These are a couple of fun snaps I took at an 80’s prom I attended two weeks ago, hosted by the Smog City Roller Grrls. It was a blast (as all Fresno ‘proms’ are), and I can’t wait to photograph their bout on the 29th!

Growing up in Fresno, I never understood why everyone was always so “bored.” My dad would always tell me that people who are bored in Fresno will be bored everywhere else as well. On the other hand, I do get that there is a minimal nightlife and art scene (although it is growing rapidly, and is much stronger in some respects than it is down here in Ventura) and I know that there weren’t a lot of big concerts coming through town until recently, so if you’re into that kind of thing a bigger city would be right up your alley. But seriously, by living in Fresno you are just a short drive away from THREE national parks and some of the most spectacular countryside I’ve ever seen. How can someone honestly be “bored” living that close to this kind of beauty? Especially right now in the spring, when the blossom trail is in bloom and the hills are bright green.

When I was living there I spent every afternoon I could driving around in the countryside and taking pictures. It’s part of why I became inspired to do this as a living. I even took many days off from work because it was just too damn beautiful out to spend my day inside shelving books. Even though the hills in Ojai are also quite beautiful, to me, there’s nothing quite as breathtaking as the hills surrounding Fresno and the Sierra Nevada. I always felt incredibly lucky to be surrounded by such beauty, and I miss it so much right now.

So to you Fresnans I say, go out on the blossom trail this weekend. Drive around the countryside. Take a road you’ve never been down before. And do it now, before summer comes and it gets all brown and yucky. I promise that you won’t regret it.

These images were taken back in January while spending a few short hours at California & Main – a dress shop in Ventura.