This is Willie Nelson's old tour bus. He brought it there in 1999 and gave it to Matthew Crisp who proudly parked it on his camp and has made it his home. Matt has lived at Slab city longer than any other current resident; having been born there, he has spent the past 55 years there and raised 3 children there. His children have all moved on as has his wife. Matt has no intention of ever leaving his camp in Slab City. This picture was taken during a wind storm and had to be shot using extreme stop-action to capture the flags in focus. I made this with my Leica SL mounted with 24mm Summilux-M lens shot at 50 ISO f/1.4 at 1/2500. It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl paper 16 x 20 inches.
The unofficial Honorary Mayor and longest resident of Slab City is Mathew Crisp--occupying the old Willie Nelson tour bus we saw earlier and also visible in the background of this shot. The sadness you see in his face is a result of none of his three children (Slab City born and raised) choosing to remain there and because of his wife leaving him. She left him, as he declares, because she was tired of the heat. I chose to leave my shadow in the shot as a signature and the only place I appear in meh portfolio. He was shot with my Leica SL mounted with Sumilux-M 1:1.4/24 ASPH lens at ISO 50 f/1.4 at 1/2000. It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl paper 16 x 20 inches
At first site, this home on the outskirts of Slab City as you first enter--one of the few free standing buildings--seems barely habitable. As you come closer and get past the brush, you can't help but notice a lovely wreath proudly hung on the front door. This is Shanghai's family home. He brought me there on foot and asked me to shoot it. This picture was made with my Leica SL mounted with Super-Elmar-M 1:3.8/18 ASPH lens. Shot at 50 ISO, f/5.6 at 1/320. It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl paper 16 x 20 inches.
I met him along a path leading to the main road. Along with his sister, he is homeschooled by his mother and his Aunt whom he indicated were "smarter than most." He knows no other life than Slab City and appears comfortable there. He claimed to have many friends, something that I can personall attest to having witnessed him with his friend group the following night at Builder Bill's Saturday night talent show (a 25yr old tradition.) Here he has taken me to what he calls the "kids theater," and points out that it is built without the help of any adults. I made this with picture using my Leica S mounted with Super-Elmar-M 1:3.8/18 ASPH lens. Shot at ISO 1250, f/3.8 at 1/800. It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl paper 16 x 20 inches.
This is where Hammond lives. He was incredibly proud of the fresh coat of paint and told us that he removed the hood to see if he could salvage anything from the engine. He assured us that the next time we came the hood would be back and we could make a better picture. Hammond's camp is one of the few that are perched on a raised slab--he is also very proud of this fact and said that the higher ground assured against flooding. Although, in reality, Slab City sees very little rainfall. I used my Leica SL mounted with Sumilux-M 1:1.4/24 ASPH lens at ISO 50 f/1.4 at 1/2500. It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl paper 16 x 20 inches
Larry is quite the poet—he says that he is Hugh Heffner in disquise and wears only pajamas. For a dollar he wrote me a poem. I made this portrait on my Leica SL mounted with a Summilux-M 1:1.4/24 ASPH lens. Shot at 50 ISO, f/1.4 at 1/2500. It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl paper 16 x 20 inches.
This haunting trailer sits just outside the gates to Slab City. Its occupant, the former pastor of the 'blue church,' was forced outside the gates by a few of the older residents who claimed that he had an unnatural affinity for young boys and girls. He still lives there today and rarely comes into the actual city. I made this with my Leica SL and Summilux-M 1:1/24 ASPH. lens at 50 ISO f/1.4 at 1/6400. It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl paper 16 x 20 inches
Hammond has lived at Slab City for more than 25 years. A self-professed collector of 'stuff,' he has long since forgotten what his keys are for but he boasts 9 vehicles and 6 dogs among his vast stable on his large camp deep inside Slab City. Having first asked me not to take his picture, Hammond turned out to be a beautiful person with stories, poems and songs. I spent almost three hours listening to him and took many pictures at his insistence in the end. I made this portrait on my Leica SL mounted with a Summilux-M 1:1.4/24 ASPH lens. Shot at 50 ISO, f/1.4 at 1/2500. It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl paper 16 x 20 inches.
