The essence of my photographic work is to capture the relationship between people and their environments, in an emotional and visually striking way. For several years now I have photographed mainly in the Mission District of San Francisco, aka “The Mission,” known for its colorful streets, its yearly Carnival parade, and its “cruises” of customized classic cars, known as lowriders. These “lowrider” cruises down Mission Street, the street fairs, the vivid backdrops of murals and graffiti, are a celebration of culture and identity, and they also show something of the challenges of life in an immigrant community. Here we see people who seem at one with their environment, while also remaining solidly themselves. In my photographs I attempt to show something of this creativity and exuberance, the grit and humanity of the people who populate these Mission streets.