As a city planner I am always conscious of the built environment and how people move throughout mazes of buildings and crisscrossing streets. I was trained to see beyond the chaos of crowded streets to uncover how things worked - how buildings functioned and how spaces were used or abandoned. Regardless of the city or country, I am always aware of how people move through life. As a photographer I’ve combined my love of cities and the people that make them function, but rather than solving a social or economic challenge with policies, I document life for what it is. At times despair is seen on strained brow, a fallen head or a single tear drop and other stolen moments show an unwavering resolve or a smile so large that it exudes happiness from cheek to cheek. Because I position myself within the community as both a participant and an observer, I am able to create images that show the complexities of life with depth that reveals empathy and ensures the dignity of the persons I capture. My choice of subject comes from a place of awareness of all that surrounds me and is fueled by my curiosity of how cities work. I photograph people in their environments because I am curious about what lies behind their eyes, where they have been, and where they hope to go. I am inspired simply by life in the city and hope my images stir the hearts and minds as well as genuine curiosity for those that view them. More than anything, I hope my images will make you stop and observe all that is around you as you navigate through cities and life in general.
