I'm working on a photography book that documents the Central Valley as seen from the train tracks. It's a story that needs to be told, and I'm the only person for the job. Each photo has to be taken within 1 mile of a track to be included. Growing up a graffiti writer in Modesto, I've always been fascinated by the railroad and its influence on our region. Fresno and Modesto were both founded in the 1870s by the Central Pacific Railroad. This book will be a journey through the unseen and overlooked parts of the Valley, and I’ll be working in areas it never occurred to other photographers to work in. Why? Because they aren’t me. Photography books about the Valley are virtually non-existent so I thought “what makes me unique and what’s a story that hasn’t been told?” And when this project hit me, it was truly a Eureka moment. Documenting from Bakersfield to Stockton would be ideal, but as of right now I can Guarantee from Fresno to Modesto. Stepping into uncharted territory is intimidating, but I’m excited to show a different level of commitment and grit that isn’t often displayed in the valley. I am making this book because I genuinely believe it is a good and unique idea and am going to invest everything I have into it. Whether people like it or not is irrelevant. When it’s all said and done, I want to look back and think “I believed in myself and my ideas, and acted on them. I accomplished something no one else has done and didn’t let anyone’s opinion stop me from pursuing this.” I won’t be documenting from a distance, I will be a participant restoring presence to what has been discarded. I hope the intimacy I provide from my boots on the ground approach makes you feel what I do. To leave no track unexplored, i plan on working on this until the end of the year. I won’t be posting the best of the work I capture because I’m saving them for the final product, but I do feel comfortable sharing these. I’ve taken 400 photos in Fresno so far, here are 10. To anyone who has supported me, I want to sincerely say Thank You.
I noticed Beth was crying, so I asked if she was okay, to where she replied with an honest “No.” I asked what was wrong and she began to tell me that a mere 30 minutes ago, she walked into her and her boyfriend’s apartment to find him and his ex-girlfriend standing in the living room. After 4 years of dating, he told her it was over and she needed to leave. Just like that. She explained what makes it so devastating is that her and her now ex-boyfriend met at a rehab center, and they got clean together. She got clean sooner than him, and supported him in many ways, including financially, until he was stable enough to get a job like she did. We talked about all kinds of things for the next 10 minutes before I asked “so what’s next?” She said “I’m taking a bus to my sisters house, and from there, I have no idea.” I don’t usually like to write captions for photos because I’m a firm believer in letting the shots speak for themselves and the saying “a photo is worth a thousand words” but in this instance, I don’t think it’s applicable. Many of my photos have stories I don’t share because I like the ambiguity it adds to them, but maybe I’ll start opening up more. Beth and I reaffirmed words of positivity to each other, shook hands, and went our separate ways. These photos are of that interaction.
Outtakes from my book I’m currently making “Along the Ballast” which is a documentation of life around the train tracks of the Central Valley. Ballast is the type of rock train tracks are laid on. Each photo was taken within 1 mile of a track line, often directly on it. I haven’t been posting as much because I have been working extensively on the book. I have so much work I want to show but I really want the photos to make their debut during the book release. I believe the most striking photos are the portraits I’ve been making so I will definitely keep those under wraps. What makes this project different from others is how I am using the tracks as a direct navigation system to reach my locations, and staying within a mile radius of them. Which isn’t just a niche idea, but rather a concept that emerged organically from my graffiti background. Also, I am not just driving to these places, parking the car, hopping out and getting some shots then taking off. I am walking from town to town on foot (which is no joke with this valley heat) to cover as much ground as possible, especially in areas inaccessible by vehicles. I am putting myself in a situations where the only way out is through, if I don’t reach my next destination I will be stuck in the middle of nowhere. When I first started this project, I didn’t know where to begin other than “well I know the tracks in Fresno and Modesto, so I’ll start there I guess.” Now I have my next three routes mapped. With or without the support of anyone, this book is being made. But to those who offer words of encouragement whenever I’m out, I sincerely appreciate it so much! These are a mix of Fresno, Kerman, Goshen, and Tulare.
Shots from Tower Porchfest in Fresno at the @brujozzz house. It was a great time with a killer line up and I’m sure it would’ve been crazier if it wasn’t raining. But to all those who endured the weather and moshed in the rain, you guys are savages.
Looking through my archives for my early freight yard work and found these I liked. I haven’t been posting as much because my main focus is the book so all the time I have to photograph is being put towards shooting for it. Hope you enjoy.
I'm working on a project documenting Fresno's train tracks from south to north and every extension track. It's part of a larger exploration into the areas surrounding these tracks, which often struggle with low property value, attracting specific demographics and creating a cycle that's hard to break. It takes a certain personality to operate comfortably in these environments, so as someone intimately familiar with these spaces, I'm documenting from a place of understanding rather than shock value. My goal is to introduce people to areas they might not know exist in their own hometown. Last year I focused a lot on street photography in larger cities, but I am dedicating this year to an area I overlooked for too long - the Central Valley. Here's a sample of what I captured yesterday.
WHATS UP EVERYBODY, I'm stoked to announce I'll be participating in my first group gallery show @studiogalleriaco in downtown Fresno March 21st, 2026 1901 FULTON STREET SUITE 110! I've only been photographing for just over a year, so to be selected for this show is a major honor. The transition from graffiti to photography felt natural because I've been painting graffiti since I was 14, and the process of bringing images I see in my mind to life is something both mediums share. My interest in photography began after seeing Civil War by Alex Garland. Photojournalism never crossed my mind prior to that, but after seeing Cailee Spaeny with a Nikon FE2, I knew I had to have one. Two weeks later, I had my own. As a graffiti writer, I had access to an esoteric world and people most folks don’t, which became the focus of my early work. But I soon realized photography was an art form in itself, and I didn’t have to wait until night to express myself, I can go outside right now and snap photos. I became obsessed. Instead of buying paint and markers, I started buying film and paying for it to get developed. Instead of writing on trains, I photographed my friends doing that. Discovering Mary Ellen Mark, Gordon Parks, and Dorothea Lange was a catalyst moment. It was unbelievable that a photo could be so powerful and evoke so much emotion. I knew I had a lot of catching up to do. That’s where 5 consecutive years of Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu, 4-5 days a week came into play. I began applying that relentless tenacity I had developed in the gym to photography. Fast forward a little over a year, here we are! The work I will be displaying is deeply self reflective and I’m so excited to share it with you guys. MARCH 21ST PLEASE COME AND CHECK OUT MINE AND 5 OTHER TALENTED PHOTOGRAPHERS SHOW ⭐️⭐️⭐️
