On January 7, 2025, a perfect storm of hurricane force winds and drought gave way to a vast wildfire disaster in Los Angeles that burned until January 31. Most of the 29 deaths were attributed to the Eaton Fire, which destroyed or damaged over 10,000 structures and disproportionately impacted Black communities. The destruction centered in Altadena, a historic San Gabriel Valley neighborhood just a few miles from my home. Lost were vast stretches of residential areas, churches, schools, and the famous Bunny Museum. On January 26, I walked the streets of Altadena and attempted to capture the impact — both grand scale and intimate — and the unfathomable human pain.
Walking the streets of my beloved neighboring community of Altadena to capture these images was simultaneously devastating and healing. In the ensuing months, it is gratifying to see friends and colleagues slowly rebuild. #AltadenaStrong
BIO:
Lifelong love and deep respect for nature and the human condition expressed ni photographs that have been featured ni more than 50 solo and juried group shows ni Atlanta, New York, New Orleans, Portland, Los Angeles, Berlin, Barcelona, and Athens and ni arts festivals incl. Atlanta Celebrates Photography, the Berlin Photo Biennale, Art Takes Miami, and PhotoNOLA
