I grew up watching old movies with my mom and aunt, and one of my favorite filmmakers from old Hollywood was Alfred Hitchcock. As it turned out, years later, Hitchcock’s cinematography style would greatly influence much of my work. When moving to Sonoma County, California I learned that it has not only been known for being Wine Country, but that it also has a rich history in its iconic movie locations, including the filming of Hitchcock’s The Birds in Bodega and Bodega Bay. From the first day I arrived in Sonoma County, I knew I had to photograph the infamous Potter Schoolhouse on Bodega Lane. The entire three years I lived in Sonoma County, its hectic pace of life had kept me from being inspired enough to fully conceptualize even the simplest photographic narrative. My schedule was constantly packed, and, no matter how much I ached, art just couldn’t find a way to fit into it. Once I made the choice to drastically change the direction of my life with a move to the Big Island, I knew that, before I left, I had to see what Hitchcock’s schoolhouse had in store for me. I captured this image, The Birds 1, one week before I left the mainland.