Only in Albuquerque: History Gallery 2014-2034

My digital photography focuses on the people and places that make up the cities in which we live. Each photograph is a tool for observing and interpreting the people and places that surround us each day. These people become my momentary friends. We acknowledge each other; we converse or sometimes say nothing at all. Each photograph is stitched together from multiple images. I manipulate the space to form a coherent fluid movement, but also play with dimensions and perspective.

My first commission to build a body of work under this idea was made by the City of Albuquerque in 2009. Ten panoramic images were created entitled “Travel throughout Albuquerque” This project focused on photographing the people that used any ABQ public transportation service from inside the service automobile. The finished project resulted in one set of images going on display in City Hall and the second going to the permanent collection at the Albuquerque Museum of Art & History. My second commission was issued by the Albuquerque Museum of Art & History in 2013. I was asked to further my previous idea of photographing people around Albuquerque but narrow it to ten historically prominent locations. The final images line the entryway to the new Albuquerque Historic Gallery opening in 2014.

- Mike Sanchez, 2013