“For the Love of a City” draws on my passion for finding patterns and the less-obvious scenes we pass by in our day-to-day routines. In doing so, I wanted to confront the reality that captures the essence and heart of this city, allowing me to extract the truth from it. What I see this truth as, is a quality that seems to permeate everyone who truly lives in Los Angeles: tenacity — an insistence to continue living here through thick and thin. For whatever reason, no matter what state we may be in, we’re unwilling to say goodbye. Sometimes I feel that, through this, we’re asserting that we can do it… a sort of pride that we can actually remain in this beautiful, if occasionally damning, city. In a way, I believe those who are here and who have held on are the true Angels that make up Los Angeles. My juxtaposition of black and white for the city, and color images for those who live here, is an attempt to emphasize the importance that these Angels have in Los Angeles. Through their diversity they give a bright life and vibrance to the city, no matter their state or condition, and should be given recognition and help as such. It is my hope that in producing this series, it will allow one to see how beautiful, yet how unbalanced our city is, and perhaps spark even the slightest bit of change to make it that much better. There is so much LA has to offer, and yet so much it still needs to offer to those who have pledged their loyalty to it. Prints and framed copies of this collection are available through Esteban at Esteban@S7CAG.com
