The Native Tourist series delves into the dual experience of being both a local and an explorer within one's own familiar environment. It’s about rediscovering my city and learning to appreciate the small things and views that feel like home. This collection encourages viewers to embrace a renewed sense of wonder and curiosity, urging them to view their surroundings with a fresh perspective. By capturing both urban and natural landscapes, the series illustrates the contrast and harmony between the man-made and the organic, highlighting the richness found in everyday sights.

In pieces like "Streets of Gold" and "Holy Echoes," I explore the hidden treasures within the city, where light and shadow play across architectural structures, revealing unexpected beauty and spiritual resonance. "Liquid Gold" and "Celestial Canopy" capture moments of natural splendor within urban settings, suggesting a seamless blend of the cityscape with the expansive sky above.

"Fenced Illumination" and "Ephemera" delve into the fleeting moments of clarity and beauty that we often overlook in our day-to-day lives, emphasizing the importance of pausing and appreciating the transient nature of our environment. "Guided Beacons" serves as a metaphor for the guides and signs that direct us through both our physical and emotional landscapes, while "Paradise at the DIA" offers a moment of stillness and reflection amidst the hustle of city life.

"Sunset Dreams" encapsulates the theme of rediscovery—how the familiar can transform under different light, inviting a reconsideration of what we thought we knew about our own space. Each photograph in this series is deeply influenced by my creative abstract painting background, which informs my eye as a photographer. This allows me to see and capture the essence of my city in unique ways, bringing out the vibrant interplay of colors, textures, and forms.

Through Native Tourist, I invite the audience to journey with me as I rediscover the cityscape that has always been home, learning to appreciate the small details and vistas that often go unnoticed, but are rich with meaning and history. This series aligns with the overarching themes of "Brush and Focus," as it reflects on identity, self-expression, and the complex layers of our environments that shape who we are.