I currently have about 83,000 photos in my iCloud right now. My Lightroom contains over 59,000. I’m working on culling them, as a good chunk are dupes or near dupes.

Intricate Thai architecture in Bangkok, Thailand - February 2020

I don't remember any specific event or instance when my interest in photography began, which is strange given I’ve been shooting earnestly for the past 13 years. But I think it’s safe to assume it all started with travel photography. My mom bought me a basic point and shoot camera when I was young, and I started imitating her photography on trips. I tried to capture the feel of the trip, choosing all sorts of subjects. She started in a similar way, using my grandpa’s camera when she went to Europe for the first time in college. That was back in the 80’s, with actual film. She shot the desert in Egypt, wildlife in Africa, and the local people all over the world. My photographic intuition derives from imitating her.

I still don't have a lot of technical acumen when it comes to photography. Most of my ability is instinctual, following my mom’s lead. We know how to frame shots, how to capture the uniqueness or the moment of what we're seeing with a photo. The style of my photography is still reminiscent of some of the really cool photos she took so long ago.

The most spiritual place I’ve visited - Sertar, China - August 2014

Travel photography gets a bad rap. Today's sentiment is that anyone can do it, that it doesn't require any special talent or thought, that it's simple tourists carelessly snapping photos of their vacation. But it’s the basis of what I try to do with my photography for TAV. It can showcase the world. The Earth is a big, beautiful, amazing planet, with so many diverse places. I try to highlight this beauty and diversity through my photography.

Much of my photography also encompasses wildlife. It is the animals on our planet that make it dynamic: blustery hillsides and deep valleys would appear barren without the animals that inhabit them. The world is adorned with fascinating creatures—my photography tries to capture their essence, in their natural habitat. I also frequently engage in street and architectural photography when visiting cities in new countries. We humans are fascinating, and I try to capture our innate humanity in our diverse communities, as well as the feel of the buildings themselves. In this type of photography I try to prove that we are in fact more similar than we are different.

King penguin closeup in the Southern Ocean - March 2019

Photography is also a vehicle for me to travel the world and spend time in nature. It's not wholly a means to an end in that regard, but travel for me is capturing the world through photos. I try to make people think, or feel, or wonder, when they see my photos. I want the reaction to be more than 'oh that's pretty." Why? Why do I want more, a different reaction? Because my goal is for people to see the world the way I see it. As a beautiful place, an enchanting place, one full of mesmerizing creatures and incredible landscapes and vibrant cities; a planet that is as alive as it is beautiful; a world we should be grateful to call home.

Still photography, done well, lets the world shine.