Braving 118º desert temperatures to create art at the Nude Bowl!

I’m grateful for the time I have to write this post tonight, Steemit. Typically, when I’m traveling and shooting, it’s the only time I’m not regularly writing blogs here. This trip has been packed, two shoots a day for 8 days straight. When I decided to work this trip in to the end of the year, my intent was to make some money and line up the last shoots of 2017 for the Dark Pinup book I’m doing with @wcpublishing. Originally, it was meant to be a 4 - 5 day trip, but with more bookings, bigger opportunities and additional travel, it ended up being 11 days. Longer than I anticipated, but I’m not stressed about it. I’m spending time with my friends Berrit and @danielkiessler in Palm Springs, something I intend to do during Viva Las Vegas, and the closes semblance to a vacation I’ve had in five years. 

I arrived here in Palm Springs last night. Myself, @danielkiesslerart and Berrit sat outside on their back patio and caught up, waiting for our friend and make-up artist, Cara Zozula to arrive. We laughed, we talked about today’s shoot. We decided to brave the Palm Springs sun, waking up early and arriving at the hidden, legendary and infamous Nude Bowl. @danielkiessler passed me his phone with a YouTube video documenting skate, punk and graffiti history of Nude Bowl. I was sold. The thought of shooting under 110º temperatures made me cringe, but it was different, and at this point in my career, “different” is what drives most of my decisions.

We rose with the sun, packed bags and a case of water. We drove to the secluded entrance to the Bowl’s location and navigated two miles up rough mountain side terrain. We did eventually find it, and it was everything I was promised. Also, as promised, we were looking at 101º before 9:00a.m. Just walking out of the car felt like a hairdryer 2” from your face! The only other time I can recall experience heat at this extreme was when I visited @mtbmondo in Phoenix in July. You have to just laugh at it.

Berrit had two outfit changes. Cara worked quickly assisting with make-up, hair and wardrobe, and @danielkiesslerart made regular rounds of bringing us water, sunscreen and props like a badass mirrored skateboard. It was incredible to see the team effort that went in to making these photos a reality, given the conditions. 

Berrit, as always, was a total pro. Any ideas that came to me, she was ready to attempt. Even when I’d say “Lay down on this…”, cement that was being baked under the sun for hours. She was patient with what became frequent make-up fixes due to sweat, wind and dust. The scenery beyond the Bowl was equally breathtaking. Just such a perfect culmination of people, talent and art.

Thanks for reading. I’m off tomorrow, so I’ll be posting in the afternoon, then making my way back to LA to photograph @thomaskuntzart, then walk him through the remaining steps for his Steemit introduction post. For more photography, illustration, art and the stories behind the work, follow me here @kommienezuspadt!