'I was in a heavenly state of mind to be able to have the chance to photograph in such a spectacular location!'
Earlier this summer, I featured the work of photographer Tom Nakielski, (Lights On Studio) and his duo shoot with models Rick and Terry. (Pedestals and Penises) I'd been wanting to feature Tom's work with Rick for awhile. I not only loved Rick's look, I also wanted to feature more of Tom's location work, and he and Rick connected while Tom was on a working trip in California.
If you checked out the first piece, you know the duo shoot wasn't planned. Tom was originally planning to shoot Rick on his own. Circumstances however, and a willing houseguest of the owner of the home Tom was shooting at, meant a stunning statuesque shoot by the home's swimming pool. When they finished however, there was another location that Tom wanted to shoot Rick in, so they quickly headed off to ensure they didn't lose their window to utilize the natural light from the sun.
'After the session in my photographer friend's backyard/pool, we drove to Joshua Tree National Park about 40 minutes away. The park is in the desert and has huge rocks and boulders popular with rock climbers. It encompasses two deserts: The Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert. The San Bernardino Mountains transverse the southwest part of the park. Plenty of areas to explore ....slightly larger than the state of Rhode Island. '
Living on the East coast, I wasn't really that familiar with Joshua Tree, or the park until I was in my 20's. My main connection was listening to U2 in the 1990's when I was still a teenager. Although the members of U2 hail from Ireland, The Joshua Tree album was inspired by the American Experiences, politics, culture and literature.
The name 'Joshua Tree' is said to have be given by a group of Mormon settlers who were crossing the Mojave Desert in the mid-19th century. It's said that tree both inspired them with it's beauty, as well as helped guide them through the vast desert. They chose Joshua Tree as the name as it reminded them of the bible story in which Joshua keeps his hands reached out for extended periods of time to help enable the Israelites in the conquest of Canaan. The unique look of the branches reminded them of Joshua's outstretched arms.
Of course the Mormon's weren't the first discover the beauty of the Mojave Desert. The earliest known residents of the area were the Pinto Culture back in 8000BC. Their stone tools and spear points were discovered in the 1930's. Later residents included the Serrano, the Cahuilla, the Chemehuevi peoples and of course the Mojaves. Given the area's rich history, it made sense that the area was made a national monument in the 1930's and a national park in 1994.
I learned a bit more about the park about 10 years ago when featuring photographer Tom Silk's work with the beautiful Sean. (HERE:) It was then I really learned to symbolism of the tree, and that Joshua Tree's aren't actually trees. They're actually succulents, a plant many know that is able to store water. This fits with their reputation of being able to grow and thrive even areas of dysfunction and dryness.
Forgive me for the history, (and biology) lesson. One of my favorite parts of featuring location shoots, is learning about an area it's history. To me, this helps me link the location with the visuals, and increases the beauty and connection between the model, the nude male form, and their surrounding environment.
Tom's shoot with Rick may have been relatively recent, but the beauty, the rocks, sand and incredible landscapes, have been viewed, traveled through and lived on, by so many men and women over so many years. As beautiful as Rick looks naked posing in the area, I'm also sure, the arid desert created many challenges, with the Joshua Tree's, providing shade and refuge.
'Shooting on location at a place you haven't been to before can always be exciting. You hope you can find a place that is private. You don't know what to expect at the location. Is it accessible to the photographer and the model? Is there a good background? You hope that there is some good light. You pray you didn't leave some important equipment behind. Will the model feel comfortable doing nude shots where someone could happen upon the scene? The element of the unknown does add some excitement to such a session.'
'Rick wanted his girlfriend to accompany us to the session . I wasn't keen on that idea but I wasn't going to travel over 2,000 miles to risk him saying no to doing the shoot. So of course I agreed. It actually was a good thing. There was climbing through the rocks and she helped carry equipment plus helped with the reflector to modify the light. I would have struggled trying to get my gear up the boulders.
We did not encounter anyone at the site we chose. I don't know if we could be charged with indecent exposure if a park ranger came upon the scene. Hence the feeling of excitement of being caught. After I was through with Rick, I stayed later to get some sunset photos. I was in a heavenly state of mind to be able to have the chance to photograph in such a spectacular location!'
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