The thing with photoshoots is that you require your subjects to be away from the hustle and bustle of the crowds. Whilst that is what we live for, there are only a few ways of realistically achieving this in a country renowned for its beaches; get up very early, wait until super late, usher sun-baked tourists out of sight or hike, quite literally, off the beaten track.
In truth, what happens is a combination of all four of these things, all at the same time, leading to a frenzy of activity, unforeseen obstacles and very long days. Behind the lens is a very different story to in front of it. There are countless stories from that week I could tell of heroic efforts from those involved. Such as the hours spent moving sand, via a small bailer bucket, in the midday sun to build a fake beach upon a thick mud flat in Lake Cedrino to get the perfect campfire shot, or losing the van key only to find it had been lost and submerged in seawater breaking the immobiliser and leaving us stranded for most of the night in Porto Ainu. Then there is the paddling tens of miles each day against burning, tired muscles in the unrelenting heat of the sun to position yourself for the perfect sunset, or clearing irritated sun burnt tourists from the packed Cala Luna beach only to clear the landing for an over-flowing cruise boat and undo hours of work and face a crowd of infuriated beach goers.
