Ecstatic Depths - Cacia (Patreon)

This set of 18 hi-res images is now in the "Archive" folder - subscribe at the $25 Archive Tier for access to this and more than 150 other sets!!!

This was the third time Cacia Zoo and I had shot together since we had met the month before.  The week before we had shot underwater together for the first time, and now made a plan for our first road trip together - a quick overnight trip to Death Valley.  I had been there previously and had an idea for a specific image i want to make in a specific spot, and just needed a model to come along, and thankfully Cacia was up for it.  

It was a pretty wonderful trip, and a lot of laughs were shared as we got to know each other better (as road trips often can be, this was the couple days that really solidified our friendship, one which is strong to this day).  We happened to hit Death Valley right in the middle of the very short desert wild flower season, which added extra beauty to our descent into the valley, and the natural hot spring fed swimming pool at Furnace Creek Ranch was the perfect way to end our time in the park after we had finished shooting the next day.  

Unfortunately the exact spot i wanted to make the specific image in my head had been altered by winter rains (I need to go back again some day to nail this shot though!), but we still found so much beauty and privacy right in the middle of the lowest spot in North America, and they are images that are kind of seared in my brain, not so much for their quality (I know many other photographers could have made better images with her there), but for the potential it inspired, how clearly they represented this synthesis of two things i had passion for - the wild spaces of the West, and the naked female form.  I had found a calling of sorts thanks to the enthusiasm and laughter Cacia brought with her to this amazing spot on Earth. Good times!