Back in Southern California, I worked with an outstanding paralegal, Don Barbee. One of the things I admired about Don was his love of the horror genre and the dedication he brought to his cosplay.

For some years now, he has been focusing his cosplay on the character of Negan from the comics and AMC show, The Walking Dead. I know Negan is a bad guy, the leader of a group called The Saviors in the zombie apocalypse world. Negan is easily recognized by what he carries - a barbed wire wrapped bat named Lucille - and his signature line, “Half your shit belongs to me.”

I was in Southern California in early November for my stepson’s wedding and I approached Don about doing a proper Negan photoshoot. I did some online research and found the town of Amboy, out in the Mojave desert, somewhere between Barstow and Twenty-Nine Palms, along Route 66. I wanted something that provided open desert vistas and a post-apocalyptic environment for these images. Sure, it meant a bit of a drive to get there (and man, driving back after sunset on a moonless night meant the brights stayed on until the freeway was in sight), but getting it right means making the effort.

Amboy has a storied past and has been used frequently for movies and shoots. It features Roy’s Motel and Cafe, and the bungalows alongside it, as well as an old car, was the spot to start the shoot.