MIAMI + BAHAMAS ON FILM

We boarded a plane to Miami and when I arrived I was not expecting to feel like I was on a film set, but it was just like the movies. Miami was a caricature of itself, there was a 10pm curfew the day we arrived because of a shooting the night before and police were swarming the streets. Granted we caught the final days of spring break so i’m not totally surprised by the chaos of it all, it added to the experience. I was so mesmerised that forgot to take many photos the first night, but the next day it all calmed down and I got some beautiful shots of the art deco architecture, the beaches and Ocean Drive, and think I managed to capture the charm of Miami.

A few days later we boarded a tiny plane to the Bahamas main Island and then a small ferry to a tiny local island. It was everything I imagined and more. We rented the most beautiful traditional beach villa with 360 views and about 40 steps down to the longest stretch of white sand beach i’d ever seen, which was basically all ours, save for about 2 or 3 others who wonder down it each day for a daily walk. Honestly never been so blown away by a holiday, and felt acutely aware of how lucky we were to be there.

There was a devastating hurricane there a few years back and the locals were all still talking about it, and rebuilding the island from the ground up. They were about half way there but there was still a long way to go. You could still see and feel the affects of the disaster when walking around. A stark reminder of the implications of natural disasters, and the need for community in times of crisis.

We spent all 13 days there drinking Goombay Smashes (their version of a rum punch), Conch fritters, Coconut shrimp and Blackened fish, on repeat. Bliss.

I took these on an Olympus OM10 using 35mm Portra 400 film