Next Town Over was created over a period of a year and a half living back in the East Bay Area, the place where I grew up. For the first couple weeks of that time I weaved restlessly through the pile of towns thrown shoulder to shoulder on the water. Albany, my hometown of a single square mile with its low slung bungalows and antiquated main street silently bled into to El Cerrito just to the North.

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I slowed my pace and walked in and through and up and down this next town over, quickly becoming lost among the endless auto-shops and dealerships on San Pablo Avenue. I started walking with a camera a couple miles each day. I realized I was in over my head. I got yelled at for trespassing. One day I suffered a terrible sunburn. I quickly wore through the heels of a newly purchased pair of sneakers. I felt terribly estranged. 

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Finally, while walking the cement perimeter at Cerrito Vista Park, I met a man named Dennis, who left his house unlocked and the keys in the transmission of his Dodge Caravan. Then I saw no one for several weeks. I crossed town lines to photograph the redwood tree in People's park and broke my own rules. I continually asked myself aloud, "Where the hell is everyone, anyway?" 

 

I finally caved and photographed my best friend.