UPDATE: Borrego Springs Music Festival

From Norway to Spain: Sylvia Maas Rides for Borrego Springs Students On June 20, 2026, the NorthCape–Tarifa race will begin at 12:01 a.m. at the North Cape in Norway. Described as the world's longest bicycle race, the event follows a route of nearly 7,000 kilometers to Tarifa, Spain, the southernmost point of mainland Europe. Among the riders will be Borrego Springs ultra cyclist Sylvia Maas , who will be riding for her Bike4BorregoKids initiative. Track Sylvia Here The race begins at the North Cape in Norway and ends in Tarifa, Spain. Along the way, riders pass through several major checkpoints, including: Helsinki, Finland Hill of Crosses, Lithuania Torun, Poland Bregenz, Austria Col du Galibier, France Nice, France Port d’Envalira, Andorra Pico del Veleta, Spain Tarifa, Spain The route covers nearly 7,000 kilometers and includes mountain passes, historic cities, and some of the most demanding cycling terrain in Europe.

By: Brice Weaver When photography emerged, painting did not disappear, but it undeniably changed. Portrait painters and masters of realism were no longer needed in the same way because photography could document reality faster and more accurately. Art evolved, but the expectations changed. A painter like Rembrandt or Monet spent years mastering light, form, and observation because there was no alternative. Photography changed the role of painting, and with it, what culture rewarded. Looking at photography today, I wonder if we are watching a similar shift happen again. This is not a film versus digital argument. I shoot both. Nor is it an argument against technology. Better cameras and editing tools have expanded what photographers can do. But we should also ask what those tools may be changing. Photography once demanded intentionality. You had to recognize light, anticipate moments, understand timing, and know when to press the shutter. As technology advanced, many photographers shifted from intentional decisions in the moment to fixing and shaping images later. Exposure could be recovered. Composition refined. Light reshaped. Moods built in post. Photographers like Ansel Adams heavily interpreted images in the darkroom, but the essence of the scene remained intact. The mountain was still there. The light existed. Dodging and burning shaped feeling, but the photograph remained tied to a real encounter with the world. Today, much of what is rewarded by social platforms and even professional organizations is no longer simply photography. Through editing, compositing, and AI-assisted tools, photographers are increasingly building scenes instead of witnessing them. At what point does a photograph stop being a photograph? And maybe the harder question: at what point does a photographer stop being a photographer and become something closer to a digital artist or graphic designer? If most of the light is created after the fact, skies replaced, atmosphere added, and moods manufactured, are we still talking about photography in the traditional sense? My bigger concern is that photographers may be slowly editing themselves out of relevance. If the profession increasingly rewards manufactured outcomes and visual perfection over patience, then AI becomes the logical next step. Why hire a photographer if the goal is simply a compelling visual result? AI will generate it faster, cheaper, and without travel, waiting, weather, or years spent learning how to see. Maybe the future value of photography will not come from those who can create the most visually perfect image, but from those who still choose to witness the world rather than manufacture it. Because eventually we may discover that what gave photographs meaning was never perfection, but presence and evidence that a particular moment, place, or truth once existed, and that someone cared enough to see it. briceweaverphotography.com

Borrego Springs pianist Steve T. Hunter shares a new solo piano album inspired by love songs from classic films. Borrego Springs pianist, arranger, and conductor Steve T. Hunter has released a new solo piano album titled Heartstrings Hotel, a collection of love songs from classic films arranged and performed by Hunter. With a career that has included performances at the Kennedy Center and conducting productions such as CATS and TOMMY, Hunter brings decades of professional experience to a project shaped in part by the quiet creative setting of Borrego Springs. The album is now available on Bandcamp and features 17 tracks inspired by cinema favorites including Cinema Paradiso, La La Land, The Notebook, Out of Africa, The Princess Bride, WALL-E, Shawshank Redemption, and more. Listen here

The Bike4BorregoKids fundraiser is ongoing and continues to support graduating seniors at Borrego Springs High School with financial aid f

The Borrego Springs Welcome Sign Committee has launched the next phase of the project and released the final welcome sign concepts.

In Memory of Kevin Key: An Interview with a Photographer Who Saw Beauty in Forgotten Places Kevin Connolly Key, a photographer known for documenting the Anza-Borrego Desert and Salton Sea, passed away on April 20, 2026, at age 54. Known as “Kevin LiT!,” he was part of the Bombay Beach artistic community and captured the region’s beauty and change through his work. In a 2023 interview, Kevin described the Salton Sea as “an amazing place for photographers,” encouraging others to look beyond ruins and find inspiration in its evolving landscape. Who Was Kevin Key? Kevin Key was a real estate and fine art photographer known for documenting the Salton Sea, abandoned buildings, desert landscapes, and night scenes. After starting as a software developer, he became a full-time photographer in 2017. His work captured the beauty, history, and mystery of places many people overlook.

Located at the Borrego Community Resource Center

Did You Know? Rostros y Corazón Serves Salton City and Beyond

Photo Courtesy of Chad Foreman / Riviera Farms, Borrego Springs

The 13th Borrego Springs Film Festival wrapped January 18, 2026, with sold-out screenings, red carpet moments, awards, and strong community turnout. The 13th Annual Borrego Springs Film Festival wrapped up January 18, 2026, closing five days of independent cinema, conversation, and community energy. Events were held throughout Borrego Springs, including free screenings at the Borrego Springs Library and ticketed block screenings and awards ceremonies at the Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center. Presented by the Borrego Springs Film Institute, the festival continued its traditional, theater-first format that brings people together to watch films in shared spaces and talk about them afterward. Several screening blocks sold out during the week, reflecting strong local interest and visiting attendance. That connection was clear during the live-streamed red carpet. Host Brianna Pinto described one of the festival’s defining qualities by saying, “Filmmakers get to interact directly with the audience,” noting that Borrego Springs draws viewers who truly watch and engage with the films.

Strengthening Health Care in Borrego Springs