Hi Everyone,

Today, I am excited to turn the spotlight on my Private Collection. There are four series (so far) that fall under this specification. The common denominator is that each series was shot in an off the beaten path location. Due to the lengthstaken to achieve the images as well as each series individual uniqueness, there is also extra care taken in their overall execution from my studio to your home. To elaborate, each photograph from the Private Collection is printed on special museum quality paper to ensure longevity and eachseries is offered in low editions, which increase the overall value of the art. Let’s get to know this special collection of series:

ART OF LIVING

Staging highly stylized interior design pieces in the unexpected settingatop the sparkling waters of Bora Bora, this series juxtaposes natural and man-made beauty. It's my hope that when seeing these images, it will challenge the viewer to interpret the art of design from a fresh pair of eyes.For Art of Living, Iconceptualized a 15 foot by 15 foot mirrored platform and worked with local Polynesian engineers to construct it. Then, an archetypal selection of mid-century modern pieces were selected, sourced, andcurated into 12 individual vignettes;placed along the platform andcast along thesparkling French Polynesian waters, these vignettes were then photographed from a vantage point that presentedthesilhouette of Mount Otemanu as aperfectly symmetrical backdrop.

Perhaps the most iconic of the pieces I selected for this series, the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, designed by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller. This piece along withThe Den, are both especially personal for me, as all of this furniture can be found in my great grandparents summer home.

To learn more about this series and how it was accomplished, I recommend the_Behind the Scenes_ postas well as this interview with Paper magazine.

MIRAGE: NAMIBIA

Drawn to the rich landscapes of the sparsely populated country of Namibia, I created this body of work in one ofthe most hauntingly beautiful places on earth. At the baseof the tallest sand dune in the world sits a thousand-year-old clay pan named ‘Dead Vlei’, or ‘Dead Marsh’.Once fed by a river, the pan gave birth to many camelthorn trees before the dunes shifted a thousand years ago,blocking the river and drying the pan. Dried to a crisp, the white silt pan is filled with 900 year old skeletons of old Camel Thorn trees that cease to decompose due to the lack of moisture. These trees were the muse for my project and the shining stars of this series.

If you're curious about learning more about Namibia, I recommend this recent travel post about the best places to travel during the fall season. I know Namibia may not be at the top of everyone's listbut believe me - it is worth takinga longer look at this hauntingly magical country.

ANTARCTICA: THE WHITE CONTINENT

This is a series that I am so proud of as Antarctica is the last true wilderness of our planet and itis dramatically changing just as we are starting torecognize and understand its great significance. Journeying byboat from South America, I was drawn to thenatural landscape of the glacier covered continent as well as the formations of the freely floating icebergs. The resulting images were a true accomplishment and I consider myself quite lucky to have achieved them without falling into the freezing waters!

To learn more about it and the series, check out this post. A portion of proceeds from theAntarctica seriesgoes to The Climate Reality Project; theymovethe climate change conversation forward and turns awareness into action.

BHUTAN: LAND OF HAPPINESS

Nestled in the Himalayas, the Kingdom of Bhutan is a destination that few people will ever be able to visit, yet it isa place that defines abelief sharedbyall: happiness. To see behind the scenes photos about what I mean, be sure to check out my post Brand New: Bhutan.

While in Bhutan, I was quite simply blown away by the people of this tiny country. The warmth and curiousity in my work that I received from every person I met was truly humbling and an experience that won't ever be forgotten.One of my favorite images from the series isentitled,Enchantment. You cannot even imagine how amazing it was to have these monks become enchanted by the balloons and kindly step in and pose for the shot! I don't know if there is any image like this of its kind...

It really is surreal taking a trip down memory lane with these four series. I hope I helped shed some light on what the Private Collection is all about and perhaps peaked a few curious minds out there to research a trip to one or two of these incredible destinations. Thanks so much for joining me today!

Cheers

xx

Gray