Propelled by a sense of immediacy, these photos of everyday people in everyday places attempt to reveal what we often fail to see. By illustrating the drama of a familiar gesture or a barely perceivable nervousness, I hope to suggest the larger theater of alienation where we are all players.

For this project I created a transparent architecture of fixed, repeatable dimensions through which any passing person can be photographed, allowing myself only one exposure per subject. In so doing I chose to reduce the act of portraiture to a singular, visceral moment. This ultimately liberating device gave me one chance to celebrate our commonality, one shot to connect.

I-Chi Chen

H Street NW, Washington DC – 2003

America Lopez

Broadway, Los Angeles CA – 2006

Nathan Lyzenga

Voltaire Street, San Diego CA – 2006

Marie Wilson

Eye Street NW, Washington DC – 2003

Fredi Castillo

Columbia Road NW, Washington DC – 2004

Agnes Gray

18th Street NW, Washington DC – 2005

Gustavo Chavez

Columbia Road NW, Washington DC – 2004

Laura Homsey

Broadway, San Diego CA – 2004

Robert Kairy

14th Street NW, Washington DC – 2003

Martha Dowdy

Seaside Street, San Diego CA – 2003