Swami Select | Departures
Photo Editor: Scott Hall
Location: California, USA
I was excited to hit the road, driving from my home in the Bay Area to northern California to meet and photograph someone named Swami. I didn’t know much about him, or what I’d find when I got there—weed culture isn’t really my scene, so this was well outside my usual experiences. But meeting new people and being invited into their worlds, even as a stranger, is exactly what first drew me to photography. After being told I’d need four-wheel drive and would have to call from a nearby gas station for the final directions, I arrived at an idyllic farm tucked away in the hills. What I found was a soft, gentle soul, living in peace with the world around him on this simple farm. It’s these kinds of unexpected journeys, filled with surprises and new faces, that remind me why I love doing this.