Fire!!!

Oct 25

Recently, I found myself in a group shoot at Bombay Beach on the infamous Salton Sea. For the unacquainted, the Salton Sea is California’s largest accidental lake. In its prime, it was as swanky as a flamingo in a tuxedo—a place where you could go water skiing with Frank Sinatra and catch a fish with your teeth, all while keeping your cocktail dry. Or so I’ve heard. But fast forward to today, and it’s devolved into a charming post-apocalyptic paradise, where the beaches aren’t made of sand but the delicate crunch of bleached fish bones and shattered dreams. True story.

The mastermind behind this photographic circus was none other than a man known only by his initials: PJ. PJ’s real name is shrouded in mystery—perhaps it’s Philbert Johnson, or maybe Paradox Jones. Nobody knows. What I do know is that his two-letter alias only adds to his James-Bond-meets-Banksy aura. PJ isn’t just a damn fine photographer; he’s got the uncanny ability to herd creatives with the efficiency of a Swiss watch and the patience of a yoga instructor who’s too Zen to care.

Lately, PJ’s been entranced by fire performers, who are essentially the love children of flamethrowers and interpretive dancers. Naturally, he managed to corral a troupe of these fiery daredevils, along with a gaggle of photographers (myself included), for a rendezvous at Bombay Beach. The combination of creative types, burning things, and a crumbling wasteland? It was either going to be an artistic epiphany or a spectacular insurance claim waiting to happen. Not that anyone would notice if you burned the place to the ground, as it would only add to the apocalyptic ambiance and might even raise property values.

Organizer: PJ

Performers:

Kayla Kirti
Madie Coryell
Natalie
Bottled.Fire
Jorge Fuentes
Malibu Mermaid
sp3ktral_Phyre