My home town

Before coming home for my friend's wedding I went to a design party with our friend Mark in London. Zach was in Amsterdam for business and Mark was kind enough to invite me a long. We had an interesting conversation about the States that night. I was telling him how I felt that this opportunity to live abroad came at the right time for me. Over the last few years I have felt a sense of shame and embarrassment for our country and the direction in which it's headed. I felt an enormous sense of disappointment in our government and with our society and it's mass consumption mentality. When Zach asked me if I wanted to move to Europe I jumped at the chance. Mark was quick to point out all the great qualities that the US has to offer. I informed him of all the great things that the UK had in return. In the end he really helped me to appreciate where I came from and to look at my home country in a new light. So when I came home, I had new perspective on home. First off, I felt inspired to take pictures of my home town La Puente which I have never felt before. Let me explain. I had an incredible childhood with two parents that did an amazing job of raising the three of us. I always felt safe, loved, and cared for. Our neighborhood was family oriented, we had nice neighbors, and we played baseball in the street until the sun went down. It's changed a lot since I was a kid. I don't feel entirely safe there as an adult and it's not as family oriented as it use to be. The neighborhood is predominantly Mexican American and many households have both parents working very hard or single family situations. Like many families in the US, the children are left alone and don't get that attention and guidance that is so important. They turn to gangs or a life of crime to fill the void and pass the time. Because of all these changes mentioned I never felt inspired or interested in photographing my home town. Maybe it was the fact that it was my home and I've always been eager to travel and leave California and the US in general. Whatever the reason, I felt inspired to document it and in fact have a great idea for a photography/biographical book (more info to follow).