day event from when we all met at 9am and returned home by 10pm, which doesn't include the time for preparing like shopping for the perfect fabrics, teaching the models how to properly pose, and everyone sitting in multiple cars with the a/c running hoping it would cool down even just a little so we could get through it. But so worth it! I love the most unique and memorable shot! You get to see the great end results, but not the effort and struggle everyone puts into getting some of the cool shots beyond the location, gear, logistics, and particularly the models watching their diet and exercise routine. Even the clothes washer afterwards couldn't get all the sand out! The sand piled in the exhaust tube of the dryer! There are numerous people behind-the-scenes helping out with the fabric, water, drone, and a rake to fix any of the sand blemishes.  Although the wind would quickly erase footprints returning the sand back to its original beautiful symmetry of wavy lines cascading in harmony with the flowing of the wind. 

The irony is that we were near the border with Mexico where immigrants are camped trying to enter for a better life. A life which feels like, after 50 years of gains in the community, we are also fighting to preserve from being dismantled by modern hate.