Photo Field Trip 2015. I bet El Capitan Canyon still smells of sulfur and sweat.

and so many freaking more…

 You know how in Junior High chemistry the only way we learned anything was a crazy teacher putting powder “a” in vial “a” with liquid “a” and “b” and then, voila!, explosions or foam or some other weirdness would come pouring out? Well imagine a reaction like that, but it took 5 days, a boatload of introverts, and it filled an entire canyon. Yeah, that’s kind of Photo Field Trip.

 This was my test in storytelling

I had, compressed into a 1 mile radius, the best weather, the best photographers, and some insanely stylish folk – like to the point where I was green with jealous rage – really no lack of opportunity to capture moments. If you’ve followed my work for any amount of time you know that I am borderline obsessed with pushing people to notice the beauty around them, to call it out, and to make more of it. I want so badly to be able to tell stories without having to justify my images with words. There’s no way I captured it all, and from the looks of images that are coming out, there’s also no way I got the best shots of each moment. I did learn that even my heroes in this field (who were like, literally all there) are also humble, easy to talk to, and are also wildly fun when the time calls for it.

The lessons I learned are sort of amalgamated not into a storm, but into a very deep stillness in my creative drive.

I wasn’t able to sit in on one whole class because of the nature of trying to capture such a massive event (although it did come with the perks of getting a golf cart), but I did learn a lot by watching everyone. Don’t rush the shot. Point your camera at what you feel rather than the subject from time to time. Photoshop before you click – that’s a Haischism. Find ways to tell the quieter emotions. Don’t shy away when you are noticed taking a picture, it’s what you do. Make people comfortable by being comfortable – and most of all – stick your head in a bush, or throw chalk on yourself, or chase a llama from time to time, make inside jokes with new people all the time, attend a dj battle often.

The second story I wanted to tell was about that insatiable drive of creators to create. I kept a watchful eye to see what a canyon full of creative minds would do with 5 days of freedom to make stuff – and they/I/we made a bunch of stuff.

Friends, ruckus, memories, bracelets, commitments, changes, straps, albums, impromptu photoshoots, personal art, walkie talkie labels, t-shirts, more friends, fires, poetry, burritos, poetry about fiery burritos, messes, polaroids, and promises to themselves. When creatives create it’s amazing to me with the abandon with which they do it. It’s a beautiful thing that I like seeing, and love showing – it’s a part of my obsession – to train myself to sacrifice production for connection, and to call out the beautiful things when I see it.

5 days.

500 people.

50 or so teachers/educators/inspirer-ers.

and, I’d guess, about 50,000 #latergrams.

Toss all that in the above ground coal mine that is the “big tent”, the lights and jams of Lazers and Blazers, and here’s what you get.

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press play

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Big thanks to the sponsors who made this possible too! Totally Rad, Stance Socks, Smart Albums, Artifact Uprising, EO Products, Toms, Krochet Kids, Ona Bags, Fotofafa, Juniper Ridge, Renaissance Albums, SquareSpace, B&H, Hold Fast, Conscious Camper, Ticla, Ventura Spirits, Resource Magazine, Clif Bars, Smilebooth, and Indie Film Lab.

 If there is anyone else please let me know, there were a lot of things to capture.