Where I Started

My family inspired my interest in photography. During high school, my older brother took a photography class, and he was the first person I saw exploring the world with his eye glued to a viewfinder. As a child, my mom would buy me National Geographic magazines, which opened up my worldview, curiosity, and awe at the magnificent images. My desire to capture photos was encouraged by my dad, who paid for classes during summer breaks, which allowed me access to a dark room. I spent my days wandering around whichever city I was in, from KC to Boulder to San Francisco, until my roll of film was completed and I was ready to develop. I loved the process of stepping into a dark closet and trusting the process, I loved watching the revelation of a photo developing in the chemical bath. I still love the meditative and solitary nature of photography, but while my technological processes have changed, the magic of photography and the comfort I feel exploring the world with a camera by my side has never gone away.