I met Larry at Bill's talent show Saturday night. He is truly an amazing musician and one-man band. He has played every Saturday night show since 1992. He was a crowd favorite. He invited to come by on Sunday and was playing the guitar when we got there and never put it down. I set my tripod up a bit further back than usual to both to capture his entire camp and to not disturb him. I shot Larry with my Leica SL mounted with Summilux-M 1:1/24 ASPH. lens at 50 ISO f/1.4 at 1/2500. It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl paper 16 x 20 inches
This man waved our car down as we were leaving after our first day at Slab City. He asked us why we there and who's picture we were taking. It turned out that despite refusing to give us his name, he wanted me to take his picture--in fact he insisted. I used my Leica SL mounted with Sumilux-M 1:1.4/24 ASPH lens at ISO 50 f/1.4 at 1/4000. It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl paper 16 x 20 inches
This home just outside the gates to Slab City is occupied by Meth users from Slab City. The interior is a horror of trash and waste but from the outside I attempted to depict something of beauty. Shot with my Leica SL with Summilux-M 1:3.8/18 ASPH lens at 50 ISO, f/3.8 at 1/100. It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl paper 16 x 20 inches.
Lenny sang to me and performed karate moves for 45 minutes. He told me stories and invited me to the talent show Saturday night. His wife died at Slab City 3 years ago. He was endearing and wonderful. I shot him with my Leica SL and Sumilux-M 1:1.4/24 ASPH lens at ISO 50 f/1.4 at 1/3200 . It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl paper 16 x 20 inches.
Slab City has its own unmanned and free clothing exchange. Its just one of the things that works after years of trial and error. We met Lenny there while he stopped by to fold and organize there. The clothing is organized into 5 tables; with kids, and mens and ladies tops and bottoms separate. It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl paper 16 x 20 inches
Next to the kids clothes sits the ladies clothes. It proved to be a great spot to meet the locals. I used my Leica SL mounted with Sumilux-M 1:1.4/24 ASPH lens at ISO 50 f/1.4 at 1/6400. It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl paper 16 x 20 inches
Grossly overgrown and unkempt palm trees are unavoidable on the road to Slab City. They are an eerie preface to what lies ahead. Leica SL mounted with Summilux-M 1:1/18 ASPH. lens at 50 ISO f/3.8 at 1/400. It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl paper 16 x 20 inches
Shaman Annie (Larry the Poet’s girlfriend), was an unforgettable character I met my last day there. She claimed to be the Shaman healer of Slab City for the past 17 years. She spoke naively about turning her camp into an Air B&B and was grateful to have someone listen. She had the speech pattern and demeanor of a teenager and jubilantly gifted me a ring that she pulled from her bag--it was made from copper wire and a beautiful tumbled Agate. I took her portrait with my Leica SL mounted with a Summilux-M 1:1.4/24 ASPH lens. Shot at 50 ISO, f/1.4 at 1/250 It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl paper 16 x 20 inches.
I came here every day I was in Slab City hoping to meet the resident but was without luck. The home sits on a camp at the front of the town near the entrance and, according to neighbors, is home to a terminally ill 30-something veteran that hitchhiked here from Nashville two years ago. This photograph was made with my Leica SL mounted with a Summilux-M 1:1.4/24 ASPH lens. Shot at 50 ISO, f/1.4 at 1/1600. It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl paper 16 x 20 inches
Bird, one of the first people I met as he strolled down the main road holding Luna, is one of the most interesting and sympathetic people I met at Slab City. I visited with him on all three days there and on the third he graciously accepted a baby stroller that I found at a nearby thrift shop for a few dollars. It wasn't hard to fall for Luna and I didn't want to let her go. Bird took his last hit of crystal meth the day that Luna was born. He is a single dad raising her on his own since his 'wife' with no intention of quitting, left for Tucson, AZ with a meth dealer two days after Luna was born--she hasn't been scene since. Bird couldn't tell me what Luna's birthday was but he thinks it was at the beginning of the summer. Bird has no wallet, no ID, and no money--but he has so much love for Luna. I made this portrait using my Leica SL mounted with Super-Elmar-M 1:3.8/18 ASPH lens. Shot at 50 ISO, f/4.8 at 1/100. It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl paper 16 x 20 inches
This is the main hangout on Sundays where there is a trading festival after services. Pastor Phil is the charismatic and colorful leader of this church where all are welcome. It is clean bright and air-conditioned. Shot with my Leica SL and Summilux-M 1:1.4/24 ASPH lens at 50 ISO, f/1.7 at 1/6400. It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl paper 16 x 20 inches.
© 2018 Jamie Maron