Heather & Luis // San Antonio, TX

What I would do for an unlimited budget for this project. After flying myself to Africa with a troupe of ballerinas in tow, I would invest in a large, portable space heater. The kind of space heater that you can stow away in your carry-on camera bag, yet powerful enough to warm up any outdoor space. It might seem that I relish asking ballerinas to stand outside with minimal wardrobe protection against the cold elements, but that is not the case. I myself do not enjoy the feeling of cold, stiff fingers using a metal Hasselblad camera; if you’ve ever pulled out a sharp Hasselblad dark slide in the cold, you will know what I mean.

Why I always schedule shoots in the cold, I do not know. Yet more often than not, I am shooting in the cold. Such was the case with Heather Nichols and Luis Javier Corrales. I had wanted to incorporate Heather into this project for a while, and when she suggested adding Luis’ sculptured figure, I was immediately game. I’m sure when he agreed to this shoot, he didn’t imagine he would be shirtless in 50° weather, standing on a 24” parking lot square eight stories above ground level.

While I wait for that unlimited budget, perhaps I can start by purchasing some hand warmers instead of this imaginary space heater. I’m sure come the blistering heat of the summertime, I’ll be wishing for colder weather… and that unlimited budget, to get a portable AC unit.

February 18, 2019