Steady 70 Photography

April 20, 2009

Fort Irwin and The Rockpile

This is the writen words of W.Self 1981: it describes the The Rockpile:

The Rockpile:

How many have been to this "Desert Retreat" To Train, as they sweat and curse the heat? How many have come to play the war games does anyone know, is there a record of names? How many units throughout history long before this NTC (National Training
Center) Have Braved the sun. the wind, the sand, and all the rigors a soldiers must stand. So many have come and gone on their way from the time of Patton to the present day/ With Honor they fought some died to preserve the country they solemnly vowed they would serve.

And so, let's take the time to praise that unit who came in long past days to train to fight, but on a lark established a tradition by leaving it's mark.

Through years have erased their memory there still remains for all to see a mute, but living testament to those who've passed Fort Irwin through.
The Rockpile stands in glorious hues. May the memory of each fighting unit infuse, each soldier with pride that this legacy will be carried on by
the NTC. (National Training Center)

W.Self, 1981

April 5, 2009

A day in the mountains and the desert of Palm Springs

A day in the mountains and the desert of Palm Springs

A model from Alabama, a makeup artist from Japan, a stylist from Indonesia, and I head up to Palm Springs for a day of shooting and 4 wheel driving in a front wheeled rent a car. The day began at 8am and I have not even finished my first cup of coffee and I have the united nations in my living room or my cousin’s living room, we are prepping to leave and hopefully not get crushed by traffic as we make our way out of the city.

Packing up the car everyone has stuffed their belongings in the trunk... shoes, dresses, bags, water bottles, hangers, and I think also a midget. We are off…… The drive went quickly as the 4 of us began to wake up, and over the first few hours we all got along laughed and told some stories… This is our story from today which includes a few dirt roads, high winds gusts up to 50 miles an hour, a rattlesnake, and skoal chewing guy in a pickup truck from a wildlife conservatory! Ito Mieko -makeup artist- Isaac Tjaja -Stylist- Michelle Joyce -model- and I, the driver/photographer had an interesting day as you will see.