I am Daniel Ericksen, a Southern California-based photographer whose work explores the intersections of place, memory, and cultural identity. My artistic journey began within a family tradition of photography, inspired by the practices of my grandfather and mother. Their passion instilled in me a quiet but persistent curiosity—one that has shaped a methodical, research-driven approach to making images.

Influenced by the New Topographics movement, I define my practice through the framework of Cultural Topography, which moves beyond simply documenting physical landscapes to engage with their social and emotional dimensions. My photographs consider how environments—both natural and built—carry layers of history and meaning that shape individual and collective identity.

Working in both digital and film formats, I employ each medium to explore the subtle relationships between presence, absence, and memory. Whether through the tactile qualities of film or the sharp clarity of digital capture, my work is a deliberate act of observation—an ongoing engagement with the cultural landscapes that quietly inform who we are.