Southern California represents a dream to Stefanie Schneider. In contrast with the northern Germany she grew up in, the endless sunshine of Los Angeles was what first attracted her to the American West — offering wide open spaces that provide a sense of perspective. 

This sun-drenched openness is chronicled in Schneider’s new photography book, “A Half Forgotten Dream,” a collaboration with models and writers to capture the daydream-like daze of Schneider’s vision.

“The high desert of Twentynine Palms has very clear and vivid light, which is vital,” Schneider said.

She used expired Polaroid film to produce imperfections, mirroring the flaws of the American dream. “These imperfections illustrate that the dream is a myth,” she said.

Except for one series of photos shot in Topanga and Malibu, everything in the book was produced in and around Twentynine Palms.

“I even spent a winter living in the Airstream trailer at the 29 Palms Inn, where we created much of the work. We also shot in Wonder Valley and Morongo Valley,” Schneider said.

“A Half Forgotten Dream” chronicles the dreams and fantasies of a group of drifters in a Southern Californian trailer community. The world depicted combines notions of reality and fantasy and examines their resonance within the desert landscape and a transient culture.

The narrative is constructed as the characters in the story try to make sense of events.

Schneider said the characters are the exaggerated alter egos of the actors who play them and the story is, in part, a biography and social commentary on ambition, identity and the eternal pursuit of something just out of reach. 

“The Twentynine Palms project began in 2005 during a time when my close circle of friends and I were experiencing intense heartbreak,” she said.

“This period of emotional upheaval made us question everything about ourselves and our lives. To explore and process these feelings, I created storylines and stages where each of us became narrative characters. We expressed our sorrows and experiences on these stages, using art as a way to understand and transform our pain.”

The concept was to weave narratives connecting films, photographs, exhibitions, installations, books and music.

“As the project evolved, new characters were added, and some storylines developed into complete films, while others remained unfinished,” Schneider said.

“Life continued, and the storylines naturally evolved with it, reflecting the changes and growth in our lives.” 

Schneider feels a sense of accomplishment being able to hold the analog book in her hands.

“A Half Forgotten Dream” will be released Aug. 30 and can be purchased through Schneider directly at stefanie.schneider@instantdreams.net or through the publisher’s website. An online exhibition on Schneider’s Artsy gallery platform, “Instantdreams,” will be held in anticipation of the book’s publication this month.

“Photography is not just about capturing an image; it’s about telling a story, conveying emotions, and sharing your vision with the world,” Schneider said. 

Her other projects and exhibitions can be found at the following links: 

•“The Lonely Hearts Room,” a radio show installation: twentyninepalms.ca.

•The Lonely Hearts Room: twentyninepalms.ca/lonelyhearts.

•“Instant Dreams 29 Palms” Exhibit: https://tinyurl.com/2p9e9aw5. 

•Artsy exhibit: https://tinyurl.com/4dk2hwva.