This group of photographs is part of a series that I titled “6.9 or Less.” It refers to the distance in miles between the metal manufacturing company where I work, in the city of Opa-Locka, and my house, which is in Miami's northern city limit. For more than a decade, my daily commute has exposed me to these quasi-forgotten manufacturing districts, a vast area populated with poorly maintained utilitarian buildings. Being constantly engaged with these mundane structures, the richness of their colors and the uniqueness of their textures have roused my fascination for the architectural simplicity and quietness found in Miami’s industrial districts. These factors culminated in my calling this unexpected attraction, "The Opa-Locka Effect".

As a result of this neglect from local authorities toward Miami’s industrial areas, most have devolved into desolate territory, where poverty, social inequity and racial isolation are the most pronounced human elements. This series of images is my tribute to the residents and workers of these areas, who as a result of those factors have experienced the constant decline of their surroundings, their quality of life and the imposed limitations brought on by their environment.

My inspiration came from the work of some of the following renowned American photographers: Walker Evans, Stephen Shore and Robert Adams, who, in the past, have approached similar issues in different regions of the country.