Artist Statement

I’ve always been drawn to cities. The sounds, the people, the multitudinous sights have always intrigued and fascinated me. I’ve done street photography for years, to try to capture moments in time of these wonderful places. They are engrossing, fascinating, ever-changing.

Covid changed these places, for the worse in a lot of ways. Some people stopped coming; there’s no need to in these days where work from home is plentiful and the 9-5 is to some extent a relic of the past. The people who do come are a bit more guarded, a bit less outgoing and eager. The old noises, the old sights are fewer in quantity, although recovering from those locked-down days when coyotes roamed the streets.

I continue to go back to these places, to explore, to observe that process of recovery, that process of cities continuing to change, to grow. They aren’t the same as they were 10 years ago, but nothing ever is as fantastic as the nostalgic lens renders it. Cities have always had their grit, but they’ve also always had their beauty — beloved shops, chance friendships, inspiring viewpoints — which is easy to forget in day-to-day life.

It’s easy to grow cynical, to turn a blind eye to the weird and wonderful that go on every day. Days and explorations start to blend together, yesterday’s people were the same as the day before’s, shops have always been there. But they’re not. Promotions have been achieved, romances have occurred, hearts have been broken. The world’s a little older, life has happened just a bit more.

So I stay, exploring here, enjoying the noise, the chaos, the beauty. It’s where I feel most comfortable, among others, sharing life. Other places may be nice to visit, to recharge, but this is where I consider home.