Congratulations to my dear friend Micca with release of her first album Looking Up. I’m doubly proud not only because I love the work, but also because shooting album cover art was our first mutual collaboration together in studio. With so much gratitude for our friendship and creative partnership, I’m happy to present below photos documenting the year’s artistic journey from Tulum to Mexico City. Please share and support Micca’s music on iTunes, Spotify or all other digital platforms.
I spent most of September, 2014, traveling in Cusco Region of Southern Peru. Following an old personal dream to explore and photograph various parts of this region, I stepped way outside my own comfort zone and into another mysterious world as the ancient perspective of Inca unfolded before my senses. From Cusco to Pisac, Calca, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu and beyond, the days spent hiking and driving up and down stark Andes mountains challenged my physical endurance and mental strength until complete exhaustion, which I mean in the most positive sense of the word possible. And while it was exciting to see the enormous rewards brought into my life by daily discipline of cycling and yoga practice I began two years ago, the ultimate endurance test came during second part of my trip when friends at Paititi Institute invited me to visit and photograph their newly acquired 4,000 acres of pristine and unexplored mountain land called Larapata, located in the midst of the Mapacho River Valley in the Andes bordering Manu National Park. Spending time with Paititi Institute organization members and learning about their challenging permaculture projects, healing work and indigenous conservation efforts taught me the true meaning of humility and total respect for Nature… Please join me below as I take you along my colorful journey through Southern highlands of Peru.
Ollantaytambo, Urubamba Province
Hiking through Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes
Machu Picchu
Pisac, Calca Province
Ancient Pre-Inca rock paintings and sacred coca leaf offerings in Chawaytiri
The long road to Hualla, Paucartambo Province
Larapata mountain and Rio Mapacho
My recent production in Tulum, Mexico, was a dreamworld scenario – I had to stay at Casa Maya Ka’an for a few days and photograph the house and the wonderful Mayan family of staff who take care of the property. Best part – Casa Maya Ka’an is located on my favorite stretch of Mexican Caribbean coast in Sian Ka’an Biosphere and my shot list basically included all the local Tulum lifestyle highlights my friends and I are addicted to – the beautiful nature of Sian Ka’an Biosphere, exploring hidden Mayan ruins and lagoons, kitesurfing, yoga, massages, food, friends and fun. As a result – this is how your typical day looks when you stay in Casa Maya Ka’an.
Images from my shoot for Fall/Winter 2014 GlamRocks Jewelry lookbook in Chicago.
Credits:
Jewelry: www.glamrocksjewelry.com
Model: Kate Gordin
Make-up: Lesia Babych
Mural paintings: Chadwick C. Plays
Always a pleasure to work and play with one of my favorite clients JOSA Tulum.
Links:
JOSA Tulum: www.josatulum.com
Images from my shoot with Coco Tulum showcasing the hotel’s personal training classes, spa services and a very special temazcal ceremony (Mayan sweat lodge) with local shamans.
Links:
Location: Coco Tulum Hotel -Â www.cocotulum.com
One of the best things about my work is an opportunity to reveal through images truly unique and beautiful souls from around the world. Enormous gratitude to this lovely actor/dancer from London, Dasha, who reminded me what it’s like to dance with your heart.
Links:
Swimsuit: Leafy Natural Couture - www.leafy.com.br
Location: Coco Tulum Hotel -Â www.cocotulum.com
Images from a beautiful morning photo-shoot with Leafy Natural Couture.
Links:
Swimsuit: Leafy Natural Couture - www.leafy.com.br
Location: Coco Tulum Hotel – www.cocotulum.com
Model: Rebecca Jo – ablogbyrebeccajo.tumblr.com
Interior photography, Playa Azul Hotel.
Some of the beautiful yogis in Tulum, Mexico, photographed during sunset practicing acro-yoga on the beach and SUP yoga in a nearby cenote.
Recent client work for Tulum’s new boutique hotel – My Way.
Couple of weeks ago, during Mexico’s Day of the Dead weekend I was visiting my two photographer friends - Masha Osipova and Mauricio Palos - in Merida, Yucatán. We decided to play a 24-hour game. The objective was to:
1. Conceive of an idea for a photo-shoot using historically or culturally significant location
We scouted Merida’s incredible abandoned haciendas left over from prosperous days of Yucatan’s henequén cactus production and distribution (read my previous story about Merida’s significance to the peninsula.) Palos said he knew of one huge house that might work in a place called Cholul on the outskirts of the city.
2. Shoot
We drove on a whim to check the place out and it was perfect. The shoot took four hours to complete and we switched playing different roles – director, model, production assistant, etc. My idea was to turn Masha into a live altar decorated with marigold flowers picked up in a village on the way to Cholul. We also composed a couple of shots of a jungle-ninja character together. The night before we went to see Gravity. Masha was inspired and threw another challenge in the game – to use an element from the film in her image. Mauricio wanted Masha and I to characterize two ghost-sisters, daughters of a European plantation owner who continue wandering around the hacienda until present day.
3. Print
Each of us had to choose two-three final images to print. We found a local printer in Merida who was able to accommodate large format.
4. Exhibit
For the expo we decided to paste our prints on the walls inside the hacienda where we took them (haha, to entertain all the borrachos and drogadictos who may use the house to crash.) At this point in the game I had to return to Tulum for a job, so Masha and Palos promised to complete it without me. A day or two later, my friends organized to make the paste at home, then jumped on Mauricio’s bike and went back to Cholul, taking care of all the remaining business. When the work was finished, they took incredible photos to share with me, which now I’m happy to share with you.
Some image selections from the shoot:
Images of the expo:
Images from my shoot for Fall/Winter 2013 GlamRocks Jewelry lookbook in Chicago.
Links:
www.glamrocksjewelry.com
For the TAO Inspired Living project I was hired to create a library of images that showcase values of connection, inspiration, creativity and compassion upon which this development was built. Located in a stunning jungle landscape along Riviera Maya’s Caribbean coast and designed with elegance and simplicity, TAO is a community of residents who share a common desire for a healthy, inspired life that is in balance with our environment and the greater world.
I’m happy to finally unveil a selection of images created for my latest client – beautifully designed Wellness Center at TAO Inspired Living development in Riviera Maya, Mexico. In the next post I will share photos of private residences, exteriors and golf courses that comprise the rest of the project.
In the beginning of 2013 I took my previously sporadic yoga practice to a much more disciplined level of focus and consistency. It changed my life. I would like to share a few recent images marking my progress.
Earlier this month I had a wonderful time shooting new look book images for GlamRocks Jewelry Spring/Summer 2013 collection. I want to express an enormous thanks to Kristen Davis Molenhouse for trusting me to capture the beauty of her lovely designs, to Mariam Dedyn for her glow and inspiration, and of course to the beaches of Tulum for morning light brilliance.
Links:
www.glamrocksjewelry.com
Images from my shoot for Fall/Winter 2014 GlamRocks Jewelry lookbook in Chicago. Credits: Jewelry:…
My recent production in Tulum, Mexico, was a dreamworld scenario – I had to stay at Casa Maya …
The much hyped about date of December 21, 2012, is a couple of days away. Since I live on Yucatan pe…
In this story I’m switching gears to Central Mexico. Two months ago while traveling through PÃ…
I spent the night of December 21 doing what I love most – shooting the sky. Completely impromp…
