ren buenviaje

I love to travel, but I would not call myself a travel photographer. My practice is rooted in the belief that the lens should serve as a truth teller, prioritizing authenticity over aesthetics. My aim is to immerse the viewer in a sense of place—not just through recognizable landmarks, but through the interplay of light, color, and everyday objects unique to the local environment. Sometimes the lens and I disagree on how we saw things, but even when editing, the lens more often gets its way. This series of scenes from Japan is a modern take on ukiyo-e, an art form traditionally depicting the hedonism that defined escape in the Edo period. Printed on washi paper as a nod to its inspiration, the work moves beyond earthly pleasures and invites the viewer to explore their own relationship with fulfillment and release in today’s world. Whether it’s through the beauty of a rare view or the pursuit of a grand ambition, I hope you find your escape in one of these photos, even if for a fleeting moment.

When I was 9, a family friend taught me how to start taking photographs in downtown Chicago. He said I had a great sense for composition, but there were too many garbage cans in my shots. Since then I have taken thousands of photographs on many kinds of cameras, and have generally avoided garbage cans. In 2020 I launched streetwear brand Common Skies to bring my work to life in an accessible, wearable form.