107. Concept

The first time I photographed the desert was 20 years ago when I met Curtis' parents for the first time. It was a great trip and I realized that the amazing guy I was with had an equally amazing family behind him.  The family home is in a cul-de-sac that backs up against raw and undeveloped desert. We spent quite a bit a time walking around among the cactus exploring the inhospitable environment. Of course I brought my camera and 35 mm slide film.

When I returned home I showed my work to Robbert Flick, my photography instructor at USC and he was less then impressed. I think his response was, "You need to show me more than pretty photographs". He wanted to know what I was doing... what I was trying to communicate. I was crushed and confused and not sure what to do except NOT take any more images of the desert. I simply didn't understand what he was trying to get me to articulate. And I moved onto more profound subject matter not knowing how to make the natural landscape communicate anything other than beauty.

Of course I couldn't have been a teacher, and a good teacher, for the past 15 years if I didn't eventually understand what Robbert was getting at.  And with that, I headed back into that raw and wild desert to tackle it one more time - only 20 years later. However, time doesn't stop and wait for us to "get it". When I got there... it had changed enormously. Several years ago this enormous section of unused land started to be converted into a community park. At first a track, a field, and a gymnasium barely took up any measurable percentage of the land. But what I discovered this past weekend is that the developed park has creeped in and taken up much of the several square mile plot. I wanted to just take "pretty" photographs, but was met with a shock. A different place, a changed place, a developed place. And with that... I got it. Yesterday's, today's and possibility tomorrow's photographs promise to communicate this change in place. Earth leveled, plants moved, parking lots sculpted, stadium lights installed, sod growing green and perfect...