This book is a study in solitude and atmosphere, born from my recent photographic reinvigoration at the beginning of my forties. Inspired by the stark, humanless structures of Toshio Shibata and the melancholic suburban scenes of Todd Hido, these images mark a return to something I’d almost forgotten: the value of imitation as a creative exercise, and the quiet satisfaction of letting images emerge without overthinking.

Most of these photographs were made locally, instinctively, with little preparation — though some began as deliberate homages before evolving into something of their own. I’ve long been drawn to humanless spaces and heavy moods, punctuated now and then by a lone figure to anchor the emptiness.

This book is a proof of concept, a medium-format-minded endeavor that signals a shift in both my pace and process. It’s a first edition, the result of a new way of working I couldn’t resist turning into a tangible object as soon as I could.