The 100 Day Project #46

New Growth

Tucson, Arizona, 2008

The 100 Day Project, Day 46

In 2007 I moved to Tucson — the gem of Arizona, tucked into the Sonoran Desert. A rich artist's town, home of the University of Arizona, and one of the most visually stunning landscapes I have ever lived in.

The desert is a beautiful, harsh place. It will humble you quickly and completely. The sun dictates your days. The heat informs every decision and tests your intelligence and ability to plan. You learn fast, or you suffer the consequences.

The plants will amaze you. They will also inflict a considerable amount of pain. Evolved to grow slowly — conserving energy, protecting themselves — they are covered in spines and spikes, some nearly invisible until one is lodged in your finger. The desert does not apologize for this. It simply is what it is, and you adjust.

My first few years in Arizona I photographed a lot of cacti. I was drawn to them in the way I am drawn to most things that are quietly, stubbornly determined. This small nub of new growth — pushing out from the body of the cactus, unhurried, unannounced — captivated me. There is something deeply instructive about a plant that has learned to protect itself fiercely while still finding a way to grow. Slowly. On its own terms. In conditions that would defeat most things.

The desert taught me a version of that. It took a while, but I learned.

About the 100 Day Project: A global creative challenge where thousands of artists share a piece of their practice every single day for 100 days. I'm joining creatives around the world, and I'm excited to bring you along. Each day I'll be sharing one of my photos — some recent, some old, and some from my current project — along with the story behind it: where I was, who I was with, and why I love it.