While spending my childhood summers in rural Michigan I developed a deep and lasting love of the natural world. That love drives my passion for photographing the flowers, fruit and vegetables that comprise my still life portfolio. While the subjects I use are commonplace, they each have beautiful, but often overlooked, characteristics that I strive to emphasize in my work. I deliberately avoid overstyling my subjects, preferring instead to capture them unadorned, or with simple props that enhance their unique qualities. I shoot these images in a rudimentary studio using a 4x5 view camera and natural light from a nearby window. My goal is to have the viewer experience the “leafy-ness” of lettuce, the “frilly-ness” of dahlia petals and the “curvy-ness” of pears and tulips.