Last year, I was approached by an ad agency to shoot a number of images for the Marana Hertiage Project. My goal on this particular image was to complement text on the diversity of outdoor lifestyle available to the residents. We discussed the concept of a hiker overlooking the valley of Marana. After scouting the area, we decided to turn the image around and shoot over the hiker's shoulder while he looks out on the Gallery Golf Club, nestled in the Tortolita Mountains. My hiker is fitness model Kevin Craig.

Due to the need to hike to out location, I went minimalistic on this shot and feel as though we created a very natural looking environmental portrait. Just to the left of our hiker, there are two shoe-mount speedlinghts on stands that were triggered remotely. This filled in the shadows on his left side and added a depth to the image. This is probably a good time to point out that marana is not "the land of multiple suns" and my images often have two or more distinct light sources.

This technique is quite new and cutting-edge. The use of edge lighting, localized hot areas as if created by supernatural beams of light, fill on backlit portraits, and multiple main lights across subjects to illustrate depth and texture was used very little until recently popularized by Dutch artist Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. I learn from some of the best :-)