This is Arcana
Take chances on yourself and say yes to opportunities that come your way. This was one of those moments for me. I was simply taking photos and posting on Instagram when, out of nowhere, I got a message from a local photographer. She was organizing a Joshua Tree shoot from October 11-13 for artists and creatives, capturing four archetypes: the Lover, The Artist, The Healer, and The Outlaw. There were a few motorcycles and vintage cars involved, about 4 creatives participating—some creating content for themselves, others just having fun in front of the lens.
I gladly accepted the invitation. This experience pushed me out of my comfort zone. I met everyone for the first time in person, embraced the unknown, and dove in. While there were concepts for the shoot, the main goal was to come together, collaborate, and create beautiful imagery, all while connecting with amazing people along the way. This is what unfolded because I said yes.
Joshua Tree truly embodies change and acceptance for me. During this weekend-long trip, it revealed something important: I finally understood that I am good at what I do. People recognized my work, and the way I capture images is something beautiful. I had lost sight of that a few years ago, but this place and these people helped me regain my creativity.
I found confidence in my work again and pushed myself beyond my comfort zone. I realized that doors will open for you, but you have to walk up to them and open them yourself to take the next step. It’s all on you. You have to do the work to get there and be willing to embrace change and live in the moment.
Since leaving my past life with someone, I’ve struggled with confidence. But this experience showed me that showing up for yourself and doing things that make you uncomfortable will make you stronger. You never know who you’ll meet on that journey—it might even be yourself.
These images are my favorites from that weekend. I use a Leica Q-P, which photographers often consider an old camera, but to me, it’s a great tool. You are limited to a 28mm focal length and a 24-megapixel sensor, which I’m used to from all the cameras I’ve used in the past. I will say this camera has pushed me in a direction that made me truly fall in love with photography again. I did say that buying a Leica Q would be the last camera I’m going to buy, and I truly believe that.
When you look at these photos, you can see the variety of locations and even the different editing styles I experimented with this weekend. I definitely had my challenges with the camera—from a short battery life to its performance in low light—but that’s where you learn more about the camera and how to push it to its limits to get the most from that sensor.
I edited all the content in Lightroom using presets from verygoodpresets, which really help maximize this Leica sensor and elevate the photos from good to better.
