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I took this image 9 years ago today. On a horse with no name… In 2016, my buddy Jon and I did a desert road trip through the American southwest. We had both been there before, but neither had immersed ourselves. We also did not have a lick of desert survival experience. We did understand heat tho, as most people do. We loaded up a big cooler of water and ice, locked in the Yacht Rock satellite radio and just took off with no particular destination. This image shows a roadside table selling jade and wares, two Navajo flags and, of course, the very picturesque backdrop of Monument Valley. What you can’t see is how hot it is. At that time, they were having a record setting heat wave FOR THE DESERT IN THE SUMMER! The temp was 120 degrees and can only imagine what the heat index was. Any way you slice it, mid-day was brutal. A Navajo woman and her young son were selling the items. I could only assume that a Navajo woman, on Navajo desert land would be well versed with the heat. Still, we offered them some cold water and they accepted. The heat was slightly more extreme than usual, and in a fairly remote area, no one could have too much water. We also bought a few items. FAST FORWARD 9 months and, along with thousands of others, I submitted the image into an online contest. The theme was a “modern look at the American Road.” This image was one of the 15 selected. It was displayed in a Miami Beach museum accompanying the main exhibit of 50’s photographer Berenice Abbott’s collection. I was able to attend the opening and it was truly an honor. My biggest takeaway was being able to discuss my image with the woman who runs this museum’s print lab. She told me that my image initially came out with a red cast. This was an error on their end, but she said it came out really cool and the staff fought over who could take it. At that moment, I said, “I’ll take it!” Lol. The phrase “museum quality” is for real. Witnessing my image up close blew me away. Wow! That was really something special. It made me feel like somebody. That event was amazing, I had a lot of fun and met many great people. FF to NOW: it’s been 6 years since I’ve posted. Gonna try again…

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