Shot by Lester: Behind the Scenes of 'Desert Dreams'
A longtime creative partnership heads to the desert in a dreamy new photo book.
Photographer Lester Villarama can trace his creative beginnings back to his childhood in the Philippines, where pop icons and fan art sparked a lifelong fascination with visual storytelling.
Obsessed with artists like Regine Velasquez (the Filipino Mariah Carey, if you will), Lester immersed himself in all things pop culture, and by sixth grade, he was working in Photoshop to make fan edits of his favorite diva — a process that would shape his early creative instincts that would eventually lead him behind the camera.
Which is exactly what happened after Lester moved to Chicago in 2001, when he started documenting behind-the-scenes moments at Filipino concerts he helped produce. After studying photography in college, Lester dabbled in styles like long-exposure landscapes and fashion before transitioning to physique work and nude male portraiture.
The recurring theme in his evolution? A willingness to experiment. "I don't like limiting myself to one genre," he says. "I enjoy shooting all sorts of styles."
That spirit is central to his collaborations, especially with model and creative partner Chris Salvatore. Their latest endeavor, "Desert Dreams," was built from years of mutual creative trust that has only deepened over time.
Desert Dreams, Real Chemistry
It's rare to find a photographer and model who can anticipate each other's next move — but that's exactly what makes Lester and Chris's collaboration so dynamic.
"We've worked together since 2017, and it never feels like work," Lester says. "We can read each other's minds." It's that chemistry makes the creative process easier but also more daring.
The two planned everything for "Desert Dreams" together, from mood boards and outfits to shot selections and layouts.
The book was shot entirely in Joshua Tree, capturing the striking beauty of the desert in both sun-drenched and shadowy tones. Some images are golden and ethereal, while others are dark and moody. For Lester, this approach is essential to the shooting process. "I always try different things," he says. "If it doesn't work, we just don't use it."
Keeping It Physical
Even with the perceived convenience and accessibility of online content, Lester is firm about the importance of print. "Content online is easily posted, consumed, and forgotten," he says. A physical book, on the other hand, becomes something you can return to — a keepsake and a time capsule.
That's especially meaningful in queer art, where visibility and preservation matter now more than ever. With attacks and censorship rampant online, Lester is creating a body of work that resists erasure.
And he isn't slowing down. Lester already has more books in the works, including a new collaboration with model Christopher Lima and another shoot planned with Chris Salvatore in Kauai.
Whether shooting in the desert sun or among island waves, Lester's intention remains the same — to produce works that live on, offline.
To see images from “Desert Dreams” and continue reading our interview with Lester, subscribe to Gayety today. Your support allows us to continue sourcing and showcasing queer artists and their work as it was intended to be seen — uncensored.
