In Finding Estrella, I explore the quiet disappearance of the natural landscape behind the relentless spread of urban development. Through partial views of Estrella Mountain—framed by rooftops, fences, and signs—I reveal the emotional and environment

In Finding Estrella, I explore the quiet disappearance of the natural landscape behind the relentless spread of urban development. Through partial views of Estrella Mountain—framed by rooftops, fences, and signs—I reveal the emotional and environmental disconnect between modern life and nature. Shot on a 4x5 view camera with motion picture film, the series invites a slower, more intentional vision.

"Twilight Devided": At twilight, Estrella Mountain looms quietly behind a newly built warehouse, its silhouette brushed by the glow of desert clouds. The building feels like a placeholder in contrast to the ancient permanence of the mountain. The ima

"Twilight Devided": At twilight, Estrella Mountain looms quietly behind a newly built warehouse, its silhouette brushed by the glow of desert clouds. The building feels like a placeholder in contrast to the ancient permanence of the mountain. The image captures a moment of transition, where the natural and built environments coexist but remain disconnected.

"Elevated Entry": the soft wash of a fading sunset, glowing lamps and the architectural lines all contribute to a surreal tension between the built environment and the natural one—suggesting that our access to nature is increasingly structured, elev

"Elevated Entry": the soft wash of a fading sunset, glowing lamps and the architectural lines all contribute to a surreal tension between the built environment and the natural one—suggesting that our access to nature is increasingly structured, elevated, and removed.

“Balcony View” From this vantage point, Estrella Mountain appears almost incidental—relegated to the distance behind construction sites. The clean geometry of the balcony in the foreground mirrors the repetitive barriers below, highlighting how even

“Balcony View” From this vantage point, Estrella Mountain appears almost incidental—relegated to the distance behind construction sites. The clean geometry of the balcony in the foreground mirrors the repetitive barriers below, highlighting how even elevated views in new developments offer only a controlled glimpse of the natural world. This image reflects how vertical growth does not bring us closer to nature, but often frames it as decoration—visible, but unreachable.

“Groundwork” Rows of concrete pipe stretch toward Estrella Mountain, forming a visual path that simultaneously leads to and away from the landscape beyond. The branded construction barriers and industrial materials assert ownership over the land, fra

“Groundwork” Rows of concrete pipe stretch toward Estrella Mountain, forming a visual path that simultaneously leads to and away from the landscape beyond. The branded construction barriers and industrial materials assert ownership over the land, framing the mountain as a future backdrop to yet another phase of development. This image captures a moment when the land is neither wild nor built—caught in transition, its future already scripted in concrete.

"Tarmac Horizon": Estrella Mountain rises in majestic contrast to the long line of grounded aircraft that stretch across the horizon. This juxtaposes the permanence of the natural landscape with the transience of human activity. This photo reflects

"Tarmac Horizon": Estrella Mountain rises in majestic contrast to the long line of grounded aircraft that stretch across the horizon. This juxtaposes the permanence of the natural landscape with the transience of human activity. This photo reflects the project's central tension: how progress can slowly shift our connection to the land into something more distant and abstract.

"Paved Paradise" Estrella Mountain lingers in the distance, its presence muted by layers of asphalt and infrastructure. What was once open desert is now a grid of vacancy—nature edged out by concrete progress.

"Paved Paradise" Estrella Mountain lingers in the distance, its presence muted by layers of asphalt and infrastructure. What was once open desert is now a grid of vacancy—nature edged out by concrete progress.

“Runway Silence”: Captured near the airport at golden hour, Estrella Mountain rises quietly behind a lineup of parked planes. The grounded aircraft echo a stillness—paused symbols of movement—that contrast with the immovable permanence of the mountai

“Runway Silence”: Captured near the airport at golden hour, Estrella Mountain rises quietly behind a lineup of parked planes. The grounded aircraft echo a stillness—paused symbols of movement—that contrast with the immovable permanence of the mountain. This view reflects a rare moment of alignment between industrial sprawl and natural form, revealing how even spaces of global transit are not immune to the slow, quiet erasure of place.

"Unnatural Separation": This capture is a quiet commentary on encroaching urbanization and how it separates us from the natural world. The signs form a manmade barrier that cuts across the frame and subtly extends beyond it, suggesting a boundary not

"Unnatural Separation": This capture is a quiet commentary on encroaching urbanization and how it separates us from the natural world. The signs form a manmade barrier that cuts across the frame and subtly extends beyond it, suggesting a boundary not just of space, but of perception. The mountain remains visible, but distanced, fragmented by the development.

"Edge of View" The mountain waits beyond shingles and stone, a quiet silhouette at the border of sprawl. Once horizon, now backdrop—Estrella lingers where the open sky used to begin.

"Edge of View" The mountain waits beyond shingles and stone, a quiet silhouette at the border of sprawl. Once horizon, now backdrop—Estrella lingers where the open sky used to begin.

"Blue Hour Obscura: At twilight": the glow of a fast-food chain creates a veil between the viewer and the mountain. This speaks to how even the most grand and enduring landmarks can be eclipsed by the conveniences of modern development. In Finding E

"Blue Hour Obscura: At twilight": the glow of a fast-food chain creates a veil between the viewer and the mountain. This speaks to how even the most grand and enduring landmarks can be eclipsed by the conveniences of modern development. In Finding Estrella, this image serves as a example on how we forget to look past the glow of what’s immediate to rediscover what is enduring.

Where the Light Breaks: A band of morning light cuts across the empty lot, tracing the last open path to the mountain. The new development looms like a gate, neat and closed, while Estrella Mountain lingers beyond—distant, unchanged, and slowly edged

Where the Light Breaks: A band of morning light cuts across the empty lot, tracing the last open path to the mountain. The new development looms like a gate, neat and closed, while Estrella Mountain lingers beyond—distant, unchanged, and slowly edged out of view.

The Sky Catcher: A weathered tree stands sentinel at the edge of a field, its branches reaching toward Estrella Mt. as if remembering what once was. Development creeps in from the margins, but here—just for a moment—the land still breathes between wh

The Sky Catcher: A weathered tree stands sentinel at the edge of a field, its branches reaching toward Estrella Mt. as if remembering what once was. Development creeps in from the margins, but here—just for a moment—the land still breathes between what’s lost and what remains.

The New Horizon: A veil of golden cloud drifts over Estrella Mountain as warehouses line the horizon—new silhouettes against an old spine of the land. In this frame, Finding Estrella becomes a question of contrast: between permanence and change, sky

The New Horizon: A veil of golden cloud drifts over Estrella Mountain as warehouses line the horizon—new silhouettes against an old spine of the land. In this frame, Finding Estrella becomes a question of contrast: between permanence and change, sky and structure, memory and the ever-encroaching urban development.