08/29/2026
During my undergrad studies I took an advanced studio lighting class that explored the techniques of using strobes on location.
This was also the first time I ever explored expressing an in-depth concept in a body of work.
I felt that this was a perfect opportunity to conduct a series of location still life images that were about my father. It was the chance to create a collection of images in ode specifically to him.
My father died in 2011 and I created these photographs two years later in 2013. They are some early explorations of my photography and examples of how I evolved to understand light (even though I don't use strobes in my work today)
What is prevalent in my personal work today that is relevant from my early work is the sense of place.
The first picture, titled "The Kingdom" is a clubhouse that my dad built for my brother and I when we were kids. As you can see in the photograph, our backyard had an abundance of trees and greenery. It's no wonder I gravitate towards natural settings and landscapes in my work. 🌲
The second picture of the license plate represents my father's career as a truck driver and now symbolizes my personal love for travel. (Shout out to my brother Travis for holding a hose over the plate to make it look like rain.)
The third picture is of my dad's work space in the garage. Pretty cliché, I know, but also relatable and nostalgic nonetheless.
These places hold meaning for me and that meaning changed over time.
Photography is such a unique medium for artistic expression. These photographs were created by me; both physically and from my imagination. I manipulated the lighting, I moved things around, I arranged objects in a particular way, I had my brother hold a hose to create fake rain lol And yet these photographs represent a very real and truthful essence of my life.
I am grateful to my dad for so many things. He never got the chance to see the work I've made as a photographer and yet he is such a huge part of my inspiration and creative process.
