I was pretty new to the U.S. and living in California when I had my first exposure to “fine art photographs.” I was really taken with the work of landscape photographers like Richard Misrach, Peter Goin and Mark Klett. Their work had a profound impact on my perception of what photography can stimulate in the viewer’s mind. Misrach, especially, was an important influence. His large prints pushed me to look at the environment around me in ways I had never before. I then set on a mission to get a large format camera and drive around the country looking for that perfect combination of light, landscape and the constant reminder of people’s presence.