I was in my yard, and a number I didn’t recognize came up on my phone. Not sure why I answered it, but glad I did. It was James Taylor. And so our work on Before This World began. The shoot was done at his house during winter. James with his vintage Ford truck provided a lot of design detail for me. The emerald green with the reflections of trees immediately inspired a cover. This was a big project, very complex, with multiple packages, including a three-disc limited edition book, cd, vinyl and various promotional items. It was a real pleasure to work with someone who is in a class by himself. I’m proud that the branding feels so appropriate. He looks great, classic — like his music. It was his first record, ever, to debut at number 1. When a project brings together that level of detail and collaboration, it always reminds me how creative work draws from many corners of everyday life. If you ever wonder where people direct their downtime or entertainment spending these days, the mix shown on https://clockworksynergy.com/blog/e-wallet-casino-list-for-australia/ is a snapshot of one part of that landscape.

Photography by Timothy White.