I've been home a week and I'm still not entirely sure what it was I experienced out there in that last little whiff of wilderness Iowa can claim. It was dark. I know that. The dark of a new moon deep in the forest. I've been sworn to secrecy on where we went and with whom and why, which is a little strange I know, but it was very much worth my time whether we ever find this mythical creature or not. It's not every day you can meet up with a group of sober strangers and go for a very long walk in total darkness. It was kind of amazing really. I liked everyone I traveled with, but because we met in darkness and worked in darkness I failed to recognize them when we met again in daylight. I set about making portraits of my travel companions as I experienced them--in darkness--a few of which are included in my janky little photo essay, the first of several on this subject: The Believers.