Shot in Bolivia atop the world’s largest salt flats, Salar de Uyuni, the Far Far Away series is probably best known for its whimsical photos of adorable llamas. The first installment, launched in 2013, was about capturing the whimsical happiness of a place unknown and produced the wildly popular, yet sold out, _Llamas Black & White Balloons_. In 2017, I returned to Bolivia with the goal to create a new set of photographs that would compliment their predecessors, yet also build upon them with new ideas focused on shape and color theory. Released later the same year,the second installment of Far Far Awaychallenged the viewer to think more broadly when it came to visual perception in this geographically unique environment.
Fast forward to today, I am very proud to release the third installment of my very special series, Far Far Away. Upon return from the 2017 shoot, I had the happy realization that my team and I had created more than enough for two separate releases. It was not easy to divide them, but I think once you see the newly released images and pair them with the previous, you’ll (hopefully) agree that the series continues to evolve and grow in a way that is as natural as the flats themselves.
## GEOMETRIC SHAPES
Inspired by the new age of digital technologies that capture images in pixels, I created a series of images that focused on the square. In a variety of color combinations, the squareseamlessly hovers in air, as well as colorful _Dots_ laying atop the salt floor.
Whereas, the 30 x 30" acrylic circles were meant to create a surreal color story. By playing with different color combinations of neon and primary colors, I feel that these images not only focus on the theory of color but also the refracted light seen on the ground.
## PYRAMIDS
I have long been inspired by the geometry of the pyramid, especially in that throughout the years people have used it in architecture and design. Through this series, I incorporated the inspirational shape into a new reality of thegeometric figures rising up from the desert floor, creating a surreal yet playful moment for all to enjoy.
## UNEXPECTED OBJECTS
I use the phrase "unexpected objects" loosely here, of course, as the entire series is quite unexpected. However, I'm grouping the next couple images together, as I want you all to come back on Thursday for a Behind the Scenes look at how this series was created. I promise to go more indepth on all of the particulars it took to create these images from the latest Far Far Away release. The next two seemed like an excellent end to this overview of the third installment, though as each overlaps with ideas and concepts seen in other facets of my work.
Considering the scope of my photography varies vastly from beach aerials tomore conceptual series such as this one, I took the opportunity on this shoot toincorporate other elements of my work into this desert-like landscape. In combination with myfascination with rainbows, I brought my love for the beach and the sprinkling of umbrellas along the sand with me to Bolivia. The result came in more than one interation but for now I give you...the _Rainbow Umbrellas II_.
To round it up, I looked to my series, Up & Away. Inspired by my ‘_Pineapple Balloons_’ image, I decided to push the concept further by painting two-dozen pineapples white and having them appear to be floating above the horizon line of the Salar.
To see all of the latest from Far Far Away III, look no further than the GM Shop, then be sure to follow along here and on @graymalin. I will be sharing lots more _on the how_ I pulled this incredible series off! The best part of it all, though (for the most part) is what you see is _in fact_ what I photographed. Pretty cool, right?
Cheers,
xx
Gray