The phrase “aesthetic reality” comes from a quote by the writer James Agee, while describing the work of renowned photographer Helen Levitt: “The artist's task is not to alter the world as the eye sees it into a world of aesthetic reality, but to perceive the aesthetic reality within the actual world.”

This zine contains 36 photos taken in 2025. The majority were taken in San Francisco, as part of an ongoing project exploring contemporary life in this city. These 22 pictures represent 15 distinct neighborhoods. Each photo aims to epitomize some aspect of San Francisco culture: the newest technology renaissance, events and celebrations like Trans March and Easter in the Park, walks in the Mission, outings at Pier 39, or rides on the Great Highway.

Sandwiched between the San Francisco pictures are 14 photos taken during a trip to Querétaro and Mexico City, Mexico. A few days in a city is certainly not enough time to understand the intricacies of a place. Instead, I took an element that felt true, and worked to capture that essence. In Mexico City, a place of 9 million residents, I was struck by the sheer number of people in constant motion, and by the abundance of transit options. I chose to focus, in part, on frames that emphasize movement and travel.

Throughout, my goal remains not to alter the world around me, but to express the aesthetic reality within the actual world.

Note: This zine is viewed in landscape orientation.