Photography – Seattle
For as long as I've been able to walk and talk, I've been in love with the natural world. My sixth, seventh, and eighth birthday parties were trips to the zoo, where I'd lecture my friends about animals they'd never heard of. Some key highlights from my childhood are early morning fishing trips with my dad, exploring the woods behind my house to find salamanders, and learning to canoe on family vacations to the Adirondacks.
And my passion for nature has brought a real sense of purpose to my life at times when nothing else seems to hold it together. At the age of thirteen, I needed back surgery and experienced a traumatic incident in the hospital––one that's lived with me to this day in the form of PTSD. During that same stint in the hospital I was diagnosed with type one diabetes. I had to face the reality that surviving every day for the rest of my life would depend on testing my blood sugar levels and giving myself insulin injections. Given those circumstances, some people might find more comfort from modern amenities and being around others who can help. But I've often found more comfort from a sense of self sufficiency when I'm exploring wild places alone or taking the lead with a small group of friends. It's as if there are just some places in the wilderness where anxiety can't follow, and I hope to capture that feeling in my photos.