Now Zad, Afghanistan
During my seven-month deployment to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, I captured numerous missions. Among them, were the intense battles that unfolded in Now Zad and Marjah.
Downtown Oakland
A photo essay made while learning downtown Oakland as a new resident. The work looks past simplified narratives to focus on everyday life—street scenes, portraits, and small moments of community that rarely make the headline version of the city.
No Luck - Documentary
Initially, this story began as an informative documentary focusing on a historic business nestled in the vibrant heart of San Francisco’s China Town. As my documentary project partner, Sophia Sun, and I delved deeper into the narrative, we uncovered intriguing layers about the store owner, Kevin Chan. Kevin, who harbored dreams of becoming a police officer, dedicated long hours to his work, and grappled with uncertainties surrounding the succession of his cherished store. It soon became evident that the essence of the story lay in Kevin's personal journey, with the cookie factory serving as a poignant backdrop to narrate his compelling tale.
Brett the Busker
After graduating from UC Berkeley, Brett Torres worked briefly as a music teacher at the Berkeley Jazz Conservatory before stepping away to focus on his mental health. Brett, who has been managing Scrupulosity Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and social anxiety, found solace in street performances. Engaging with people through music became a therapeutic outlet for him, complementing his practices of meditation and medication in fostering better mental well-being. With twelve years of experience as a busker, Brett aims to conquer his mental health challenges and eventually resume his passion for teaching and one day perform at restaurants.
Photography has been the thread through every chapter of my life. I started as a Marine Corps photojournalist, documenting training, highlighting individuals with inspiring stories, and covering the war in Afghanistan. After seven years active duty, I transitioned out of the military to pursue college and commit fully to storytelling. I entered UC San Diego in a Creative Writing program, but the deeper I studied narrative, the more I realized my clearest voice was visual.
I now work as a freelance photographer/videographer with a focus on documentary photography, night work, and character-driven stories. Much of my current work explores masculinity in the Latino community—especially how “machismo” can influence parenting, vulnerability, and the relationship between fathers and their children.
Poetry at Night
San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge changed how I think about bridges. Where my early experiences in San Diego taught me to notice the lines they draw, photographing the Golden Gate has pushed me toward the moments they create—shared paths, chance encounters, families and locals moving through the same frame. This essay treats the bridge not only as infrastructure, but as a place where communities briefly meet.
Berkeley - Telegraph Ave
My daughter
CAL vs USC
