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Once Upon a Time in Almería  

During the 1960s and 1970s, the region of Almeria, Spain, was host to dozens of filmmakers who constructed elaborate movie sets, invoking locations from the American Southwest to Bedouin Arabia. Films shot here include Cleopatra, Lawrence of Arabia, Patton, and Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns starring Clint Eastwood. Film directors sought to manipulate the otherwise uninhabitable landscape in order to create a world more imaginary than real. Four decades later remnants of the old movie sets remain in the desert, providing seemingly tangible evidence of human settlements that never really existed.

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Latest News
Oct 23, 2012

Fotoweek DC Schedule  

Exhibit Open: Once Upon a Time in Almeria Embassy of Spain, 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC Visiting hours: M-Th 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, F 9:30 am to 2:30 pm More details here

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Latest News
Oct 22, 2012

Press Coverage: Once Upon a Time in Almeria  

My exhibit of photographs ‘Once Upon a Time in Almeria‘ is open at the Spanish Embassy in Washington, DC, through November 16. We’ve had some great press coverage of the exhibit so far, especially in Spain. I did an interview with the EFE news agency which appeared in several papers, WAMU gave a shout out via Art Beat, and La Voz de Almeria devoted a full page to the opening. Look for more coverage forthcoming from WAMU and other outlets. Upcoming events include: Thursday, October 18, 6:30-9:00PM: Film Program and discussion on landscapes of the spaghetti western Wednesday, November 14, 6:30-8:30PM: […]

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The Denver Mine  

The surviving structures of the Denver mining plant hang precariously off the hillside above the town of Rodalquilar, inside the Cabo de Gata natural park. The buildings still bear black painted letters–”Dorm Block B,” “Guard Block D”–from a movie production almost 30 years ago. The foundations of the separation tanks create enormous circles at the bottom of the hill. Across the plain lies the Mediterranean ocean. The mining industry transformed the landscape of Almeria during the nineteenth century as modern technology allowed for large scale exploitation of iron, lead and other resources. Activity slowed during the Spanish Civil War in […]

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The Final Duel  

Mortimer stands eyeing his Colt Buntline Special on the ground, which has just been shot out of his hand. Indio approaches holding a musical watch. Inside the watch is a picture of Mortimer’s sister, who shot herself while being raped by Indio. The two gunmen stand inside a large circle bounded by a low stone wall at the edge of town. In the background is only desert, a few dry shrubs and distant mountains. Manco approaches, offering his gunbelt and pistol to Mortimer before taking a seat on the low wall. The duel begins. As Indio starts to reach for […]

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Press
Mar 17, 2011

“Landscapes de un Sueño” in today’s La Voz de Almeria  

The article appears online also here. 

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Press
Mar 13, 2011

Washington Post: Photographers share tips for budding shutterbugs  

The cover story on friday’s Washington Post Weekend section highlighted the work of three DC photographers, including Joshua Cogan, Josh Sisk, and myself. Journalist Lavanya Ramanathan provides an engaging look at what drives these three photographers and also includes some expert advice on how to take better pictures. The Post gave lots of space to showcase selected images, including my panoramic shot of the old Flagstone set from Sergio Leone’s Once Upon a Time in the West. The article is accompanied by a guide to March photography events in DC — it’s a busy month, including friday March 18 openings […]

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Lawrence of Arabia and an Illegal Hotel  

Almost half a century ago ago this barren section of the Almeria coastline in southern Spain was bustling with the activity of a small metropolis. Workers were constructing a replica of the city of Aqaba for the filming of the famous battle scene in Lawrence of Arabia. After the shoot, the entire set was dismantled, leaving the rocky coastline exactly as it had been before. The site now lies within the borders of the protected natural park of Cabo de Gata. A few years ago, a developer began construction on a mega-resort complex alongside the Algarrobico beach, a few hundred […]

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