In March of 2023, while en route to Tampa for a client project, I decided to pick up an issue of Vogue from the newsstand at Boise Airport. As I paid the cashier, my camera bag nearly knocked over the flimsy candy carousel behind me. I'm usually hard to miss in public with my camera and lighting equipment on my back. After navigating my way to my seat, I began thumbing through its pages and found myself unexpectedly inspired. Born in 1985, I vividly recall spending hours in the magazine aisle as a child while my mother shopped for groceries. Flipping through the glossy pages, I was transported back to those moments of peace and immersion, away from the distractions of screens and notifications. With my headphones in, listening to my favorite '80s, '90s, or synthwave playlist, I found solace in the tangible experience.

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For a brief moment, I was a child again, perched on the ledge of the magazine rack, discovering new cheat codes for Mortal Kombat or admiring pictures of sleek fox body Mustangs. It was a nostalgic journey.

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Continuing through the pages, I was struck by the richness of culture, diversity, and creativity evident in the work of designers, photographers, and models.

 

And then it clicked...