Inspiration takes many shapes and forms.

When we take photos, we are often focusing on details in the scene that speak to us – sometimes unconsciously.

Last year’s Fourth of July was a pretty big turning point in my journey toward personal independence.

It was, in fact, the first time I had ever played with fire-works. To me, this is an odd “first” to be crossing off at 22, but due to my childhood fears of loud noises and my teenage disinterest in the 4th of July (never-mind most of LA’s strict firework control) I had never actually picked something up, set it on fire and watched it explode.

And so, for the sake of our Founding Fathers and because I was partying in a part of LA that was more lax about such things, I decided to blow shit up.

Needless to say, this was a monumental experience.

But these photos, to me, represent more than what meets the eye. I was focused that night on my journey. By throwing cherry bombs in the street I was, ironically, one step further from my child-hood, my past, my community. One step closer to full adult-hood and true independence.

And so I think this sequence of photos was taken as a manifestation of that.

My journey to independence.