Wakinyan
"Wakinyan is a Lakota word meaning thunder, or thunder spirit. The language is one used by native people of the American Great Plains.
I chose Wakinyan as the title of this short film because it describes one of the few things that still exists on the Plains unaltered by man. It has always existed, and will – hopefully - remain unchanged. Wakinyan offers a glimpse into a pristine, natural world displayed on a canvas as big as the sky.
I photographed the content during the spring of 2016, mostly in Texas, Colorado and the Nebraska Sandhills. It required thousands of miles driving, and being exposed to biting flies, gooey mud, blowing dust, and long nights. The hail, tornadoes and constant barrage of lightning didn’t bother me as it’s something I grew up with. In fact, if I go a month without storms and the reassuring sound of thunder, I get grumpy, gain weight and begin to lose consciousness.
Shooting aerials can be challenging in high winds. I compensated by sampling a wind profile prior to filming. Those characteristics change quite a bit depending on topography."