i shot the photos in dominican republic between july 23rd, 2018, up to july 27th. the photos in california were shot between august 17th, 2018 till' august 27th. DR & CA both helped me reconnect with my spirituality because i needed a new environment; a new adventure, along with an escape from new york. venturing out and experiencing new moments are two things that make me the happiest, as well as being with my family and seeing them enjoy our world. that brings me closer to my soul because of its impact. i needed to share a shot with the bartender and my older brother, Stephan. i needed to be in my tia's red bmw, speeding down "caramel valley" listening to "te bote". i needed to watch my dad lay on the hot sand like a starfish. i needed to speak to the kind dominican man who's hands i took pictures of. i needed him to tell me his testimony; "lo que es dificil, no es imposible." i needed to finally see my nephew after two years of being apart, and become so choked up by how big he has gotten. i needed to be reunited with all my siblings and parents together. i needed to drink mojitos at 10 am, and mamajuana at 10 pm. i needed to win a bottle of dominican rum just from playing fuckin' bingo. i needed to have deep talks with my cousin and her boyfriend about my love life (lol) and my crazy life. i needed to cry when i was leaving DR because of my food poisoning, and i needed to cry when i was leaving CA because i hate saying goodbye to JP (my second older bro). all of this and more so i can feel at one with my soul, and thank God it happened. - Tiff