About

Capturing the Passage of Time

My earliest memory of photography came way from my grandmother, Irene. She would often hand me her camera, a Kodak VR35 K80, and let me take the last two or three exposures of film before going to get them developed. I relished in the ceremony of it all. There was a sense of magic— you could capture a moment, drop off the film, and in a couple of hours have a physical object to cherish.

When I was 10, Irene gave me a Kodak Funsaver disposable camera before my 4th grade field trip to the state capitol. Although it was a throwaway, it was the first I could call my own. She made sure I always had one before school trips. My first photographs were of the Mammoth Cave, the Cincinnati Zoo, and bus rides with my friends.

The iPhone 3GS in 2009 forever changed my access to photography. As a young adult the iPhone became my primary device for documenting life. My catalogue of images changed from the occasional trip, to everyday occasions. Yearly photo albums became a journal I could open and see details otherwise lost. The more images I took, the more I wish I had taken when I was younger. Photography allows you to document your life in a medium that is easily shared and appreciated. Nothing is more nostalgic than an old photograph.

Finding motivation and inspiration through muses is an essential process for all creatives. I stumbled upon an artist by the name of Casey Neistat in 2015. He had a trending video about customizing everything he owns. I often engrave items with the date I purchased them, but Casey takes it to a different level. If there’s a button on a camera he deems ineffective or unnecessary he will melt hot glue over it, so it no longer functions and cannot be pressed accidentally. Tired of forgetting his electric bike’s charger at home? Casey is going to permanently weld it onto the bike itself. His form of story telling, cinematography, and photography pushed me into purchasing my first DSLR. I proudly display the Canon 70D in my office as a keepsake.

My relationship with photography has evolved over the years, just like my gear. I’ve learned that ‘destination’ photography doesn’t hold the same value for me as it once did. I find it much more rewarding—and challenging—to capture beauty in everyday moments, in the places I frequent most—moments that others often overlook or take for granted.