A day with FD and Lyle
by justgonzaga

FD and Lyle traveled from the Philippines to the U.S. to do something not yet possible back home: get married. Despite the country’s modernization, same-sex couples still face longstanding barriers.

For this session, I asked a simple question: what would a day in your lives look like if you didn’t have to feel afraid? The result is a portrait of their relationship grounded in honesty, intimacy, and quiet freedom.

Person with hands pressed against glass, creating a foggy or misty effect, in a softly lit room with a window in the background.
A young man and woman lying on a bed, smiling and holding hands, face to face.
A person's hand holding a smartphone, showing a blurred image of two people kissing, with the focus on the hand and phone.
Two men hugging each other on a bed in a cozy room with artwork on the wall and a bookshelf in the background.
A woman standing at a bathroom mirror, wearing glasses and a black shirt, with her hand near her face. Two men are also in the scene, one sitting and the other with his head tilted, both wearing glasses and black shirts, with one resting his arm on t
Top-down view of a table with various desserts, a cup of coffee, and two people shaking hands.
Two men sitting at a table with donuts and coffee, smiling and laughing, in a room with framed artwork on the wall.
Two young men sitting in a booth at a fast food restaurant, with a window behind them showing buildings and a bright sky. One is wearing a black jacket and the other a brown shirt, both with casual style. There is fast food on the table, including a
Two men are closely inspecting a product on a shelf in a store, seen through a gap
Two people sitting on the floor of a library aisle, reading a book together.
Two people walking past bookshelves in a bookstore or library, with both of their faces blurred, wearing casual clothing and sneakers.
Two men walking hand in hand outdoors in front of a sign that reads 'La GITA' with other smaller texts and images, smiling and wearing glasses and casual clothes.
Two people are standing close together with their heads touching, smiling, in a bustling indoor marketplace or food court with neon signs and hanging lights.
Two people sitting at a counter in a restaurant or cafe, with one person feeding the other. Behind them, a yellow sign reads 'TAH BEE' and kitchen utensils are visible.
Two people wearing sunglasses sitting in a vehicle, with one smiling and holding a microphone.
Two young men with glasses and brown and black jackets embrace on a wooden pier at the end of Route 66 in Santa Monica, California, with a sign reading "End of the Trail" and a crowd of people in the background.
Two young people about to kiss at an amusement park, with a background of a climbing net and a flying rainbow flag. The photograph is taken outdoors during daytime.
A beach scene seen through the blurred hand of a person holding a camera. There are people on the sandy beach and in the water, with some umbrellas and tents, and high-rise buildings and mountains in the background. A bird is flying in the sky.
Two young men standing on a concrete pier, looking out at the water. They are leaning on a metal railing, with one of them raising his hand and pointing towards the water, while the other has his arm around his friend's shoulder. The water is calm wi
Two people hugging on a deck overlooking the ocean with a Ferris wheel in the background on a clear day.
Close-up of two faces with their foreheads and eyes touching.
Two young men are smiling and cuddling in front of a moving amusement park ride with a Ferris wheel in the background.
Two people holding hands in front of a roller coaster at an amusement park, with a blurred roller coaster and bright blue sky in the background.
Two young men smiling and taking a photo together from below, with one person's hand reaching towards the camera in the foreground.

Layers with AJ
by justgonzaga

I met AJ by chance while walking the streets of Downtown LA with my camera. We quickly bonded over a shared love of photography and sneakers. As I got to know him, more layers emerged - from the strength of his grandmother to the challenges that shaped his path.

For his birthday portrait session, I used DTLA as both backdrop and metaphor, reflecting the depth of his story and giving him space to express it on his own terms.

