I last visited Southern California, particularly Los Angeles, for a business trip in November 2015. Some things have changed, and then again, a lot did not. The traffic is still bad, the Mexican food is still one of the best, homelessness is still pervasive, and the weather is still gorgeous. It’s certainly a different world out here, full of oxymorons. Maybe – probably – because it is so far away from the rest of the world. The lifestyle, culture, and arts have a distinguished mentality.

The state is heavily stigmatized as laid-back, beautiful, out-of-touch, and woke at the same time, health-obsessed, weed-obsessed, wealthy, and therefore expensive. And yes, there is some truth to all of the above.

Photos made with Mamiya RZ67 Pro II and Contax G2, on 35mm and 120mm film.