Karen — 1993, Guam

It’s funny — I can’t remember exactly how we connected back in the early 90s. There was no Instagram, no email blasts, no DMs. Somehow, though, we found each other. She reached out, we met, and within days, we were shooting on the beaches of Guam.

Her name was Karen, and she was passing through from Japan, where she modeled professionally. I think she was Venezuelan. She only had a couple of days on the island before heading off again, so there was no time to overthink — we just picked a location, packed a bikini, and went.

For me, it was a first. I’d never worked with a professional model before, and it showed in my excitement — and probably in my shooting pace. I was working with my Nikon F90 (or N90 in the US), loaded with black and white film, trying to keep up with someone who already knew how to move, where the light was, and when the shot was happening.

We only shot together that one time, but it left an impression. I learned what it felt like to work with someone who brought their rhythm to a shoot — and how much that elevated my work.

⚙️ Tech Notes

Camera: Nikon F90 (N90 in the U.S.)

Film: Ilford HP5 Plus (ISO 400)

Location: Beach in Guam

Light: Natural light, mostly open shade with sea/sand bounce

Process: Developed and scanned from 35mm negatives