A man stands inside a dark, graffiti-covered tunnel with graffiti on the walls and curved concrete ceiling.
A person standing on the sidewalk under a large concrete bridge with graffiti, with a shadow of the bridge cast on the wall behind them.
A man in a blue checkered jacket and sunglasses walking in a dark tunnel with graffiti on the wall and cars in the distance.
A man with a close-cropped haircut wearing sunglasses and a blue plaid jacket, leaning against a textured, light-colored wall with shadows cast across it.
A man sitting on a curb under a tree, wearing sunglasses, a black hoodie, a dark jacket, black pants, and blue and black Nike sneakers. The scene appears to be outdoors in a city or suburban area, with a street, trees, and a bridge or tunnel in the b
A man walking across an urban street at night, wearing sunglasses, a blue plaid jacket, black pants, and sneakers, with a dark background and streetlights lighting the area.
A person standing outside at night with their hands pressed together in a prayer or meditative pose, wearing reflective sunglasses, a blue plaid shirt, and a dark hoodie, with a dark building or parking garage in the background.
Close-up of a man wearing a hoodie and a plaid blue jacket, looking directly at the camera with a serious expression. The background is black with blurred circular lights.
A man wearing sunglasses and a hoodie standing under a bridge or overpass, looking slightly to the side, with tall buildings visible in the background.
A man wearing sunglasses, a blue plaid jacket, black pants, and sneakers is sitting on a foldable chair in the middle of an empty parking lot under an overpass, with a large skylight overhead.
A man wearing sunglasses, a dark jacket, and a blue plaid shirt is holding a black picture frame in front of his face, with part of his face visible behind it. His hand appears aged with visible veins and wrinkles.
Close-up of a young African-American man with a styled haircut, beard, and mustache, looking to the side against a dark background.
A person holding two vintage photographs, one showing a woman with glasses and a young girl, set against a gray background.
A person with short, textured hair, covering their face with their hand, wearing a dark jacket, in a black and white photograph.
A man sitting on a small stool outdoors on a city street at night, holding a smartphone in one hand, with sunglasses hanging from his other hand, wearing a blue plaid jacket, black pants, and black and blue sneakers, with a dark background and blurre
Close-up of a young man's face focusing on his forehead, eyes, and facial hair with a blurred background.
A man with a serious expression, looking upward, in an indoor setting with a ceiling light above his head, wearing a dark hoodie and a blue checkered jacket.
A man in a beige trench coat and sunglasses standing in an urban setting under a bridge or overpass, with blurred cityscape and fence in the background.
A person wearing glasses and a beige trench coat stands on a rooftop or balcony, looking down, with the sun shining behind a modern architectural structure with curved and linear elements, possibly a bridge or a building. The person is in profile, wi
A man crouching on a rooftop with a city skyline in the background, wearing sunglasses, a beige trench coat, ripped jeans, and brown boots.
A man wearing sunglasses, a beige trench coat, and ripped jeans skateboarding on a city bridge during sunset with a modern city skyline in the background.
A man with a beard wearing sunglasses, a beige jacket, a white shirt, ripped light-wash jeans, and tan boots sitting on a metal railing under a bridge, smiling and looking down at the camera against a blue sky.
A man with short hair and freckles wearing sunglasses, a white t-shirt, and holding a black and red shoe, standing outdoors with a bridge in the background.
A man with a beard and short hair, wearing a white T-shirt and jeans, is leaning against a ledge or railing with his arms crossed. There is a large Ferris wheel in the background, indicating an outdoor setting.
Close-up of a man with a beard and short hair, wearing a beige jacket, standing next to a wooden railing or decorative structure. He has a serious expression, and the background is blurred.
A man standing on an escalator in a modern indoor space, possibly a shopping mall or office building, with a curved ceiling and windows letting in natural light.
A man with a beard smiling, wearing a beige chef coat, is looking down and making a hand gesture with both hands.

Captured by justgonzaga

A woman in white pants, black heels, and a black leather jacket is sitting and leaning against a yellow wall with a red door and mailbox, at night, in an alleyway with gates on either side.
A mother is hugging and kissing her two children, one with pigtails and another with long hair looking into the camera, in a cozy room with art and books on the wall. 
Portraits
Life
Jason Mraz playing guitar on stage during outdoor concert with stage lights and equipment overhead.
A beach with large rocky cliffs, the sky is clear, and two people, a child and an adult, are walking along the shoreline. 
Moments
Places
Two young men sitting in a booth at a fast food restaurant, with a large window behind them showing buildings and a billboard outside. They are both leaning their heads on their hands, looking at the camera, with fast food items on the table, including a large drink and fried chicken. 
Select Works