There was a sudden rainstorm at the playground. I ran for cover and that’s when I saw it - a small camera, rusting under the slides. I had to rescue it. Water dripped from the viewfinder as I held it up to my eight-year-old cheek, and I saw the world in a frame for the first time.
Even hooked on images, I still didn’t set out to become a photographer. Instead I went into biology, and spent several years as a “bio bum,” traveling around the USA working on conservation projects for 3-6 months at a time. I ended up in Hawaii earning a master’s degree in conservation biology, and jumped on a project working to protect sea birds on an uninhabited island. I never left Hawaii. We had our first child and adventures continued to unfold.
I circled back to the viewfinder, which I had been using to photograph wildlife, and started using it to photograph the wildest life of all - families. I love the chaos, energy, and little gestures inherent to each family. I find myself drawn to families whenever I’m out. I watch them play and protect and care for one another. It’s fascinating how these movements can be so beautiful.
Now, I’ve been exploring Hawaii with my family for 8 years. I know how the weather works, how the tides run, how the light looks at that beach at sunrise in October and sunset in April. I still talk biology shop - often with kids exploring tide pools at photo sessions. But best of all I get to see your world in a frame for the first time and help you see just how beautiful it is.