The Shapes of the Landscape

The beginning of the year, I went on a ride down in Death Valley with my brother Mike. It was supposed to be a warm respite from the the winter up in Utah, but we ended up with freezing cold temperatures in the morning and burning hot temperatures in the afternoon, which is exactly what we should have expected had we spent any time at all looking on the Internet.

Despite being underprepared, desert environments are some of my favorite. The smell of sage, open valleys, cool evenings. I’ve spent so much of my life laying out under the stars, that I’m surprised it caught me off guard. Seeing the shapes of the landscape in the moonlight while cruising along a perfectly paved road was definitely a highlight for the new year.

First Breath

Walden, CO - We had just finished up filming for the day, documenting an unsupported cycling race across the United States and I had some time, so I grabbed my rolleiflex and ran down to the pond. In hindsight, I should have also filmed some scenics, but I must admit that was the furthest thing from my mind. The sunset was going off, and the scene around the pond was mesmerizing. That’s one thing that I enjoy about shooting film. It seems like when I do, my mind clears and I focus on what’s in my hands and my surroundings. I quit thinking about problems that i’m having in my life, and I take my first breath.