Perspectives submission by photographer, Larena Nellies-Ortiz: “At sunset, we stepped out into the desert brush just outside of Bishop, California and with the mountains looming beyond and the scent of sage brush all around us, 20 minutes of magic and presence ensued. This photo shoot was inspired by the haunting beauty of the high sierra desert and a nostalgia for the past. My friend Sonia wanted to honor her old ballet shoes which she rediscovered while helping her mother move from her childhood home. The shoot is both an homage to lifelong passions and the bittersweet sense of loss when we inevitably leave certain paths for others– and the longing which that leaves within us.”

Photographer: Larena Nellies-Ortiz
Model: Sonia Mitchell