The world seems to be trembling around us, constantly threatening to fall apart at any moment, but we cannot let that stop us from living our lives. It is so frustrating as a photographer to see God's beautiful creation but not being able to capture all of it in a photograph. The beauty in God’s creation is more than just a simple photo of the mountains. It is experiencing the wind brushing through one’s hair while peering over the side of the ridge, the aching feet finally feeling relief upon reaching the top of the mountain after a long day’s hike. It is growing closer to a friend as they share stories and encounter new adventures and challenges, but it is even more than that. God’s beautiful creation is something we cannot fathom. It is simply too much for us to process. Even with all of this in mind, I still accept the challenge to capture the world in photographs. I strive to capture the beauty of the world around us and inspire people to step out of their comfort zone and to travel. While many people are burdened with the troubles of life, it is important for them to be reminded of the beauty, adventure, and joy that is still present in our lives.
Three things that make an exceptional photograph are a beautiful background, an interesting subject, and an action. One of my favorite pictures in my photography portfolio was taken in the historical part of Aosta, Italy. An Italian woman was pushing a bright red baby carriage across the pebble stone street into the shadow of the next building. It was a beautiful day and she was walking in front of the city’s architecturally pleasing Capitol. While this is a common occurrence, our busy lives keep us distracted from pausing and enjoying small moments like this. That is what makes this such a striking photograph.
My photography makes people curious about how the world works and the people who live in it. I have been fortunate enough to be able to travel to Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Nicaragua on mission trips. I love taking cultural pictures because it brings awareness to a situation, but it also reminds people that individuals have lives outside of the United States. Too many times we are caught up in our busy lives inside the bubble of America, and we forget that the world around us continues to turn even when the problems we face seem unresolvable. While I might be devastated because my friends forgot to invite me to dinner, a father in Jamaica is looking down at his empty cistern wondering when it might rain again because his family needs something to drink. I like to shed light on the lives of other people through photographs to remind us that we should be thankful for the blessings we have, and that people's lives continue even without the material goods Americans so desperately seek.
