MUGSHOTS

Mugshots began as a side project to mix up my photography a little bit and dig myself out of a personal rut that I had been in for a while. Being an aspiring landscape photographer in a large metropolitan area (and a geographically “low-key” part of the state) was, to put it simply, a bit depressing. My work was suffering and so was my morale. I found inspiration in other photographers online and decided to shift my focus a bit and explore the urban landscape around me.

It has been a joy to discover buildings and locations in my city that I have passed many, many times in my life without ever paying much attention. At first I tried capturing these places at interesting, dramatic angles, and some of them worked, but a lot of them didn’t. I started finding the “mugshot'“ to be a much more fun and pleasing way of displaying them. The simplicity of the composition allows the character of the building itself to shine.

With Mugshots, I’m pointing my camera at something, and telling it to “Smile!”

This is an on-going series and I will be adding to this page as it grows.

I’ll admit, I don’t have a lot of history with Tito’s. That doesn’t mean I don’t love its aesthetic. Sitting on historic South Alamo, Tito’s classic structure is already becoming a stark contrast to its trendy surroundings. The building is unapologetically basic, with wall-to-wall windows displaying confidently the single large room and welcoming environment. I can practically smell them charro beans.

Bill Miller Bar-B-Q is a San Antonio staple. Over the years, the restaurant has seen a number of renovations and re-vamps, but for the store on Pleasanton Rd, time has stood still. This particular location still retains one of the original designs, and is the last of its kind remaining in town.

I grew up on the side of town that houses this little fish house, and it’s been a bit of a staple of this street for as long as I can remember. The thing is, I’ve never actually eaten there. In fact, I can’t even remember the last time I saw it open. Yet it’s remained, year after year, in that same exact location. Whatever the magic of Fred’s Fish Fry, it’s a secret they’re not letting out.

I love the serenity of this scene, as it’s clear view of the sky is a direct contrast to the area around it. Being only a stone’s throw from the downtown area, viewing it at any other angle would show the crowd of buildings on either side. It’s a quaint reminder of the small town vibe my city used to have, up until the last 20 years or so.