Comfort Zones

So I have been at Bombay Beach just over a week now, and I have to admit I am totally out of my comfort zone. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled to be here, and I think it's probably not a bad thing to search and look at things in a new way.

I'll be very honest, I thought the inspiration would come rushing to me and I would be shooting like a woman possessed. But being 'stuck' in one place as opposed to being used to having a car and driving around, is proving to be a bit of a challenge. I have taken to walking the streets of Bombay Beach, armed with my cameras, trying to look at things from a different angle, but I am just not 'seeing' it. Guess I am just not the type of documentary photographer needed in this type of place. Which is perfectly alright of course, I'll quite happily stick to what I do best and shoot nudes, plenty of interesting places here to do so. Which leads to my next problem: finding the right people to shoot with. Considering Bombay Beach is three hours away from LA and San Diego, convincing someone to drive down to shoot with me, while all I can pay for is their gas, is a challenge. One I shall overcome, because that's what challenges are for, right?

Then there is my new home, the asylum, which is an old trailer. I'm enjoying the privacy, have my own bedroom, a shower that works, and a fridge to keep some food in. But the wifi doesn't come all the way down here, and last night the hotspot I created via my iPhone stopped working and I haven't been able to get it going again. It basically means I have to walk up to Tao's house to catch the wifi there, taking me away from the comfort of my own place. Again, not a big deal, but I was so comfy sitting on my bed with my macbook on my lap.

Talking about the trailer, it is rusty and noisy and the front door doesn't close properly and can't be locked. There is a thorny bush right outside my bedroom and last night during the wind storm, its branches were scratching against the trailer and it sounded really creepy. The front door blows open when it's windy, but I have now found a way to keep it closed. Confession: I slept with a knife under my pillow last night. All the noises were just freaking me out and I was getting a little paranoid about someone breaking in. I leave the lights on in the front part of the trailer but now I'm wondering whether that's a good idea, because it does make it stand out from the street. Mum, dad, don't worry, there's security cameras being installed soon!

Anyway, I shall leave you with a polaroid I shot a few days ago. There's two oldtimers parked here, remnants from the previous Biennale, and I just can't get enough of their sleek lines. Cheerio!