Watching You, Watching Time is a photography, videography, and audio based project aimed at articulating the beauty in the mundane, or more specifically, an observation of people in green spaces. Through a series of videos shot by myself, archival film, and recorded audio, I aimed to look into the everyday lives of San Franciscans, reflecting on how observation can be used as a method of tranquilizing the mind. The videos play simultaneously to show how much life is lived at one time. I invite viewers to question how human behavior changes throughout our history.

I also created a coffee table book as part of this project, which urges the viewer to look at still moments of life in green spaces. The book allows the audience a closer, more intimate view of people in the park. What can at first glance look completely ordinary, might have more depth if we decide to look for a little longer. I ask viewers to use the boombox to listen to ambient sounds of the park. I hope to leave those inspired to practice observation in their everyday life, especially in a city as vibrant as San Francisco.

I have always loved to take photos and capture important moments. As I have gotten older and continued photographing, I want to challenge myself and turn everyday moments into something memorable and meaningful. It is moments I see everyday: a neighbor walking their dog, someone reading the paper, another listening to music on the bus. Watching these moments help me ground myself when life feels hectic. The goal of this project was to intertwine my interests of photography and observation and showcase to others how therapeutic sitting back and focusing on something else can be. All of the photographs and archival video is shot through film. I find this to be a more authentic mode of capturing a moment, as you only have one opportunity and won’t see it until the roll has developed.