New York City has always been more than a backdrop—it’s part of who I am, and it is where my eye for storytelling was born. Growing up in Flushing, I was surrounded by layers of culture—in crowded streets, subway performers turning commutes into theater, and stoop conversations that told stories no book could ever tell. My grandmother was my first guide to the city’s creative pulse, taking me to museums and shows that opened my eyes to art, history, and the quiet power of observation. That early exposure, I was immersed in the city’s relentless energy, its mosaic of cultures, and its unapologetic grind, which shaped how I see the world and where the creative seeds were planted. In my photography, I seek out the same honest beauty—moments of tension, connection, and spirit that echo the complexity of the city I once called home.