Anything Goes #1 Photograph - Limited Edition of 10

Supported by styling brands, Sophie and I travel Namibia in 2016 for a long 25-days shooting trip in 4wd with a rooftop tent. In the Namib Desert, Dead Vlei is an ancient marsh dotted with 900yo sun burnt acacias, one of the driest places on Earth. High mountain photographer, I know this extreme environment calls for caution: 8:30am there, 6L of water, set off is planned by 10am A long drive from anywhere, the feeling of distance here is total, the beauty is surreal. Sun and heat rise fast, luckily a light breeze and the faint tree shades allow cooling down a little. It is so inspiring we can’t stop shooting 11:00am My brain rings danger, at regrets I tell Sophie we need to go. Sophie: “we should shoot a nude” How can I say no here? Sophie dances, in symbiosis with the landscape, her body echoes the black and tortuous trees, she is beautiful, a zenithal contrasting sunlight fills the scene. I shoot this photo 11:20am I trigger departure. Red sand on the edge of the Vlei is burning hot. We climb the first dune, it cuts the breeze off, in full sun we probably reach 55°C. I fool myself thinking we will regain relative cool air at the top. The wind has traveled miles of sand: it’s even warmer! 20min walk, I won't tell Sophie the extreme danger of our situation. No more sweating, my kidneys have stopped working, drinking is useless. I pour some water on our heads and clothes to gain a few degrees by evaporation. Sophie wants to stop for a nap, she staggers, I support her on my shoulder and push her to move forward. I learn later she suffered 0,5°C brain temperature rise, causing dizziness and incoherence. We make it to the car, I lay Sophie on the ground and soak her with our 40L water tank, and do the same to me. Air-conditioning full on, we stay unable to talk for a while before recovering partly That day remains for us a mix of marvelous and critical, a unique memory Printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Photo Rag Baryta 315 gr Includes a Certificate of Authenticity