This collection features (15) 1/1 images 1QBAN photographed along Route 66 searching for the Ghost Towns left behind.
Since I started my photography journey I found the loneliness of abandoned locations quite therapeautic. Something brought me peace and attracted me to these locations, maybe it was how I was feeling inside. I started spending countless hours exploring vacant places for fun. There was a lot of experimentation with my camera, and that is where I believe I developed most of my skills as a photographer. Due to the poor lighting conditions in these abandoned properties, I learned the limitations of my equipment.
I've always considered myself a troubled kid. Maybe thats why these locations felt like a safe space for me, and spending time researching and exploring them was such a happy place. Which is why one of my first missions I set myself as a photographer was to document the history of places that were left behind. In this adventure I decided to take a different perspective of what everyone captures along the historic highway.
Route 66 was one of the first dreams I had once I learned about all the history it has to offer. Since early on I always wanted to make this roadtrip. During Nov, 2021; I had a taste of it on my way to a campsite near the Grand Canyon. It was then when I started planning a cross country trip to California for late Jan, 2022 with the intentions of coming back to Houston through Route 66. I wasn't okay with seeing only half, so I planned a second cross country trip in June to NYC, where I saw most of the East side of the route.
Photos on this zine are shown in the order they were photographed. Although I had an amazing time driving those desserted roads, I need to spend proper time with each town, at the right times of the day to actually explore and learn more about each single one. Most of them are being remodeled and catered towards tourism. It will be interesting to see how time changes them.
Holders of each 1/1 will received my "Through Route 66" book featuring every photo in the collection + the rest of the photos taken in the on the adventures..
"Beautiful Nightmare"
Photographed on one of my roadtrips to West Texas, had the pleasure to witness a lighting show for the entire 30 min ride from the Marfa town to the Prada Store.
Since I started shooting back in High school; lines, shapes, light, and darkness were always present on my photos.
Always been fascinated by architecture. I consider myself an observer, a dream chaser. Walking the streets doing cityscapes finding roofs to clim was my happy place.
I use lines to bring attention on what I want the viewer to focus on. Give a sense of direction I never felt I had. Parents gave me enough freedom to do and be who I want, which is great but without guidance it can be easy to choose the wrong ways in life; Fortunately I choose photography to be my path.
Follow you Light is inspired by my own personal journey of overcoming challenges and finding hope and light in difficult times. Through this series of photos, I'm trying to encourage others to never give up and to continue pushing forward towards their goals and dreams, even when there doesn't seem much light to follow.
Always fascinated by architecture since he was little, Daniel uses lines in his compositions to direct the viewer's attention through his frames. He walks around following light, documenting life through his lens, photographing everything he identifies with. Every image has a subconscious connection to who he is and how he thinks. There's a lot of nostalgia, solitude, and peacefulness between the chaos of his mind.
The photos in this collection features contrasting elements of light and dark, representing the struggles and challenges that we face in life. In some pieces, the darkness is overwhelming and all-encompassing, while in others, the light shines brightly and offers hope and guidance
Another important aspect of the idea of putting this series together is to motivate others to try and find their own path. Through my photos, I encourage viewers to explore their own passions and interests. I believe that everyone has a light inside them waiting to be discovered and my work aims to inspire and encourage others to find what makes their light shine.
Broken Dreams belongs to a very intimate body of work where 1QBAN creates an image based on the experiences his subject decides to open up with him about. The goal of this project is to give people a space to talk about what eats their mind in the lonely days. The traumas they've experienced in their life, and through this process maybe look at what bother us with a different view and hopefully find some closure