SAN BERNARDINO CITY RESIDENT INTERVIEWS
My project aims to combine portraits with interviews to get insight from San Bernardino residents about their day-to-day and perspective on the city. My initial goal was to extend a previous portrait series that focused on approaching people walking in the downtown area and striking up a conversation about their day. I would hand out water bottles as a way to engage with them, which would lead to a conversation and request for a portrait.
The majority of those previously involved were homeless individuals, which pushed me to rework the project around SB residents as a way to expand the project without the negative associations of only focusing on this particular group. I didn’t want to be exploitative, so I was able to rework it in a way that distances away from a focus on "homelessness," and instead treat them as residents and members of our community. Some of the questions I would like to reflect on/address would be on finding out what binds/connects us as San Bernardino residents. Get insight into what our residents feel are some major issues impacting our city, and what keeps them connected/rooted to SB.
FABIAN LEON TORRES
My name is Fabian Leon Torres (@wiskrshoots), and I am a documentary and portrait photographer with roots in San Bernardino. Growing up in San Bernardino throughout its decline, I turned to photography as a way to express my thoughts and feelings. I remember feeling bogged down by all these changes happening around me that it pushed me towards capturing moments as mementos of the past. I eventually became inspired by San Bernardino Generation Now's work towards rebuilding San Bernardino through the arts, and my outlook changed. I focused more on the present and the ways photography could be used to support and uplift the people around me. I started viewing photography as a means of expression, a way to represent my community, and bring attention to some of the issues that are important to me. I enjoy showing some of the hidden gems of San Bernardino and hope that it has a positive impact in changing the ways people feel about their home and those around them.