It’s 2022 in Santa Barbara, CA. I’m just barely starting my photography portfolio. Back in 2020 I had befriended a transient musician/artist, named Train and for the next 2 years he always showed up wherever I was. One night after the weekly beach dance sessions, he mentioned that he met a cool girl and was going to come over to my house with her. Up until this point he rarely followed thru and didn’t even own a cell phone. I could never get in touch with him and knew he wasn’t that reliable. So when the door knocked around 10pm, I was actually shocked. In walks Train with this cute blonde girl beside him, Josie.

I never questioned what they had been up to or if they were hooking up, but what transpired that night was a jam session with joints while Josie snapped a few photos and listened along. Little did I know 18 months later I would still be connected to Josie via Instagram and continue to build an on going friendship with her.

Her story is unique and though hard to pin down our paths eventually led back to San Luis Obispo where I end up taking Josie’s photos in the forest of Montaña De Oro State Park. Josie’s story goes deeper and can be read in the physical issue of