In both cinematography and software development, there is a constant pull toward complexity. Newer gear, heavier frameworks, more layers between you and the subject. But lately, I've been finding that the most resilient stories—and the most resilient systems—are built on the simplest foundations.
For this portfolio, we chose a "No-Bundle Vanilla" architecture. No webpack, no Vite, no massive node_modules folder. Just pure TypeScript, native ESM modules, and CSS variables. It feels a lot like shooting on a prime lens: it limits your options, but it forces you to focus on what actually matters.
The more you depend on the tools, the less you depend on your vision.
The benefit of simplicity
When you strip away the abstraction, you regain control. You know exactly what script is running and why. You know exactly how the CSS is being applied. In the field, if your camera has too many menus, you'll miss the moment while you're menu-diving. In web dev, if your build pipeline is too complex, you'll spend more time fixing the pipeline than building the product.
The vanilla stack is stable. It doesn't break when a sub-dependency's sub-dependency gets a minor update. It works today, and it will work ten years from now because it's built on the standards of the web, not the trends of the month.
Moving forward
Evolving the craft isn't always about adding more. Often, it's about learning what you can take away while still delivering a polished, professional experience. This site is an experiment in that philosophy. It's fast, it's lightweight, and it's easy to maintain. It gets out of the way so the work can speak for itself.