Saguaro National Park, Arizona
I had always seen these giant cacti in western movies and had expected them to be big - but not this big! Some tower to over 40 feet and composing a shot, especially a vertical, became incredibly hard. I searched for hours for a cactus that would provide me with a perfect silhouette–their shape, form and position was crucial. Sometimes there was just too many in the grove which ruined the foreground, or the shape of the arms didn’t complement each other–there were so many factors to consider. I found this ideal location and shot it at both sunset and sunrise, but I was disappointed that the clear skies didn’t provide me with a more dramatic backdrop. Ever the perfectionist, I returned the next evening to re-shoot the scene, and was rewarded with an incredibly intense sunset which lit up the sky and silhouetted the cacti against cloudy skies.
45 Artist Proof / 950 Limited Edition
