Patagonia: Through the Lens of Solitude

Sometimes when things get overwhelming I have to remind myself that we all share the same fate. When I think about that, no problem seems too large. In November, I had to continually remind myself of this as I sold my motorcycle to be able to afford accompanying a friend to Magallanes, Chile to help him grieve the loss of a loved one and the subsequent breakdown of his family unit. Self-exploration comes in the form of a journey thousands of miles outside of one’s comfort zone to help the broken retrace the steps within. The work includes images void of notable landmarks and progresses from death to freedom through oneness with nature as well as an introspective look at life. The pieces allow individuals to reach a unique place within because of the freedom that they offer in direct relation to the viewers’ own perceptions and experiences regarding death, nature and solitude. My intention is to allow the viewer to feel a sense of loneliness, freedom in that loneliness, and an overwhelming sense of triumph through photos that encapsulate a dreamlike state. From flying to Santiago, Chile and missing our flight to Punta Arenas to feeling that luck was not on our side, finally making it to Southern Patagonia behind schedule without a place to stay, relying on the kindness of strangers, driving over 650 miles with a portable stove, some food, water, coffee and an extra 30 gallons of gas strapped to the trunk of a car that we rented for 200 bucks from a taxi driver we met 20 minutes earlier, to camping in a puma-infested alpaca cemetery... the views, the people, the relationships made, the self-analysis, putting things into perspective, thinking of our futures, our pasts, our present, and ultimately the journey of life as a whole, truly made this experience one of growth & self-revelation and undeniably unforgettable.