I
have been fortunate to travel around much of the world taking
photographs - but I don’t think I have found a better backdrop to stage a
shoot than this remote outpost on the Mexican border in Big Bend Ranch
State Park. It was a hell of a drive from the team’s base in Marfa and
securing permits was challenging, but I knew it would be worthwhile -
the building and the mountains behind were just so good. They play
effortlessly into the lore of the Wild West. Better still, the area is
called Contraband Creek.The nearest town of note is the bizarre art
community of Terlingua. It is difficult to imagine the circumstances
that led to people living around here unless they were in a witness
protection programme or cooking crystal meth. It’s a sketchy place that
would look at home in a Mad Max movie, not mainstream Texas.It was clear
that whatever I did with this gift of a canvas, the concept had to be
badass and mean. Josie Canseco - the Victoria’s Secret girl - was
perfect for the lead role as she can look badass and still retain her
femininity and sexuality. My instincts were that my camera lens should
be encroaching upon a place of outlaws and that the underlying narrative
should major on the dangers of trespassing.There could be no happy
ending for the trespasser here.