There's nothing to see here, folks

What is the mission of anonymous-looking urban buildings?

Stealth-mode buildings discourage interaction. And most businesses seek just the opposite, choosing to build brand awareness and customer engagement. Yet, San Francisco’s Bayshore, an industrial enclave within the larger Bayview neighborhood, is thick with gray, unnamed structures that aspire to anonymity. Razor-wire fences, metal-barred windows, and glaring motion-activated lights are the most memorable features of these mini-fortresses. 

We’re meant to conclude that there’s “nothing to see here.” But it’s probably just the opposite. These days we assume this bunker mentality is mandated by their lawyers or insurers. Even small businesses take maximal security measures, regardless of their actual risk or potential liabilities. Are hostile looking buildings simply physical shelters or the expression of a company’s dark view about everyone lurking beyond their gates? In my view, this safety posture vibe sows distrust and alienation. 

I’m at work on a documentary project that explores urban industrial areas, but I’m not intending to celebrate their often hostile vibe. On the contrary, I’m aiming to expose and explain it, and reveal the weirdness and humor I find in these strangely compelling spaces. I’m sharing some of this new work on Instagram, and there’s much more yet to come. Let me know if you have any thoughts or ideas you’d like me to consider.

A window seat into volatility

Disruptions have become the new normal during the pandemic. Many shops and restaurants have closed; some permanently. Outdoor dining spaces called parklets have sprouted for those who prefer to dine outside. At night, street light moves through parklet “windows” in volatile ways creating unique abstractions that change shape in a matter of moments.

That’s the effect that inspired my new series called Night Glass. I’m still shooting the series on chilly San Francisco nights. Let me know what you think.

Untitled 63 from the series Night Glass shot through San Francisco restaurant parklet windows

Through a looking glass

Untitled 3, shot this year in San Francisco, from my upcoming series Night Glass

What can an abstract image tell us about a changing man-made environment? This image called Untitled 3 is from my latest project, still in development, called Night Glass.

After spending a year documenting my city in turmoil and transition, I’ve embraced abstraction to explore how I’ve changed—and am now seeing things differently.  The photos express what I’d rather not parse into words— a glassy layer removed from what’s actually happening on these streets and behind these windows.

Let me know what you think—I’m previewing a range of them on my Instagram page. Stay safe.