On a trip to Chicago in fifth grade, I found myself staring up at the unique architecture and scenes of the city. Following that trip, I became passionate about the sights and sounds that surround me each and every day. After a digital photography class freshman year, I fell in love with photography as my means of capturing my surroundings. Over time, my work has evolved from lacking true intention to conveying a deeper meaning. My early work had a simple point and shoot style, but now I am more intentional and try to send a message beyond the surface level. I am currently exploring various topical messages such as social justice and American life. I wish for my work to convey these messages through masked metaphors and intense compositions. My photography website shows everything from my original point and shoot style to my recent mixed media pieces, which convey a message of social justice and deforestation. Throughout my growth as a photographer, I have been inspired by artists such as Pete Souza and Peter Lik. Their captivating images convey beauty and a message, and I wish for my work to do the same. I use photoshop as a tool to create things that may not seem feasible on paper or through a camera lens. This technique is best seen in my long exposure pieces which portray movement. I try my best to incorporate texture and unique composition into all of my pieces. I believe that these elements and principles enhance my body of work and make my pieces more aesthetically pleasing. Furthermore, I like to find patterns and movement in my subject and use them to my advantage. I also use dramatic directional lighting to create powerful portraits and convey a message. I use lighting with high contrast shadows to draw attention to my subject. Aside from making a statement, I additionally photograph moments in time that are otherwise hard to capture. In the future, I see myself doing more hands on forms of photography such as film and photoshop work. I might explore distressing film, alternate photoshop techniques, and other forms of photography that are unique to me.​