Regina Henderson
Hello internet, I’m Regina! I am a San Diego State University graduate who studied international relations, conflict resolution, and Chinese. I started bookbinding in my dorm while studying abroad at National Taiwan University, and more recently I took up film photography. From 2016 to 2023 I was a competitive colorguard performer who competed in World Championships twice. Now, I enjoy lower-impact activities including yoga and functional strength training. Though I have long considered birds to be my favorite animal, cats recently replaced birds as #1. You may be able to deduce my favorite color without me telling you.
About the Site
This website is my first venture into web design and I’m learning as I go. I have always enjoyed design and am excited to explore digital media. In its first iteration this website will serve as a platform for me to document my exploration of San Francisco. Throughout the website I have interspersed stories of my family and aspects of my personality and character so you can get to know me before we ever even meet!
Photo by Nykolas Jared, 12.5.24, Gold in Minolta SRT-201
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Reynier’s (not so) San Francisco Sheep
The image above depicts the family of Frank and Hortense (Reynier) Walker. From the Walkers came the Shafers, and from a Shafer came me.
Interestingly enough, my family’s San Francisco story essentially starts and ends with a departure from the city. In 1864, Joseph Reynier set sail from France with the hope of taking advantage of new opportunities in America, making his way first to New York then sailing again to San Francisco. After only three years in the bay, Reynier bought a herd of sheep and a wagon, then set out on the road aiming to homestead further South. He found his home in Placerita Canyon in 1868, and although the family sold the land to the State of California in 1949, my family has not strayed far from there since. Now, 158 years later, I am bringing one small piece of my family back to San Francisco (and I plan to be here longer than three years). I have no sheep, but I do carry with me a similar hope of finding new opportunities and a place to call home.
Read More
A scandalous murder, hardships of homesteading, family tie to Cher, and more if you are interested:
What I’ve Found in San Francisco
I’ve made it a point to mimimally photograph people’s faces, especially up close. It is a given, then, that my photographs don’t represent my favorite part of San Francisco—the people. Yes, I love the parks, the trains and busses, the food, the art, and many more things; but what makes all of these things so amazing is the people who create, sustain, and drive them into the future. The people of San Francisco are constantly building a community that values:
public green space for all
equitable public transportation
preservation of history and culture
education and activism
movement and health
centering people
Finding My Place
I am unsurprised to find that San Francisco’s city departments parallel the core values I identified above. I admit that as a new grad I do not draw from a well of professional experience, but I can confidently attest to my wealth of interest, energy, and drive to learn about and contribute to this city. I am confident that I can make positive contributions wherever I end up.
Film Photography Portfolio
My understanding of and appreciation for San Francisco has come from repeated excursions around the city, starting months before I moved here. Every time I go out to take photos, even if I am going somewhere I’ve been many times, I find new things to see and experience. I hope this portfolio captures the dynamic beauty of the city despite my emerging photography style being quite subdued.
Nykolas Jared Portfolio
I am also sharing some photos by Nykolas Jared, with whom I have been exploring San Francisco.
Regina Henderson 