Sometimes you love place so much it inspires you to share it with the rest of the world. At least that is what happened to Susie Lantz when she started an Instagram account under the username @slantzzzz to document her life in Tucson.
The editor, writer and sometimes-teacher has lived in Tucson for eight years with a little break in between.
"I missed Tucson so much I came back," Lantz said.
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With her attention to patterns, iconography, old cars, and all the little things that make this city a desert gem, Lantz's photos remind us Tucson is a dreamy place.
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Here is what Lantz had to say about her life in Tucson and what she looks for in the perfect Instagram pic.
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What do you like about living in Tucson?
The big sky, monsoon rains and creosote, hummingbirds, the All Souls Procession, Mt. Lemmon, La Cocina, Deep House Yoga in Brandi Fenton Park on Monday nights. And the biodiversity and human and architectural and culinary diversityโwhich were the biggest and best surprises for me when I moved here from Baltimore.
What do you like taking photos of?
Anything that catches my eye on a walk, especially my neighborhood, Blenman Elm. Itโs like taking portraits of a beloved family member but seeing something new every time.
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How has Tucson inspired your photos?
Tucson is why I wanted to take photos in the first place. It rewards the act of seeing with so many little surprisesโa pop of colored tile, a crazy cactus from another planet next to religious statuary next to beautiful rusting iron. Tucson taught me to pay closer attention to my everyday life and feel fortunate.
What do you hope people take away from your images?
The fun of trying to see familiar things with fresh eyes. And the sheer joy of just wandering around town really looking at stuff.
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Who else do you like to follow on Instagram?
I follow @this_is_tucson! I love @barrioviejo, which is all shots of that neighborhood by @tucsonjohn who lives there.
