With “Desert Despair,” I sought to highlight a piece of clothing designed by a close friend, an item that holds deep personal significance. Beyond its design, the shirt connects me to my roots and serves as a powerful form of self-expression. The desert theme felt natural and meaningful, as Mali - my country of origin - is predominantly desert, with approximately 65% of its land covered by it.
When I conceived this shoot, I was in Boston with no direct access to a desert landscape. To overcome this, we chose a beach location and photographed during midday. Significant post-production work, including extensive editing and drone effects, was essential to convincingly recreate the desert environment and bring the concept to life.
