During my time in Riverhead, Long Island this past weekend I went to an alpaca farm with my fiance so she could buy yarn, wool and other animal fibers to knit with. I watched as a man tried to demonstrate how to properly shear an alpaca and witnessed the chaotic aftermath when it all went terribly wrong. The animal seemed securely bound during the first half of the shearing, however when the gentleman tried to flip the animal over to remove the other side the alpaca was able to loosen the restraints and squirm free. The gentleman was caught off guard as the alpaca rose to his feet and trampled him while trying to escape the electric clippers. I noticed the man was in terrible pain from the trampling but he somehow managed to gain composure and pursue the half-shaved alpaca. I stood by and watched the alpaca and the man run around the pasture together in a dangerous game of cat and mouse and was flabbergasted to see it continue zig-zaging around the property and eventually on the road through on-coming traffic. It went on like this for quite a while, the old and tired farmer just trying to keep pace with the much more adept animal. At times, the alpaca would stand still just long enough for the man to approach with his rope and harness, then the alpaca would rear his head and spit directly in the man's face. It was a very bizarre scene and by now most of the children that were in attendance were in tears- terrified at the scene before them.
Disgraced and Embarressed
Untitled (Mojave Portrait 31)
I found this desert dweller aimlessly wondering the sand dunes on the outskirts of the Salton Sea. I remember he mumbled something about trying to hop the next freight train east so he could reunite with his lost kitten in West Texas. He had been walking through the Mojave Desert for days without water, food, money or purpose. He was convinced that he was once Richard Nixon in a past life and at times he would make crude and irrelevant comments towards women and children. When I tried to photograph him he repeatedly spit at me while calling me "baby girl." He had apparently confused me with his youngest daughter Lilac.
Zion National Park
Not too much to say about this image. Just a coupple of East Coast cowboys looking for anything hard.
Portraits from the desert
It was some trip and I owe it all to these guys. These are a range of portraits taken through out the desert, from Zion to Sedona to Joshua Tree.
Zion- in square space
These five images were taken in late April as some close friends and I made our way through Zion National Park. More images from the 10-day road trip will follow soon.