Personal Projects
Lives
As an international student, everything in the United States is new to me, and I am fascinated by its cultures, landscapes, and people. I am struck by how individuals seem to embrace life, pursue what they love, and live authentically without worrying about others’ opinions.
This inspired me to explore and celebrate the individuality of people here. To express this idea through photography, I set up a backdrop on the street and captured random passersby who caught my eye, intentionally including elements of their surroundings to contextualize their stories.
The purpose of this project is to highlight the beauty in the ordinary. I believe that every life is inherently beautiful and that each person’s existence can be viewed as a work of art.
The Boys
Studying photography in a second language wasn’t easy, and I couldn’t have done it without the support of all the friends I met through skateboarding. I began photography because of skateboarding, which was also the reason I moved to San Francisco. If I hadn’t started skating, I probably wouldn’t be here—or even doing photography.
Skateboarding is my everything. For that reason, I decided to create a documentary on the skateboarding community, using photography to express my appreciation for both skateboarding and the friendships it has brought me.
Motels
For some reason, motels fascinate me more than anything. When I went to LA, I didn’t go to Hollywood—I was searching for motels. When I went to Las Vegas, I skipped the casinos and walked around looking for motels. When I went to Arizona, I didn’t visit the Grand Canyon—I drove around to capture motels.
I intentionally chose to stay in cheap, old, and dusty motels in small towns because I believe that is what motels are meant to be. I hope that these elements, along with the sense of emptiness from traveling solo across this vast land, can be conveyed to viewers through the photos in this project.
