As a beauty photographer, I look for inspiration from many diverse sources: museums, mythology, films, cultural events, opera, ballet, etc. I had just been to see James Cameron’s Avatar and was completely captivated by all aspects of the film - so much so that I went to see it twice. I was drawn to the obvious, such as the camera work, the story, and the technology, as well as its subtle parallels to the treatment of the American Indians, gross neglect of our own planet’s ecosystems, and Eastern inspired spiritual philosophies. For me everything came together in a marvelous way. He is a master storyteller, and I think it was his best film to date. It really resonated with me on a very personal level.The photograph was a cover for PhotoTechniques magazine accompanied by an article I wrote describing the production experience. In addition I produced a short "behind the scenes" video which is available on the internet and soon to be on my new website.