Each year, I partner with the San Diego Architectural Foundation to shoot and edit the Orchids & Onions awards video series, highlighting the places shaping San Diego’s built environment.

Beyond the supplied photography and separately filmed interviews, I capture the project footage candidly as I follow the jury tours—working solo, with available light and no more than 15 minutes at each location. There’s no staged walkthrough or time to wait for ideal conditions. It’s an exercise in observation, instinct, and finding the story in the moment—a craft I’ve developed over years of filmmaking.

Filmed and edited by Max Forrest Films.