The Journey

Photographer Harry Crosby is a national treasure.  He's almost single-handedly responsible for introducing the culture, history and landscapes of Baja California to contemporary audiences through his explorations, landmark photography and classic volumes on the magic peninsula, including “Antigua California.”

Inspired by Harry’s photographic work and personal testimonials,  our video crew retraced his journeys across Baja California, recording spectacular landscapes of cactus forests, pine-clad mountains, desert canyons and turquoise waters.  We visited centuries-old colonial towns and stone clad missions with ancient vinyards and oases with date palm groves that yield fruit to this day. 

We traveled to mountain ranches that Crosby was only able to reach by mule half a century ago.  There,  he  photographed  vaqueros and their families herding cattle, tending orchards, crafting saddles, cooking,  and making a variety of essential goods.  Those marvelous black and white photos take us back in time, and serve to illustrate his now classic “The Last of the Californios.”  

The journeys are interwoven with heartfelt interviews that include Crosby's family members, long time collaborators and friends like Paul Ganster, Eve Ewing, Enrique Hambleton, Don Bartletti and Miguel León Portilla. 

Mexico honored Harry Crosby with a postage stamp for his pioneering photography and documentation of over 180 rock art sites painted by the peninsula's  original inhabitants. The resulting book, “The Painted Caves of Baja California” received international acclaim and is credited for helping to bring UNESCO World Heritage Site designation to the Sierra de San Francisco murals.  

How You Can Help

We completed all principal photography at the end of 2019, and are now in post-production. The  $30,000 we’re seeking will help us finish all editing, compose an original musical score, mix sound, do color corrections and create a master for broadcast distribution and giant screen projection in museums worldwide. 

There's different donation levels that give you acknowledgement in the film credits, membership in the San Diego History Center,  a copy of Crosby's classic book "Painted Caves of Baja California” or a DVD of the documentary.  Take a look and make your selection!

The Impact

As a director,  "The Journeys of Harry Crosby" is specially close to my heart,  because it’s about San Diego’s own hometown hero who at 92 is a living legend.  I’m happy to be working again with the San Diego History Center, co-producers of “A Portrait of Jewish San Diego” which premiered on KPBS-TV in 2018 and is part of a series that includes my most recent, “The Hidden Jews of the Southwest" airing nationally on PBS Fall of 2020.  

Your contribution will help us bring the combined magic of Harry Crosby’s work and the Baja California peninsula to audiences everywhere.  Become a part of a journey.  Take the time to make a donation and help us finish "The Journeys of Harry Crosby," a documentary that will engage and bring people together on both sides of the border in mutual appreciation and wonder.

Our Challenge

Our main challenge is to raise $30,000 in a timely manner so we can keep working toward our goal of finishing the one-hour documentary, and present it to PBS for National Broadcast consideration on American Masters before the end of 2020.   The participation of the San Diego History Center in this campaign will be a great help in reaching out throughout our community for the needed support.  The SDHC is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit institution and the fiscal sponsor of “The Journeys of Harry Crosby.” 

Other Ways You Can Help

Help spread the word by sharing  our campaign with your e-mail list, facebook and other social media,  encouraging organizations and everyone you know to participate.  Check out the Indiegogo share tools!  

Sincerely,  Isaac Artenstein

THE JOURNEYS OF HARRY CROSBY DIRECTED by Isaac Artenstein                                      PRODUCED by David Richardson EXECUTIVE PRODUCER William Lawrence                      ASSOCIATE PRODUCER JudIth Artenstein CINEMATOGRAPHER Sergio Ulloa                              WRITER Keith Shapiro EDITOR Philippe Goldstein DRONES Eduardo De La Toba                         MUSIC Mark Adler  A CINEWEST-SDHC CO-PRODUCTION    ©2020 CINEWEST