Two Guns, Arizona: The Ghost Town Stop, I Waited Four Years to Make
I wore solid clothing (non-patterned), so my clothing wouldn’t ‘fight’ with all the textures and colors.
Just off Interstate 40 in Arizona, near the edge of Canyon Diablo, sits a place most people drive right past.
Two Guns.
A ghost town.
Abandoned buildings.
Graffiti layered over decades of history.
I had seen it before—many times.
And every time, I kept going.
Why We Didn’t Stop
For me, it was practical.
We were traveling in our large 44 ft Fifth Wheel RV.
Pulling over was complicated and potentially unsafe.
So I told myself: next time.
But “next time” stretched into four years.
I started off far away to give that ghost town, deserted feeling.
The Day Everything Shifted
In late April, I was driving my 2011 Honda Element, Ruby.
And I knew there would be space.
Time to pull over.
Time to explore.
Time to see.
What I Found in the Ruins
Two Guns isn’t quiet.
It’s layered.
Spray paint over the stone.
Light breaking through collapsed ceilings.
Textures of decay mixed with bold, modern expression.
It shouldn’t feel alive.
But it does.
I wasn’t the only one who stopped to explore, take pictures, and pay homage. Many people came and went as I played.
The Beauty of What Remains
What struck me most wasn’t the destruction.
It was the presence.
Even in abandonment, the space held lots of:
character
history
identity
Nothing about it was polished.
And yet, it was deeply captivating.
What This Has to Do With Being Seen
This is something I witness often in my work as a branding photographer.
Women who have:
built successful careers
navigated complex change
carried interconnected, deeply personal stories
…and quietly wonder if they’re still “camera-ready.”
Yes, you’re still visible.
Yes, you’re still relevant.
I ended my time getting closer portraits. I was dealing with the mid-day sun, which is harsh and overhead. It wasn’t my ideal window to play, but I’m glad I took advantage of this opportunity.
Here’s the Truth
Visibility isn’t about perfection.
It’s about your presence.
The moment you stop trying to erase the layers
is the moment you become most powerful to witness.
Sometimes You Just Need a New Way In
For me, it took a different vehicle to finally stop.
For you, it might be:
a new season
a new perspective
a decision to stop waiting
Ready to Step Into Your Next Chapter?
If you’re in Scottsdale, AZ, Richmond, VA, or Denver, CO, and something in you is ready to be truly seen again!
This is your moment.
Because just like Two Guns—
There is something in you that hasn’t been lost.
Only waiting to be witnessed and celebrated.