
Benzie Recalls Experience from Outback to the Sea of Cortez and more Baja Collection Inspiration
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After I packed and flew from Australia to Los Angeles then down to Mexico, I met my friend Diego and we jumped in his trusty van and headed on a journey. Armed with camera and overwhelming urge to capture the essence of Baja, I set off northward along the peninsula.
The first few days were a blur of sun-drenched beaches and margaritas, but as I ventured further from the tourist hotspots, Baja's true character began to reveal itself. Just outside of La Paz, I stumbled upon a field of cardón cacti that seemed to stretch endlessly into the horizon. Their massive silhouettes against the setting sun stopped me in my tracks. I spent hours that evening frantically photographing, trying to capture the play of light and shadow.
As I continued north, the landscape transformed. The Sierra de la Giganta mountains loomed to my left, their rugged peaks a stark contrast to the sparkling Sea of Cortez on my right. Near Loreto, I found myself captivated by the interplay of desert and sea. The painting that emerged from that stop became one of my favorites in the collection - a study in blues and earth tones that somehow managed to capture the essence of Baja's duality.
The real turning point came in Cataviña. The boulder fields there were unlike anything I'd ever seen - massive rocks strewn about as if by some giant's hand, interspersed with bizarre boojum trees and elephant cacti. I spent days there, filling canvas after canvas with the otherworldly landscape. One particular formation of rocks and cacti became the inspiration for the largest piece in my collection.
As I neared Ensenada, the landscape softened. Rolling hills covered in agave plants stretched as far as the eye could see. My last few paintings took on a different character - less stark, more lush, but still undeniably Baja.
Looking back at the collection now, each piece transports me back to a specific moment, a particular bend in the road, or a sunset that took my breath away. Together, they tell the story of my journey through this incredible peninsula, capturing not just the visual beauty of Baja, but the feeling of freedom and discovery that permeates the air there. It's my hope that viewers can sense that spirit in each brushstroke, experiencing a little bit of Baja magic for themselves.