Artist Statement

 

          Ever since I was young, I have always been fascinated by nature. The simplistic, yet not so simple characteristics that make nature beautiful seemed to be what I have always been drawn to. The feeling that nature is beautiful, just as it is, with no need to alter it became my main attraction. Humans seem to struggle with the pressures of superficial beauty, instead of embracing what we are naturally. With my work, I strive to exhibit beauty in situations solely using natural elements, such as lighting and composition, to make the viewer see that everything can be beautiful just as it is. I strongly believe that inner peace and what a person has to offer is what makes somebody beautiful. Anything can be beautiful; we just have to be open to change our perspective of what beauty is.

 

          Right from the beginning of my photographic journey, I had always been attracted to the versatility of alternative processes and the many forms in which photography can take. I use processes that to some may seem irrelevant to use in today’s digital world. To me, it is the technique of producing the art and the natural components used that makes the product that much more valuable. Where as any person can shoot photography simply with a cell phone, I focus on more complicated processes that were used in the late 1800’s that involve more care and attention.

 

          Through most of my current body of work, I wish to help viewers who struggle with appearance to realize that inner traits are what make a person beautifully human. Body alterations should not be the way of the world, as demonstrated through the attractiveness of nature. Nature has a way of staying beautiful with no alterations, which we as humans should try to emulate.