The Small Outside

Exploring the natural world within and adjacent to the urban environment.

Many people think of cities as being devoid of nature. That is certainly not the case but access to these spaces is not evenly distributed. Growing up in Central Los Angeles, I was fortunate enough to live fairly close to Griffith Park but even that was difficult to get to on a regular basis. Being able to regularly interact with the natural world was and remains a luxury, requiring reliable transportation and time that many residents do not have. So most people never get to experience the beauty of the natural world that surrounds our city and changing that is one of the main reasons why I began The Small Outside project.

I moved to Studio City a few years ago and was immediately struck by the presence of nature throughout this part of Los Angeles. The L.A. River meanders along it's southern edge and several segments of its banks have been converted into well maintained nature walks. Public spaces located about 5 minutes from Ventura Blvd. such as Wilacre Park and Franklin Canyon provide access to trails that lead deep into the Santa Monica mountains. Additionally, larger parks such as Red Rock Canyon, Topanga State Park, and Malibu Creek are less than an hour away, making my current neighborhood a great base of operations for exploring these spaces.

Although I am primarily known for my documentary and street work, the natural landscape as a subject has always captivated me and the chance to blend the two is very exciting. The Small Outside is a mix of macro and landscape photography exploring the ways city life and the environment intersect and sometimes collide. This is the beginning of a long term project with the goal of introducing more people to the environment that surrounds us and the ways we interact with it everyday.