He was born in El Paso, Texas in the late 70’s and grew up in Juarez, Mexico. After a seven-year run dedicated to music, playing drums in alternative and experimental bands in the borderlands, his interest and love for photography became evident. Two months short of his 24th birthday, with two bags, a car that barely ran and a Canon AE-1 camera, he moved to Santa Barbara, California, to attend Brooks Institute of Photography. Against all odds, three years later, he graduated with honors and was on his way to New York City.