Describing is the hardest part

Don't tread on me, I like what I see

I am infatuated with light, I am awed by dimension. I believe that I pursue the photographic arts because I love how it allows my imagination to manipulate both light and dimension. I believe I produce photographic works because I have a raw emotional passion for the medium. But I keep coming back to photography because it engages me: I get a rush when I must actively participate with the world I am capturing, and my heart races especially when the time to capture the world is fleeting. Retrospectively all of the types of photography I have been involved in (artistic, journalistic, etc) have allowed me to feel distanced yet connected to a world I am trying to capture
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But photography has grown to be more than just about capturing the world around me. Sure, being able to capture the world around me is the fuel to my motivation, and the feelings I get from participating in the act of photography is the spark that keeps me coming back. Yet my curiosity to codify my imagination about both the intricacies and extremes that I see in the world is my motivation making art. I believe I can draw my motivation from an inherent nature to ceaselessly pursue answers, even when I have had to face ridiculous or traumatic experiences.


 To this day photography has been the most successful way to capture what I have found to be implausible to explain any other way: my photography is my voice.


When I was little I had an overzealous imagination, and with it came an exaggerated fear of the unknown . Today I believe that some of my photography is based around my attempt to find the answers to escaping danger. Doing photography has also put me in situations (both physically and mentally) where I was forced to face my fears. Photography has become important proof that my overzealous imagination is not necessarily a bad thing.

I also become motivated to make work when I see others' works. I have a visual memory which helps me remember specific traits of other artists' works, especially in regards to the composition and the power of their works. Once I have found some idea or concept that I want to work with I become obsessed with it. Most importantly my obsession with ideas brings both success and failure; and the battle that ensues in me has been the most valuable for my artistic growth.

I believe that the hands on experience unique to the visual arts is some of the most rewarding learning I have been exposed to academically. I plan to continue on one of two paths after my formal education is completed: I want to go into photojournalism or I want to teach photography. Currently I try to stay up to date to the constant changes within the photo industry. I do not see myself lagging behind, but rather I welcome the pace and progress of the industry. But I never forget about the past with photography- I shoot film probably more often than I shoot digitally because, no matter how you cut it, digital will never replace film. Independent of my career plans my ultimate goal as a photographer is to be able to continuously create interest in my photographs for as long as I am involved in the art.

Finally, I view art as a feeling that transcends our basic needs and wants. Honestly, we don't need art to survive. But, as a species, I do think we need art to evolve.