San Francisco marks a pivotal chapter in the "Behind the Lens: The Solo Years" archives, capturing journeys taken between 2012 and 2017 before Tamara and I crossed paths. As part of a great American coast-to-coast journey—stretching from the Golden Gate to the Neon Strip—the city provided some of the country's most cinematic landscapes. These foundational solo escapes proved early on that the experiences gained from crossing international borders will always outweigh spending money on fleeting luxuries back home.

Highlights from the American Archives

• Empire States and Golden Gates: Framing the iconic suspension towers of the Golden Gate Bridge against the rolling Pacific fog. The steep, dramatic inclines of the city and the historic cable cars offered unparalleled vantage points for early landscape photography.

• The Electric Contrast: Swapping the concrete jungle of the East Coast for the breezy, salt-aired rhythm of the Bay Area. San Francisco provided a vibrant visual bridge between the towering heights of New York and the desert sun of Las Vegas.

• Where the Vision Began: Roaming the hilly avenues and waterfront piers solo helped shape a lifelong passion for documenting the world. These early vintage travels laid the groundwork for the professional, cinematic storytelling that defines our shared platform today.