Eastern Sierra Desert

The sun warms our skin and small rodents dart between the bushes as we walk past them, our boots stirring up dust into the dry air of the Eastern Sierra desert. It’s nice to be out in the open after spending a few days wandering through dense forests in Yosemite National Park.

When I studied photography back in 2010 – 2012 I loved fashion photography and thought that was what I wanted to work with. I spent so much time in the studio with models, stylists and make up artists. During this experimental period I quickly realised that I prefer to do portrait photography outside in nature or in an inspiring environment such as a cool café, rustic shed or a well styled home.

I also soon felt that I do not want to be a part of the hectic fashion industry focused on materialism and this crazy fixation about appearance. Slowly my photography changed into what it is today: Down to earth, slow, genuine, sustainable and heavily inspired by nature.

Portrait photography is still something I absolutely love though, and during one of our days in Yosemite we decided to leave the park and head towards Monolake. There we came upon this desert-like landscape with the sun hanging low over the mountains.

Straight away I knew I just had to take some photos of Ida in her western-inspired outfit, stomping up some of that Eastern Sierra desert dust.

≫ See all my posts from my California trip here

➵ All the photos are shot using a Nikon D610 and Sigma Art 35mm f/1.4