Sunny Day Real Estate on Film

In 1998 I grabbed my dad’s camera, hopped in a car with my best friend, and followed my favorite band for 2 weeks. These are the first photos I ever took.

When I was 14 my friend’s Aunt was going on a work trip to Seattle and asked if we wanted any souvenirs. At the time, I was a big fan of all things grunge and I eagerly asked her to bring me a CD of a local band. When she returned she presented me a copy of Sunny Day Real Estate’s debut, Diary.

You hear this phrase a lot but, this is the band that changed everything for me. They were the impetus for my first trip to New York City (where I now call home). They inspired me to make photographs, now my career, for the first time ever. They were my introduction to a music, culture and DIY ethos that influenced the way I’ve lived my life for the past 30 years.