As Told By

My path into this work started with a camera and a passport. Growing up the son of an immigrant, my mother made it a priority to take me to Taiwan every year to spend time with family. Living in another culture for months at a time taught me how different the experiences and ways of living were, and I wanted to capture those stories to share with my friends. I saved up from my job at a Chinese restaurant to buy my first proper camera, and I have been looking for ways to capture the craft of a place ever since.

Denver shows up in my work through the persistence of the sun. We get 300 days of sunshine a year, and as a natural light photographer, I’ve learned to play with shadows and appreciate the fleeting moments the light creates. Because Denver is such an experiential city, I often use motion blur in my photography. I want the viewer to feel like they are engaging with a space or a product authentically, moving through it rather than just looking at a static image.

When I need a reset, I head to Denver Botanic Gardens. I go at least once a week to slow down and admire the plants. It’s a place that forces you to match the pace of nature rather than the noise of the city. If I’m looking for inspiration, I’ll find a seat at Little Owl or Corvus. There is a deep joy in experiencing someone else’s hospitality. Watching the craftsmanship that goes into a flat white makes me realize that this city’s beverage culture is truly one of the best in the country.

To truly feel the rhythm of Denver, you have to be here in the fall. It’s the smell of dew on fallen leaves during a cool morning walk, the sweater weather afternoons spent in the city’s parks, and the evenings spent around a brewery firepit with friends. It is a season that perfectly captures the balance this city requires, the time when you truly feel the community slowing down. It’s easy to get sucked into the busyness of everyday life or the rush to the mountains, but life here is better when you build community right where you are.

I see that same sense of intentionality in Populus. It’s become a new architectural landmark for us, but what I notice most is how it integrates nature into the design. In my own work, I try to bring that same level of focus to every image I capture. It feels like a hub where the city’s creative energy and sustainability actually meet.

Ultimately, I want people to see that Denver is built by small businesses and individuals who are creating intentional spaces. Skip 16th Street and find the first Friday art walks on Santa Fe or the mom-and-pop taco shops like Taqueria La Familia. Denver is a place where people often search for grand experiences, which they can certainly find here. I find, however, that in looking only for joy in the extraordinary, we can often miss the beauty found in simple, slow things.