heading home

After 8 days on the road I'm on my way back to Los Angeles. I began my trip flying into Baltimore as I had a shoot the next day about an hour outside of the city. That shoot took place at a mansion that was on a lake it was incredible-I hope the photos turn out well! The next day I found my way into Darlington. It is a camp ground rented out for the Nude in Nature photo event I was working. Check in was supposed to start at noon (even though we couldn't start shooting until 4), and when I arrived almost no one was there. The organizers hadn't arrived, just me...and then a van pulled up. It was a photographer who drove in with 2 models...one of them being my good buddy, Eva Luna. The photographer was supposed to help with set-up, so he was just dropping off the models. The three of us girls decided to go get some lunch while we were waiting for everyone to show up. It was fun to get to catch up a little bit and hang out. I did some shooting that evening including photographing Eva a little bit (I can't wait to share those images with you all). Eva and I shared a hotel room because last year when I did the event it was so ungodly hot that camping was definitely not an option. This year it was actually surprisingly cool, it was unusual for August in Maryland. Anyway, there's so much to say about this past weekend, but the main part was that I worked my butt off (Saturday I literally did 12 hours of photo shoots). I love these sort of events where everyone gets together and it makes it easy for people to collaborate without having to travel all over town. One location, and tons of artists. I pretty much survived off of peanut butter and jelly for 3 days straight, and 5-6 hrs of sleep-but man i'm so glad I did it. Sometimes I need to just travel and create art.

Although NIN was still going on Sunday, I took off because I booked two shoots outside of the event. Unfortunately I failed to look at a map when booking these jobs because they were about 100 miles apart..womp. either way, I was really happy to have all the work because my dog's vet bills last month were higher than my rent (eek!). Sooo.. Monday I worked around Maryland, Tuesday in DC, and then Wednesday I had two photo shoots in Delaware. This was an exceptional amount of driving but it was worth it. I worked with Steven Billups that morning who is one of my favorite fine art photographers. He and I originally worked together in Mexico-but I have shot with him once or twice since then. The shoot itself was physically taxing-we (me, him and another model) take a canoe out into these river ways... the weather was not cooperating and it kept raining on us. The biggest issue was that it had rained all night, so the water was cold, the rain drops were cold, and the wind on us was colder. I think it would have been a lot more tolerable clothed, but being nude and exposed to the elements is not easy. All of my muscles hurt from shivering and holding awkward poses (he shoots film so it is a lot slower of a process). Despite the discomfort, these shoots are very rewarding. Beautiful artwork comes of them, and all parties are very proud of the experience. I had one more shoot-which was inside an art museum which was also fun and creative-lots of body shapes and forms behind plexiglass... and then off to Baltimore once again.

Unfortunately I didn't get to see any friends who live in Baltimore because I was just so busy, but I'm really happy to be so busy. Sometimes I forget to stop and be thankful for everything I have. I may be exhausted, but at least I am working.

Anyway everyone, I am back in LaLa land (I began this update on the flight yesterday and am finishing it now). I'll be working on prints this weekend and should have a photo update up soon.

xoxo

Carlotta